Overview

• CBS has set May 2026 as the end date for The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, citing annual losses exceeding $40 million and declining viewership.
• President Trump denied any role in the cancellation on Truth Social, attributing it to a “lack of talent” and warning that Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon could face similar fates.
• Comedian Samantha Bee flagged the show’s steep losses and said executives likely saw an easy way to sidestep controversy before the Skydance–Paramount merger.
• On July 25, the Federal Communications Commission approved Paramount Global’s $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, fueling questions over possible political quid pro quo.
• Senators Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff have demanded transparency on links between CBS’s decision, the $16 million Trump settlement, and the pending merger approval.