Kimmel states Talarico interview will air on YouTube due to FCC pressure

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel stated that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) "threatened" his show, resulting in an interview with James Talarico, the Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate in Texas, not airing on television but instead being available on YouTube. This decision allows the show to bypass FCC regulations. Kimmel noted that this is not the first instance of Talarico's interviews being moved online; a previous appearance on Stephen Colbert's show was also shifted to YouTube due to concerns about violating FCC regulations regarding equal time for political candidates. Talarico is currently competing against Republican Ken Paxton, the Texas attorney general, in a closely contested race. Kimmel remarked, "For the whole 20+ years of our show, in fact, I've been interviewing Americans who are running for office with no problem. Something has changed," suggesting that the change is linked to the Trump administration. Anna Gomez, the sole Democrat on the FCC, criticized the agency's actions, stating that Kimmel's decision reflects a campaign of censorship and control. Gomez expressed hope that courts would clarify the FCC's role in dictating editorial choices. In August, ABC, owned by Disney, filed a lawsuit against the FCC, claiming that the agency's demand for early reviews of broadcast licenses posed an existential threat to the network. The FCC had ordered the review, citing the network's diversity and inclusion practices, shortly after Kimmel made a joke about President Trump that angered the administration. Kimmel did not specify the grounds for the FCC's threats regarding the Talarico interview, but past contentions have revolved around the requirement for broadcast stations to provide equal time to political candidates. This rule has traditionally not applied to talk shows, but the Trump administration announced in January that it would be enforced for late-night and daytime hosts.