NEWS

Colbert says network lawyers pressured him not to air it. CBS says that’s not true. Meanwhile, the political backdrop is anything but quiet — from corporate mergers to renewed “equal time” scrutiny from the FCC. And here’s the twist: Talarico’s campaign reportedly raised $2.5 million in the fallout. A segment that never aired on television just became one of the most-watched political interviews online. So what was said that sparked 85 million views — and a network standoff?

phuquy Avatar

Posted by

phuquy

-

After Colbert-CBS Rift, Interview With Texas Senate Candidate James Talarico Draws 85M Views Across YouTube & Social

 

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and guest Rep. James Talarico during Monday’s February 16, 2026 show.
Stephen Colbert and guest Rep. James TalaricoScott Kowalchyk/CBS

EXCLUSIVE – An interview by Stephen Colbert with U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico intended for broadcast on CBS but instead posted only online has now drawn 85 million views across YouTube and social media.

Stats on online viewing were provided to Deadline by measurement firm Tubular Labs. Over the past 72 hours, the company said, 1,320 video uploads featuring Colbert and Talarico have been registered across YouTube, TikTok, Instagram and Facebook. The videos have generated more than 8 million engagements, with the 85 million figure stemming from any viewing session lasting at least two seconds.

The most-watched individual clip, notably, is the full 15-minute interview. It has collected more than 7.5 million views, more than twice the daily average viewing level of Colbert’s YouTube channel.

The video player is currently playing an ad. You can skip the ad in 5 sec with a mouse or keyboard

 

On YouTube, Colbert’s own page has accounted for 39% of views related to the interview. On TikTok, where the show leaned into promotion, the share hit 53%.

On Tuesday, Colbert voiced objections to what he says was pressure by CBS lawyers to not air the interview with Talarico, who is running in the Democratic Senate primary in Texas. Network lawyers later insisted that they had not told Colbert he couldn’t air the segment.

The backdrop of the clash is a series of moves by CBS parent Paramount, which paid a settlement to President Trump last summer to resolve a lawsuit he had filed over a 60 Minutes segment. Legal analysts unanimously felt there was no merit to the suit. Soon after the $16 million settlement was paid, the merger of Skydance and Paramount gained approval from federal regulators. Paramount is now battling to acquire Warner Bros. Discovery and a similar regulatory dance is under way as the media company looks to elbow out Netflix, which has an accepted offer in palce.

Pressure is also mounting on talk shows in multiple dayparts to adhere to long-un-enforced federal rules stipulating “equal time” between political parties featured on the public airwaves. FCC Chairman Brendan Carr has made the rule a key priority, confirming this week that an enforcement action is underway at ABC’s The View. NBC also drew criticism from Carr in the fall of 2024 (before he became commissioner of the FCC) over a sketch featuring Kamala Harris on Saturday Night Live.

Along with the groundswell of online viewing, Talarico’s campaign raised $2.5 million in the wake of the clash between Colbert and CBS.

In Hainesport Township, families are waking up to dead geese and ducks scattered across sidewalks, porches, and even school bus stops amid a suspected bird flu outbreak spreading through South Jersey. One mother says her son watched a goose “fall right out of the sky” into their backyard — a moment she calls traumatizing. State officials report more than 1,100 sick or dead birds statewide in just days, and parks in Gloucester County have already shut down. But in Hainesport, neighbors say they’ve been told disposal is their responsibility — armed with gloves, masks, and trash bags. One resident claims he bagged 18 dead geese in a single day… with dozens more still in his yard.
In Hainesport Township, families are waking up to dead geese and ducks scattered across sidewalks, porches, and even school bus stops amid a suspected bird flu outbreak spreading through South Jersey. One mother says her son watched a goose “fall right out of the sky” into their backyard — a moment she calls traumatizing. State officials report more than 1,100 sick or dead birds statewide in just days, and parks in Gloucester County have already shut down. But in Hainesport, neighbors say they’ve been told disposal is their responsibility — armed with gloves, masks, and trash bags. One resident claims he bagged 18 dead geese in a single day… with dozens more still in his yard.

Traumatized Hainesport Twp. residents forced to dispose dead birds amid suspected outbreak An error has occurred. Please contact…

After analyzing nearly 500 feline tumors across multiple countries, researchers found the same cancer-linked mutations seen in human blood, lung, bone, skin and even breast cancers. One mutation — FBXW7 — appears far more often in cats than in people, but when it shows up in humans, outcomes are worse. Here’s the twist: common chemotherapy drugs like vincristine may slow those tumors in cats — potentially offering a faster, real-world testing ground for treatments that could later help human patients.
After analyzing nearly 500 feline tumors across multiple countries, researchers found the same cancer-linked mutations seen in human blood, lung, bone, skin and even breast cancers. One mutation — FBXW7 — appears far more often in cats than in people, but when it shows up in humans, outcomes are worse. Here’s the twist: common chemotherapy drugs like vincristine may slow those tumors in cats — potentially offering a faster, real-world testing ground for treatments that could later help human patients.

