Stephen Colbert Blasts CBS and Paramount for “Bowling to Bullies” Over Unaired Interview
Stephen Colbert took aim at CBS and its parent company, Paramount, on Tuesday night after his interview with Texas Democrat James Talarico was posted only on YouTube and didn’t air on the network. The comedian explained that CBS blocked the broadcast because of concerns over the FCC’s equal-time rules for elections.
Colbert told viewers that CBS had not directly informed him about their public statement denying any prohibition. Instead, the network offered legal guidance suggesting airing the interview could trigger equal-time obligations for other Texas candidates. “This statement, it’s a surprisingly small piece of paper considering how many butts it’s trying to cover,” Colbert said during the show. He added that every word of his script had been previously approved by CBS lawyers.
It’s important that you understand what happened last night.
— Joshua Reed Eakle 🗽 (@JoshEakle) February 17, 2026
Last night, Stephen Colbert interviewed Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, a candidate who, by all accounts, is on track in the polls to flip Texas blue.
In response, Trump’s FCC reportedly threatened… pic.twitter.com/IEyWg7KnuW
The host emphasized that the decision wasn’t personal against Talarico. He pointed out that his team had booked Talarico’s primary rival, Rep. Jasmine Crockett, twice before. “We obeyed our network and put the interview on YouTube, where it’s gotten millions of views,” he noted.
Colbert, whose show will end after the current season, stressed that he doesn’t want a conflict with CBS. “I’m just so surprised that this giant global corporation would not stand up to these bullies,” he said, referencing Paramount. “Come on, you’re Paramount! No. No! No, you’re more than that! You’re Paramount Plus! Plus what?”
He also expressed frustration that CBS lawyers released the statement without discussing it with him first. “I don’t even know what to do with this crap. Hold on,” he added.
Representatives for CBS and the FCC had not responded to Axios’ requests for comment as of Tuesday night.
Colbert’s remarks highlight ongoing tensions between creative talent and corporate policies, especially when legal and political considerations intersect. In my view, this situation raises questions about how networks handle political content and the transparency of their decisions. Do you think Colbert was right to call out CBS and Paramount, or should networks prioritize legal caution over airing political interviews? Share your thoughts in the comments.