Bulwark Takes Podcast Summary

Episode: Colbert Calls Out FCC and His Own Network Over Talarico Censorship
Date: February 17, 2026
Hosts: Andrew Egger (A) and Bill Kristol (B)

Overview

In this episode of Bulwark Takes, Andrew Egger and Bill Kristol—co-authors of the Morning Shots newsletter—break down a fast-moving media and political controversy sparked by Stephen Colbert’s on-air criticism of his own network (CBS) and the FCC after Texas Democrat James Talarico’s Late Show appearance was abruptly canceled. The discussion expands to the broader climate of government intervention in television, the role of the FCC and Trump administration, the passing of Rev. Jesse Jackson, Marco Rubio’s speech in Munich, and the fallout from recent ICE operations in Minneapolis.

Main Topics and Discussion Points

1. Colbert, Talarico, and Network Censorship

(Begins ~[02:10])

• Context:

  • Stephen Colbert intended to feature Texas Senate candidate James Talarico but was blocked by CBS, reportedly under FCC legal pressure.
  • Colbert defied subsequent instructions not to mention the situation, airing his grievances directly.
  • The incident is connected to FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr’s attempts to police partisan appearances on late-night TV.

• Colbert’s On-Air Quote:

  “We were told in no uncertain terms by our network lawyers ... that we could not have him on the broadcast. Then I was told in some uncertain terms ... I could not mention me not having him on. And because my network clearly doesn't want us to talk about this, let's talk about this.” —Stephen Colbert, [~03:00]

  • Colbert lampoons Carr:

    “You're chairman of the FCC, so FCCU, because I think you are motivated by partisan purposes yourself, sir. You smelt it. Cause you dealt it. You are Dutch ovening America’s airwaves.” —Stephen Colbert, [~05:18]

• Analysis:

  • The equal time rule for broadcast TV generally excludes talk shows, but Carr’s letter indicates intent to challenge late-night carve-outs, potentially forcing hosts to offer equivalent airtime to rival candidates.
  • Egger and Kristol note historical context—Trump and his allies have long resented perceived media bias, notably after SNL featured Kamala Harris pre-election (leading NBC to grant Trump counter airtime).

• Kristol’s Take:

  “Carr is a political hack ... happy to use the power of the federal government in ways that haven't been used either as a matter of discretion or as a matter of law in recent years and decades.” —Bill Kristol, [07:05]

  • Kristol is “a little unsympathetic” to Colbert, questioning the exclusive invitation for Talarico and pointing out that CBS's lawyers, not just the FCC, contributed to the censorship ([07:05]).

• Egger’s Counterpoint:

  “He’s an appropriate guest for late night TV if the show decides it wants to put him on ... it should be ultimately their decision.” —Andrew Egger, [08:59]

2. The Equal Time Rule, Partisan FCC, and Media Precedents

(Continues through [09:10]–[12:27])

• Historical Example:
  • The Trump campaign invoked equal time rules after SNL featured Democrats in sketches, resulting in Trump being given ad slots elsewhere.
• Current Political Moment:
  • Egger notes Trump's actions are politically motivated—rooted more in resentment of critical coverage than in consistent regulatory enforcement.
• Effect on Texas Primary:
  • It's unclear if the censorship helps or harms Talarico’s campaign. Kristol raises the possibility of primary rival Jasmine Crockett framing the incident as evidence of establishment bias.

3. Remembering Jesse Jackson

([12:27]–[21:25])

• Trump’s Statement on Jackson’s Passing:

  • Trump issued an unusually cordial condolence, claiming a history of mutual support with Jackson.

• Kristol on Jackson’s Legacy:

  “I think I underestimated how much he meant to black Americans, but to a lot of disadvantaged Americans... his eloquence and his fervor, really, and toughness in standing up for the people he thought needed to be stood up for at a time when not everyone was.” —Bill Kristol, [16:51]

• Discussion of Outsider Candidacies:

  • Egger recalls a conversation suggesting Jackson was a precursor to Trump in challenging party orthodoxy, but Kristol reframes Jackson as part of a tradition of ideological—yet principled—outsider campaigns (compared to Bernie Sanders, not Trump).

4. Marco Rubio at the Munich Security Conference

([23:29]–[34:44])

• Rubio’s Speech:

  • Unlike prior Trump officials, Rubio presented a pro-European, unifying message:

    “We believe that Europe must survive because ... our destiny is and will always be intertwined with yours, because we know that the fate of Europe will never be irrelevant to our own.” —Marco Rubio, [24:29]

  • He framed Western security as a fight for shared civilization, downplaying “abstractions” (e.g., universal rights) as motivating values.

