LOS ANGELES — US television host Jimmy Kimmel says an interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico will not be broadcast on television, claiming pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) led his team to release the interview online instead.
Kimmel made the announcement during his Jimmy Kimmel Live! monologue, saying the interview would be made available on YouTube rather than aired on ABC. He said the decision followed what he described as threats involving his show, ABC, its affiliates and local stations.
Dispute over political airtime
The controversy centers on the FCC’s approach to its equal-time rules, which require broadcasters to provide comparable opportunities to opposing political candidates in certain circumstances.
According to reporting by Reuters and the Associated Press, the FCC has changed its approach to late-night and daytime talk shows, treating them as non-news programming for purposes of the rules.
Kimmel argued that political interviews have long been a normal part of late-night television. He pointed to his previous interviews with politicians, including Donald Trump, Hillary Clinton and Ted Cruz.
Interview moves online
Rather than risk potential regulatory consequences for ABC stations, the Talarico interview is being released digitally.
The situation echoes an earlier controversy involving Talarico and Stephen Colbert’s The Late Show, when an interview with the Democratic candidate was also moved online rather than broadcast on television because of concerns surrounding FCC rules.
Talarico is campaigning for a US Senate seat representing Texas, making his television appearances particularly significant during the 2026 election campaign.
Debate over free speech
The dispute has sparked a wider debate about government regulation, political speech and editorial independence.
FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, the agency’s Democratic member, has criticized the FCC’s actions, arguing that the agency’s approach could amount to improper political interference. ABC has also been involved in a broader legal dispute with the FCC over its regulatory actions.
For now, viewers who want to see the Kimmel-Talarico conversation will have to look online rather than watch it as part of the regular broadcast.
The controversy is likely to continue as the 2026 US midterm elections approach, with questions about how broadcast regulations should apply to political candidates appearing on entertainment and late-night programs.
