Stephen Colbert’s Late Show is being canceled by CBS in May 2026, just days after he called Paramount’s $16M Trump settlement “a big fat bribe” to smooth DOJ approval for an $8B Skydance merger. Trump celebrated the cancellation on Truth Social, mocking Colbert’s “talent” despite the show leading late-night ratings with 2.4M viewers. CBS claims the move is financial, but critics argue it’s political pressure to appease Trump allies like Skydance buyer David Ellison. Analysts warn this signals growing politicization of corporate media decisions.
