Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr has accused Texas Senate candidate James Talarico of orchestrating a "hoax" after his recent interview with Jimmy Kimmel was moved from broadcast to YouTube. Carr stated on his X account that Talarico is repeating a tactic previously used on Stephen Colbert's show, aiming to generate online views and donations.
Kimmel revealed last week that the decision to not air his interview with Talarico live was due to FCC threats against ABC. This follows a similar situation in February when Colbert did not broadcast his interview with Talarico, which the host also attributed to FCC pressure on CBS. Both hosts indicated that the FCC's actions relate to its enforcement of the equal time rule, which mandates broadcasters offer equal airtime to political candidates.
The FCC, under Carr's leadership, issued a warning in January that daytime and late-night talk shows are no longer exempt from this rule. Critics have suggested this move is an attempt to curb speech that might displease former President Trump.
Despite the perceived FCC scrutiny, the interviews have garnered significant online attention. The "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" interview with Talarico has amassed over 9 million views on YouTube, making it Kimmel's second-most viewed video of 2026. Colbert's "online-exclusive" interview with Talarico from February is also his most viewed YouTube video of the year.
Talarico has reportedly leveraged these incidents for fundraising, raising $2.5 million following the Colbert interview and referencing the Kimmel appearance in recent communications. This strategy has coincided with increased attention on the FCC's equal time rule enforcement, particularly following Senator Ted Cruz's appearance on ESPN's "College GameDay." Carr clarified that the equal time rule does not apply to cable programs and noted that Cruz is not currently running for reelection.