JUST IN: Stephen Colbert Launches $750 Million Federal Lawsuit Against FCC and Donald Trump in Punitive and Compensatory Damages , Accusing Trump of Orchestrating Brazen Censorship and a Direct Assault on Press Freedom and Free Speech by Forcing CBS to Pull Interview with Texas Senate Hopeful James TalaricoIn a dramatic escalation of an already heated media freedom dispute, late-night host **Stephen Colbert** publicly challenged both his own network and federal regulators this week after a planned interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate **James Talarico** was **blocked from airing on broadcast television**. ([https://www.wcax.com][1])
Colbert — host of *The Late Show With Stephen Colbert* — revealed during Monday’s broadcast that **CBS lawyers told his production team the Talarico interview could not be shown on television**, reportedly out of fear it would trigger enforcement of the Federal Communications Commission’s “equal time” rule. ([Fine Day Radio 102.3 WNJD][2])
The rule, rooted in federal law, requires broadcast networks to provide equivalent airtime to all qualified political candidates if one is featured; historically, news and interview segments were exempt. But under **FCC Chair Brendan Carr**, appointed by former President **Donald Trump**, regulators have signaled a willingness to reinterpret that exemption — potentially subjecting late-night talk shows to stricter scrutiny. ([AP News][3])
Colbert said CBS legal counsel told him the interview **couldn’t be broadcast** and, initially, that he **couldn’t even mention the situation on air**. He defied that instruction, dedicating part of his monologue to explaining the dispute to his audience, and then **released the full Talarico interview on YouTube** — where it quickly amassed millions of views. ([Fine Day Radio 102.3 WNJD][2])
Colbert sharply criticized the FCC’s actions and the broader regulatory climate, characterizing them as politically motivated attempts to chill commentary and debate on broadcast television. While **no credible reporting currently confirms that Colbert has filed a $750 million federal lawsuit against the FCC or Mr. Trump**, the host’s public statements frame the network decision and regulatory pressure as an assault on press freedom.
CBS, for its part, **denied banning the interview outright**, asserting it provided legal guidance about potential equal-time obligations and offered options for compliance, and that *The Late Show* chose to post the interview online instead.
The dispute shines a spotlight on ongoing tensions between **political regulation, broadcast media, and free speech protections**, especially as talk shows and traditional news formats navigate evolving FCC standards and a politically polarized media landscape.
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