The FCC issued guidance on Wednesday stating that daytime and late-night TV talk shows interviewing political candidates must now follow "equal time" rules, requiring comparable airtime for opposing candidates.
Networks can no longer rely on a 2006 exemption precedent from Jay Leno's "Tonight Show" interviews, as the FCC's Media Bureau declared no current such programs have presented evidence to qualify as bona fide news interviews exempt from the rule.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr emphasized that legacy networks have long assumed these shows count as "bona fide news" even when driven by partisan motives, and the agency is reminding broadcasters of their duty to offer equal opportunities to all candidates.
President Donald Trump amplified the news late Wednesday by sharing a story on Truth Social highlighting the FCC's focus on ABC's "The View" and "Jimmy Kimmel Live!"—shows that have drawn his repeated criticism.
Trump has previously urged FCC action against broadcasters and commented on media mergers.
Democratic FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez sharply criticized the move as contradicting long-standing views on editorial discretion for newsworthy content, calling it an escalation in efforts to censor speech and intimidate broadcasters into avoiding critical coverage out of fear of regulatory retaliation. She stressed that the First Amendment does not bend to government pressure.