Stephen Colbert Defies CBS, Says Network Banned Him From Interviewing James Talarico On 'The Late Show'

[TheProle]

https://deadline.com/2026/02/stephen-colbert-cbs-james-talarico-interview-1236726609/

UPDATED: At the top of his monologue tonight, Stephen Colbert introduced the Late Show band, announced guest Jennifer Garner and then asked the audience, “You know who is not one of my guests tonight?”

The CBS host then answered his own question.

“That’s Texas state representative James Talarico. He was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast.

“Then, I was told, in some uncertain terms, that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on. And because my network clearly does not want us to talk about this…Let’s talk about this.”

[TheProle]

1. Colbert's Banned Interview With Rep. Talarico Becomes His Most Watched Interview In Months

Banned from airing his “Late Show” interview with Rep. James Talarico, D-TX, over the FCC’s equal time rule, Stephen Colbert’s conversation with the Senate candidate is finding life on YouTube, where it has become his most watched interview in months.

https://www.forbes.com/sites/mikestunson/2026/02/17/colberts-banned-interview-with-rep-talarico-becomes-his-most-watched-interview-in-months/