AUSTIN, Texas ― Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) appeared to problem the narrative surrounding CBS’s controversial choice to not air Stephen Colbert’s interview along with her Senate Democratic main opponent James Talarico.
“We did receive information suggesting the federal government did not shut down the segment,” Crockett informed reporters on Tuesday, referring to Colbert’s interview with Talarico that was speculated to air on Monday.
Crockett stated it appeared that CBS didn’t air the interview “because of a fear the FCC may say something to them, and that there may have been advice to just have me on, and then they can clear the issue. It is my understanding someone, somewhere, decided we just don’t want to do that.”
“Let me be clear. I don’t have love for the current FCC,” Crockett added. “I do think there are additional layers at play here.”
Colbert has accused his employer of caving to threats from the Federal Communications Commission by blocking his interview with Talarico that was set to air on Monday. He stated CBS selected to abide by an equal time rule that hasn’t been beforehand used for late-night speak exhibits. He additionally famous that he’s had Crockett repeatedly on his present, although these appearances occurred previous to her asserting her marketing campaign for the Senate.
Talarico additionally accused Trump’s FCC of colluding with CBS executives to maintain his interview with Colbert off the air throughout a marketing campaign rally in Austin on Tuesday.
“I think it’s safe to say that their plan backfired,” the Texas state consultant stated because the YouTube video of his interview with Colbert racked up over 5 million views on-line. “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.”
FCC Chair Brendan Carr responded in a press convention on Wednesday, accusing Talarico of creating up a “hoax” to lift cash for his marketing campaign. Talarico hauled in $2.5 million for his Senate marketing campaign in simply 24 hours after the controversy started.
“You had a Democrat candidate who understood the way the news media works and he took advantage of all of your, sort of, prior conceptions, to run a hoax, apparently for the purpose of raising money and getting clicks,” Carr stated. “And the news media played right into it.”
But Colbert hasn’t backed down, slamming CBS once more for releasing what he referred to as a “crap” assertion about why the interview couldn’t air this week.
https://www.huffpost.com/entry/james-talarico-colbert-crockett_n_69960398e4b0f4c9ebbc2a51