Jimmy Kimmel Says Interview With Democratic Senate Candidate Won't Air On TV Following Pressure From FCC

Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel announced that his upcoming broadcast interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico will not air on television, and is moving the segment exclusively to YouTube following regulatory pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Kimmel addressed the decision during Wednesday's broadcast of Jimmy Kimmel Live!, attributing the change to threats directed at ABC, its network affiliates, and local television stations over guest bookings. Talarico is currently running against Republican Ken Paxton in a highly competitive Texas Senate race that could decide control of the US Senate in the November midterm elections.

The decision stems from shifting interpretations of federal broadcast regulations under FCC Chairman Brendan Carr. Historically, late-night and daytime talk shows benefited from exemptions applied to news programs regarding equal time rules, which mandate that stations provide equal opportunities to opposing candidates for public office.

In January, the agency altered its policy, stating that such programs are no longer considered exempt. Because YouTube operates digitally and does not use public airwaves, it falls outside FCC regulatory jurisdiction.

Addressing the situation on air, Kimmel talked about his history of interviewing political figures across the spectrum:

"Now that he's president, his FCC has threatened me, threatened our show, threatened our network, ABC, our affiliates, our local stations, based on simple, traditional editorial decisions, guest bookings it would seem they don't like," Kimmel said.

"Thank goodness we have that," he said, referring to YouTube, "because in the America we live in right now, that is the best that we can do until November."

The White House rejected Kimmel's account of events, characterizing the host's statements as inaccurate.

In a statement to the BBC, White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said:

"Jimmy Kimmel is play-acting - as he often does - to create a false narrative about this administration's policies."

"[FCC] Chairman [Brendan] Carr has not threatened him regarding interviewing James Talarico, or any other candidate," Ingle added.

A White House spokesperson separately told CNN:

"Chairman Carr has not threatened him regarding interviewing James Talarico, or any other candidate. Any media outlet blindly amplifying Kimmel’s egocentric delusion should insist on proof. Of which they will find none."

Inside the agency, FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez offered a different perspective regarding the ongoing regulatory scrutiny directed at the network, stating on CNN:

"There is a pattern here that is clearly designed to get ABC and its programs to only provide content that this administration favors," the FCC's sole Democratic commissioner, Anna Gomez, said Thursday night on CNN's "Erin Burnett OutFront."

The decision marks the second time Talarico's late-night appearances have been diverted away from broadcast television. CBS previously declined to air an interview featuring Talarico on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, prompting Colbert to publish the segment online. 

Colbert noted that the network asked him to comply with equal time guidelines, which he said is "something I have never been asked to do for an interview in the 21 years of this job.”

The FCC has also previously opened an inquiry into ABC's The View following an appearance by Talarico during the Democratic primary.

Speaking on MS NOW, Talarico criticized the government's approach to media oversight:

“People at the top, powerful politicians, powerful media executives censoring what we watch, what we read, what we — what we say," he said. 

"And that, again, should be a concern to everyone who believes in the First Amendment and believes in the freedom of speech."