# Kimmel moves Talarico interview to YouTube citing FCC pressure on networks

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/another-big-james-talarico-interview-is-punted-to-youtube-due-to-fcc-threats/
- Published: 2026-09-11T05:12:22+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-11T11:16:34+00:00
- Original publisher: The Verge
- Original article: https://www.theverge.com/policy/993383/jimmy-kimmel-fcc-brendan-carr-james-talarico
- Topics: Entertainment, Government, Offbeat, Politics, Trending, TV, Weird & Viral

## Key points

- Kimmel posted his Talarico interview to YouTube, not TV, citing FCC threats
- Mirrors Colbert's February move after CBS reportedly blocked his Talarico interview
- ABC has sued the FCC over an alleged "retaliatory campaign" against its licences

## Summary

Jimmy Kimmel confirmed that his interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico would not air on broadcast television as planned, instead being posted directly to YouTube. Kimmel said the move was made "out of consideration" for ABC's local affiliates, particularly in Texas, citing what he described as repeated threats from the Trump administration's FCC against him, his show and the network over routine editorial and booking decisions. The episode highlighted mounting tension between broadcasters and the FCC under chair Brendan Carr, with talk show hosts increasingly bypassing television to avoid regulatory risk to local stations.

The decision followed a similar move by Stephen Colbert in February, who said CBS blocked him from airing his own Talarico interview over concerns about the FCC's equal time rule, posting it to YouTube instead, while The View also faced FCC scrutiny after hosting Talarico earlier in the year. Kimmel's own show had previously been pulled off air for several days following FCC pressure, and ABC subsequently filed a lawsuit against the FCC accusing it of a "retaliatory campaign" that threatened to pull the network's broadcast licences. No further developments have emerged since Kimmel's announcement, leaving the dispute over broadcaster independence and FCC conduct unresolved.

## Coverage

- [The Verge: Kimmel moves Talarico interview to YouTube citing FCC pressure on networks](https://www.theverge.com/policy/993383/jimmy-kimmel-fcc-brendan-carr-james-talarico)
- [The Hollywood Reporter: James Talarico Rips Decision to Move Jimmy Kimmel Interview to YouTube: “The Most Dangerous Form of Cancel Culture”](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/politics-news/james-talarico-rips-fcc-abc-jimmy-kimmel-interview-youtube-1236696839/)
- [Deadline: James Talarico Calls FCC Pressure On Jimmy Kimmel Interview “The Most Dangerous Form Of Cancel Culture”](https://deadline.com/2026/09/james-talarico-kimmel-interview-cancel-culture-youtube-1237074026/)
- [Variety: James Talarico Blasts ‘Government Censorship’ After ABC Pulls His Jimmy Kimmel Interview Over FCC Concerns: ‘Dangerous Form of Cancel Culture’](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/james-talarico-fcc-censorship-abc-jimmy-kimmel-interview-1236857957/)
- [Fox News: Democratic rep tells ABC, CBS to 'grow a spine' after Kimmel announces alternative Talarico interview](https://www.foxnews.com/media/democratic-rep-tells-abc-cbs-grow-spine-after-kimmel-announces-alternative-talarico-interview)
- [Deadline: Jimmy Kimmel’s James Talarico Interview Posted To YouTube As Host Calls Out Trump And FCC: “They Want To Make Our Editorial Decisions For Us”](https://deadline.com/2026/09/jimmy-kimmel-james-talarico-trump-fcc-1237098522/)
- [Variety: Jimmy Kimmel’s Pulled TV Interview With James Talarico Drops on YouTube as Texas Senate Candidate Says: ‘They’re Worried We’re Going to Win This Race’](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/jimmy-kimmel-pulled-james-talarico-inteview-youtube-watch-1236857444/)

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Summarised by TalkFuse (https://talkfuse.com/). Quote the original publisher for the reporting and link this page for the summary and discussion.