Jon Stewart slams CBS for canceling Colbert's show
- Jon Stewart criticized CBS during The Daily Show for its decision to cancel Stephen Colbert's show.
- He expressed skepticism about CBS's financial justification for the cancellation, implying a connection to corporate pressure.
- Stewart concluded by urging networks to resist giving in to political pressures.
In the United States, on July 22, 2025, Jon Stewart publicly condemned CBS for its decision to cancel The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, with the show set to end in May 2026. During an episode of The Daily Show, Stewart expressed skepticism about CBS's explanation that the cancellation was purely financial, implying that corporate motivations and fear of backlash from Donald Trump were significant factors. He suggested that the network's lack of effort to save their leading late-night show raised questions about its true intentions. Stewart linked the cancellation to the upcoming $8 billion merger between Paramount, CBS's parent company, and Skydance Media, criticizing the perceived capitulation to Trump's influence over media corporations. Stewart emphasized that networks should not give in to corporate fear and expressed dismay that CBS failed to recognize the value of shows like Colbert's, which he believes contributed significantly to the network's financial success. He stated that under pressure from a fragile political climate, networks are compromising the integrity of their programming, urging others to resist such capitulation and continue daring to speak out against power.