Overview
- Stephen Colbert said CBS lawyers advised against broadcasting his James Talarico interview over equal-time concerns, while CBS said it merely offered legal guidance and options before the show posted the segment online, where it drew nearly 8 million views.
- Talarico’s campaign reported raising $2.5 million in 24 hours after the YouTube release, and prediction markets shifted to give him roughly a three-quarters chance of winning the Democratic primary.
- In January, the FCC signaled that most daytime and late-night talk shows do not qualify for the bona fide news exemption to Section 315, a rule that binds broadcast outlets but not platforms like YouTube.
- FCC Chair Brendan Carr said the agency issued no directive regarding Colbert’s segment and disputed censorship claims, while confirming an enforcement action is underway related to Talarico’s Feb. 2 appearance on ABC’s The View.
- Early voting is underway for the March 3 primary, with a May 26 runoff if no candidate wins a majority, as Rep. Jasmine Crockett tells supporters the episode likely gave her opponent a boost and emphasizes her record in appeals to voters.