The Present Age

The Present Age

Stephen Colbert's Cancellation Is Exactly What It Looks Like

Mock a Trump bribe on Monday, get canceled by Thursday. The Late Show's death reveals how billionaires and presidents are reshaping American media.

Parker Molloy's avatar
Parker Molloy
Jul 18, 2025
∙ Paid

Stephen Colbert announced on Thursday night that next May would mark not just the end of his run as host, but the death of The Late Show itself, a CBS institution that has existed since 1993.

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