Colbert slams CBS for canning interview with Trump critic

Stephen Colbert is laying into his soon-to-be-former network over an axed interview with James Talarico, a Democrat and Trump critic.

The comedian criticized CBS, whose lawyers advised "The Late Show" that it could not air the Feb. 16 interview with the Texas state representative, who is running for Senate in a competitive primary against fellow Rep. Jasmine Crockett, "in no uncertain terms."

"Then I was told, in some uncertain terms, that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on," the defiant host, who is set to leave the network when "The Late Show" ends in May, added. "And because my network clearly doesn't want us to talk about this, let's talk about this."

USA TODAY has reached out to CBS and the White House for comment.

CBS denies prohibiting Talarico interview

In a statement shared with USA TODAY Feb. 17, CBS denied Colbert's characterization of the Talarico issue as the network blocking the sit-down.

"'The Late Show' was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico. The show was provided legal guidance that the broadcast could trigger the FCC equal-time rule for two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled," the statement read.

"'The Late Show’ decided to present the interview through its YouTube channel with on-air promotion on the broadcast rather than potentially providing the equal-time options."

The interview is on YouTube – which does not fall under FCC rule – but it did not air on Monday's broadcast.

Talarico: 'Donald Trump is worried that we're about to flip Texas'

In the segment, Colbert addressed the situation with Talarico, telling the lawmaker, "If people are watching this right now, it's 'cause they found us online." Colbert then shared a headline noting the FCC had previously signaled it would be opening a probe into Talarico's recent interview on "The View."

"I think Donald Trump is worried that we're about to flip Texas," Talarico said in response, to applause. "This is the party that ran against cancel culture. And this is the most dangerous kind of cancel culture, the kind that comes from the top."

The late night host suggested in the broadcasted segment that the reason the interview was canned was because of the FCC's "equal time" rule, which requires broadcast networks and radio stations to give equal time to all candidates in an election. "It’s the FCC's most time-honored rule, right after 'no nipples at the Super Bowl,'" Colbert quipped.

He added that talk shows have usually been given an exception, however in January, Trump-appointed FCC chairman Brendan Carr issued new guidance dropping the blanket exception because some are "motivated by purely partisan political purposes."

"Well sir, you're chairman of the FCC, so FCC you," Colbert jeered. "Because I think you are motivated by partisan purposes yourself. Sir, you smelt it 'cause you dealt it."

He continued: "Let's just call this what it is: Donald Trump's administration wants to silence anyone who says anything bad about Trump on TV, because all Trump does is watch TV, OK? He's like a toddler with too much screentime. He gets cranky and then drops a load in his diaper."

The comedian has had no trouble calling out CBS over what he has called an effort to "obey" the Trump adminstration. The ending of "The Late Show" itself, Colbert has alleged, was motivated by CBS' parent company, Paramount Global, seeking to finalize an $8.4 billion merger with Skydance Media, which required regulatory approval from the federal government.

The merger was approved two months after "The Late Show" was canceled.

Contributing: Bryan Alexander, USA TODAY