ABC’s daytime talk show “The View” is facing a federal probe after airing an interview with Texas Democrat James Talarico, triggering questions about whether the program violated federal equal time rules for political candidates.
The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) opened the investigation following Talarico’s appearance earlier this week, according to a source who spoke to Fox News Digital.
The probe comes just weeks after the FCC issued new guidance clarifying that the statutory equal opportunities requirement applies to late-night and daytime talk shows.
That requirement is rooted in the Communications Act of 1934 and mandates that broadcast stations provide equal time to legally qualified political candidates.
The FCC said the updated guidance was meant to ensure consistent enforcement across non-news entertainment programming.
Talarico is currently locked in a heated Democratic primary battle for a U.S. Senate seat in Texas, making his appearance on the show politically significant.
He is facing Rep. Jasmine Crockett (D-TX) in the Democratic contest, while several high-profile Republicans are competing in a crowded GOP primary.
Crockett herself appeared on “The View” last month, but that interview aired before the FCC announced its expanded interpretation of the equal time rules.
Republican candidates, including Texas Sen. John Cornyn (R), Attorney General Ken Paxton, and Rep. Wesley Hunt (R-TX), are all running for the same Senate seat.
If the FCC ultimately rules that “The View” violated equal time requirements, those Republican candidates could argue they are entitled to comparable airtime.
The Texas primary is scheduled for March 3, adding urgency to the issue as the campaign season accelerates.
The FCC does allow for a bona fide news exemption, which traditionally shields cable news programs from equal time obligations.
However, the agency has indicated it has not seen evidence that interviews on late-night or daytime talk shows qualify for that exemption.
In its guidance, the FCC said it has not been presented with proof that interview segments on such programs meet the standards of bona fide news coverage.
That interpretation places shows like “The View” in a more vulnerable position than traditional news broadcasts, per the New York Post.
President Donald Trump has repeatedly criticized “The View” and its hosts, accusing the show of acting as a platform for Democratic messaging.
The White House previously attacked host Joy Behar after she claimed Trump was jealous of former President Barack Obama.
A White House spokesman at the time labeled Behar an irrelevant loser and warned the show could face consequences.
That statement came after CBS cancelled “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” another program known for sharp criticism of Trump.
The investigation marks a significant test of the FCC’s new enforcement posture toward political content on entertainment programs.
