Late show Host Stephen Colbert says CBS blocked him from airing an interview with James Talarico, a Democratic representative from Texas. During his opening monologue Monday night, Colbert says the network’s lawyers told him “in no uncertain terms” that he couldn’t have Talarico on the show and forced him to post the interview on YouTube instead, hours after news broke that Anderson Cooper was leaving his position at the network as 60 minutes correspond.
“He (Talarico) was supposed to be here, but our network lawyers, who called us directly, told us clearly that we couldn’t have him on the air,” Colbert says. “Then I was told in no uncertain terms that not only could I not wear it, but I couldn’t even mention that I wasn’t wearing it.”
Provided by CBS spokesman Phil Gonzales The Verge with the same statement that Colbert was not blocked from airing the interview he was given Variety and other outlets, but declined to assign it by name The Verge’s policy background. When asked for a name, Gonzales wrote: “Respectfully, you don’t have to use this statement. We’ll keep that in mind next time we respond (sic).”
As he noted PeriodNews interviews have long been exempt from this rule, and talk shows seem to fall under this umbrella as well. But in January, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr issued new guidelines suggesting that late-night and daytime talk shows should comply with the rule. “If you’re fake news, you’re not going to qualify for the bona fide news exemption,” Carr said at the time.
Colbert says Carr “hasn’t lifted” the waiver yet, but CBS is “unilaterally enforcing it as if he did.” He appointed Paramount last year Free press founder Bari Weiss as editor-in-chief of CBS News. “Let’s call it what it is. Donald Trump’s administration wants to silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV.”
February 17 Update: Added details regarding CBS statement.