The allegation surfaces amid an ongoing controversy regarding Jimmy Kimmel’s recent move from ABC to YouTube, which the host attributed to pressure from the FCC.
WASHINGTON, DC: Social media has been buzzing over a viral claim alleging that a federal judge issued an order forcing YouTube to pull Jimmy Kimmel’s interview with Texas Senate candidate James Talarico.
The rumor is tied to a broader dispute that began when Kimmel transitioned his show’s segment to YouTube after pointing to pressure from the Federal Communications Commission (FCC). Let’s take a closer look at the facts behind the viral post.
Claim: Judge ordered YouTube to block Jimmy Kimmel’s interview with James Talarico
🚨A FEDERAL JUDGE HAS ORDERED YOUTUBE TO BLOCK JIMMY KIMMEL’S INTERVIEW WITH JAMES TALARICO UNTIL THE 15TH DISTRICT COURT HAS A CHANCE TO REVIEW THE FCC’S CASE!
Follow: https://t.co/7VvxEylD6A
According to Communications Commissioner Josephine Barron, the interview was… pic.twitter.com/HtzfOonSkd
The misinformation started with a post on X asserting that a federal judge commanded YouTube to restrict the interview until the 15th District Court could evaluate the FCC’s legal challenge.
The author of the post alleged, “According to Communications Commissioner Josephine Barron, the interview was initially blocked from the airwaves for containing ‘monumental lies’ about Texas Attorney General Ken Paxton, President Trump, and the Republican Party.”
Furthermore, the account claimed that the FCC took legal action against YouTube for hosting content allegedly bypassed by ABC, quoting the statement, “We have to draw the line somewhere.”
The post wrapped up by arguing that because YouTube content can supposedly be re-broadcasted in various markets, it falls under the jurisdiction of the fairness doctrine.
Fact Check: The claim is entirely false
Simply put, the viral post on X is completely fabricated and misrepresents the facts entirely.
There is zero evidence that any federal judge instructed YouTube to block or take down Kimmel’s interview. As of mid-September 2026, the video remains fully accessible online, and no legitimate news outlet has reported any such court-mandated removal.
Additionally, the post invents a fictional government official named “Communications Commissioner Josephine Barron.” The current leadership of the FCC consists of Chairman Brendan Carr, along with Commissioners Anna M. Gomez and Olivia Trusty. No lawsuit has been filed by the agency against YouTube over this interview, nor does the long-defunct fairness doctrine apply.
References to a “15th District Court” order are equally baseless. While Disney and ABC are engaged in separate legal discussions with the FCC concerning broadcast licensing, none of those proceedings involve a court order targeting Kimmel’s online conversation with Talarico.
A nearly identical situation occurred earlier in the year when Stephen Colbert also shifted a Talarico interview to YouTube due to concerns surrounding the FCC’s equal-time regulations.
Ultimately, the FCC’s regulatory authority applies to traditional broadcast stations, not internet video platforms like YouTube in the manner suggested by the viral rumor. Furthermore, the fairness doctrine was repealed decades ago, leaving the equal-time rule as the relevant standard for political candidates on broadcast television and radio.