Donald Trump dealt huge blow as TV host erupts after interview ‘pulled from air’

Stephen Colbert didn’t hold back after CBS pulled a planned interview with Texas State Representative James Talarico from The Late Show.

Opening Tuesday night’s program, Colbert told viewers that Talarico was originally scheduled to appear but was removed at the last minute. According to Colbert, network attorneys contacted the show directly and said the interview could not air. He added that he was initially instructed not only to cancel the segment, but also not to acknowledge the cancellation.

Rather than stay silent, Colbert addressed the situation head-on. He suggested the move reflected a broader attempt to influence what audiences can see and hear, arguing that top-down pressure poses a serious threat to open discussion.

Colbert explained that the decision stemmed from Federal Communications Commission (FCC) rules. Under existing regulations, if a broadcast program features a political candidate during an election cycle, equal opportunities must be offered to opposing candidates. Traditionally, news and talk show interviews have been exempt from that requirement. However, Colbert noted that a recent letter from the FCC chair indicated consideration of ending that exemption for talk shows, citing concerns about partisan motivations.

The late-night host framed the issue as part of a wider pattern, accusing the Trump administration of trying to curb criticism on television. In a pointed and comedic jab, Colbert compared the former president to a toddler overly attached to television, suggesting that negative coverage prompts outsized reactions.

Despite the network’s decision not to air the segment on CBS, Colbert confirmed that his conversation with Talarico will still take place — it will instead be published on the show’s YouTube channel.