Jimmy Kimmel moves Senate interview to YouTube in latest collision with FCC | Media News
ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel Cancels Interview with Texas Senate Candidate Amid FCC Pressure
ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel announced that an interview scheduled with James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for the U.S. Senate from Texas, will not air on the network. Kimmel cited increased scrutiny from the Republican-controlled Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regarding political candidates’ compliance with “equal time” rules as the reason for the cancellation.
Talarico is challenging Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in a high-stakes election that could influence the balance of power in the U.S. Senate in the upcoming November vote.
During Wednesday’s broadcast, Kimmel expressed disappointment but emphasized that he would be interviewing Talarico under “unusual circumstances.” He noted that for more than two decades, his show has routinely featured candidates without issues related to regulatory compliance.
In January, the FCC, under Republican leadership, declared that daytime and late-night talk shows no longer qualify as “bona fide” news programs, which would exempt them from the equal time rules requiring these shows to offer airtime to opposing candidates.
Kimmel recalled that historically, talk shows have been able to interview political figures without facing these regulations, citing a prior interview with former President Donald Trump during his 2016 campaign.
“Now that he is president, Trump’s FCC has threatened me, threatened our show, threatened our network—ABC, our affiliates, our local stations—over what seem to be traditional editorial decisions regarding guest bookings,” Kimmel stated.
The interview with Talarico is expected to be released on YouTube on Thursday.
According to the Cook Political Report and the University of Virginia’s Center for Politics, the Texas Senate race is currently rated as a toss-up. An August poll conducted by the Barbara Jordan Public Policy Research Center at Texas Southern University showed Talarico slightly leading Paxton, garnering 47 percent of likely voters compared to Paxton’s 45 percent.
Republicans have intensified efforts to secure Paxton’s seat. Earlier this week, MAGA Inc., a political group associated with Trump, pledged $10 million for advertising aimed at opposing Talarico, marking the first major advertisement buy for the general election by Trump’s political organization. This strategy underscores concerns that Texas, traditionally a Republican stronghold, could become a vulnerability for the party in the Senate race.
Talarico, 37, formerly a public-school teacher, has crafted his political identity around progressive values and Christianity. Democrats view him as a viable candidate to break a long-standing drought, noting that Texas has not elected a Democrat to the Senate since 1988.
The ABC episode follows a week in which Republicans gathered in Dallas for an unconventional midterm convention, a gathering many have referred to as a “Trump-a-palooza,” where Trump remains the central figure rallying the party’s base.
Increased FCC Oversight Raises Concerns
In recent months, a range of programs, including “The View,” “Saturday Night Live,” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” have faced heightened FCC oversight regarding their political coverage and candidate appearances. Critics argue that the agency’s expanded reach poses a threat to broadcasters’ editorial independence.
This environment is further complicated by the recent consolidation of media ownership in the United States. In August, the FCC eliminated its 39 percent cap on local television ownership, raising alarms about concentrated control over televised news. This decision came on the heels of regulatory changes to equal time rules announced earlier in the year.
The scrutiny has directly impacted Talarico. The FCC began investigating his February appearance on “The View,” and CBS declined to air a recorded interview with Talarico that ultimately was published online by Stephen Colbert.
In April, FCC Chairman Brendan Carr ordered an early review of licenses for eight ABC-owned stations, a rare move given that their licenses were not scheduled for renewal until 2028. Network parent company Disney and ABC have criticized the agency’s actions as a threat to free speech, accusing the FCC of intimidating media organizations that are critical of Trump.
The challenges faced by Kimmel intensified last September when ABC temporarily shelved his show after Kimmel made remarks about conservative activist Charlie Kirk, which drew criticism from FCC Chairman Carr, who urged local broadcasters not to air the episode. Kimmel’s program resumed six days later.
