The LA Times story Friday explores how FCC Chairman Brendan Carr—a Trump appointee—is reviving and aggressively enforcing the long-dormant equal-time rule for broadcast TV and radio stations.
The rule requires stations to provide equal airtime to opposing political candidates if one appears on the air. The piece argues that this is creating significant anxiety among broadcasters, as it's seen as a tool to pressure networks perceived as unfair to President Trump.
Key points from the article:
- The tension ties into a recent incident where CBS reportedly blocked or hesitated on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" airing an interview with Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico, citing concerns over equal-time obligations. Colbert publicly called out his own network for allegedly caving to FCC/regulatory pressure, accusing it of capitulating to "bullies" in the Trump administration. CBS disputed the characterization.
FCC Chair Carr has pushed to limit or eliminate exemptions that traditionally apply to news programs, interviews, and talk shows (including late-night shows like Colbert's or "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," and daytime ones like "The View"). Critics view this as targeting Trump opponents in media, potentially chilling free speech by making broadcasters wary of booking certain political guests to avoid equal-time demands or license threats.
Brendan Carr - Legal experts cited in the story question whether Carr has the authority for such strict enforcement, but broadcasters are reportedly intimidated anyway—fearing regulatory repercussions like license challenges from the FCC.
- Broader context includes earlier FCC actions (e.g., from January 2026) signaling that politician appearances on talk shows might no longer qualify for "bona fide news" exemptions, heightening the stakes for legacy broadcast networks amid Trump's known criticism of late-night TV that mocks him.
The article frames this as part of a larger effort by the administration to influence "legacy media" through regulatory levers, unsettling an industry already facing other pressures.