Stephen Colbert Faces Backlash Over Alleged Bias Against Black Woman Candidate

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Stephen Colbert, the host of a popular late-night comedy show, is facing criticism for allegedly refusing to give equal airtime to Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a Black woman who is running against Texas state Rep. James Talarico in the Democratic primary for a U.S. Senate seat. The controversy stems from Colbert's reported reluctance to book Crockett on his show, despite federal equal-time rules that require him to do so.

Why it matters

The incident highlights ongoing debates about media bias and the treatment of women and minority candidates in political coverage. It also raises questions about the role of late-night comedy shows in the political process and whether they should be subject to the same fairness standards as traditional news outlets.

The details

According to reports, Colbert's show was set to feature an interview with Talarico, one of the candidates in the Texas Senate primary. However, Colbert's bosses reportedly told him he would need to give equal time to Crockett, Talarico's primary challenger, in order to comply with federal equal-time rules. Colbert allegedly refused, and then staged a public tantrum, falsely claiming the order had come from the Federal Communications Commission.

• The Texas Senate primary election is scheduled for March 3, 2026, with early voting already underway.
• FCC chief Brendan Carr has ruled that late-night 'comedy' shows no longer qualify for the exemption from equal-time rules granted to news reporting.

What they’re saying

What’s next

The controversy is likely to continue as the Texas Senate primary election approaches, with questions remaining about Colbert's actions and the broader issues of media bias and equal representation in political coverage.