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FCC Accused of Retaliating Against ABC, After Kimmel Interview

By Drooid · Sep 13, 2026, 6:06 PM UTC · How we work

Summary

Story summary

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr accused Texas Democrat James Talarico of staging a hoax interview with Jimmy Kimmel.
ABC moved the interview to YouTube to avoid FCC equal-time issues.
The YouTube interview amassed 7.3 million views within its first 24 hours.
Jimmy Kimmel said the FCC threatened his show for interviewing a political candidate.
ABC sued the FCC, alleging the agency’s license-review demand retaliates against its First Amendment rights.

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Story summary

FCC Chairman Brendan Carr accused Texas Democrat James Talarico of staging a hoax interview with Jimmy Kimmel.
ABC moved the interview to YouTube to avoid FCC equal-time issues.
The YouTube interview amassed 7.3 million views within its first 24 hours.
Jimmy Kimmel said the FCC threatened his show for interviewing a political candidate.
ABC sued the FCC, alleging the agency’s license-review demand retaliates against its First Amendment rights.