JUST IN: Stephen Colbert Launches $750 Million Federal Lawsuit Against FCC and Donald Trump in Punitive and Compensatory Damages , Accusing Trump of Orchestrating Brazen Censorship and a Direct Assault on Press Freedom and Free Speech by Forcing CBS to Pull Interview with Texas Senate Hopeful James Talarico Full details ⤵️

JUST IN: Stephen Colbert Launches $750 Million Federal Lawsuit Against FCC and Donald Trump in Punitive and Compensatory Damages , Accusing Trump of Orchestrating Brazen Censorship and a Direct Assault on Press Freedom and Free Speech by Forcing CBS to Pull Interview with Texas Senate Hopeful James Talarico
Full details ⤵️

### **Stephen Colbert Accuses CBS and FCC of Political Censorship After Talarico Interview Is Pulled**

*Date: February 20, 2026*

Comedian and television host **Stephen Colbert** has publicly criticized his network and federal regulators after a planned interview with **Texas Democratic state Representative James Talarico** was not broadcast on *The Late Show*. Colbert framed the incident as a broader attack on press freedom and free speech — though there is **no confirmed federal lawsuit at the $750 million level yet filed in court** as widely claimed in social posts.

Colbert told audiences that **CBS lawyers warned him “in no uncertain terms”** that airing the Talarico segment could trigger the **Federal Communications Commission’s “equal time” rule**, which requires broadcasters to offer equivalent airtime to all candidates in a political race if one is given time. Traditionally, talk show interviews have been exempted from that rule, but recent regulatory notices under FCC Chair **Brendan Carr**, a Trump appointee, have suggested stricter application even to late-night programs.

Colbert bluntly accused the **Trump administration and FCC leadership** of attempting to pressure broadcasters to censor political voices — allegations that FCC officials have denied. Carr said there was no censorship and that his agency was merely enforcing longstanding law. ([Al Jazeera][2])

CBS, for its part, stated the decision was rooted in legal caution about the equal time implications and insisted Colbert was not formally *barred* from airing the interview, but was advised on potential regulatory consequences. The network said it offered options for how to provide equal time to other candidates — a claim Colbert disputes.

Rather than air on broadcast television, the interview was posted online, where FCC equal-time rules do not apply. The video quickly drew millions of views across platforms, and Talarico’s campaign reported a significant fundraising spike in the wake of the controversy.

The dispute highlights an intensifying debate over media regulation, political content on commercial television, and the balance between election-related fairness rules and First Amendment protections for speech and press.

**What’s next:**
Legal experts say any federal lawsuit — if filed — would likely hinge on interpretations of federal broadcasting law and constitutional free-speech protections. As of now, there has been **no public filing of a $750 million lawsuit against the FCC or former President Donald Trump in this matter.** News organizations are tracking developments.