The Edge: Colbert, CBS and the FCC

CHARLOTTE, N.C. – Late-night is turning into a fight over free-speech. Stephen Colbert says CBS tried to block him from airing an interview with Texas democratic Senate candidate James Talarico, citing federal equal-time rules. Colbert didn’t stay quiet, telling viewers the network’s lawyers warned him not only could he not run the interview, he couldn’t even talk about it.

The late night host blasted the FCC and accused regulators of playing politics.

The clash is raising fresh questions about politics, censorship, and comedy colliding on late night TV. Should late-night shows be treated like journalism when it comes to political guests?