Kimmel Moves Talarico Interview Online

Jimmy Kimmel says FCC pressure kept his Talarico interview off ABC.

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Democratic rep tells ABC, CBS to 'grow a spine' after Kimmel announces alternative Talarico interview

CHATTER AWAY: Overnight Open Thread

Kimmel, Talarico Cry 'Censorship' Over Their Interview - but There's a Small Problem With That Claim

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Jimmy Kimmel said Wednesday night that his planned interview with James Talarico, the Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate, would not air on ABC’s “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and would instead be posted on YouTube on Thursday. Kimmel cited threats from the Trump administration’s FCC against him, his show, ABC, its affiliates and local stations over candidate appearances. The dispute centers on broadcasters’ “equal time” obligations for legally qualified candidates, rules that do not apply to YouTube distribution. The White House denied pressuring ABC and accused Kimmel of “play-acting.”

Analysis & opinion

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FCC censorshipLeans Left

Trump’s FCC pressured ABC and Jimmy Kimmel in a way that chilled or blocked normal political coverage of James Talarico. The threats were an unjustified use of regulatory power that pushed the interview off broadcast television and amounted to censorship or intimidation.

Equal-time disputeLeans Right

Kimmel and Talarico misrepresented a legal equal-time issue as government censorship. ABC had valid broadcast-compliance reasons not to air the interview as planned, and Kimmel falsely cast himself as the victim of FCC intimidation.