AceShowbiz - Jimmy Kimmel interviewed Texas Senate candidate James Talarico on Thursday night, but the full conversation was streamed exclusively on YouTube rather than airing on the regular TV show, TheWrap reports. This shift came after Kimmel revealed that the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) threatened his show, the ABC network, and its local affiliates, particularly in Texas, over the decision to feature political candidates.

Elpasotimes confirms that the move to digital-only broadcast was a protective measure to shield local ABC stations from potential FCC repercussions. Latimes adds that this kind of pressure reflects a broader change in how political interviews are handled since Donald Trump’s presidency, despite late-night programs historically conducting such interviews without issue. Stephen Colbert also previously shifted a comparable interview with Talarico to YouTube earlier this year, underscoring a growing trend among late-night hosts navigating regulatory concerns.

In a post on the Jimmy Kimmel Live! YouTube channel, Kimmel indirectly addressed the situation by explaining his decades-long history of interviewing political figures, including Trump during the 2015 presidential campaign, and noted that recent FCC actions seem aimed at influencing editorial choices about which guests appear on his show. He described these developments as unprecedented interference that forced the decision to move Talarico’s interview off television.

Jimmy Kimmel is best known as the host and producer of the late-night talk show Jimmy Kimmel Live!, which has been a staple on ABC since 2003. Over the past 20 years, he has interviewed numerous high-profile political figures such as Hillary Clinton, Ted Cruz, and Donald Trump. His career also includes work as a comedian and appearances in films like Road Trip and voice roles in animated projects including Garfield and Drawn Together.

This situation highlights ongoing tensions between entertainment programming and regulatory bodies, raising questions about freedom of expression and political discourse on network television. The move to YouTube allows Kimmel to continue engaging with political content while avoiding punitive actions against local affiliates, signaling a significant shift in how late-night shows may approach political interviews going forward.

This article is based on reporting originally published by TheWrap.