Cats give genetic clues to better cancer treatments Similarities between pet and human tumours suggest new ideas for…

Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — brother of Charles III and once one of the most privileged men in Britain — was arrested this week in a stunning twist tied to the fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein files. For the first time in nearly 400 years, a British royal has been taken in for questioning. The message from the Palace? “The law must take its course.” No titles. No deference. Just “a man in his sixties from Norfolk” released under investigation. Across the Atlantic, though, the picture looks very different. While authorities in the UK move forward, critics say accountability in the U.S. still feels out of reach — even after document dumps, public pressure, and years of unanswered questions surrounding Epstein’s powerful circle.
Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor — brother of Charles III and once one of the most privileged men in Britain — was arrested this week in a stunning twist tied to the fallout from the Jeffrey Epstein files. For the first time in nearly 400 years, a British royal has been taken in for questioning. The message from the Palace? “The law must take its course.” No titles. No deference. Just “a man in his sixties from Norfolk” released under investigation. Across the Atlantic, though, the picture looks very different. While authorities in the UK move forward, critics say accountability in the U.S. still feels out of reach — even after document dumps, public pressure, and years of unanswered questions surrounding Epstein’s powerful circle.

A former prince is arrested in the UK with accountability in question in the US Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor, pictured…

Chaos erupted in the stands — and then something extraordinary happened. Inside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, gunfire shattered a youth hockey game as Robert Dorgan opened fire on his own family. But as panic spread and fans scrambled for cover, a handful of bystanders did the unthinkable — they ran toward the shooter. Michael Black thought the shots were popping balloons… until he saw the gun. He told his wife to run — then lunged, jamming his hand into the weapon to stop it from firing. Others piled on. A chokehold. A desperate struggle. Blood on the bleachers. Seconds that felt like forever. Police say those “courageous citizens” likely prevented even more deaths. Now Black is being called a hero — but he says he doesn’t feel like one. What drove ordinary spectators to risk everything in that split second… and how much worse could this have been if they hadn’t?
Chaos erupted in the stands — and then something extraordinary happened. Inside the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, gunfire shattered a youth hockey game as Robert Dorgan opened fire on his own family. But as panic spread and fans scrambled for cover, a handful of bystanders did the unthinkable — they ran toward the shooter. Michael Black thought the shots were popping balloons… until he saw the gun. He told his wife to run — then lunged, jamming his hand into the weapon to stop it from firing. Others piled on. A chokehold. A desperate struggle. Blood on the bleachers. Seconds that felt like forever. Police say those “courageous citizens” likely prevented even more deaths. Now Black is being called a hero — but he says he doesn’t feel like one. What drove ordinary spectators to risk everything in that split second… and how much worse could this have been if they hadn’t?

When Rhode Island shooter started firing, bystanders jumped into action to end the carnage Moments after Robert Dorgan…

BI00d on the ice. 💔 At the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, what should have been a routine high school hockey night turned into a nightmare. Authorities say 56-year-old Robert Dorgan opened fire, killing his ex-wife Rhonda Dorgan and their son Aidan before taking his own life — leaving three others critically injured. But this wasn’t random. His daughter, Amanda Wallace-Hubbard, says it was a calculated “vendetta” against their own family. She was in the stands with her young sons when the shots rang out — and says a split-second act of heroism saved their lives. A long trail of family conflict, court battles, and bitter disputes now raises chilling questions about what led to this explosion of violence.
BI00d on the ice. 💔 At the Dennis M. Lynch Arena in Pawtucket, what should have been a routine high school hockey night turned into a nightmare. Authorities say 56-year-old Robert Dorgan opened fire, killing his ex-wife Rhonda Dorgan and their son Aidan before taking his own life — leaving three others critically injured. But this wasn’t random. His daughter, Amanda Wallace-Hubbard, says it was a calculated “vendetta” against their own family. She was in the stands with her young sons when the shots rang out — and says a split-second act of heroism saved their lives. A long trail of family conflict, court battles, and bitter disputes now raises chilling questions about what led to this explosion of violence.

Rhode Island ice rink shooting victims confirmed as shooter’s daughter alleges ‘vendetta’ against family Robert Dorgan’s daughter says…

In Minnesota alone, more than 100 refugees were reportedly arrested in recent weeks before a federal judge stepped in to halt detentions and order releases. A broader court fight is looming — one that could reshape how refugees are treated nationwide. With refugee admissions already slashed and new reviews underway, thousands could be affected. They came to the U.S. legally, fleeing persecution. Now many are asking: after surviving everything else… are they about to face detention here?
In Minnesota alone, more than 100 refugees were reportedly arrested in recent weeks before a federal judge stepped in to halt detentions and order releases. A broader court fight is looming — one that could reshape how refugees are treated nationwide. With refugee admissions already slashed and new reviews underway, thousands could be affected. They came to the U.S. legally, fleeing persecution. Now many are asking: after surviving everything else… are they about to face detention here?

Refugees Without Green Cards Subject to Arrest Under New Policy Image A federal immigration agent in Minneapolis last…