Colbert accuses Trump administration of censorship after CBS pulls interview

Tue, 17 Feb 2026

Host claims lawyers barred him from discussing decision to drop Texas Democrat segment amid FCC rules scrutiny

Talkshow host Stephen Colbert has accused the Trump administration and CBS of censorship after he said the network told him not to air a television interview with a Texas Democrat running for Senate.

On his show, Colbert told viewers of the Late Show that network lawyers told him he was also prohibited from talking about their refusal to air his interview with James Talarico, a Texas state representative seeking his party’s nomination to challenge the Republican incumbent, John Cornyn, for a Senate seat in November.