Trump Administration Applies 'Equal Time' Rule to Influence Late-Night TV

Trump Administration Applies 'Equal Time' Rule to Influence Late-Night TV

Feb 19, 2026, 11:43 PM en

TL;DR

The Trump administration is using the 'equal time' provision to target late-night hosts like Stephen Colbert, potentially altering how talk shows engage with politics.

The recent decision by the Trump administration to revoke the exemption for late-night talk shows under the 'equal time' rule is causing a significant stir in the television industry. This move targeting hosts like Stephen Colbert could mark a major shift in how political content is handled in late-night TV, with implications for the broader media landscape.

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