CBS cancels top-rated Late Show with Stephen Colbert days after settling Trump lawsuit
Thursday, July 17, 2025
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CBS announced it would cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in May 2026, ending the highest-rated late-night show for nine consecutive seasons. The announcement came just 15 days after Paramount Global paid $16 million to settle a lawsuit filed by President Trump over a 60 Minutes interview, a lawsuit legal experts called frivolous. Colbert had criticized the settlement on air as a "big fat bribe" three days before learning his show was cancelled. CBS called it "purely a financial decision" unrelated to "content or other matters happening at Paramount." President Trump celebrated the cancellation on Truth Social, writing: "I absolutely love that Colbert got fired."
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How to submitWhy this is Complicity
CBS cancelled its top-rated late-night host, one of President Trump's most prominent television critics, days after paying the president $16 million to settle a meritless lawsuit. The timing speaks for itself. Paramount Global was awaiting FCC approval for its merger with Skydance Media, controlled by the Ellison family, close Trump allies. David Ellison met with FCC Chairman Brendan Carr days before the cancellation was announced. Democratic senators including Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff publicly questioned whether the cancellation was politically motivated. Jimmy Kimmel called the reported $40 million loss figure "beyond nonsensical."