Federal Communications Commission Chairman Brendan Carr has been vocal in his criticism of the left-wing response to CBS’s decision to cancel Stephen Colbert’s late-night talk show. In a post on X, Carr accused the ‘partisan left’ of overreacting, suggesting they were acting as if they were losing a loyal DNC spokesperson that was entitled to an exemption from the laws of economics. This reaction has sparked a significant debate about the motivations behind the cancellation and the role of political bias in media decisions.
CBS’s cancellation of ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ was announced on Thursday, with the final episode set to air in May 2026. The move has been met with widespread criticism from progressive politicians and journalists, who argue that CBS is using the cancellation as a political move rather than a financial one. Jamie Lee Curtis, an actress, expressed her frustration by stating that CBS has cut NPR and public broadcasting, and that the network’s attempts to silence critics won’t work. Her comments reflect the broader concern among progressive figures that CBS is exerting control over public discourse.
The cancellation has also been linked to broader political tensions, including the recent $16 million settlement between CBS and President Donald Trump. This settlement, which was reached after Trump accused the network of election interference, has led to accusations that CBS is complicit in political machinations. Stephen Colbert, who had previously criticized the network for settling with Trump, was axed just three days after his monologue criticizing the deal. Sen. Elizabeth Warren and Sen. Bernie Sanders have both expressed doubts that the cancellation was solely for financial reasons, suggesting that political motivations were at play.
Despite these accusations, CBS maintains that the cancellation was a purely financial decision. The show was regularly in first place in its time slot, but it was losing $40 million annually due to declining viewership. Jon Stewart, Colbert’s former colleague at Comedy Central, has also questioned the network’s financial reasoning, suggesting that the cancellation was not as straightforward as CBS claims. The controversy has sparked a heated debate about the role of media in political discourse and the influence of corporate interests on content decisions.
Colbert himself has been a vocal critic of Trump, and his firing has been met with approval from some of Trump’s supporters. Trump has publicly expressed his delight at the cancellation, joking about the supposed lack of talent among late-night hosts. Meanwhile, Colbert has responded to Trump’s comments with sharp criticism, calling him out for his remarks in a public retort. This exchange highlights the polarized nature of the media landscape and the impact of political figures on the entertainment industry.