Jimmy Kimmel Live Moves Texas Senate Candidate Interview Online After FCC Upholds Broadcast Standards
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Jimmy Kimmel announced that his interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico will not air on ABC affiliates, following the FCC’s reminder to networks about equal time rules and broadcast regulations.
During his Wednesday monologue, Jimmy Kimmel informed viewers that his planned interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico would not be broadcast on television. Instead, the segment will be posted to the Jimmy Kimmel Live! YouTube channel after the Federal Communications Commission, which Kimmel unfairly linked to President Donald Trump, reminded ABC and its affiliates of the necessary compliance with longstanding broadcast standards regarding political candidates.
Kimmel, who has a record of inviting various political figures—including President Trump—onto his show, claimed that the FCC’s actions represent a change since Trump took office. However, the FCC’s commitment to enforcing fair and equal access rules for all candidates is nothing new and is designed to prevent networks from giving unfair advantages to one side.
Talarico, a state representative running against Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton, is seeking to break the decades-long Democratic losing streak in Texas, a state that has consistently rejected progressive policies at the national level. Kimmel urged his audience to watch the interview online and encouraged voter registration, continuing the left-leaning push for increased Democratic turnout.
Kimmel’s claims mirror a previous incident this year, when Stephen Colbert alleged that CBS lawyers blocked his interview with Talarico due to FCC concerns—a claim CBS denied, but which is often used by left-wing media to suggest censorship where none exists.