How the FCC’s ‘Equal Time’ Rule Stifles Free Speech and Protects the Political Establishment

When Stephen Colbert's interview with Texas Democrat James Talarico was abruptly yanked from CBS broadcast, it wasn't just about network caution—it was a stark reminder of how federal regulations are being wielded to limit free political expression in America. Under an updated interpretation of the Federal Communications Commission’s (FCC) 'equal time' rule, broadcast networks face pressure to either provide equal airtime to all candidates or avoid politically charged content altogether. Is the FCC Overstepping Its Bounds to Control Political Speech? The 'equal time' provision, written into the Communications Act of 1934, originally aimed at fairness by preventing broadcasters from favoring...