Ted Lieu Thought It Was Smart to Play DUMB About Jimmy Kimmel's Talarico Interview, He Was WRONG

Sam J. | 10:20 AM on September 10, 2026

Look at that, Jimmy Kimmel is trying to pull a Stephen Colbert.

You guys remember Colbert, right? No? Eh, no big loss.

Jimmy Kimmel says that his interview with James Talarico will not air on TV after the FCC threatened his show, ABC, and local stations.https://t.co/XUZsv8HSWv
— Rolling Stone (@RollingStone) September 10, 2026

Ted Lieu was quick to jump in and remind all of X that now that Eric Swalwell is gone he may well be the dumbest man in Congress.

Case in point:

Dear @ABC @CBS and other networks: Grow a fucking spine. Air whatever interviews with elected officials you want. You will win in court.

Bending the knee to an authoritarian Administration only makes things worse.

I assume you will now never air an interview of trump as well? https://t.co/BuPLiprMcI
— Ted Lieu (@tedlieu) September 10, 2026

He has to know that per the Equal Opportunites Rule Kimmel can air the interview as long as he offers Ken Paxton the same opportunity. This is not about blocking Democrats because Trump is scared of them (trust us, the more we hear from James Talarico, the more we laugh), this is simply about equal opportunity.

That's it.

As a member of Congress, my expectation is you'd understand existing law. I guess I'm being too optimistic.
— EZ (@notmyrlnmnemore) September 10, 2026

One would think knowing the law should be a qualification for any lawmaker, right?

Say, you’re a congressman- allegedly; you haven’t done anything in my district except run your mouth and cavort with perverts - but you could change all that by proposing a law ending the equal time requirements.

You do wanna end the equal time requirements, right? https://t.co/Vtx6XvAJJe
— Kurt Schlichter (@KurtSchlichter) September 10, 2026