James Talarico Says Trump’s FCC ‘Colluded’ With CBS To Keep Colbert Interview Off Air | EUROtoday

AUSTIN, Texas ― U.S. Senate candidate and Texas State Rep. James Talarico (D) stated the Federal Communications Commission “colluded” with CBS executives to maintain his interview with “The Late Show” host Stephen Colbert off the air this week.

“I think it’s safe to say that their plan backfired,” Talarico instructed lots of of supporters at a rally in Austin on Tuesday. “These are the same people who ran against cancel culture, and now they’re trying to control what we watch, what we say, what we read. And this is the most dangerous kind of cancel culture, the kind that comes from the top.”

“They went after Jimmy Kimmel for telling a joke they didn’t like,” he added. “They went after Stephen Colbert for telling the truth about Paramount’s bribe to Donald Trump. Corporate media executives are selling out the First Amendment to curry favor with corrupt politicians.”

Colbert tore into his employer on Monday night time, accusing the community of caving to threats from the Federal Communications Commission by spiking his interview with Talarico.

“He was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers ― who called us directly ― that we could not have him on the broadcast,” Colbert stated on Monday.

The explosive accusation comes because the Trump administration is already dealing with widespread bipartisan criticism for abusing its authorities with a view to stifle dissent, together with from comedians Trump has typically complained about, like Colbert and ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel.

CBS denied Colbert’s accusation on Tuesday, sustaining he “was not prohibited by CBS” from broadcasting the interview, which later aired on YouTube.

“The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled,” a spokesperson for the community stated.

Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr beforehand stated he would possibly maintain discuss exhibits to a regular that may require they supply equal time to opposing sides. But Colbert stated on his program that CBS is implementing a change within the equal time rule that hasn’t really been carried out but.

“My network is unilaterally enforcing it as if he had,” Colbert stated. “I want to assure you that this decision is for purely financial reasons.”

Colbert, a frequent goal of Trump’s assaults, is ready to depart the community in May after it canceled his present final summer season. The announcement got here as its then-parent firm Paramount was trying to finish a merger that required approval from the FCC.

“Let’s just call this what it is: Donald Trump’s administration wants to silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV, because all Trump does is watch TV,” the host stated on Monday.

Talarico is vying in opposition to Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) within the March 2 major for the Democratic Senate nomination in Texas. He’s trailed Crockett in public polls, however the race is shut, and it’s anticipated to go all the way down to the wire.