The Center for American Rights, a
conservative
legal organization, is calling on the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to investigate ABC, CBS, and NBC over what it describes as “repeated misuse of the public airwaves” through “ideologically one-sided” late-night programming.
In a letter sent Wednesday to FCC Chairman Brendan Carr, the group accused networks of turning their late-night shows into platforms for liberal politics. It cited guest appearance data from January 6 to June 30, 2025, noting that five prominent hosts — Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon, and Jon Stewart — collectively featured 106 liberal guests and just one conservative during that time.
The letter singled out
Colbert’s
show as “a staple of liberal politics” and praised its upcoming 2026 cancellation as “a positive development.” The group also criticized Colbert and Kimmel for participating in campaign events and fundraisers for Democratic candidates.
“Late-night appearances are now a critical part of the DC-Hollywood alliance,” said Center for American Rights President Daniel Suhr. “These shows give Democratic politicians easy, flattering interviews that portray them as charming and relatable — it’s a blatant abuse of the public airwaves.”
Suhr argued that the shows’ alleged political bias could no longer be defended as commercially driven. “Until recently, networks could claim they were just giving audiences what they wanted,” he wrote. “That excuse no longer holds. The FCC must determine whether these shows are violating public interest obligations by promoting private political agendas.”
This complaint follows a
previous
FCC filing by the same group late last year accusing the three networks of “news distortion.” That filing alleged ABC showed favoritism toward then–Vice President Kamala Harris during the September 2024 presidential debate, and accused CBS and NBC of violating equal-time rules — including Harris’ appearance on
Saturday Night Live
just before the election.
Former FCC chair Jessica Rosenworcel dismissed those complaints as inconsistent with First Amendment protections. But after Carr took over, he revived the investigations and requested unedited footage and transcripts of CBS’
60 Minutes
interview with Harris. The FCC opened a public comment period on the matter, which concluded on March 24.
Carr, who is also
currently
reviewing Paramount Global’s proposed $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, weighed in on the late-night debate in a social media post this week, dismissing criticism over
The Late Show
’s cancellation.
“The left’s outrage over Colbert is telling,” Carr wrote on X. “They’re mourning the loss of a loyal DNC cheerleader who thought he was exempt from market realities.”
NBC declined to comment. The FCC, ABC, CBS, and the late-night hosts did not immediately respond to a request for comment.
