Jimmy Kimmel airing Texas candidate James Talarico chat on YouTube after FCC ‘threat’
Jimmy Kimmel is set to interview James Talarico (Getty Images)
Jimmy Kimmel said his planned interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico will not air during his normal broadcast on ABC, citing what he described as FCC “threats”.
Speaking during his monologue on 9 September, Kimmel told viewers: “[Trump’s] 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.
“Out of consideration for our local stations, especially our ABC affiliates in Texas who would have to deal with this nonsense, my interview tomorrow with James Talarico will not air on television. It will be posted on YouTube instead. It will not be on TV.”
Kimmel’s show was previously pulled off air by ABC over “offensive and insensitive” comments he made about the death of Charlie Kirk, with critics of the move saying it amounted to “state censorship”.
Late-night’s YouTube workaround
In February, Stephen Colbert said CBS lawyers blocked an interview with Talarico from airing on broadcast, and it was posted online instead. The switch to YouTube was linked to concerns about how the FCC’s “equal time” rule might apply when late-night shows feature political candidates.
Kimmel also said he has interviewed candidates for “20-plus years”, including Donald Trump during the 2015 presidential campaign, and again in 2016 before Trump became the Republican nominee. “But for some reason, and I can’t seem to figure out what that reason is, something has changed now that he is president,” Kimmel said.
He added: “So if you want to learn about a candidate for the Senate tomorrow, you will have to go to the Jimmy Kimmel Live YouTube channel, where you will see it in its entirety.
“And thank goodness we have that, because in the America we live in right now, that is the best that we can do until November, of course. Make sure you’re registered to vote, by the way.”
Who is James Talarico?
James Talarico is a Texas state representative running for Senate as the Texas Democratic candidate, and has drawn national attention for messaging that blends faith language with progressive politics, including positive views on LGBTQ+ rights, which have seen him come into Trump’s target.
He is up against, as Kimmel described him, “a piece of human Silly Putty named Ken Paxton”.
Talarico has, according to N+ Univision, edged into the lead ahead of Paxton, with 48% versus 43% of the vote, with the rest of Texas voters still undecided.
Texas has consistently been a red state since 1980, but with Talarico’s popularity growing, it appears feelings could be changing there.
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