CBS says it didn’t block Stephen Colbert’s interview from airing. Here’s what he had to say about that.

Stephen Colbert has faced CBS’ denial that it blocked his interview with Rep. James Talarico from the air last night. In short, he calls it “trickery.”

“I was ready to give up everything,” Colbert said. “Until a few hours ago, when my team’s conversation exploded. Because, without talking to me, the company released this statement to the media, this statement.”

Released on Tuesday, CBS’ statement read: “The Late Show was not banned by CBS from broadcasting the interview with Rep. James Talarico. The program has been given legal guidance that the broadcaster may invoke the FCC’s equal-time rule on two other candidates, including Rep. Jasmine Crockett, and presented options for how equal time for other candidates could be fulfilled. The Late Show decided to launch the interview through its YouTube channel by promoting it on air in the broadcast instead of offering equal time options.”

In response, Colbert responded that he didn’t need CBS lawyers to tell him how to do his job.

“I’m sure we can book other guests,” Colbert replied. “I didn’t need to be introduced like that. I’ve had Jasmine Crockett on my show twice. I could prove that to you. I could prove that, but the network won’t let me show you her picture without putting in her rivals.”

The CBS statement also seemed to understate Colbert’s real concern, which was the unprecedented enforcement of the equal-time rule despite the fact that the talk shows it’s a well-known and long-standing practice. In fact, his team couldn’t find a single example of the equal time rule being used on any talk show going back to the 1960s. Although FCC chairman Brendan Carr has expressed a desire to remove it, the exemption remains.

“[Carr] he wasn’t done yet [the exemption] however, CBS was kind to him and told me clearly that I had to abide by the equal time rules, something I’ve never been asked to do in an interview in 21 years of this job,” said Colbert. “Now, that decision, I want to be clear, is their right. As I have the right to speak about their decision in the air.”

Expressing dismay at CBS’s actions, Colbert noted that the network knew and approved what he had to say during yesterday’s show, yet issued a statement contradicting it afterward.

“They know very well that every word of my script last night was approved by CBS lawyers, who say on the record that they approve every script that goes on the air, whether it’s equal time or this picture of frogs having sex,” Colbert continued, showing a mercifully censored image of frogs having sex. “They told us the language they wanted me to use to describe that equal time. And I used that language. So, I don’t know what this is about.

“For the record, I’m not even crazy. I really don’t want an anti-network relationship. I’ve never had one…. I’m just amazed that this big global company wouldn’t stand up to these bullies…. And it’s amazing that the lawyers pulled this off without talking to me. I don’t even know what to do with this stupidity.”