FCC Suppresses Free Speech Again

2.17.26

Happy Tuesday and welcome to today’s edition of Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Let’s break down the latest news in politics.

Rev. Jesse Jackson Dies at 84….The Rev. Jesse Jackson—civil rights titan, Baptist minister, and two-time Democratic presidential candidate—died Tuesday at 84. A protégé of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr., Jackson marched at Selma, stood beside King in Memphis, and went on to found Operation PUSH and later the Rainbow/PUSH Coalition, fighting for economic and political power for Black Americans for more than five decades. His historic 1984 and 1988 presidential bids paved the way for future generations, earning millions of votes and reshaping national politics. Awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom in 2000, Jackson spent his life pushing America closer to its promise—insisting, even after tragedy, that “one bullet cannot kill a movement.” He is survived by his wife, Jacqueline, and six children.

Common Sense Takeaway: Jesse Jackson changed history. He ran for president when people said it was impossible. He built institutions when doors were slammed shut, and he never let America forget that civil rights is an ongoing movement that takes work everyday to maintain.

Colbert Says CBS Blocked Guest Over FCC Fears….Stephen Colbert revealed Monday that CBS refused to air a scheduled interview with Texas state Rep. James Talarico, allegedly over fears of retaliation from the Trump-led FCC. Colbert said network lawyers told him he couldn’t have Talarico on—and couldn’t even mention the cancellation. The unaired segment was later posted to YouTube, where Talarico accused the administration of weaponizing the FCC to silence critics and undermine the First Amendment. The controversy comes as FCC Chair Brendan Carr has floated eliminating long-standing exemptions to the “equal time” rule for talk shows and has taken an increasingly aggressive stance toward networks critical of Trump. FCC Commissioner Anna Gomez called CBS’s move “corporate capitulation.”

Common Sense Takeaway: Comedians should not have to clear political interviews with network lawyers because they’re worried about government retaliation. It’s pretty clear that Little Don is actually afraid of what James Talarico can do, and he may end up inadvertently sending him to the Senate.

DHS Spokesperson Tricia McLaughlin to Depart…Tricia McLaughlin, assistant secretary for public affairs at the Department of Homeland Security, confirmed that she will step down next Friday, Feb. 27. McLaughlin has served as the department’s chief spokesperson during Donald Trump’s second term, frequently defending Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem amid backlash over aggressive immigration enforcement. Her work has drawn a lot of scrutiny following the fatal shootings of Alex Pretti and Renee Good by ICE, but it’s unclear if that is the reason she is stepping down.

Common Sense Takeaway: Good riddance. Anybody who can justify what ICE has done recently is not somebody who should be in a position of authority or public engagement. The manner in which DHS has lied to the public following these fatal shootings should be investigated.

Fulton County Pushes Back on FBI Ballot Seizure…Officials in Fulton County are accusing the Department of Justice and Federal Bureau of Investigation of making “serious” omissions in the warrant used to seize 2020 election ballots last month. In a new court filing, the county argues the FBI failed to show probable cause of a crime, instead citing routine human errors common in nearly every election—with no evidence of intentional wrongdoing. Officials also say the bureau didn’t tell the judge that the alleged “defects” had already been investigated, nor did it disclose credibility concerns about key witnesses, including Kurt Olsen, who referred the case and has been sanctioned by multiple courts. A federal judge will hear arguments next week on whether the seized materials must be returned, as scrutiny intensifies over renewed efforts to relitigate the 2020 vote.

Common Sense Takeaway: We are nearly six years removed from the 2020 election. If the evidence still boils down to “clerical errors happen,” then there is NO case. This is all about Trump’s obsession with losing an election, not any kind of truth. Sad.

That’s it for today. Thanks for reading Common Sense with Ally Sammarco. Check back tomorrow for more.