Is Colbert's Ouster Really Just a ‘Financial Decision'?

Is Colbert's Ouster Really Just a ‘Financial Decision’? - The Atlantic

CBS no longer deserves the benefit of the doubt.

theatlantic.com

Is Colbert’s departure really about dollars, or is CBS trimming a Trump critic to grease the wheels of its Skydance merger? Despite Stephen Colbert’s top‐of‐the‐slot ratings, the network says its decision to end The Late Show in May 2026 is “purely financial.” But after years of Trump lawsuits (like the $20 billion suit over a Kamala Harris interview), a $16 million settlement that kicks legal fees and PSAs his way, and the Redstones handing power to Shari and Skydance, CBS’s chill toward Colbert feels more like kowtowing to a president who can veto their deal.

This isn’t just late‐night fallout—it’s part of a broader trend of CBS abandoning its journalistic backbone (think Murrow, Cronkite, 60 Minutes). With Bill Owens ousted and editors walking away, corporate suits show they’d rather sacrifice editorial independence and hefty talent salaries than risk Trump scuttling their merger. It’s a warning that bowing to political pressure only invites more demands, a lesson Columbia University learned the hard way.