FCC: Late-Night, Daytime Talk Shows Must Give Equal Time to Republican Candidates

The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) told late-night and daytime talk shows Wednesday that federal law requires them to give equal opportunities to political candidates from both sides of the aisle. “For years, legacy TV networks assumed that their late night and daytime talk shows qualify as ‘bona fide news’ programs—even when motivated by purely partisan political purposes,” FCC Chair Brendan Carr stated on X. “Today, the FCC reminded them of their obligation to provide all candidates with equal opportunities.” Carr shared a public notice published Wednesday by the FCC about the federal equal time rule. Under federal law, “if a broadcast station permits any legally qualified candidate for public office to use its facilities, it shall provide an equal opportunity to all other legally qualified candidates for that office,” the notice stated....