Tricia McLaughlin, the Department of Homeland Security's (DHS) assistant secretary for public affairs and a prominent figure defending the Trump administration's immigration policies, is leaving her post, the department confirmed on Tuesday. Simultaneously, comedian Stephen Colbert revealed that CBS had blocked him from airing an interview with Democratic Texas state Rep. James Talarico, allegedly due to concerns about Federal Communications Commission (FCC) regulations. These developments come as former President Donald Trump faces shifting political tides, particularly among young voters.
McLaughlin, who became the public face of the Trump administration's mass deportation policies, is departing the agency, according to NPR News. Colbert, host of CBS's "The Late Show," stated on Monday's broadcast that CBS lawyers directly instructed him not to air the interview with Talarico, a U.S. Senate candidate, as reported by Time. Colbert further noted that he was also told he could not mention the interview's cancellation, leading him to address the situation on air.
The directive from CBS lawyers followed guidance on changing broadcasting regulations put forward by FCC chairman Brendan Carr in January, according to Time. Colbert expressed his frustration, saying, "We were told in no uncertain terms by our network's lawyers...that we could not have him on the broadcast." He added, "Then I was told, in some uncertain terms, that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on and because my network clearly doesnt want us to talk about this, lets talk about this."
CBS later released a statement about the situation, which Colbert said was done "without ever talking to me," according to Variety. Colbert also stated, "I really don't want an adversarial relationship with the network."
These events unfold against the backdrop of changing political dynamics. According to several recent polls, Trump's support among young people has declined significantly, as reported by Time. In the 2024 presidential election, Trump received 39% of the vote share among 18-29-year-olds, according to Pew Research Center data. However, an Economist/YouGov poll conducted February 6-9 showed Trump's Gen Z approval dropping to its lowest level in his second term, according to Time.
The situation involving Colbert and CBS highlights the potential influence of the Trump administration on media, as noted by Vox. The incident is another example of the Trump administration's impact on late-night TV.
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