Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel has moved an interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico from ABC to its YouTube channel following a threat from the Federal Communications Commission.
Kimmel stated that something has changed since Donald Trump assumed the presidency, though he could not pinpoint the exact reason. “I interviewed Donald Trump when he was running for president in 2015,” Kimmel said during his Wednesday broadcast. “I’ve been interviewing Americans who are running for office with no problem at all.”
The host explained that his interview with Talarico would now appear exclusively on YouTube rather than air on ABC, citing concerns about the FCC’s potential interference. Kimmel emphasized he acted out of consideration for ABC affiliates in Texas: “Out of consideration for our local stations, especially our ABC affiliates in Texas,” he said. “I wouldn’t put them in a position where they might have to provide comparable airtime to his Republican opponent, Ken Paxton.”
The FCC’s equal-opportunities rules require broadcasters that air one legally qualified political candidate to also provide comparable opportunities for opposing candidates. The agency has previously allowed exceptions for news programs and interviews but recently warned that late-night talk shows do not automatically qualify for such exemptions. Kimmel acknowledged the complexity: “The FCC’s position is based on a long-standing federal law requiring broadcasters that give airtime to one legally qualified political candidate to provide comparable opportunities to opposing candidates.”
This dispute comes amid speculation about Kimmel’s future at ABC, though an ABC spokesperson stated that reports of his contract non-renewal were inaccurate.
