AUSTIN, TEXAS — Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico accused President Donald Trump’s Federal Communications Commission of blocking an interview he did with CBS’ Stephen Colbert from airing, saying it was because Trump is concerned about Republicans losing the race.
“Last night, I filmed an interview with Stephen Colbert. Trump’s FCC colluded with corporate media executives at CBS, but I think it’s safe to say that their plan backfired,” he told hundreds of supporters at a campaign stop in Austin, Texas, on Tuesday evening. “I think Donald Trump and his billionaire friends know that we’re about to take back Texas.”
During his monologue Monday, Colbert said CBS’ lawyers told him “in no uncertain terms” that Talarico could not appear on the broadcast due to the FCC’s changes to the enforcement of the “equal time” rule — which dictates that radio and TV broadcasters give equal airtime to political candidates if requested.