Jimmy Kimmel released his full interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico online after telling viewers the conversation would not air on television because of what he described as threats by the Federal Communications Commission.
On Sept. 10, the YouTube channel for "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" uploaded the full conversation between the comedian and the Democratic politician, who is running for Senate in Texas in a race against Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton.
The Emmy-winning comedian said that he was moving forward with the interview against the FCC's wishes.
Kimmel recalled how Talarico experienced a similar situation in February, when his interview with Stephen Colbert on "The Late Show" was only released on YouTube. At the time,
Colbert said that CBS' lawyers warned him that his interview could trigger the FCC equal-time rule, which says that broadcast networks and radio stations must provide equal time to all candidates running in an election.
"This same very same thing happened. Why are they so scared of you?" Kimmel asked.
The Democrat replied: "Well, they're worried that we're going to win this race in Texas. We're not just going up against the most corrupt politician in Texas. We're going up against this entire corrupt system."
He said that his supporters are "underdogs until the last vote is counted," adding that "they are terrified of this movement we're building in Texas, working people, coming together across party and race, and gender, and religion, and culture, to take on the people at the top who have been screwing us over for far too long."
"I have to say it tickles me that they're terrified of you. I mean, no offense, but you look like Richie Cunningham," Kimmel quipped. "You look like you're running for student council."
Kimmel said that he's been watching Talarico for a while and believes "what you're doing is great."
The sit-down between Kimmel and Talarico did not air as part of the regular broadcast of "Jimmy Kimmel Live!" on ABC. On Sept. 9, the comedian alleged that the FCC, under President Donald Trump, has "threatened our show" based on "guest bookings, it would seem, they don't like." The Talarico interview, he said, would not air on TV so local ABC affiliates would not have to deal with the FCC's "nonsense."
"I've interviewed a lot of political candidates, from Hillary Clinton to Ted Cruz to Donald Trump himself," he said. "I interviewed Donald Trump when he was running for president in 2015, and at that time, when he was the one sitting next to me, he seemed to have no problem with the idea of talk show hosts interviewing candidates."
James Talarico replies to Trump's 'Talafreako' taunts
Kimmel also brought up Trump's remarks about Talarico while endorsing Republican Paxton.
Trump has referred to the Democrat as "Talafreako" while insulting Talarico's appearance and comparing him to Alfred E. Neuman. In response to the mocking, Talarico's campaign has launched "Talafrico" T shirts, which he promoted on Kimmel's show.
"It's actually the fastest selling item on our website," Talarico said. "We're grateful for the president for the nickname."
He also addressed Trump saying that electing the Democrat over Paxton would be insulting to Jesus. Talarico is a Presbyterian seminarian who has made his Christian faith and values central to his political identity.
He rejected speculation that he is "all of a sudden" Christian adding that his grandfather was a Baptist preacher in South Texas and said that he still attends the same church where I was baptized at age two.
"You said I'm disrespecting Jesus. You want to know what actually disrespects Jesus? Kicking the sick off their health care to give tax cuts to billionaires?" Talarico said. "You know what actually disrespects Jesus is bombing innocent school children in Iran, and sending our brave men and women off to die in another forever war."
USA TODAY has reached out to the White House for comment.
FCC says late-night talk shows aren't exempt from equal-time rule
In January, the FCC issued guidance saying that late-night talk shows don't have a blanket exemption from the agency's equal-time rule. The notice stated that while the FCC decided in 2006 that "The Tonight Show with Jay Leno" qualified for a news interview exemption to the rule, this has been interpreted in the years since to mean "the interview portion of all arguably similar entertainment programs," including those on other late-night shows, are also exempt.
The FCC said that interpretation is "not the case."
"A program that is motivated by partisan purposes, for example, would not be entitled to an exemption under longstanding FCC precedent," the FCC guidance stated.
The controversy also comes as Disney, the parent company of Kimmel's network, ABC, remains embroiled in a dispute with the FCC. In August, Disney sued the federal agency, alleging it was the victim of an unconstitutional "retaliatory campaign."
The White House denied that the FCC has threatened Kimmel in a statement shared with USA TODAY on Sept. 10.
"Jimmy Kimmel is play-acting – as he often does – to create a false narrative about this administration's policies," White House spokesperson Davis Ingle said. "Chairman Carr has not threatened him regarding interviewing James Talarico, or any other candidate. Any media outlet blindly amplifying Kimmel’s egocentric delusion should insist on proof. Of which they will find none."
In a Sept. 10 statement, FCC Commissioner Anna M. Gomez, a Democrat appointed by former President Joe Biden, said Kimmel's decision not to air his interview with Talarico "shows just how far this administration's campaign of censorship and control has gone."
Contributing: BrieAnna J. Frank and Taijuan Moorman, USA TODAY
This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Jimmy Kimmel releases James Talarico interview online amid FCC dispute
