Stephen Colbert

The Late Show decided to present the interview through its YouTube channel with on-air promotion on the broadcast rather than potentially providing the equal time options.

So we obeyed our network and put the interview on YouTube where it's gotten millions of views.

And I can see why.

Tallarico is an interesting guy.

I don't know if he should be the senator, but it was a good discussion.

I wish we could have put it on the show where no one would have watched it.

Give it up for the band, everybody.

Welcome back, my friends.

Oh, this is exciting.

On an episode of The Late Show this week.

You know who is not one of my guests tonight?

That's Texas State Representative James Tallarico.

He was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network's lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast.

And because my network clearly doesn't want us to talk about this, let's talk about this.

You know who is not one of my guests tonight?

That's Texas State Representative James Tallarico.

He was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network's lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast.

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 doesn't want us to talk about this, let's talk about this.

Now, here's the thing.