Unaired Colbert interview with Talarico goes viral amid CBS-FCC controversy

The Late Show interview, blocked by CBS, has garnered millions of views online and $2.5 million in donations for the Texas Senate candidate.

Published on Feb. 22, 2026

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An unaired interview between late-night host Stephen Colbert and Texas U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico has gone viral after CBS reportedly blocked the segment from airing. The nearly 15-minute clip, posted to Colbert's social media feeds, has amassed millions of views across platforms and appears to be boosting Talarico's campaign, which has seen a $2.5 million surge in donations since the interview was released. The situation has further strained the relationship between Colbert and CBS, which canceled his show last year, and has also drawn the attention of FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, who has threatened action against networks over political commentary.

Why it matters

The viral success of the unaired Colbert interview highlights the challenges media companies face in trying to control political content in the social media era, where censorship can often backfire and draw even more attention to the restricted material. The controversy also underscores the fraught relationship between networks, late-night hosts, and federal regulators like the FCC, who have increasingly sought to police political speech on television.

The details

Colbert interviewed Talarico, a Texas state representative running for the U.S. Senate, on the set of The Late Show on Monday, Feb. 16. However, Colbert told his audience that CBS killed the segment, citing concerns about the FCC's 'equal time' directive. CBS denied the claim, saying the network provided 'legal guidance' that the interview could trigger the equal time rule for other candidates. Colbert dismissed the explanation, accusing CBS of bowing to 'bullies' and saying the network approved his script. The unaired interview was then posted to Colbert's social media channels, where it quickly went viral, garnering millions of views and a major fundraising boost for Talarico's campaign.

  • The interview was filmed on Monday, February 16, 2026.
  • Colbert addressed the issue on his show on Tuesday, February 17, 2026.
  • As of Wednesday, February 18, 2026, the unaired interview had garnered nearly 6 million views on YouTube, 4 million views on TikTok, and 400,000 likes on Instagram.

The players

Stephen Colbert

The host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, a late-night talk show that was canceled by CBS in 2026.

James Talarico

A Texas state representative running for the U.S. Senate in the 2026 Democratic primary.

Brendan Carr

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), who has threatened action against networks over political commentary.

Jasmine Crockett

A U.S. Representative from Texas who is also running in the 2026 Democratic primary for the U.S. Senate.

John Cornyn

The four-term Republican incumbent U.S. Senator from Texas whose seat is up for election in 2026.

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What they’re saying

“Never heard of Talarico. Didn't know who he was or what he stood for. Thank you FCC for bringing attention to this matter.”

— @Hadouken88 (YouTube)

“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 (D-Texas), and presented options for how the equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled.”

— CBS (CBS statement)

“They know damn well that every word of my script last night was approved by CBS lawyers who, for the record, approved every script that goes on the air. I'm just so surprised that this giant global corporation would not stand up to these bullies.”

— Stephen Colbert, Host, The Late Show (The Late Show)

“I think it was one of the most fun days I've had in the job watching sort of the hilarity of how this story played out.”

— Brendan Carr, Chairman, Federal Communications Commission (Deadline)

What’s next

The FCC has confirmed it has an enforcement action underway against ABC's 'The View' after the show featured Talarico as a guest, though the agency denied threatening CBS over Colbert's interview with the Texas Senate candidate.

The takeaway

This controversy highlights the challenges media companies face in navigating political content in the social media age, where attempts at censorship can often backfire and draw even more attention to the restricted material. It also underscores the increasingly fraught relationship between networks, late-night hosts, and federal regulators like the FCC, who have sought to exert more control over political speech on television.