the producers of the Late Show are in dispute with CBS (paramount), a trump ally
CBS have already taken the decision to cancel the Late show despite it being the highest rated show in the late night slot with an increasing audience, something that Trump has been directly calling for.
So characterising a direction from CBS to the Late Show to be the first entertainment show since 1959 to not be protected by the bonafide news exemption, change their format so they have to start interviewing all political candidates for a comedy show now and into the future or else don't do the interview, as either "no pressure" or "their own choice", might be underselling it somewhat.
One could even say that this reinterpretation of the FCC law could be part of an authoritarian pattern to silence any critical voices, like his kowtowing of universities, using the approval of media mergers (to his allies) to dictate favourable programming, shutting down the release of dept of statitistics data, etc.
From what I see in many of his supporters and the bullshit they get convinced by, it's already pretty effective.
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cumquat may will not be commenting further on the allegations, Thu 19 Feb 2026, 12:28,
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