FCC Scrutiny Puts Jimmy Kimmel — and Other Talk Shows — Back in the Spotlight

Jimmy Kimmel is once again clashing with U.S. media regulators.

About 10 minutes into Wednesday night’s monologue on Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel addressed what he called an all-too-familiar problem: renewed scrutiny from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Earlier that day, the FCC issued new guidance clarifying how it interprets the “equal time” rule. This rule requires broadcast stations to give equal airtime to competing political candidates. For decades, late-night talk shows and daytime talk shows were largely exempt.

That exemption dates back to 1996, when Jay Leno successfully argued that interviews on The Tonight Show qualified under the same “bona fide news” exemption granted to traditional news programs.

Now, the FCC is signaling that it may no longer see things the same way.

In its statement, the agency said it has not been shown evidence that interviews on current late-night or daytime talk shows qualify as bona fide news programming. It also stressed that shows motivated by partisan purposes would not be eligible for an exemption under long-standing FCC rules.

What could change

According to a source familiar with the issue, the new interpretation could affect programs such as The View, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, The Tonight Show, and The Late Show.

In practical terms, this could mean that if a show invites a Democratic politician, it may also be required to offer airtime to a Republican opponent — and vice versa. In some cases, rival candidates could even request to appear on the same program.

Trump weighs in

President Donald Trump amplified the FCC’s position on his Truth Social platform, framing the move as a direct challenge to shows like The View and Jimmy Kimmel Live!.

Kimmel responded on air with concern — and a hint of humor.

“We are once again getting threatened by the FCC,” he told viewers. “I might need your help again.”

A familiar fight

This isn’t Kimmel’s first run-in with regulators. Jimmy Kimmel Live! was briefly taken off the air in the past after a controversial on-air remark involving conservative podcaster Charlie Kirk. Pressure initially came from local TV stations, followed by FCC involvement.

At the time, Hollywood figures rallied behind Kimmel. Disney, which owns ABC, suspended him for only a few shows before allowing him to return once the backlash cooled.

Whether the FCC’s latest move will actually force talk shows to change how they book political guests remains unclear. But for Kimmel and other hosts, the warning feels very real — and potentially disruptive to how late-night television works in an election year.