Jimmy Kimmel Moves James Talarico Interview to YouTube Amid FCC Threats
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ABC host joins Stephen Colbert in shifting interviews with the Texas Senate candidate to digital platforms following regulatory pressure.
As first reported by The Verge, Jimmy Kimmel has announced that an upcoming interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico will be posted directly to YouTube rather than airing on *Jimmy Kimmel Live*. Kimmel stated during a Wednesday night episode that the decision was made due to threats from the Trump administration's FCC directed at him, his show, ABC, and local affiliates regarding editorial and guest booking decisions.
Kimmel noted that the move was intended to protect local stations, specifically ABC affiliates in Texas, from facing regulatory retaliation. This incident follows a pattern of similar disruptions; The Verge reports that in February, Stephen Colbert moved a Talarico interview to YouTube after CBS blocked the broadcast due to concerns over the FCC's equal time rule. Additionally, the FCC targeted *The View* following an interview with Talarico earlier this year.
These events occur as ABC pursues legal action against the regulator. As reported by The Verge, ABC filed a lawsuit last month alleging that the FCC has engaged in a "retaliatory campaign" and has threatened to revoke broadcast licenses to punish the network. This follows a previous instance where Kimmel's show was taken off the air nearly a year ago in response to threats from FCC chair Brendan Carr.