FCC Chairman Slams James Talarico’s “Hoax” in Viral Jimmy Kimmel Interview!

The recent interview featuring Jimmy Kimmel and Texas U.S. Senate hopeful James Talarico has amassed nearly 7 million views on YouTube. Over the weekend, FCC chairman Brendan Carr publicly criticized Talarico, alleging that he staged a “hoax” to boost “clicks and donations.”

Kimmel announced earlier in the week that his discussion with Talarico would be available exclusively on YouTube instead of his regular ABC slot due to the FCC’s strict enforcement of the equal time rule.

On the social platform X, Carr charged Talarico with repeating his previous tactics seen on Colbert’s show, aiming to garner clicks and donations by exploiting loopholes in the law, relying on the public’s misunderstanding or partisan bias.

Carr also shared a meme showing Talarico on a bicycle carried by Kimmel, who then sabotages the ride by sticking a spoke in the wheel, causing a crash.

A spokesperson for Talarico’s campaign did not immediately return a request for comment, with the Kimmel interview tallying 6.8 million views by Saturday night.

In February, Stephen Colbert released a YouTube interview with Talarico after receiving a caution from network executives about airing the candidate on broadcast television. This interview attracted 9.6 million views on YouTube, significantly surpassing the typical audience for the broadcast show itself.

This week, Talarico described the Kimmel episode as an act of government censorship and likened it to “cancel culture.” He also shared the interview on X, branding it “the interview Trump’s FCC doesn’t want you to see.”

For generations, daytime and late-night talk shows believed they were not subject to the FCC’s equal time rule, which mandates that broadcasters featuring candidates provide equal opportunities to their competitors upon request. While news coverage and interviews are exempt, this rule does not extend to cable or streaming platforms, over which the FCC holds limited authority.

However, in January, under Carr’s leadership appointed by Donald Trump, the FCC suggested that TV talk show exemptions might not hold, perceived by many as a move to target hosts disfavored by the administration. Shortly thereafter, an investigation was launched into ABC’s The View following Talarico’s appearance.

Until now, Carr had not commented on Kimmel’s latest objections nor on the decision to shift the interview online. Kimmel criticized the FCC’s threat to enforce the equal time rule as an attempt to control the editorial decisions of his show, which he stated could not be tolerated.

On Thursday, a White House spokesperson claimed that Kimmel was merely “performing” to “fabricate a false narrative,” asserting that Carr had not directly threatened him about interviewing Talarico or any other candidate.

Carr has rebutted claims that the FCC’s heightened enforcement of the equal time rule amounts to censorship.

On X, Carr elaborated, “The Equal Time Law does not prevent anyone from interviewing any candidate on broadcast TV. It promotes more speech, not less. Congress intended for voters to decide elections, not media gatekeepers who might favor certain candidates over others by offering unequal airtime. When applicable, the law simply requires stations to provide comparable time and placement, which does not necessarily mean an interview by the same host on the same program.”

Carr responded to a post from the University of Texas Democrats who questioned why they could watch Sen. Ted Cruz (D-TX) on ESPN’s College GameDay but not Talarico on Kimmel. Carr clarified that the equal time rule did not apply to Cruz’s appearance as it was on a cable network and the rule only covers candidates actively in an election campaign. Cruz was not up for reelection that year; Talarico’s Republican opponent is Ken Paxton.

ABC is contesting the FCC’s application of the rule regarding The View, citing a 2002 letter that confirmed the show’s exemption. Moreover, the network has initiated a lawsuit against the FCC on First Amendment grounds. It argues that the order for its eight owned stations to undergo early license renewals constitutes regulatory revenge, driven by the Trump administration’s disapproval of its coverage and programming, including The View and Kimmel.

In his post, Carr defended the FCC’s regulatory actions as within the agency’s remit.

He stated, “In return for exclusive rights to use spectrum freely, broadcasters agreed to serve the public interest, not just their own narrow agendas. They must adhere to various rules and policies, setting them apart from newspapers, cable shows, and podcasts. Yet, some broadcasters are now reluctant to fulfill their public commitments, wanting to maintain their access to billions in spectrum value while shirking their responsibilities.”

ABC’s legal arguments highlight selective enforcement by the FCC, noting that January’s guidance did not address conservative talk radio. They also argue that applying the equal time rule to shows like The View is impractical, potentially obligating stations to allocate time to a large number of candidates. Kimmel expressed a wish to interview Paxton, but noted, “our affiliates in Texas would need to provide equal time to as many as ten candidates on the ballot.”