The Federal Communications Commission has dropped a significant reminder to broadcast networks: play fair when it comes to political airtime.
On Wednesday, the FCC announced new guidance directed at the three major broadcast networks, urging compliance with the statutory equal opportunities requirement under the Communications Act of 1934. This rule, rooted in Section 315, mandates that if a station allows a legally qualified candidate to use its facilities, it must offer the same chance to all other qualified candidates for that office.
The guidance specifically targets late night and daytime talk shows, stating that partisan-driven content may not qualify for the traditional news exemption.
Republicans have long argued that popular programs ave been unfairly tilting the scales. Many see this as a long-overdue correction to an imbalance on shows like ABC’s “The View” and “Jimmy Kimmel Live!,” NBC’s “Late Night with Seth Meyers,” and CBS’ “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” as reported by Fox News.
Let’s be real: for years, these platforms have seemed more like cheerleading squads for one side of the political aisle. A study by the Media Research Center last month revealed that “The View” hosted 128 liberal guests in 2025, while only two conservatives—actress Cheryl Hines, wife of HHS Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr., and former Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene (R-Ga.), a noted critic of President Donald Trump—made the cut.
The same study found that late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers welcomed dozens of Democratic figures in 2025, while not a single Republican was given a seat at the table. If this isn’t partisan programming, what is?
The FCC isn’t mincing words on this. As the agency put it, it “has not been presented with any evidence that the interview portion of any late night or daytime television talk show program on the air presently would qualify for the 'bona fide' news exemption.” That’s a polite way of saying: prove you’re not just a mouthpiece.
Moreover, the FCC added, “a program that is motivated by partisan purposes, for example, would not be entitled to an exemption under longstanding FCC precedent.” This cuts to the heart of the matter—entertainment shouldn’t masquerade as journalism to dodge accountability. If you’re pushing an agenda, you don’t get a free pass.
Networks and shows now face a choice: balance the scales or risk penalties. The FCC has invited programs seeking assurance that they’re exempt from the equal opportunities rule to file a formal petition for a declaratory ruling. It’s a bureaucratic hoop, but a necessary one to ensure fairness.
FCC Chair Brendan Carr took to X to underscore the agency’s stance, pointing out the obligations networks have ignored for too long. This move is rattling the cages of shows that have long assumed they’re untouchable under the guise of “news.”
Take “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” which, while canceled, will remain on air until May. One has to wonder if this guidance played a role in the network’s decision—or if it’s just the start of a broader reckoning for late-night programming.
The core of the FCC’s argument rests on Section 315, a decades-old statute designed to keep the airwaves from becoming echo chambers. In a polarized media landscape, this reminder feels like a breath of fresh air for those who believe in fair play over partisan pandering.
Critics of the current talk show lineup argue that the progressive agenda has dominated for far too long, shutting out dissenting voices. When only one side gets a megaphone, it’s not discourse—it’s propaganda. The FCC’s guidance could force a rethink of how these shows book guests and frame discussions.
Supporters of the networks might claim this infringes on creative freedom, but that argument falls flat when the data shows such stark disparities. Equal opportunity isn’t censorship; it’s ensuring every candidate gets a fair shot at reaching the public.
At the end of the day, the FCC’s move is a call for accountability in an industry that’s often dodged it. If talk shows want to keep their cultural clout, they’ll need to stop treating half the country as an afterthought. Let’s see if they rise to the challenge or double down on the status quo.
