Colbert blasts CBS for denying it shut down Talarico interview

Source: USA Today

Updated Feb. 18, 2026, 9:21 a.m. ET


With just three months left before "The Late Show" ends, Stephen Colbert is giving CBS a piece of his mind.

The comedian slammed the network on Tuesday for releasing a statement denying that he was prohibited from airing an interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico due to concerns about running afoul of the FCC's "equal time" rule. Colbert denied the CBS statement, doubling down on his original claims and saying he was "so surprised" by how the situation has unfolded.

"For the lawyers to release this [statement] without even talking to me is really surprising. I don't even know what to do with this crap," he said before taking out a bag and disposing of the piece of paper where the statement was written as if it was dog poop.

The "Late Show" host also maintained that CBS "told me unilaterally that I had to abide by" the FCC's equal time rule ahead of his interview with Talarico, "something I have never been asked to do for an interview in the 21 years of this job." USA TODAY has reached out to CBS for comment.

Read more: https://www.usatoday.com/story/entertainment/tv/2026/02/18/stephen-colbert-cbs-james-talarico-interview-statement/88735752007/