Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has yanked his interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico from ABC's broadcast schedule, saying the network came under direct pressure from President Trump's Federal Communications Commission. The decision underscores the escalating clash between the White House-aligned agency and Disney-owned ABC over political content and broadcast licenses.
Kimmel told his audience he has hosted political candidates for decades, including Trump himself, “without any issue.” But now, he said, “His FCC has threatened me, threatened my show, threatened our network … based on simple editorial decisions.” The interview will instead be released in full on the show's YouTube channel, a workaround Kimmel framed as a necessity in today's climate. “Thank goodness we have that, because in the America we live in right now that is the best that we can do,” he said, adding, “Until November, of course. Make sure you register to vote.”
The move comes as ABC and Disney are suing the FCC over the agency's decision to fast-track license renewal reviews for several ABC-affiliated stations, including outlets in Texas. The FCC argues the reviews are part of a broader investigation into Disney's diversity hiring practices. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has questioned whether ABC is using federally regulated airwaves to serve the “public interest,” and has specifically called for Kimmel's ouster over jokes about conservative activist Charlie Kirk. Carr has also suggested that programs like “The View” and Kimmel's show may not qualify as “bona fide news programs,” potentially stripping them of certain First Amendment protections.
This is not the first time the FCC has drawn criticism for targeting individual journalists. A recent complaint against NBC's Kristen Welker signals a broader pattern of regulatory pressure on media outlets, raising alarms about government overreach into editorial decisions.
The Talarico interview itself is politically significant. Talarico, a state representative, is challenging Republican incumbent Ken Paxton in a race that has tightened in recent weeks. Democrats are planning a counter-offensive to the RNC's presence in Dallas, aiming to energize voters in the final stretch. The interview could have provided Talarico with a national platform to contrast his positions with Paxton's, particularly on issues like his past comments on capitalism and oil, which have resurfaced as attack lines.
Kimmel's decision also highlights the broader vulnerability of political discourse on broadcast airwaves. Election security experts are urging early in-person voting as a key defense against potential disruptions, but the threat to free expression is increasingly coming from within the government itself.
ABC and Disney have vowed to fight the FCC's actions in court, arguing that the license renewal process is being weaponized for political purposes. The outcome of that lawsuit could have far-reaching implications for how the FCC regulates broadcast content and whether it can single out individual programs or hosts for criticism.
For now, Kimmel's audience will still get to see the Talarico interview, but only through digital channels. As Kimmel put it, that's “the best that we can do” in an era when the government's thumb is pressing down on the scales.
