Washington Examiner senior writer Joe Concha said Tuesday that Stephen Colbert’s show is “simply a super PAC” for Democratic politicians.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is drawing attention online after posting its interview with Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico on YouTube, despite CBS’s legal advice. The network said it advised Colbert that releasing this interview could trigger the Federal Communications Commission‘s equal time rule, though the late-night host called this statement “crap.”
The FCC’s equal time rule requires broadcast licensees to “afford equal opportunities” to all legally qualified candidates running for a particular office if the licensee permits one of the candidates to “use a broadcasting station.” However, Concha said that Colbert “doesn’t like having Republicans on his show.”
“He has had literally hundreds of Democrats on his show over the past few years,” Concha said on Fox News’s Jesse Watters Primetime, guest-hosted by Kayleigh McEnany. “The only Republican he’s ever had, if you want to call this person a Republican, is Liz Cheney, and that’s it! So Colbert is not interested in having both sides.”
Concha said Colbert’s show “ceased to be comedy many, many years ago, and is now just a super PAC” for Democratic candidates. While the Late Show with Stephen Colbert will be taken down in May, Concha said he would let Colbert go now since the host is “one big headache.”
Talarico is running in the Democratic primary for the 2026 Texas Senate race, where Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) is his opponent. Talarico said in an X post that his campaign has raised $2.5 million in donations since conducting his Colbert interview.
WHAT IS THE FCC EQUAL TIME RULE AT CENTER OF COLBERT-TALARICO INTERVIEW CONTROVERSY?
On the Republican side, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX) are looking to succeed Sen. John Cornyn (R-TX) in the primary. Cornyn was elected to the Senate in 2002 and is seeking a fifth term in office.
Early voting in the Texas primary elections began on Tuesday, and Election Day is set for March 3.