Dems Meltdown Over Ending of Stephen Colbert’s Show

CBS announced this week that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in 2026, prompting strong backlash from Democratic lawmakers and liberal media figures.

Many critics have speculated that the decision was politically motivated, potentially influenced by pressure from the Trump administration.

The network confirmed on Thursday that Colbert’s late-night show would conclude next year, nearly ten years after he succeeded David Letterman as host.

CBS also revealed it would be shutting down its late-night programming entirely, ending a decades-long run.

CBS stated the cancellation was based on financial reasons. According to Nielsen ratings, The Late Show currently averages 2.1 million viewers, despite CBS reaching roughly 95 percent of U.S. households.

The network said this reflects a broader decline in viewership for traditional late-night programs, Trending Politics reported.

However, prominent Democrats took to social media to dispute the explanation. They questioned the timing of the announcement, which came just days after Colbert criticized CBS leadership over a legal settlement with Donald Trump.

California Sen. Adam Schiff (D), who had recently filmed a segment for the show, posted on X that a deeper investigation might be necessary. “If Paramount and CBS ended the Late Show for political reasons, the public deserves to know,” he said.

Massachusetts Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D) expressed similar concerns, noting that Colbert criticized the $16 million settlement just three days prior to the announcement. “That looks like bribery,” she wrote. “America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.”

Media figures outside of Washington echoed the lawmakers’ sentiments. Former CBS journalist Katie Couric said she was “so upset” and demanded further explanation. She expressed support for Colbert and called the cancellation a disservice to the audience.

John Avlon, a former CNN anchor, praised Colbert’s talent and argued that the show’s brand remains strong and “irreplaceable.” He stated that Colbert’s loyal fans will follow him to his next venture.

MSNBC host Chris Hayes also joined the criticism. He framed the move as a threat to democratic values, saying it reflects a society where comedians may face consequences for mocking political leaders. “That’s a test of a free society,” Hayes posted.

Hayes’ remarks were met with ridicule by some users on X. They referenced the case of Douglas Mackey, who was sentenced to prison for posting a meme about Hillary Clinton, though his conviction was recently overturned.

Progressive voices on BlueSky also weighed in. Former NBC journalist Ben Collins, now owner of The Onion, described the move as “torching the Late Show… to appease a dictator.” He expressed anger over what he believed was an unjust decision.

Former ESPN anchor Jemele Hill questioned whether the timing was merely coincidental. “I’m not crazy for thinking this was related to Colbert criticizing the network, am I?” she posted.

CBS issued a statement expressing admiration for Colbert and confirmed the show will conclude in May 2026. “We consider Stephen Colbert irreplaceable and will retire THE LATE SHOW franchise at that time,” the network said.

The statement praised Colbert’s contributions and said both he and the show would be remembered alongside other legends of late-night television.

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