Jimmy Kimmel is fighting with Donald Trump's FCC again
Jimmy Kimmel said his interview with Democrat James Talarico won't air on ABC due to concerns that the FCC could take issue with it.
ABC late-night host Jimmy Kimmel is currently embroiled in a dispute with the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) led by Brendan Carr, a former Trump administration official. Kimmel's interview with Democratic state lawmaker James Talarico, who is running for a US Senate seat, will not air on ABC but will instead be published on YouTube.
This decision is due to the FCC's scrutiny of ABC's broadcast licenses, citing concerns over the network's diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) practices. Kimmel claims the FCC is reacting to his editorial decisions, such as guest bookings, and threatening his show and network. This latest conflict stems from the FCC's revised interpretation of the equal-time rule, which requires broadcasters to provide comparable opportunities for candidates to appear on air, with some exceptions for bona fide news programs.
The FCC has questioned whether late-night and daytime talk shows like Kimmel's are exempt from this rule. Kimmel has previously clashed with the FCC under Trump's administration, including a suspension from Disney last year and a joke about Melania Trump in April. In response to these tensions, Disney has filed a suit against the FCC, alleging a retaliatory campaign against ABC based on their editorial content.
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