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