Jimmy Kimmel is pushing back against the FCC’s renewed focus on enforcing the equal time rule, arguing that the move is politically motivated and aimed at silencing voices critical of the Trump administration, according to Deadline. Addressing the issue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, the late-night host described the guidance as an indirect attempt by FCC Chairman Brendan Carr to suppress viewpoints he disagrees with, calling it an attack on free speech.
As Deadline reports, the FCC’s Media Bureau recently issued updated guidance reminding broadcasters that political candidates appearing on talk shows may trigger equal time obligations confirming that rival candidates could request comparable airtime. While news programming has long been exempt, talk shows such as Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and The View have historically operated under the assumption that they were protected as well an understanding now being called into question.
As reported by Deadline, Kimmel condemned the reinterpretation as antiquated, pointing out that broadcast television no longer wields the same influence it once did. He contended that the equal time rule was established in a time when broadcasters were the primary voices in public discourse. However, given that today’s media landscape is filled with cable, streaming, and digital platforms, late-night shows account for only a minor portion of political influence.
As reported by Deadline, Kimmel elaborated on this by characterizing the FCC’s action as part of a larger trend during the Trump administration. He implied that regulatory pressure is being applied selectively against individuals who do not share political alignment. He noted that the situation underscores what he perceives as hypocrisy from an administration that often asserts its respect for rules while allegedly using them as weapons.
The issue has broader implications beyond television, as legal experts told Deadline that the equal time rule applies to radio as well. This could potentially impact conservative-leaning talk radio, where Republican candidates frequently appear, opening the door for Democratic rivals to demand equal airtime and potentially reshaping how political guests are booked across broadcast platforms.
Deadline also reports that ABC and The View have previously drawn scrutiny from Carr, particularly after featuring Democratic candidates such as Kamala Harris and Joe Biden. Producers for the daytime talk show have said that Republican candidates have been invited but have not always accepted. The FCC’s guidance emphasized that programs motivated by partisan purposes may not qualify for exemptions under longstanding precedent.
Deadline points out that advocates of free speech have sounded the alarm regarding the chilling effect that such enforcement could produce. Former FCC counsel Robert Corn-Revere cautioned that any formal action could provoke a First Amendment challenge. Meanwhile, industry observers proposed that broadcasters might sidestep political candidates entirely to mitigate regulatory risk a development critics argue would ultimately restrict, rather than enhance, political discourse.
As Deadline highlights, the renewed debate underscores long-standing tensions between regulation and free expression in broadcast media. While the equal time rule applies strictly to candidates and not opinions, its enforcement may reshape how late-night and talk programming approach political guests moving forward, especially as the FCC continues to signal a tougher stance.