FCC commissioner criticizes CBS and Paramount over blocked interview, citing First Amendment concerns amid heightened media independence debates.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez criticized CBS and Paramount Skydance after Stephen Colbert claimed the network blocked an interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico, citing fears of violating the FCC’s equal-time rule. Though CBS said it only advised caution, not outright blocking, Colbert aired the interview on YouTube, where it drew millions of views. Gomez called the decision a threat to First Amendment rights, warning against corporate or political pressure on broadcast content. The controversy highlights growing concerns over media independence, especially amid the FCC’s recent push to enforce equal-time rules on news and talk shows—rules long exempted for such programming. The move has drawn bipartisan criticism, with legal experts and journalists warning it could undermine press freedom and enable political interference.