Kimmel And Colbert Accuse FCC Of Trying To 'Squash' And 'Silence' Them

ABC’s Jimmy Kimmel and CBS’s host of The Late Show, Stephen Colbert, accused President Trump and FCC Chairman Brendan Carr of trying to “squash” and “silence” them on their Thursday shows after Carr announced that he believes the regulations that say broadcast networks must allow for equal time among candidates applies to their shows.

After a history lesson, Kimmel retorted, “That's how every talk show has operated since then until this week when Trump's little ferret in the FCC, Brendan Carr, who as you know is doing everything he can to shut us up, 'the easy way or the hard way,' is trying to say we no longer qualify for the bona fide news exemption when it comes to interviewing candidates, which is a sneaky little way of keeping viewpoints that aren't his off air.”

 

 

Kimmel insisted that times have changed and there is no need for Carr to insert himself into late night comedy, “It's his latest attack on free speech. And it's a joke, because this isn't the 50s anymore. Back then there were only three major networks. Now we've got cable, we’ve got streaming, we have satellite, podcasts, social media. There are thousands of outlet news now. Broadcast TV used to account for 100 percent of viewing. Now, it's like 20 percent. There are so many channels, some of them doing 24/7 Trump programming: Fox News, Newsmax, One America New, Real America's Voice. None of them are required to give equal time, but we are because we use the public airways. Equal time was designed to limit how much influence broadcasters have over public opinion.”

Concluding with a sense of uncertainty, Kimmel added, “We'll find out. I guess whatever happens, I want to point it out, because it is another example of this administration trying to squash anyone who doesn't support them by following ‘the rules.’”

 Over on CBS, Colbert sang a similar tune, “Today, I gotta watch what I say about Trump, because Johnny Law is once again coming after yours truly. Yesterday, there was a… new announcement from FCC Chair and disappointed testicle, Brendan Carr. The New York Times described the announcement this way: ‘FCC targets Colbert and Kimmel in a new crackdown on late night TV.’"

Colbert then, almost certainly unintentionally, made a decent point, “What? What? A new crackdown on late night TV? That has enormous implications for me for four more months! Good luck, Jimmy! So—See ya! See ya, suckers!”

 

 

He also added, “So, let's talk about these new crackdown rules that my lawyer warned me not to talk about. The FCC is announcing plans to enforce long-dormant rules on appearances by political candidates on network talk shows. Oh, no. They've awakened the long-dormant rules, not seen since the mind-bending horrors of the pre-Euclidian variety show ‘Cthulhu Tonight!’ This is clearly an attempt to silence me, Jimmy, Seth.”

The law in question says the equal time requirement takes effect 45 days prior to a primary and 60 days prior to a general election, so as he said, any FCC action on this front would not affect Colbert, at least when it comes to November’s general elections. Despite the freakouts, the prospect of state-run comedy is highly unlikely because the equal time regulation is not likely to have that much of an effect on Kimmel and Seth Meyers. The law is about candidates, not politicians or even liberals generally. In the period from September 6 to November 5, 2024, Kimmel interviewed only two candidates: Rep. Eric Swalwell and VP nominee Tim Walz. Swalwell won his election in a dark blue district by over 35 points and appeared exactly 60 days out.  Meyers did not interview any candidates in the 60-day window.

Kimmel and Colbert may object to the principle Carr is advocating for, but it is almost certain that the late night shows’ trend of not inviting Republicans on will continue.

Here are transcripts of the January 22 shows:

ABC Jimmy Kimmel Live!

1/22/2026

11:50 PM ET

JIMMY KIMMEL: That's how every talk show has operated since then until this week when Trump's little ferret in the FCC, Brendan Carr, who as you know is doing everything he can to shut us up, “the easy way or the hard way,” is trying to say we no longer qualify for the bona fide news exemption when it comes to interviewing candidates, which is a sneaky little way of keeping viewpoints that aren't his off air.

It's his latest attack on free speech. And it's a joke, because this isn't the 50s anymore. Back then there were only three major networks. Now we've got cable, we’ve got streaming, we have satellite, podcasts, social media. There are thousands of outlet news now. Broadcast TV used to account for 100 percent of viewing. Now, it's like 20 percent. There are so many channels, some of them doing 24/7 Trump programming: Fox News, Newsmax, One America New, Real America's Voice. None of them are required to give equal time, but we are because we use the public airways. Equal time was designed to limit how much influence broadcasters have over public opinion.

But we're not the only thing on television anymore. We're a small fish now. We used to be the whole pond. Now we're a part of this enormous Las Vegas buffet of—we're the mashed potatoes on the buffet. And the FCC now wants to mash us even more. They're mashing our potatoes. And I have no idea what the outcome of this is going to be.

We'll find out. I guess whatever happens, I want to point it out, because it is another example of this administration trying to squash anyone who doesn't support them by following “the rules.”

***

CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

1/22/2026

11:55 PM ET

STEPHEN COLBERT: Today, I gotta watch what I say about Trump, because Johnny Law is once again coming after yours truly. Yesterday, there was a—

[Booing] Thank you for being pre-upset. Yesterday, there was a new announcement from FCC Chair and disappointed testicle, Brendan Carr. The New York Times described the announcement this way: "FCC targets Colbert and Kimmel in a new crackdown on late night TV."

What? What? A new crackdown on late night TV? That has enormous implications for me for four more months! Good luck, Jimmy! So—See ya! See ya, suckers!

So, let's talk about these new crackdown rules that my lawyer warned me not to talk about. The FCC is announcing plans to enforce long-dormant rules on appearances by political candidates on network talk shows. Oh, no. They've awakened the long-dormant rules, not seen since the mind-bending horrors of the pre-Euclidian variety show "Cthulhu Tonight!"

This is clearly an attempt to silence me, Jimmy, Seth. And I've got to say one thing to say to the FCC. Hey, I'm flattered you think that appearing on my show has the power to affect politics in any way. Okay? I've been doing this job for 21 years and let me tell you something, buddy, if our government had turned out the way I had chosen, you would not have the power to make this announcement.