Jimmy Kimmel claims the Trump administration’s FCC threatened ABC over his interview with Democratic Senate nominee James Talarico.
ABC’s late-night show host Jimmy Kimmel accused the US President Donald Trump’s FCC of threatening him and his channel for his interview with Texas Democratic Senate Nominee James Talarico. In his opening monologue on September 9, 2026, Kimmel announced his interview with Talarico will not air on TV because of the FCC.
Jimmy Kimmel claimed the FCC, which regulates television and radio content in the US, “threatened” him and the ABC affiliates over “editorial decisions.” Kimmel said:
“Now that he is President. His FCC has threatened me, threatened our show, threatened our network, ABC, our affiliates, our local stations, based on simple, traditional editorial decisions, guest bookings it would seem they don’t like.”
Alleging pressure from the Trump administration, Kimmel explained he does not want ABC to get in trouble:
“Out of consideration for our local stations, especially our ABC affiliates in Texas, who would have to deal with this nonsense, my interview tomorrow with James Talarico will not air on television.”
This is not the first time that Jimmy Kimmel and ABC have clashed with the FCC. Back in September 2025, they had to take Kimmel off the air temporarily over his comments about Charlie Kirk. As per the BBC, the FCC also ordered a review of Disney’s (ABC’s parent company) television rights in April 2026 after Melania Trump called him out for a joke. ABC is currently suing the FCC on First Amendment grounds.
Related: “Pure YouTube content”: Internet reacts as Jimmy Kimmel confirms his interview with candidate James Talarico will be shared on YouTube
Jimmy Kimmel Announces James Talarico Interview Will Air on YouTube, Saying “That Is the Best We Can Do Until November”
The interview with James Talarico might not see airtime on TV. But Jimmy Kimmel assured his audience that it will be uploaded on YouTube on Thursday night, September 10.
“It will be on YouTube instead. It will not be on TV. So, if you want to learn about a candidate for the Senate tomorrow, you have to go to the Jimmy Kimmel Live YouTube channel, where you will see it in its entirety.”
Kimmel said that a YouTube interview is “the best we can do until November.” He also asked his audience to register for the midterm elections:
“And thank goodness we have that. Because in the America we live in right now, that is the best we can do until November, of course. Make sure you’re registered to vote, by the way. Because that’s the most important thing you can do.”
James Talarico has weighed in about the controversy. In an interview with MS Now, he called it “the most dangerous form of cancel culture.” He is facing off against Republican Ken Paxton in the 2026 Senate race in Texas.
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