FCC Chair Exposes Democrat’s Media Stunt as Leftist Networks Manipulate Equal-Time Rule
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FCC Chair Brendan Carr called out Texas Senate candidate James Talarico for staging a 'hoax' after Jimmy Kimmel shifted a 20-minute interview to YouTube, blaming the agency’s equal-time rule. The incident reveals how liberal media and Democrat candidates exploit regulations for political gain.
Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr took a stand against deceptive political theatrics on Saturday, exposing Texas Senate candidate James Talarico for repeating a 'hoax' previously aired on a left-leaning late-night program. After Jimmy Kimmel, a known liberal host, posted a 20-minute interview with the Democrat on YouTube instead of ABC, Carr wrote on X that Talarico was 'running the same hoax he did a few months ago on Colbert for the purpose of getting clicks and donations.' Carr rightly pointed out that Talarico was 'banking on people not understanding the statute or operating as partisan lemmings,' highlighting the manipulative tactics often used by Democrats.
Kimmel’s claim that FCC 'threats' forced him to keep the interview off the airwaves mirrors Stephen Colbert’s earlier excuse for not airing his own Talarico interview. Both hosts, notorious for their leftist bias, attempted to link the FCC’s actions to the equal-time rule—a regulation that the FCC had already clarified in January no longer applies to late-night talk shows. This manufactured controversy is a transparent attempt by liberal media to play the victim and drum up outrage among their base.
Despite the manufactured drama, Kimmel’s interview with Talarico has garnered over 9 million views on YouTube, making it the second-most-watched video on his channel in 2026. Colbert’s online-only interview with Talarico is the comedian’s most-viewed video of the year, demonstrating how left-wing personalities use digital platforms to bypass regulations and push their agenda.
Talarico has shamelessly used the FCC’s supposed 'censorship' in his fundraising, reportedly raising $2.5 million after the Colbert interview and referencing the Kimmel appearance in recent emails to supporters. The issue arose as the FCC addressed questions about the equal-time rule following Senator Ted Cruz’s appearance on ESPN’s College GameDay—a cable program that, as Carr pointed out, is not subject to the rule. This episode highlights how Democrats and their media allies manipulate the system and public perception for political advantage.