Jimmy Kimmel says interview with Democrat won't air on TV, cites regulator 'threats'

TV host Jimmy Kimmel says his interview with Democratic Senate candidate James Talarico will not air on television due to pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC).

Speaking on his talk show, Jimmy Kimmel Live!, Kimmel said the FCC, under President Donald Trump, had "threatened" him and his show "based on simple traditional editorial decisions, guest bookings it would seem they don't like".

The BBC contacted the FCC for comment. The White House denied the FCC had threatened Kimmel over his interview with Talarico or any other candidate, accusing the host of "play-acting".

Trump-backed Republican Ken Paxton will face Talarico in November's midterm elections.

The outcome of the Texas race will help determine whether Democrats can win back control of the US Senate for the final two years of Donald Trump's presidency.

During his show on Wednesday, Kimmel said his interview with Talarico would be posted on YouTube instead.

In a statement to the BBC, the White House denied Kimmel's claim.

Spokesperson Davis Ingle said: "Jimmy Kimmel is play-acting - as he often does - to create a false narrative about this administration's policies."

The FCC issues broadcast licenses, as well as regulating radio, TV and satellite airwaves.

The FCC - which regulates the nation's airwaves - has previously accused late-night and daytime hosts of being motivated by liberal bias.

The agency has said broadcast stations should abide by a requirement - which has not traditionally been applied to talk shows - to provide equal time to political candidates when they appear on-air.

ABC, which broadcasts Jimmy Kimmel Live!, has been in a feud with the regulator and Carr, a Trump appointee, for months.

In September, Kimmel was temporarily pulled off air for comments he made regarding the shooting of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. That decision was made hours after Carr, a Trump appointee, threatened to act against the ABC and its parent company Disney.

Then in April, Trump and First Lady Melania Trump urged ABC to reprimand Kimmel for a joke he made about her.

Shortly afterwards, the FCC ordered an early review of Disney's television broadcast licences. In response, the ABC last month sued the FCC, arguing it was being unfairly targeted over its editorial content.

Trump has at times said he is considering pulling the FCC licence for several US networks that he said have aired views critical of his presidency.

In February, fellow US late-night host Stephen Colbert accused his network, CBS, of refusing to broadcast his interview with Talarico over fears of retaliation by the FCC. CBS denied it had banned the interview from being aired, saying it only gave "legal guidance".