Jimmy Kimmel Moves Senate Candidate Interview to YouTube Amid FCC Scrutiny
Jimmy Kimmel has decided to air his interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico on YouTube instead of ABC. This change follows increased scrutiny from the FCC over the network's guest bookings.
Sources
ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel announced that an interview with Texas Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico will not air on the network due to increased scrutiny from the Republican-led FCC regarding political candidates' "equal time" rules. Talarico, who is narrowly leading Republican Attorney General Ken Paxton in a race deemed a toss-up, is set to release the interview on YouTube instead; a recent poll indicated he was ahead by 2 percentage points, 47% to 45%. The FCC's new regulations have prompted concerns about the impact on broadcasters' editorial independence, with the agency recently increasing oversight of political coverage on shows like Kimmel's.
Late-night host Jimmy Kimmel announced that his upcoming interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico will air on YouTube instead of ABC due to threats from the FCC regarding guest bookings and editorial decisions. Kimmel highlighted that he has interviewed various political figures over the past 20 years without issue, but now faces scrutiny under the Trump administration's FCC. This situation follows a pattern of increased pressure on broadcasters, with Kimmel's show previously suspended and ABC suing the FCC for alleged First Amendment violations, which the FCC chairman has called "meritless."