'Hoax': FCC Chair Rips Kimmel-Talarico Interview As Clip Takes Off On YouTube

Key Points:

• FCC Chair Brendan Carr accused Texas Senate candidate James Talarico of orchestrating a “hoax” by using late-night interviews to gain clicks and donations, claiming Talarico exploits misunderstandings of FCC rules.
• Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert both moved Talarico’s interviews to YouTube to avoid FCC enforcement of the equal time rule, which the FCC recently extended to include daytime and late-night talk shows.
• Despite FCC pressure, Talarico’s interviews have garnered millions of views online, with Kimmel’s video reaching over 9 million views and Colbert’s interview being his most viewed YouTube video of the year.
• Talarico has leveraged the FCC’s actions as a fundraising tool, reportedly raising $2.5 million following the Colbert interview and referencing the Kimmel appearance in recent communications.
• The FCC clarified that the equal time rule does not apply to cable programs like ESPN’s “College GameDay,” which featured Senator Ted Cruz, who is not seeking reelection.