Skip to main content
3 min read
◆ Mixed look for OssoffElections / Campaigns

Why Jon Ossoff Can Appear On 'The Late Show' But James Talarico Can't

Ossoff’s planned appearance provides the comparison with Talarico’s interview.

Why Jon Ossoff Can Appear On 'The Late Show' But James Talarico Can't
Image · Deadline

SOURCE CHECK

TAP FOR WHY
Outlet credibilityDeadline70/100 HIGH
This article1 analysis · Oct 10, 2026
Deadline
Feb 17, 2026
tl;dr

Stephen Colbert and CBS gave different accounts of why Texas Senate candidate James Talarico’s interview did not air on broadcast television. Deadline explains that Talarico was already a legally qualified candidate, while Georgia Sen. Jon Ossoff had not yet reached that status before his planned appearance.

Community verdict

7 VOTES
How does this story look for
Jon Ossoff D · GA · SEN

Counts every outlet’s report of this story. See all 3

● OPEN
Votes cast on this page

Votes cast on this page: ▲ 0 · ◆ 0 · ▼ 0

People in this story

SWIPE →
Jon Ossoff
D · GA · SEN

Georgia senator scheduled to appear on The Late Show while not yet legally qualified as a reelection candidate

PRIMARY SUBJECT

Texas Senate candidate whose interview was moved from the broadcast to YouTube

Talarico's version of this story ↗

Texas representative and Democratic Senate primary candidate whose equal-time rights were cited by CBS

Donald Trump
R · President of the United States

President, whom Ossoff criticized

Democratic Senate candidate in Texas

ALSO MENTIONED  Brendan Carr, FCC chair whose guidance on equal-time rules is discussed; Josh Shapiro, Pennsylvania governor whose earlier Late Show appearance is offered as an example

Part of a bigger story

3 OUTLETS
Stephen Colbert Interviews Senator Jon Ossoff

Coverage agrees that Stephen Colbert interviewed Sen. Jon Ossoff, who criticized Trump. Center outlets explain why Ossoff’s appearance differed from James Talarico’s unaired interview, focusing on equal-time rules and the accounts from CBS and Colbert. Right-leaning outlets cast the interview as undercutting claims that Colbert is censored and emphasize Ossoff’s warnings about Trump and his call to focus on the midterms.

Discussion · 0

What's your take?

Loading comments…