this post was submitted on 17 Feb 2026
696 points (98.7% liked)

Technology

81374 readers
4928 users here now

This is a most excellent place for technology news and articles.


Our Rules


  1. Follow the lemmy.world rules.
  2. Only tech related news or articles.
  3. Be excellent to each other!
  4. Mod approved content bots can post up to 10 articles per day.
  5. Threads asking for personal tech support may be deleted.
  6. Politics threads may be removed.
  7. No memes allowed as posts, OK to post as comments.
  8. Only approved bots from the list below, this includes using AI responses and summaries. To ask if your bot can be added please contact a mod.
  9. Check for duplicates before posting, duplicates may be removed
  10. Accounts 7 days and younger will have their posts automatically removed.

Approved Bots


founded 2 years ago
MODERATORS
 

Hacker News.

Late-night host Stephen Colbert accused his network, CBS, of refusing to broadcast his interview with Texas Rep. James Talarico, a Democratic candidate for U.S. Senate, during Monday night’s airing of “The Late Show” for fear of running afoul of the Trump administration.

Colbert said CBS canceled Talarico’s appearance on air in light of guidance issued Jan. 21 by Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr, which directed daytime and late-night TV talk show hosts to offer equal airtime to all political candidates running for a given office. Talk shows have long been exempted from these “equal time” rules when conducting “bona fide news interviews,” allowing them to book political candidates without bringing on their opponents.

Talarico “was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast,” Colbert said in a segment explaining the cancelation. “Then I was told in some uncertain terms that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on. And because my network clearly doesn’t want us to talk about this, let’s talk about this.”

The interview was set to air on Monday night’s show the day before the start of early voting for Texas’ March 3 primaries. Talarico is vying for the Senate Democratic nomination against U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas.

top 50 comments
sorted by: hot top controversial new old
[–] prenatal_confusion@feddit.org 2 points 2 hours ago

Yesterday the Interview wasn't shown on the YouTube page. The search in the YouTube app Colbert talarico had zero aut suggestions and only showed the result after submitting. Oooof

[–] nednobbins@lemmy.zip 11 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

Talarivo and Crockett both seem like good candidates at first glance.

Neither should be censored.

[–] FreeLikeGNU@lemmy.world 29 points 8 hours ago (6 children)

Talarico is vying for the Senate Democratic nomination against U.S. Rep. Jasmine Crockett of Dallas.

Interesting. Crockett is one of the very few Dems willing if not just able to navigate through Republican tactics. What could Talarico offer?

[–] EncryptKeeper@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago

Talarico resonates with the deeply Christian left

[–] Triasha@lemmy.world 4 points 3 hours ago

Talerico. Brings his sincerity, faith, and working class background in in one of the poorest school districts in the country. He has integrity and and a way of invoking Christianity that I think resonates in Texas. He appeals to a broad swath of voters without compromising his progressive ideals.

I would vote for Crocket if she wasn't up against Talerico. But as is, I think he has a better shot at the general and I trust him more.

[–] CarnivorousCouch@lemmy.world 8 points 7 hours ago

He's good at messaging from a Christian left perspective. Before I deleted social media, some of his more viral moments on the Texas House floor would make it to my feed. I liked what I heard, but I'm not a Texas resident or voter so Crockett vs Talarico is someone else's judgement call to make.

[–] paris@lemmy.blahaj.zone 2 points 5 hours ago

I mean she's fully bought out by AIPAC and her messaging is weak at best from everything I've seen. I don't love Talarico with all my heart but I cannot imagine any world in which he's a worse choice than Crockett.

[–] anon_8675309@lemmy.world 5 points 6 hours ago

Hmmm. I like Crockett. I’m not from Texas but she’s got Texas sized girl balls.

[–] BarneyPiccolo@lemmy.today 5 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

He's a white minister. This is how they get rid of a pesky black woman, you gerrymander her out of office.

Be careful what you wish for. She is highly respected nationally, and will have multiple offers from several news organizations very quickly, where she will have a national microphone to attack from. She no longer has to abide by MAGA rules.

[–] dariusj18@lemmy.world 13 points 6 hours ago (3 children)

You cannot gerrymander a senate seat

load more comments (3 replies)
[–] chillpanzee@lemmy.ml 59 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

It's subservience, not fear on CBS's part.

Good on Colbert for bringing a little Streisand effect to the party.

[–] Serinus@lemmy.world 9 points 8 hours ago

Subservience to the FCC and the administration is the excuse. The real reason is that David Ellison is afraid the dem might win.

The majority owner of CBS is Paramount Global, which itself is controlled by Skydance Media, a company led by David Ellison (son of Larry Ellison), following a significant acquisition of the Redstone family's stake in mid-2025.

[–] LoafedBurrito@lemmy.world 45 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

This stunt has caused the video to get 100 times the views it would normally get. I watched it and i never catch the colbert report unless i stumble across is online.

The Trump administration is doing their best to destroy this country, but even republicans know you don't touch the first amendment.

[–] prenatal_confusion@feddit.org 1 points 2 hours ago

They should know. The reaction to kirks death "don't mock the man" martyr position kinda surprised me.

In a more covert way they went after freedom of speech for years. Lgbtq books, etc

[–] protist@mander.xyz 127 points 12 hours ago* (last edited 10 hours ago) (4 children)

You can still (and should) watch it on YouTube!

Rep. James Talarico On Confronting Christian Nationalism, And Strange Days In The Texas Legislature

Edit: If you feel so inclined, you can donate to his US Senate campaign here: https://secure.actblue.com/donate/jt-tx-web

[–] turdburglar@piefed.social 7 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

or you could donate to jasmine crockett. just sayin.

we need more black representation in dc.

