A study conducted by media watchdog NewsBusters has brought to light an apparent political bias in Stephen Colbert's "The Late Show." The analysis, which tracked guest appearances since 2022, indicates a stark imbalance in political representation, with a preponderance of liberal guests and a scarcity of conservative voices, potentially turning the show into a form of "group therapy" for liberals.
Since 2022, Colbert has invited 176 left-leaning guests, contrasted with only one Republican, as reported by NewsBusters. The trend persisted into 2025, with 43 liberal guests in the first half of the year and no conservative figures. Curtis Houck, managing editor of NewsBusters, labeled the program as "late-night group therapy for liberals," citing a growing disinterest among viewers for partisan content masquerading as comedy.
High-profile Democrats like Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Cory Booker have all graced Colbert's stage. Additionally, New York socialists Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander, alongside liberal media personalities such as MSNBC's Chris Hayes, HBO's John Oliver, and New York Times columnist Ezra Klein have made appearances, as mentioned by the New York Post.
The sole Republican guest since 2022, former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY), had a contentious interview with Colbert in December 2023. Cheney's persistent criticism of former President Donald Trump and her campaigning with Kamala Harris during the 2024 election has led many to question her representation of conservative values.
January 2025 saw Colbert interview former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger, who, despite being excluded from NewsBusters' conservative count due to his anti-Trump stance and support for Harris, adds to the political diversity on the show.
Amidst the controversy, CBS announced the cancellation of "The Late Show" in May 2026, officially attributing the decision to financial constraints. The show reportedly suffered over $100 million in annual losses, with audience numbers dwindling. The timing of the cancellation, however, has raised eyebrows, occurring just after Colbert criticized CBS's parent company Paramount Global for a $16 million settlement with Trump—facilitating a lucrative merger cleared by the Trump-led Federal Communications Commission.
Houck attributes the show's decline to its partisan tone and alienation of half the American populace. He also notes the broader trend of cable TV subscriber loss contributing to the show's financial woes.
The imbalance extends beyond Colbert's program, as NewsBusters recorded 511 liberal guests versus 14 conservatives across all late-night shows since 2022. Despite the criticisms, Colbert has yet to respond to media inquiries and will continue broadcasting until spring 2026. Other hosts, including Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, and Jimmy Fallon, have contracts extending through 2028.
In a striking turn, Trump's former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, has called for a federal investigation into late-night TV producers, accusing them of making illegal in-kind contributions to Democrats. Bannon suggested the financial losses related to Colbert's show could total up to $500 million.
