- - Colbert slams CBS for canning interview with Trump critic

Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY February 17, 2026 at 8:14 AM

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Stephen Colbert is laying into his soon-to-be-former network over an axed interview with James Talarico, a Democrat and Trump critic.

The comedian criticized CBS, whose lawyers advised "The Late Show" that it could not air the Feb. 16 interview with the Texas state representative, who is running for Senate in a competitive primary against fellow Rep. Jasmine Crockett, "in no uncertain terms."

"Then I was told, in some uncertain terms, that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on," the defiant host, who is set to leave the network when "The Late Show" ends in May, added. "And because my network clearly doesn't want us to talk about this, let's talk about this."

USA TODAY has reached out to CBS for comment.

Colbert appears to have done the interview, but it did not air on Monday's broadcast. The late night host suggested the reason given for the canned interview was the FCC's "equal time rule," which requires broadcast networks and radio stations to give equal time to all candidates in an election. "It’s the FCC's most time-honored rule, right after 'no nipples at the Super Bowl,'" Colbert quipped.

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He added that talk shows have usually been given an exception, however in January, Trump-appointed FCC chairman Brendan Carr issued new guidance dropping the blanket exception because some are "motivated by purely partisan political purposes."

"Well sir, you're chairman of the FCC, so FCC you," Colbert jeered. "Because I think you are motivated by partisan purposes yourself. Sir, you smelt it 'cause you dealt it."

"The Late Show" with Stephen Colbert and guest Texas Rep. James Talarico during Monday’s Feb. 16, 2026, show.

He continued: "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, OK? He's like a toddler with too much screentime. He gets cranky and then drops a load in his diaper."

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The comedian has had no trouble calling out CBS over what he has called an effort to "obey" the Trump adminstration. The ending of "The Late Show" itself, Colbert has alleged, was motivated by CBS' parent company, Paramount Global, seeking to finalize an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, which required regulatory approval from the federal government.

The merger was approved two months after "The Late Show" was canceled.

Contributing: Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY

This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Colbert James Talarico interview nixed by CBS over Trump criticism

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