Welcome to Late Night Roundup! We’re here to share the best comedy bits from last night’s shows, so you can catch up without losing sleep.
Colbert’s Bold Stance: ‘FCC You!’
On Monday’s ‘Late Show,’ Stephen Colbert fearlessly addressed the unexpected absence of Texas State Representative James Talarico, despite strong advisories against it.
Colbert revealed that network lawyers had explicitly forbidden Talarico’s appearance, calling them directly to deliver the message.
“I was then told, quite clearly, that I couldn’t even mention that I couldn’t have him on. So, naturally, since my network absolutely doesn’t want us discussing this, let’s discuss it!” — STEPHEN COLBERT
A video clip shows Stephen Colbert passionately discussing the issue on his show.
“Colbert explained the ‘equal time rule,’ an old FCC regulation applying only to radio and broadcast TV. It dictates that if a candidate appears during an election, their opponents must also be given airtime. He sarcastically noted this rule’s prominence, second only to the ‘No nipples at the Super Bowl’ rule.” — STEPHEN COLBERT
“He then highlighted a crucial exemption for news and talk show interviews with politicians, questioning how else voters would have learned about Bill Clinton’s saxophone skills back in ’92.” — STEPHEN COLBERT
“However, Colbert pointed to a recent letter from FCC chairman Brendan Carr, dated January 21, proposing to drop this talk show exemption. Carr cited ‘partisan purposes’ as his concern, a motivation Colbert quickly mirrored back, stating, ‘Well, sir, you’re chairman of the FCC, so FCC you. Because I think you are motivated by partisan purposes yourself. Sir, ya smelt it ’cause ya dealt it. You are Dutch-ovening America’s airwaves.’” — STEPHEN COLBERT
“Finally, Colbert directly accused the Trump administration of attempting to silence critics on TV, comparing Trump to ‘a toddler with too much screen time’ who ‘gets cranky and then drops a load in his diaper’ when exposed to unfavorable content.” — STEPHEN COLBERT
Presidents’ Day Humor: The Night’s Sharpest Jokes
Bill Maher’s social media post reads: “Monday is Presidents’ Day! When we pay tribute to all our presidents, even those in the Epstein files.”
“Bill Maher, on Presidents’ Day, wryly observed that the tribute extends ‘even to those in the Epstein files.’ He then imagined former President Donald Trump celebrating by ‘posting pictures of all the presidents, some of them not as apes.’” — BILL MAHER
“Guest host Tom Shillue on ‘Gutfeld’ offered his own take: ‘It’s Presidents’ Day, or, as I like to say, Washington and Lincoln’s Birthday.’ He joked that Joe Biden commemorated it by ‘setting his clocks back an hour’ and imagined Kamala Harris ‘doing a shot’ every time Washington or Lincoln was mentioned. Shillue also quipped that Bill Clinton likely ‘spent the good day getting a good deal on a mattress.’” — TOM SHILLUE
Don’t Miss These Segments!
In the Season 13 premiere of ‘Last Week Tonight,’ John Oliver took a deep dive into the complex history of I.C.E. and the Department of Homeland Security.
A video clip shows John Oliver on his show discussing I.C.E. and the Department of Homeland Security.
Upcoming Highlights: Tuesday Evening
CNN correspondent Kaitlan Collins is set to join Stephen Colbert on ‘The Late Show’ this Tuesday.
Beyond Late Night: Also Worth Seeing
A black-and-white photo features André De Shields, impeccably dressed in a suit and panama hat, standing behind Junior LaBeija, who is seated in denim overalls. The caption notes LaBeija’s description of their shared ‘unapologetic and unbothered’ approach to their respective arts, ballroom and theater.
Fifty years ago, Junior LaBeija couldn’t afford a ticket to see André De Shields in “The Wiz.” Today, these two talents are sharing the stage in a reimagined production of “Cats.”
A correction was issued on Feb. 17, 2026: An earlier summary of this article incorrectly identified James Talarico’s title. He is a Texas state representative, not a congressman.