FCC Investigating The View Over Equal Time Rule

Probe comes after interview was pulled from Stephen Colbert's show for same reason

Feb. 28, 2026 at 1:47pm

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The Federal Communications Commission is investigating ABC's The View over possible violations of the requirement that broadcast stations give equal time to political candidates when they appear on-air. The investigation comes after a Democratic candidate for the Senate in Texas, James Talarico, appeared on The View, and his opponent, US Rep. Jasmine Crockett, has also been on the show. The FCC has suggested that the equal time rule may be "motivated by partisan purposes" and has issued new guidance to late-night and daytime hosts that they need to give political candidates equal time, with some exceptions.

Why it matters

The equal time rule is intended to ensure fairness in political coverage on broadcast television, but the FCC's investigation into The View suggests that the rule may be open to partisan interpretation. This could have broader implications for how political candidates are covered on television, particularly on talk shows that have historically been critical of certain political figures.

The details

The FCC investigation into The View comes after late-night host Stephen Colbert said CBS executives had pulled an appearance by Talarico on his program over fears it ran afoul of equal time provisions. The FCC has suggested that the talk show exemption to the equal time rule may need to be reconsidered, and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, a Trump appointee, has raised questions about whether the exemption should stand.

  • The FCC investigation into The View began in February 2026.
  • On February 2, 2026, Democratic candidate for the Senate in Texas, James Talarico, appeared on The View.
  • In January 2026, the FCC issued new guidance to late-night and daytime hosts that they needed to give political candidates equal time, with some exceptions.

The players

Brendan Carr

The chairman of the Federal Communications Commission, which is overseeing the investigation into The View.

James Talarico

A Democratic candidate for the Senate in Texas who appeared on The View on February 2, 2026.

Jasmine Crockett

A US Representative who is running against Talarico for the Democratic nomination and has also appeared on The View.

Stephen Colbert

A late-night host whose program had an appearance by Talarico pulled over fears it ran afoul of equal time provisions.

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What they’re saying

“The FCC has an enforcement action underway on that. And we're taking a look at it.”

— Brendan Carr, FCC Chairman

“The FCC has not been presented with any evidence that the interview portion of any late night or daytime television talk show program on air presently would qualify for the bona fide news exemption.”

— Brendan Carr, FCC Chairman

“Watching the fallout from Colbert's characterization of what happened with Talarico was probably one of the most fun days I've had in the job. He took advantage of media attention apparently for the purpose of raising money and getting clicks.”

— Brendan Carr, FCC Chairman

What’s next

The FCC will continue its investigation into whether The View has violated the equal time rule, and may take enforcement action if violations are found.

The takeaway

The FCC's investigation into The View highlights the ongoing debate over the equal time rule and its application to political coverage on television, particularly on talk shows that have been critical of certain political figures. This could have broader implications for how political candidates are covered on television going forward.