Late-night host Stephen Colbert has ignited controversy after revealing that CBS pulled his interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico from Monday night’s broadcast, citing fears of violating regulatory guidance from the Trump administration regarding equal time for political candidates.

The dispute erupted as early voting began Tuesday for Texas primaries, where two high-profile Senate races are attracting national attention. On the Democratic side, Talarico faces U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett in a heated contest, while Republican incumbent Sen. John Cornyn battles challenges from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and U.S. Rep. Wesley Hunt.

“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,” Colbert said during his show. “And because my network clearly doesn’t want us to talk about this, let’s talk about this.”

Despite the broadcast restriction, Colbert proceeded with the interview and posted the nearly 15-minute conversation on YouTube, which falls outside the equal-time rule’s jurisdiction. CBS disputed Colbert’s characterization, stating that its attorneys merely “provided legal guidance” about potential FCC equal-time rule violations.

Talarico quickly capitalized on the situation, sharing a clip of the interview on social media and labeling it “the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.” During a news conference after voting early in Austin, Talarico claimed, “The administration was playing politics and was trying to control what a late-night show puts on air, something that’s never been done before.”

Crockett expressed skepticism about the timing of the controversy, noting it coincided with the start of early voting. She pointed out that both candidates have previously appeared on national television shows, including “The View” and Colbert’s program. “I’ve done Colbert a number of times. I’ve done ‘The View’ a number of times. I’ve done Kimmel a number of times,” she told reporters in Dallas.

The dispute stems from new FCC guidance issued in January that warned talk show hosts about giving political candidates equal time. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, questioned the traditional talk show exemption, suggesting hosts were “motivated by partisan purposes.”

The public notice indicated the FCC had not seen evidence that talk shows qualify for an exemption from the equal-time rule as “bona fide news.” Carr has previously targeted shows like “The View,” whose hosts have frequently criticized Trump, suggesting investigations into their exemption status might be “worthwhile.”

This controversy emerges against the backdrop of Colbert’s impending departure from CBS. The network announced last year it was canceling “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” in May 2024, citing financial reasons. However, the timing of that announcement—three days after Colbert criticized the settlement between Trump and Paramount Global (CBS’s parent company) over a “60 Minutes” story—prompted two U.S. senators to publicly question the network’s motives.

Meanwhile, both Senate races continue to intensify. Talarico and Crockett hope to secure at least 50% of the Democratic vote in the March 3 primary to avoid a May 26 runoff. Both have built national profiles through viral social media clips that have resonated with Democratic voters.

On the Republican side, Paxton has recently ramped up what had been a relatively quiet campaign with a rally in Tyler, while Cornyn held his own event in Austin. Hunt released a new television ad featuring photos of himself with Trump, criticizing Cornyn’s long political career.

Despite Cornyn and allied super PACs spending over $54 million on television advertising since last year, Paxton appears to be the Republican frontrunner. This concerns GOP Senate leaders in Washington, who fear Paxton would require significantly more resources to defend in a general election—potentially hundreds of millions of dollars more than would be needed for Cornyn.

At his Austin rally, Cornyn emphasized these concerns, warning that nominating Paxton would “take a toll on everybody on the ballot” for the GOP. “We’ll pay the price of having an albatross like our corrupt attorney general around their neck,” he said, referencing Paxton’s legal troubles, including a 2023 impeachment trial on corruption charges and a recently settled securities fraud case.

As early voting continues through the March 5 primary, both races remain fluid, with candidates navigating the complex intersection of media exposure, regulatory constraints, and voter outreach in an increasingly polarized political landscape.