\n<\/p>\n
Stephen Colbert on the CBS series The Late Show.<\/span>Scott Kowalchyk\/CBS via Getty<\/span><\/p>\n<\/div>\n Late Show<\/em> host Stephen Colbert<\/span> once again<\/a> gave his audience the inside scoop<\/a> on Tuesday amid the ongoing clash involving him, network executives, and a candidate for US Senate in Texas.\u00a0<\/p>\n The latest comes as CBS refuted Colbert\u2019s assertion that he had been instructed not to interview Texas State Representative James Talarico and that he had been dissuaded from bringing up the situation on air.<\/p>\n \u201cThere\u2019s another big story today,\u201d Colbert said on Tuesday, as a newsy photo popped up of himself. \u201cAnd it\u2019s me.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n \u201cI was ready to let the whole thing go,\u201d he continued, \u201cuntil a few hours ago when my groupchat blowed up. Because, without ever talking to me, the corporation put out this press release.\u201d<\/p>\n Colbert read a paper copy of the statement, which challenged the claim that he had been prohibited from interviewing Talarico. \u201cA small piece of paper considering how many butts it\u2019s trying to cover,\u201d Colbert quipped. CBS\u2019 lawyers, he continued, \u201cknow damn well that every word of my script last night was approved by CBS\u2019 lawyers, who for the record approve every script that goes on the air.\u201d<\/p>\n For those just tuning in: On Monday, Colbert said that CBS\u2019s lawyers had instructed the host \u201cin no uncertain terms\u2026that we could not\u201d have Talarico as the show\u2019s scheduled guest. According to these lawyers, Talarico\u2019s appearance would run afoul of equal time guidelines brought about by Federal Communications Commission Chair Brendan Carr. A January letter by Carr challenged long-held rules about what kind of broadcasts have to provide equal opportunity for time to political candidates in an election. Previously, talk shows and late-night hosts were excused. Carr, a key ally of <\/a>President Donald Trump, laid out how he\u2019d like to remove those exceptions.\u00a0<\/p>\n