FCC Opens Equal-Time Review of ABC’s ‘The View’ Following Appearance by Texas Democrat

Federal regulators are examining whether a daytime talk show interview triggered broadcast equal-time obligations for political candidates.

By yourNEWS Media Newsroom

The Federal Communications Commission has launched an equal-time investigation into ABC’s daytime talk show “The View” following a recent on-air appearance by Texas Democratic lawmaker James Talarico, according to a source familiar with the matter.

Talarico appeared on the program Monday, prompting scrutiny under the FCC’s long-standing equal-time, or “equal opportunities,” rule. That provision requires broadcast television and radio stations to offer legally qualified political candidates comparable access to airtime if one candidate is allowed to use a station’s facilities, a safeguard intended to prevent broadcasters from favoring one contender over others.

The rule applies only to over-the-air broadcasters and contains several exemptions, including for bona fide news coverage, interviews, documentaries, and live news events. Those carve-outs have historically allowed stations to cover campaigns and interview candidates without automatically triggering equal-time requirements for all opponents.

Last month, however, the FCC issued updated guidance clarifying that the statutory equal-opportunities requirement can extend to late-night and daytime talk shows. In that clarification, the agency cited Section 315 of the Communications Act of 1934, stating that “if a broadcast station permits any legally qualified candidate for public office to use its facilities, it shall provide an equal opportunity to all other legally qualified candidates for that office.”

In its statement, the FCC said it has not seen evidence that interview segments on many contemporary talk shows qualify for the traditional bona fide news exemption. The agency added that programs motivated by partisan purposes would not be entitled to such an exemption under established FCC precedent.

The commission encouraged any program or station seeking formal confirmation that the equal-time rule does not apply to file a petition for a declaratory ruling demonstrating that it meets the statutory requirements for a bona fide news exemption.

FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez, a Democrat, sharply criticized the investigation, calling it an attempt to intimidate broadcasters. She argued that networks have First Amendment protections to air candidate interviews and suggested the probe would not result in substantive enforcement action.

“Like many other so-called ‘investigations’ before it, the FCC will announce an investigation but never carry one out, reach a conclusion, or take any meaningful action,” Gomez said. “This is government intimidation, not a legitimate investigation.”

The inquiry comes amid renewed debate over political balance on “The View.” A study released last month by the Media Research Center reported that the program featured 128 liberal guests during 2025 compared with two conservatives.

The FCC did not immediately respond to requests for comment. Disney and its ABC News division also declined to comment on the matter.