Fast Politics W Molly Jong Fast
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Charlie Sykes on Trump's FCC Fearing Midterm Loss
Posted
February 17, 2026
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February 17, 2026
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20:33Now PlayingCharlie Sykes and Molly Jong-Fast unpack what they describe as an escalating pattern of political pressure on media institutions, using CBS’s decision not to air Stephen Colbert’s interview with Texas Democratic candidate James Talarico—reportedly amid FCC “equal time” threats from Brendan Carr—as a case study in corporate preemptive capitulation and the resulting “Streisand effect” that amplified the segment online. They connect the episode to broader concerns about legacy media eroding public trust by appeasing Trump-world power dynamics, compare it to past backlash that forced ABC/Disney to reinstate Jimmy Kimmel, and argue that audiences now have abundant alternatives (podcasts, Substack, YouTube) when traditional networks compromise credibility. The discussion widens to the Trump administration’s approach to free speech, alleged state-driven censorship, and hardline immigration enforcement, including concerns about masked federal agents, detention conditions, and Democrats’ efforts to impose accountability measures like body cameras. Finally, they touch on global politics and the Munich Security Conference, criticizing Republican positioning and figures like Marco Rubio for rhetorical moderation without substantive independence, while warning that Trump’s refusal to “back down” or remove compromised allies entrenches policies—especially on immigration—as money and momentum accelerate.
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