Stephen Colbert
Host of The Late Show on CBS who revealed on air that the network blocked an interview with James Talarico, then escalated by calling CBS's denial 'crap' — confronting his own employer on live television.
The Bombshell (February 17, 2026)
Colbert revealed during his monologue that CBS lawyers had called him directly to say he could not broadcast his planned interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico. The reason: FCC Chairman Brendan Carr’s January 21 letter threatening to eliminate the talk show exemption to the equal time rule.
Colbert noted this had never happened in his 21 years on air. He called Carr a “smug bowling pin” and told him: “Sir, you’re chairman of the FCC, so FCC you.”
He aired the Talarico interview on YouTube instead — but said CBS would not even allow him to share the URL on the broadcast.
The Escalation (February 18, 2026)
After CBS released a statement denying it had blocked the interview — claiming it merely “provided legal guidance” — Colbert escalated on the next night’s broadcast.
He held up a printed copy of the CBS statement, said “I don’t even know what to do with this crap,” then pulled a plastic dog waste bag from behind his desk, picked up the statement, tied a knot, and mimed throwing it away.
He revealed that between his monologue and the second act the previous night, CBS lawyers had called him backstage to dictate specific language about the equal time exception — something that had never happened before. “They know damn well that every word of my script last night was approved by CBS’s lawyers.”
Addressing Paramount
Colbert directed his most pointed remarks at the corporate parent: “I’m just so surprised that this giant global corporation would not stand up to these bullies. Come on, you’re Paramount. No, you’re more than that. You’re Paramount Plus. Plus what? I guess we’re all going to find out pretty soon.”
The reference to Paramount’s pending $108 billion hostile bid for Warner Bros. Discovery was unmistakable. The corporation had regulatory incentives to avoid antagonizing the Trump administration.