Kimmel Moves Candidate Interview Online Amid FCC Scrutiny

Jimmy Kimmel announced that an interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, originally scheduled to air on ABC's "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," will instead be exclusively released on YouTube. Kimmel stated in his Wednesday monologue that the decision was made due to threats from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) against ABC, its affiliates, and local stations regarding editorial decisions and guest bookings. Kimmel drew a contrast with his show's 20-plus year history of interviewing political candidates, including Donald Trump in 2015, without issue. He suggested that the current FCC, under President Trump's administration, has changed this dynamic, threatening the network over what he described as simple, traditional guest selections. The move online bypasses broadcast-specific FCC requirements, which Kimmel noted was a necessary alternative. This situation echoes a similar incident earlier this year when CBS's "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" did not broadcast an interview with Talarico. Network lawyers reportedly cited concerns over FCC equal-time rules following new guidance from FCC Chairman Brendan Carr.