# Kimmel shifts Talarico interview to YouTube to shield stations from FCC

- URL: https://talkfuse.com/story/jimmy-kimmel-live-moves-interview-with-texas-senate-candidate-james-talarico-from-tv-to-youtube-due-to-fcc-threats/
- Published: 2026-09-10T14:42:21+00:00
- Updated: 2026-09-10T21:14:38+00:00
- Original publisher: Variety
- Original article: https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/jimmy-kimmel-live-james-talarico-youtube-fcc-1236856911/
- Topics: Entertainment, Government, Politics, Trending, TV, Weird & Viral

## Key points

- Kimmel moved his Talarico interview from TV to YouTube only.
- Move aimed to shield ABC affiliates from FCC retaliation risk.
- Colbert did the same in February amid FCC's equal-time pressure.

## Summary

Jimmy Kimmel confirmed that his interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico would not be broadcast on "Jimmy Kimmel Live" and was instead posted exclusively to YouTube, a precaution he said was taken to protect ABC's local affiliates from regulatory retaliation. Kimmel said the decision was made "out of consideration" for stations, particularly in Texas, given the Federal Communications Commission's escalating pressure on broadcasters under chairman Brendan Carr. The move mirrored an earlier decision by "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" in February, when CBS lawyers similarly blocked a Talarico interview from airing over the FCC's "equal time" rule for political candidates.

Kimmel pointed to the irony that Donald Trump had appeared on his show unchallenged as a presidential candidate in 2015, contrasting this with the FCC's conduct since Trump took office, including threats to ABC's eight owned-and-operated stations, pressure over Kimmel's own suspension last year, and a review of "The View"'s equal-time exemption. ABC has responded by suing the FCC over what it called an "extraordinary assault" on free speech. Colbert's earlier YouTube-only Talarico interview drew 9.5 million views and helped the campaign raise $2.5 million in a single day, suggesting Kimmel's version was likely to see similarly strong online interest despite being kept off broadcast television.

## Coverage

- [Variety: Kimmel shifts Talarico interview to YouTube to shield stations from FCC](https://variety.com/2026/tv/news/jimmy-kimmel-live-james-talarico-youtube-fcc-1236856911/)
- [Deadline: Kimmel Says Trump’s FCC Has Threatened Show, So His James Talarico Interview Will Air On YouTube Instead Of ABC](https://deadline.com/2026/09/kimmel-trump-threat-james-talarico-interview-1237073160/)
- [The Hollywood Reporter: Jimmy Kimmel’s Interview With James Talarico Heading to YouTube to Avoid FCC Hassle](https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jimmy-kimmel-james-talarico-interview-fcc-brendan-carr-1236696255/)
- [Far Out: Jimmy Kimmel says Donald Trump has “threatened” his show again, moves key interview to YouTube](https://faroutmagazine.co.uk/jimmy-kimmel-donald-trump-threatened-interview-youtube/)
- [Consequence: Jimmy Kimmel Says James Talarico Interview Won’t Air on TV Amid FCC Pressure](https://consequence.net/2026/09/jimmy-kimmel-james-talarico-interview-wont-air-tv-fcc-pressure/)
- [The Hill: Kimmel pulls Talarico interview after FCC threat](https://thehill.com/homenews/media/6081125-abc-jimmy-kimmel-james-talarico-interview-pulled-fcc-threat-midterms/)

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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.