AUSTIN, Texas – , early voting began in Texas’ primary elections, shadowed by a dispute involving CBS and “Late Show” host Stephen Colbert over an interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico. Colbert alleges CBS pulled the interview due to concerns about violating Federal Communications Commission (FCC) guidelines regarding equal time for political candidates, a move he characterized as a form of censorship.
The situation unfolded as Talarico and Representative Jasmine Crockett compete for the Democratic nomination to challenge incumbent Republican Senator John Cornyn. On the Republican side, Cornyn faces challenges from Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Representative Wesley Hunt. The primary elections are being closely watched as a bellwether for the November general election, particularly given the state’s growing political diversity.
According to Colbert, CBS lawyers informed him “in no uncertain terms” that Talarico could not appear on “The Late Show,” and subsequently cautioned him against even acknowledging the cancellation to viewers. Despite this, Colbert aired a portion of the interview on YouTube, arguing that online platforms are exempt from the equal time rule. He then publicly addressed the situation on his broadcast, criticizing the FCC’s actions.
CBS disputed Colbert’s account, stating that its legal team provided guidance regarding the potential activation of the FCC’s equal time rule. This rule requires broadcasters to offer opposing candidates equal opportunities to respond if one candidate is given airtime. In a Democratic primary, this would necessitate providing similar airtime to Crockett and a lesser-known candidate, Ahmad Hassan.
Crockett expressed skepticism about the timing of CBS’s decision, suggesting it appeared “quite convenient” given the start of early voting. She also pointed out her own previous appearances on national talk shows, including “The View,” implying that the issue might be specific to the Talarico interview.
The controversy stems from recent FCC guidelines issued in , which warned late-night and daytime talk show hosts about the need to provide equal time to political candidates. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr questioned the long-standing exemption for talk shows, suggesting that hosts might be “motivated by partisan purposes.” The FCC has not responded to requests for comment on the specific situation involving Colbert and Talarico.
The timing of the incident also coincides with Colbert’s impending departure from “The Late Show.” CBS announced last year that the program would be cancelled in due to financial reasons, a decision that prompted scrutiny from two U.S. Senators who questioned whether the cancellation was linked to Colbert’s criticism of a deal between Donald Trump and Paramount Global, CBS’s parent company.
Both Talarico and Crockett are actively campaigning to avoid a runoff election on , requiring them to secure at least 50% of the Democratic vote in the primary. Talarico shared a clip of his interview with Colbert on X, framing it as “the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see” and accusing Trump of attempting a “dangerous form of cancel culture.”
On the Republican side, Paxton has intensified his campaign with a rally in Tyler, Texas, while Cornyn held a rally in Austin. Hunt released a new television advertisement targeting Cornyn, positioning himself as an alternative to both Cornyn and Paxton. Paxton, facing scrutiny over past legal issues including an impeachment trial and a settlement in a securities fraud case, is attempting to portray Cornyn as an establishment figure disconnected from the concerns of ordinary Texans.
The early voting period began with Paxton considered the frontrunner for the Republican nomination, although the Cornyn campaign and allied Super PACs have significantly outspent Paxton in television advertising since last year. Republican leaders in Washington have expressed concern that Paxton as the nominee would require substantially more resources to defend in the general election than Cornyn, particularly given Trump’s narrow victory in the state in 2020.
Cornyn echoed these concerns at a rally in Austin, warning that Paxton would be a “drag” on the entire Republican ticket. The unfolding primary battles in Texas are likely to have significant implications for the state’s political landscape and the broader national political narrative.
