Like many others in the liberal media, CNN’s The Situation Room co-hosts Wolf Blitzer and Pamela Brown were quick to jump on the growing wave of fear that somehow spread from a flopping comedy show getting cancelled. In an interview with CNN chief media analyst Brian Stelter, the three expressed their concerns over what Colbert’s cancellation meant for the future of late-night TV… and our freedom.
When CBS announced the end of the award-winning The Late Show with Stephen Colbert over the show’s reported financial failings, many refused to believe it was possible. But, believe it or not, Stephen Colbert actually did win awards for his work on The Late Show.
He also lost Paramount Global $40 million dollars annually; $100 million to produce while only bringing in $60 million in ad revenue.
It really should come as no surprise that a show tanking that hard would get pulled off the air eventually, but liberals concocted a conspiracy that completely ignored the facts in front of them.
In response to a clip of Jon Stewart alleging that President Trump pressured Paramount into cutting the comedian, Stelter claimed:
Stewart giving voice to something that many American liberals are worrying about right now, and frankly, I would say this is something that has been bubbling up for months at this point, are TV networks going to keep supporting political satire and free speech at a time when President Trump's campaign of retribution is rattling corporate America?
Coming off the heels of Paramount’s $16 million dollar settlement with Trump over a defamation case, people tried to put two and two together, even when the facts clearly weren’t adding up. It was easy to call the cancellation an attack on free speech if you disregarded all the evidence to the contrary.
Not only was The Late Show failing, but so was late-night TV in general. As streaming became more and more popular, network TV became less and less profitable. It’s only natural for a company like Paramount, which was undergoing a merger, to want to cut down some of its content before the change in leadership.
But instead Stelter continued:
You know, there's been a long history in the U.S. of comics having a lot of space and room to poke fun at presidents, as well as the network executives who run the parent companies. But right now, fans feel that tradition is under threat, and it relates to a broader fear about institutions caving to Trump and quieting political dissent.
How exactly an election interference case over biased news reporting on 60 Minutes would lead to the punishment of comedians for poking at the president was unclear, but to CNN, it would understandably be difficult for them to fathom keeping political dissent out of their one-sided reporting.
Luckily for Colbert and the rest of the liberal media, The Late Show would continue to air for another several months before its official end, evidence that blocking political dissent was never the intent behind the cut.
The transcript is below. Click "expand" to read.
CNN’s The Situation Room
July 22, 2025
10:43 a.m. EST(...)
WOLF BLITZER: You know, Brian, we're also seeing some of the biggest names in comedy weighing in on this decision. What do you make of the reaction that's unfolding right now?
BRIAN STELTER: Yeah, and I think in some ways, Jon Stewart's comments last night were the most important. Jon Stewart is a producer of the Colbert show. He's a friend of Colbert, and his program, The Daily Show, is owned by the same company as The Late Show. It's all owned by Paramount, and Paramount is trying to get that deal approved by the Trump administration.
Certainly, Jon Stewart does believe that political pressure had something to do with Colbert's cancellation. He made that quite clear in his commentary.
PAMELA BROWN: Let's listen.
(Cuts to video)
JON STEWART: If you believe as corporations or as networks, you can make yourselves so innocuous that you can serve a gruel so flavorless that you will never again be on the boy king's radar. A: Why will anyone watch you? And you are f*** wrong.
(Cuts to live)
STELTER: Stewart giving – Stewart giving voice to something that many American liberals are worrying about right now, and frankly, I would say this is something that has been bubbling up for months at this point, are TV networks going to keep supporting political satire and free speech at a time when President Trump's campaign of retribution is rattling corporate America?
You know, there's been a long history in the U.S. of comics having a lot of space and room to poke fun at presidents, as well as the network executives who run the parent companies.
But right now, fans feel that tradition is under threat, and it relates to a broader fear about institutions caving to Trump and quieting political dissent.
Jon Stewart, for one, said he's not going anywhere. He said at least he doesn't think he's going anywhere. His contract to be on The Daily Show once a week ends at the end of this year, it ends in December. So keep an eye on that and keep an eye on whether Stewart stays.
But you know what? Even if he leaves Comedy Central, I bet he would walk across the digital street and launch a show on YouTube. And that should be a comforting note for people who are concerned about a chill in the proverbial air. There are more ways than ever for comedians to get their messages out. It's just right now, some of these institutions are under a lot of political pressure.
BROWN: Yeah, I don't think Stephen Colbert is going anywhere after his show ends.
(...)