[–] protist@mander.xyz 3 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

I agree, though after listening to both of them a bunch, I'm supporting Talarico in this election. I hope to continue to see Crockett's star rise though

[–] turdburglar@piefed.social 1 points 5 hours ago (2 children)

this fella is way too into god for me.

[–] Triasha@lemmy.world 5 points 3 hours ago

His religious argument for progressive values is what makes him a strong candidate for Texas.

[–] kent_eh@lemmy.ca 1 points 3 hours ago

this fella is way too into god for me.

Same, but the unfortunate reality is that's what you need to be if you have a hope of getting elected in the southern US.

[–] jballs@sh.itjust.works 37 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

That guy was super well spoken and had a good message. I'm surprised I hadn't heard of him before. Always nice to see the Streisand Effect in action!

[–] mPony@kbin.earth 15 points 9 hours ago

He was definitely well spoken and definitely had a good message. It's not at all surprising that we haven't heard of him.

[–] Reygle@lemmy.world 19 points 10 hours ago (1 children)

If the link goes dark I've pulled copy, hit me up.

[–] Serinus@lemmy.world 6 points 8 hours ago

Thank you. I was just thinking that someone needs to grab this, and it was going to be a pita if I had to be the one to do it.

(More copies are always welcome.)

[–] qualia@lemmy.world 13 points 11 hours ago

The joy of his Colbert Report is finally returning to him.

[–] roofuskit@lemmy.world 179 points 13 hours ago (2 children)

Remember, CBS is now owned by a Trump ally.

[–] DarkSideOfTheMoon@lemmy.world 5 points 6 hours ago* (last edited 6 hours ago)

That wants to buy Warner … including CNN

[–] ceenote@lemmy.world 111 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (2 children)

Correct, they refused to air it not out of fear of the FCC, but out of fear of that Texans might like what Talarico has to say.

[–] baltakatei@sopuli.xyz 22 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

Texas flips blue is on my Bingo card.

That would be awesome.

[–] Serinus@lemmy.world 14 points 8 hours ago (1 children)

And it's a hell of a brave thing Colbert and crew are doing in speaking out.

They're patriots at a time when speech isn't free.

[–] FlexibleToast@lemmy.world 4 points 6 hours ago (1 children)

He can't get fired again. It's an obvious move for Colbert and crew to make.

[–] Mog_fanatic@lemmy.world 3 points 3 hours ago

He's pretty much embraced this. It's kind of funny. His network ad reads for other CBS shows are literally "[name of show], watch it or don't, I don't care. I leave in may" lol

[–] UnderpantsWeevil@lemmy.world 27 points 11 hours ago (1 children)

Brilliant bit of marketing to blare "We've been censored by the FCC!" from the rooftops, on the day the Texas primary starts.

[–] bagsy@lemmy.world 13 points 11 hours ago

It's the Orson Wells playbook. "See the movie that the Hersts dont want you to see!!"

Still brilliant either way.

[–] frazw@lemmy.world 70 points 13 hours ago (5 children)

Banning something is a sure fire way to give it oxygen. Streisand effect

The problem Trump has in doing this type of suppression is that it gains more attention and riles people up more than if he had let the interview air. Sure the interview might have said things he didn't want to be said, but now he has made this a much bigger issue and he looks weak because he is scared at the mere prospect of some words being uttered.

[–] furzegulo@lemmy.dbzer0.com 43 points 13 hours ago (1 children)

i wouldn't have watched the interview if cbs hadn't cancelled it

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 33 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Same

And, in hindsight, I'm glad I did. That guy has the right idea.

He said 'It's not left vs right, it's top vs bottom'.

Exactly what we need our politicians to be acknowledging

[–] samus12345@sh.itjust.works 13 points 9 hours ago (1 children)

No wonder the Trump regime didn't want it aired. Nothing is more dangerous to them than pointing out that the culture war is fabricated to distract from the class war so the poors don't realize that the billionaires are their enemies, not immigrants and trans people.

[–] FauxLiving@lemmy.world 10 points 9 hours ago

Yeah, the guy seems like a Christian that follows the bible (I've since watched other Interviews) and wants to practice the 'love thy neighbor' part and not the 'hate the gays and abortion' part (which, as he points out, do not exist).

That's a good kind of person to run in Texas, Jesus was a socialist after all...

[–] BreadstickNinja@lemmy.world 27 points 12 hours ago (1 children)

Yep, and Colbert has no reason to pull any punches either. They already canceled his show to appease the administration. Why would Stephen hesitate to tell the world every time CBS bends the knee?

Good on him for calling out every time they act as state propaganda and not a news network.

[–] Darkcoffee@sh.itjust.works 11 points 12 hours ago

If they cancel the show earlier they can't pretend to be impartial, and Colbert gets paid the rest of his contract without having to do any work.

Plus they'll be in the real news for a week lol

[–] Ulrich@feddit.org 9 points 10 hours ago (2 children)

Banning something is a sure fire way to give it oxygen.

Depends. Stephen says he was told not to tell anyone on air that they couldn't air it. Assuming that's true, and he had decided to comply, no one really would have known. It's only through his (presumed) bravery that we've all seen it.

load more comments (2 replies)
load more comments (2 replies)
[–] panda_abyss@lemmy.ca 23 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 12 hours ago) (4 children)

Not to say this story isn’t important, self censorship at the hands of the state is…

But what does this have to do with technology?

Important story, wrong place friend.

[–] Beep@lemmus.org 26 points 13 hours ago* (last edited 13 hours ago) (1 children)

I believe that communications/media broadcasting are under the technology umbrella.

load more comments (1 replies)
load more comments (3 replies)
load more comments
view more: next ›