First Colbert, now ‘The View’: Trump’s FCC initiates equal time investigation into political chat show
The Federal Communications Commission, the body overseeing U.S. broadcast airwaves, is investigating ABC’s “The View” over potential violations of the rule requiring broadcast stations to provide to political candidates when they appear on air, as stated by the agency’s leader.
“The FCC has an enforcement action ongoing regarding this,” Chairman Brendan Carr told reporters after an agency meeting on Wednesday, responding to a question about whether an investigation into the daytime program over possible breaches of the “equal time” rule was underway. “And we are looking into it.”
, a Democratic Senate candidate in Texas, appeared on “The View” on February 2. U.S. Rep. , who is running against Talarico for the nomination, has also appeared on the show.
The Trump administration has taken steps to regulate talk shows, which the FCC has suggested may be “motivated by partisan aims.” Earlier in the week, late-night host Stephen Colbert said CBS executives had by Talarico on his program due to concerns it might violate equal time provisions.
The FCC issued in January to late-night and daytime hosts, stating they must give political candidates equal time. Exceptions to the rule include newscasts, “bona fide” interview programs, and coverage of live events or documentaries. Carr has questioned the talk show exemption and whether it should remain.
“The FCC has not been provided with any evidence that the interview segments of any current late-night or daytime television talk show would qualify for the bona fide news exemption,” according to the agency’s public notice from last month.
Carr, a Trump appointee, suggested last year that investigating “The View”—whose hosts have frequently criticized the Republican president—might be “worthwhile.”
The FCC has not responded to a request for comment on “The View” or Colbert’s show.
On Wednesday, Carr said watching the fallout from Colbert’s description of the Talarico incident “was probably one of the most enjoyable days I’ve had in this role,” adding that the candidate “took advantage” of media attention “apparently to raise money and get clicks.”
The applies only to broadcast, not streaming or internet programs. Colbert later posted the Talarico interview to , where it has been viewed more than 7.5 million times—several times the nightly audience of the comedian’s CBS program.
Talarico reported raising $2.5 million in campaign donations within 24 hours after the Colbert interview.
A spokesperson for “The View” declined to comment on Carr’s statement on Thursday.
CBS says Colbert received “legal guidance” that broadcasting the Talarico interview could trigger the equal time rule. Colbert that while Carr mentioned in January he was considering removing the exemption for late-night talk shows, “CBS generously did it for him.”