Trump's War on Late-Night TV Gets Real

When comedy becomes a threat to power, power fights back with lawyers.

Monday night, Stephen Colbert delivered news that should worry anyone who values free speech: CBS lawyers had blocked him from airing an interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. The reason? Federal Communications Commission (FCC) equal-time rules that hadn't been seriously enforced against late-night shows in decades.

The Trump administration's sudden interest in these rules isn't coincidental. It's a calculated move to silence critics who happen to make people laugh while delivering pointed political commentary.

The Rule That Wasn't (Until Now)

The equal-time rule requires broadcasters to give candidates for the same office equal airtime. Late-night talk shows have long been considered exempt because they're classified as entertainment, not news programming. Hosts interview politicians as part of comedy shows, not formal political coverage.

But last month, Trump's administration announced it would begin enforcing this rule against late-night programs. The change was swift and targeted. CBS couldn't air Colbert's Talarico interview on television but posted it on YouTube instead, where it's garnered over 2.7 million views as of Tuesday evening.

Talarico is competing in next month's Democratic primary against Rep. Jasmine Crockett. The winner faces long odds against the Republican nominee in November for the Senate seat currently held by John Cornyn. Texas hasn't elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988.

A Pattern of Retaliation

This isn't Trump's first assault on late-night television. Last year, his administration forced Jimmy Kimmel off ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" after the host commented on the shooting death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. The suspension was brief but sent a clear message.

Colbert hasn't escaped either. CBS announced last year that "The Late Show" would end after its current season. Trump celebrated the decision, writing that Colbert's "talent was even less than his ratings." The cancellation came shortly after CBS's parent company settled with the Trump administration for $16 million, though the network insists the decision was purely financial.

The timing raises uncomfortable questions about corporate media's willingness to stand up to government pressure when their bottom line is at stake.

Beyond Entertainment: The Real Stakes

The FCC's sudden enforcement isn't really about equal time—it's about control. The agency is reportedly investigating whether ABC's "The View" violated the same rule by interviewing Talarico earlier this month. The pattern is clear: any platform that gives Democrats a voice faces scrutiny.

This matters because late-night shows aren't just entertainment anymore. For many Americans, especially younger viewers, they're a primary source of political information. When Saturday Night Live or The Daily Show covers a story, it often reaches audiences who don't watch traditional news.

By weaponizing arcane broadcasting rules, the Trump administration is effectively deciding which political voices Americans can hear during prime entertainment hours. It's censorship with a bureaucratic veneer.

The Chilling Effect

The real damage isn't just the interviews that don't air—it's the ones that won't even be scheduled. When network lawyers start blocking political content out of fear of government retaliation, self-censorship becomes the norm.

Broadcasters now face an impossible choice: either give equal time to every candidate (making political interviews logistically nightmarish) or avoid them altogether. Most will choose the latter, effectively removing political discourse from entertainment programming.

This creates a two-tiered system where only traditional news programs can safely interview politicians, while the shows that actually engage younger audiences are forced to stay silent.