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-Short Attention Span Theater-
Politicians and Pundits Call for an Investigation into Colbert's Cancelation
2025-07-21
[Jonathon Turley] In Washington, Democratic politicians are calling for a congressional investigation, while in New York; the Writers’ Guild is asking New York Attorney General Letitia James (D) for a state probe. No, the issue is not the use of the autopen by Biden staff to carry out presidential functions or the crisis in public education. No, it is the cancellation of "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert" by CBS.

The outrage over the show’s cancellation is the latest example of presumed entitlement from the left, which suggests that the government, universities, and corporations should subsidize their preferred news and entertainment. Call it the NPR syndrome.

I wrote this weekend about the withdrawal of the government subsidy for NPR and the outrage of its overwhelmingly white, affluent, and liberal audience. Democrats in Congress and NPR’s shrinking listeners were appalled that the American taxpayers would not be required to fund the overwhelmingly liberal outlet. It appears that they are entitled to such federal money even though NPR is dropping in both its audience and revenues.

The outrage of Democratic politicians is hardly surprising. Like NPR, The Late Night Show was used to amplify Democratic talking points. Some of those objecting the loudest were favored guests. Indeed, the show had long ago traded the comedic stylings of prior guests like George Carlin and Don Rickles for the knee-slapping standups of Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D., Mass.) and Sen. Adam Schiff (D., Cal.).

As Joe Concha recently noted, Warren, 76, appeared 16 times during the show’s ten-year run.

He offered a funereal opening after Trump’s election:

Posted by:Besoeker

#6  Colbert had an old base, not spending base. He is a money loser.
Posted by: 49 Pan   2025-07-21 21:23  

#5  Colbert's total audience was pretty good by 2025 standards. He regularly had 2M viewers.

However, the average age of his audience was 68, an age group that isn't advertisement friendly on late night TV.

Also, the digital reach of the show was lacking as people viewed other late night programs, e.g. Gutfield, far more than they viewed Colbert
Posted by: Lord Garth   2025-07-21 19:58  

#4  Fiduciary Responsibility to the courtesy phone, please!
Posted by: Cesare   2025-07-21 14:47  

#3  He's like the WNBA, running on other peoples money. If they feel so bad for him, let them raise the money themselves. There are lots of useless channels on cable and satellite.
Posted by: Procopius2k   2025-07-21 13:29  

#2  I'd like to know how he got the job in the first place.
Posted by: ed in texas   2025-07-21 13:18  

#1  I don’t think Letisha is interested in that type of political stunt at the moment.
Posted by: Super Hose   2025-07-21 13:13  

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