AUSTIN, Texas (AP) — James Talarico turned a last-minute broadcast cancellation into a fundraising windfall. The Democrat vying for the U.S. Senate seat in Texas saw donations surge past $2.5 million in the day following Stephen Colbert’s announcement that network lawyers had spiked the interview.

Colbert revealed the decision during his Monday monologue on ‘The Late Show.’ He said CBS had warned him against airing Talarico’s appearance or even mentioning it, citing the Federal Communications Commission’s equal-time provision. That rule requires broadcasters to offer comparable airtime to rival candidates in certain political contexts.

The host wasted no time shifting gears. He uploaded the 12-minute interview to YouTube that evening. By Tuesday, view counts topped 5 million. Talarico’s campaign reported the explosive fundraising spike Tuesday, tying it directly to the controversy.

CBS pushed back hard against Colbert’s account. ‘The Late Show was not prohibited by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico,’ the network stated. Legal advisors had flagged risks of triggering equal-time obligations for other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and outlined ways to address them, according to the statement.

Colbert fired back during Tuesday’s show. He noted CBS released its clarification without consulting him first. ‘The FCC’s equal time rule has never applied to talk shows, and still doesn’t,’ he said. The comedian expressed shock that a ‘giant, global corporation’ wouldn’t push back against what he called bullies.

Talarico leaned into the drama on social media and the campaign trail. Early Tuesday, he posted a clip on X, formerly Twitter, declaring, ‘This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.’ He accused Trump’s FCC of orchestrating the block, adding, ‘Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas.’

That night at a rally in Austin, Talarico sharpened his attack. ‘Corporate media executives are selling out the First Amendment to curry favor with corrupt politicians,’ he told supporters. He framed the episode as a broader threat. ‘A threat to any of our First Amendment rights is a threat to all of our First Amendment rights,’ he said. ‘Whether you’re a Democrat or Republican, whether you’re conservative or progressive, the real fight in this country is not left versus right, it’s top versus bottom.’

The timing amplified the stakes. Early voting in the Texas Democratic primary began Tuesday, putting Talarico’s profile front and center just as ballots hit mailboxes.

Rep. Jasmine Crockett, a fellow Democrat in the primary race, entered the fray on MS Now. She’s appeared twice on Colbert’s show without hitches. Crockett called the YouTube pivot ‘a good strategy’ but allowed it delivered ‘the boost he was looking for’ to her rival.

Talarico’s team did not immediately respond to requests for additional comment on the funds or next steps. The surge highlights how viral moments can reshape underdog campaigns, especially in a crowded field with early votes already flowing.

CBS executives have stayed silent beyond their initial statement. FCC officials did not respond to queries about the equal-time rule’s application to late-night programming. Talarico, a state representative from Austin, launched his Senate bid last year aiming to unseat Republican incumbent John Cornyn.