Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-Texas) suggested Tuesday that a scrapped late-night interview may have inadvertently helped her Democratic primary opponent in the race to challenge Sen. John Cornyn (R-Texas).
Appearing on MS NOW, Crockett reacted to news that an interview between Stephen Colbert and Texas state Rep. James Talarico was allegedly blocked from airing on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert but later posted online, where it has drawn more than 5 million views.
“The ‘Late Show’ decided that this was the option, and I think that it was a good strategy,” Crockett said, arguing that the controversy may have amplified Talarico’s reach. She compared the situation to a previously blocked “60 Minutes” segment about El Salvador’s CECOT prison that gained traction online after it was initially pulled.
“We found out that you could get a lot more views,” Crockett said. “So, I think it probably gave my opponent the boost he was looking for.”
The interview was reportedly withheld over concerns about the Federal Communications Commission’s equal-time rule, which requires broadcasters to offer comparable airtime to competing candidates. CBS denied Colbert’s claim that lawyers for its parent company, Paramount Global, ordered the segment pulled, saying it merely provided legal guidance and suggested options for complying with FCC rules.
Colbert publicly criticized the decision on-air, saying network lawyers told him “in no uncertain terms” that Talarico could not appear. He later dismissed the company’s denial as “crap,” noting that legal teams routinely review scripts before broadcast.
The dispute has drawn renewed attention to FCC Chair Brendan Carr, whose tenure has faced criticism over alleged regulatory pressure on media outlets. Reports suggest the FCC may revisit exemptions that currently shield talk shows from strict equal-time enforcement.
Talarico called the network’s decision “alarming,” suggesting it would not ease concerns about political pressure. He and Crockett are competing in the Democratic primary for a chance to unseat Cornyn in November.
