Image Source: AP News
Jimmy Kimmel YouTube viewers will soon be able to watch an interview with Texas Democratic U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico after the conversation was pulled from the broadcast schedule of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” on ABC.
Kimmel announced the decision Wednesday night, September 9, one day before Talarico was scheduled to appear on the late-night program. Instead of airing on television, the interview will be posted to the show’s YouTube channel, where federal broadcast regulations do not apply in the same way.
Why the Jimmy Kimmel YouTube Interview Is Moving Online
The change centers on federal rules that could require ABC to offer comparable airtime to Talarico’s Republican opponent, Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton. Talarico and Paxton are competing for the U.S. Senate seat in the November midterm election.
During his Wednesday monologue, Kimmel said the decision was connected to pressure from the Federal Communications Commission. He argued that his program has interviewed political candidates for more than two decades without facing similar complications.
“For the whole 20-plus years of our show, in fact, I’ve been interviewing Americans who are running for office with no problem at all,” Kimmel said, according to KERA News and The Texas Newsroom.
Kimmel also pointed to former President Donald Trump’s appearance on the program while he was running for president in 2016. He said the FCC had threatened the show, ABC, its network affiliates and local stations over what he described as editorial decisions involving guest bookings.
A Second Talarico Interview Heads to the Internet
This is not the first time a major late-night interview with Talarico has been moved away from broadcast television. In February, Stephen Colbert interviewed the Texas lawmaker for “The Late Show,” but CBS posted the discussion online rather than airing it on television.
That earlier interview has reportedly surpassed 9.5 million views, demonstrating the potential reach of online distribution. The latest Jimmy Kimmel YouTube appearance could attract a similarly large audience as Talarico’s Senate campaign receives increasing national attention.
Talarico, a state representative from the Austin area, has become one of the most closely watched Democratic candidates in Texas. His race against Paxton is expected to be a major contest during the 2026 midterm election cycle.
FCC Dispute Adds Pressure to ABC and Disney
The latest programming decision follows a series of public disputes involving Kimmel, ABC and the FCC. In September 2025, ABC temporarily removed “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” from its schedule after Kimmel made comments about the killing of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr publicly criticized Kimmel’s remarks at the time and suggested that ABC, its parent company Disney and local affiliates could face regulatory consequences. The network returned the program less than a week later.
The conflict continued in April 2026, when the FCC ordered an early review of the broadcast licenses for eight ABC-owned television stations, including an outlet in Houston. The move came after Trump publicly criticized ABC and Kimmel and called for the network’s licenses to be revoked.
ABC and Disney escalated the legal fight in August by suing the FCC. The companies alleged that the agency was using its authority over broadcast licenses to retaliate against them because of their news coverage and programming, including “Jimmy Kimmel Live!”
Carr has rejected that characterization. He has said the FCC has not decided whether to renew the stations’ licenses and will continue to follow the facts and the law.
What Viewers Should Expect
- The Talarico interview will not air during the scheduled ABC broadcast.
- The conversation will be released through the “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” YouTube channel.
- Federal broadcast rules do not apply to the online video in the same way they apply to television.
- Ken Paxton is Talarico’s Republican opponent in the Texas Senate race.
- The decision marks the second major late-night interview with Talarico moved online this year.
The development highlights the growing tension between political campaigning, broadcast regulations and late-night entertainment. Online platforms give television programs a way to continue political conversations while avoiding some of the compliance issues associated with traditional broadcasting.
For viewers, the interview’s move to YouTube means easier access beyond the television schedule. For ABC, Disney and the FCC, however, it adds another chapter to a broader fight over editorial independence, regulatory oversight and the future of political speech on broadcast television.
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is Jimmy Kimmel’s interview with James Talarico moving to YouTube?
Kimmel said the interview was moved online because federal broadcast rules could require ABC to provide comparable airtime to Talarico’s opponent, Ken Paxton.
Who is James Talarico running against?
James Talarico, a Democratic state representative from the Austin area, is running against Republican Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton for the U.S. Senate.
When will the interview be available?
The interview was scheduled to appear online after Kimmel announced that it would not air on ABC. The source report did not provide a specific posting time.
Has another Talarico late-night interview moved online?
Yes. Stephen Colbert’s February interview with Talarico was posted online instead of airing on CBS. It has since received more than 9.5 million views.