• Kristol’s Critique:

  “This is part of their project. They need to redefine America as kind of a cultural thing so that there’s no universal implication to American principles. So we don’t have to fight for democracy, we don’t have to stand for democracy...” —Bill Kristol, [27:19]

  • Rubio’s subsequent visit to Viktor Orban in Hungary is cited as proof of the Trumpist, ethno-nationalist redefinition of American foreign policy.

• Egger on Conservative “Taxonomy”:

  “You can almost do like this taxonomy of different groups that are willing to say more or less explicit things about what the supposed cultural heritage of America is ... some willing to make common cause with outright bigots.” —Andrew Egger, [30:55]

• Key Insight:

  • There’s a marked rightward shift in what counts as the “center,” with Rubio’s stance now appearing moderate though it reflects policies considered extreme a decade ago.
  • Both hosts express skepticism about “kinder, gentler Trumpism”—predicting GOP voters will favor overt hardliners like JD Vance in future primaries ([33:50]).

5. Minneapolis ICE Operations and Civic Resistance

([34:44]–[46:10])

• Backdrop:

  • Mass ICE enforcement in Minneapolis led to the deaths of American citizens Renee Goode and Alex Preddy.
  • Despite official scaling down, federal agencies (notably the FBI) have refused to cooperate with local investigations.

• Egger:

  “Rather than, you know, immediately rushing to ensure that there would be ... an independent, transparent investigation into these deaths, we saw the federal government close ranks.” —Andrew Egger, [36:54]

• Kristol:

  “...A huge tribute to the people of Minneapolis ...an exercise of civic virtue, really, and community, you know, watching out for each other. These things are supposed to be dead here in modern America. And it turns out that maybe civic spirit ... is more alive and well than we thought....” —Bill Kristol, [38:38]

  • Details of ordinary citizens volunteering to protect and aid immigrant neighbors during the crackdown ([38:38]).

• On the Broader Trend:

  • Unresolved: Whether ICE will shift focus to “frictionless” red states/municipalities or resume aggressive tactics in blue cities.
  • Both hosts agree mass deportation as a tactic is inherently cruel and at odds with American traditions.

Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps

• Colbert:

  • “Because my network clearly doesn’t want us to talk about this, let’s talk about this.” ([03:00])
  • “You are Dutch ovening America’s airwaves.” ([05:18])

• Kristol:

  • "Carr is a political hack ..." ([07:05])
  • "I think I underestimated how much [Jesse Jackson] meant to black Americans..." ([16:51])
  • "This is part of their project. They need to redefine America as kind of a cultural thing ..." ([27:19])
  • On Minneapolis: "A huge tribute to the people of Minneapolis ...and community, you know, watching out for each other." ([38:38])

• Egger:

  • "He’s an appropriate guest for late night TV if the show decides it wants to put him on..." ([08:59])
  • "You can almost do like this taxonomy of different groups..." ([30:55])

Key Takeaways

• The Colbert/CBS/FCC spat highlights ongoing political struggles over media control and “equal time,” with Trump-allied regulators exerting new pressures on late-night TV.
• Trump-era interpretations of media law are driven as much by political grievance as by statutory language or precedent.
• Kristol stresses that while the equal time rule has a legal basis, using it as a political cudgel is novel and dangerous.
• The passing of Jesse Jackson draws reflection on the outsider tradition within American politics and the unique attachments political figures form with communities.
• Rubio’s “moderate” Trumpism in Munich is, arguably, only moderate by comparison to even more extreme voices—his embrace of nationalist principles and association with Orban signals an acceptability shift for the GOP.
• Minneapolis has become a national symbol for resistance to federal overreach, exemplifying citizen activism and solidarity amidst government abuses.

Segment Timestamps

• [02:10–12:27] — Colbert, CBS, FCC, and equal time
• [12:27–21:25] — Jesse Jackson’s legacy
• [23:29–34:44] — Rubio at Munich, nationalism, and American ideals
• [34:44–46:10] — Minneapolis ICE operations and civic response

Tone and Style

The episode features the dry, slightly sardonic tone typical of The Bulwark, mixing policy wonkery and personal anecdote. Both hosts display skepticism toward both corporate self-censorship and the heavy hand of government regulation, but analyze current events with an eye toward the historical context and the evolving landscape of American conservatism.

For regular updates and deeper dives, follow the Bulwark’s Morning Shots newsletter and consider subscribing to their new video series.