CBS’s abrupt cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" has ignited a firestorm of suspicion. The network claims it’s a financial move, but conservative voices smell a political hit job tied to Colbert’s sharp tongue. Senators Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren are demanding answers, and they’re not alone.
Fox News reported that in a stunning move, CBS announced that "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert," a staple since 1993, will end in May 2026, citing financial pressures in the late-night TV market.
Stephen Colbert, who took the helm from David Letterman in 2015, has been a vocal critic of President Donald Trump. The timing of the cancellation raises eyebrows, coming just days after Colbert slammed a $16 million settlement between CBS’s parent company, Paramount, and Trump.
Paramount settled with Trump in July 2025 over a lawsuit claiming an edited "60 Minutes" interview with Kamala Harris was election interference.
The settlement, which Paramount’s lawyers once called baseless, has fueled speculation that CBS is bowing to political pressure. Colbert didn’t mince words, calling the deal a "big fat bribe."
"The Late Show" has long been a megaphone for liberal politics, especially during the Trump era. Last month, Colbert hosted Zohran Mamdani, who later won the Democratic nomination for New York City mayor. This history makes the cancellation’s timing look like more than a coincidence to skeptics.
Sen. Adam Schiff, fresh from taping with Colbert, didn’t buy CBS’s explanation. "If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know," he said. That’s a fair point, but it’s hard to ignore the irony of Schiff crying foul over free speech when his party often cheers corporate censorship.
Sen. Elizabeth Warren was even blunter, tying the cancellation to the Trump settlement. "CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount," she fumed. Her outrage is selective—where was this energy when conservative voices were silenced?
CBS insists the decision is purely financial, stating, "It is not related in any way to the show’s performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount."
The network points to a tough late-night landscape, where even popular shows struggle. Yet, CBS’s claim feels hollow when Fox News Channel’s "Gutfeld!" is thriving.
In the second quarter of 2025, "Gutfeld!" pulled in 3 million viewers, outpacing "The Late Show," "Jimmy Kimmel Live!," and others. With 365,000 viewers in the 25-54 demographic, Greg Gutfeld’s show proves conservative-leaning humor can dominate. Maybe CBS could learn a thing or two instead of pulling the plug.
Colbert himself fanned the flames with a cheeky jab: "How are they going to put pressure on Stephen Colbert… if they can’t find him?" It’s a clever quip, but it dodges the real question—why is CBS so quick to ditch a show that’s still a cultural force? The answer might lie in Paramount’s looming merger with Skydance Media.
Paramount’s planned merger with Skydance Media, set for later in 2025, could be a factor. Some speculate the new owners might want to cozy up to Trump, especially after the $16 million settlement. Colbert’s relentless criticism of Trump could be a liability for a company looking to reset its image.
CBS swears the cancellation isn’t about Colbert’s content or Paramount’s broader issues. But when a network settles a lawsuit it once called baseless, then axes a show that mocked the deal, it’s hard to take their word at face value. The public deserves more than corporate platitudes.
Schiff’s call for transparency is noble, but it’s a bit rich coming from a politician who’s no stranger to pushing narratives. If he’s serious about truth, he should demand the same scrutiny for all media decisions, not just the ones that hurt his allies. Fairness cuts both ways.
The rise of "Gutfeld!" signals a shift in late-night TV, where conservative humor is finding a bigger audience.
While Colbert’s show leaned hard into progressive talking points, Gutfeld’s irreverence resonates with viewers tired of being lectured. CBS’s decision might reflect a market that’s craving balance.
Warren’s claim that the settlement looks like "bribery" is a bold accusation, but it’s not backed by evidence. She’s right to question the timing, yet her focus on Colbert’s cancellation ignores the broader decline of left-leaning late-night shows. The numbers don’t lie—viewers are voting with their remotes.
