FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr seems intent on changing how arcane FCC rules interact with late night talk shows. Not long after causing a ruckus that briefly took Jimmy Kimmel off the air, his vague threats appear to have been enough to convince CBS to tell Stephen Colbert not to air an interview.
The Timeline
The incident became a whole thing on The Vergecast, where David Pierce and Nilay Patel discussed the timeline of the Colbert/CBS back-and-forth. They attempted to explain how the equal time rule actually works and wondered exactly how far Carr's chilling effect will be allowed to go.
The Equal Time Rule
The equal time rule requires broadcast stations to provide equal opportunity to opposing political candidates who request it. However, its application to late-night talk shows and entertainment programming remains a gray area that Carr appears to be exploiting.
Broader Implications
This incident raises significant questions about:
- Government overreach into editorial decisions
- The chilling effect on free speech
- How vague regulatory threats can influence media content
- The future of political discourse on entertainment platforms