Jimmy Kimmel Says James Talarico Interview Won't Air After FCC Threats

Key Points:

• Jimmy Kimmel announced that his interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico will not air on broadcast TV due to threats from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) under President Donald Trump’s administration, and will instead be available only on YouTube.
• Kimmel highlighted that he has historically interviewed political candidates, including Donald Trump in 2015, but now faces restrictions allegedly imposed by the FCC, which he described as threatening his show, ABC, and their affiliates over editorial decisions.
• The decision to move the interview online was made to protect local ABC affiliates in Texas from regulatory issues, especially as Talarico is engaged in a tight race against state Attorney General Ken Paxton, with Democrats not having won a national seat in Texas for over 30 years.
• This incident follows a similar situation six months earlier when Stephen Colbert claimed CBS lawyers barred his show from airing an interview with Talarico due to FCC threats, although CBS denied prohibiting the broadcast.
• James Talarico, a progressive Democrat and Texas state representative, has gained national attention for blending progressive values with religious principles, appealing to a broad range of voters including independents and moderate Republicans.