A new study by media watchdog NewsBusters claims that Stephen Colbert’s “The Late Show” has functioned as a partisan outlet, serving as a form of “group therapy” for liberals.
The analysis, which tracks guest appearances on the show since 2022, reveals a sharp imbalance in political representation, sparking renewed criticism over political bias in late-night television.
Since 2022, Colbert has hosted 176 left-leaning guests and only one Republican, according to NewsBusters.
The study says this trend has continued into 2025, with 43 liberal political guests booked in the first half of the year and zero conservatives.
NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck described the show as “late-night group therapy for liberals,” adding that many Americans are tired of partisan content posing as comedy. He pointed out that viewers are turning away from such shows due to their openly biased tone.
Among the prominent left-wing figures appearing on “The Late Show” were Democrats such as Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Cory Booker. Colbert also hosted New York socialists like Zohran Mamdani and Brad Lander.
Liberal media personalities such as MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, HBO’s John Oliver, and New York Times columnist Ezra Klein were also featured, according to the New York Post.
The sole conservative to appear on the program since 2022 was former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-WY). Her December 2023 appearance involved a heated exchange with Colbert over his criticisms of the Republican Party and President Donald Trump.
Although Cheney is a Republican, she has consistently criticized Trump and even campaigned with Kamala Harris during the 2024 election. Due to her opposition to Trump, many no longer see her as representative of conservative values.
In January 2025, Colbert also interviewed former Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger.
However, NewsBusters excluded him from their conservative tally, citing his repeated criticism of Trump and support for Harris during the 2024 race.
CBS announced earlier this month that “The Late Show” will be canceled in May 2026, citing financial reasons. However, the timing raised suspicions, as it came just three days after Colbert slammed CBS parent company Paramount Global for settling a $16 million lawsuit with Trump.
That settlement cleared the way for Paramount’s $8 billion merger with Skydance Media, which was approved by the Trump-led Federal Communications Commission. During his June 30 monologue, Colbert accused Paramount of offering a “big fat bribe” and vowed retaliation in the coming months.
While CBS blamed financial losses—reportedly over $100 million annually—for the cancellation, some insiders saw the timing as politically charged. Colbert’s show had reportedly lost $40 to $50 million yearly while its audience continued to decline.
Houck pointed to Colbert’s partisan tone and attacks on half the country as key reasons for the show’s collapse. He added that the broader decline of cable TV subscribers also made the show financially unsustainable.
Across all late-night shows, NewsBusters tracked 511 liberal guests versus only 14 conservatives since 2022. Colbert led the pack, but similar imbalances were found on shows hosted by Jimmy Fallon, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Kimmel, and “The Daily Show.”
In 2025, “The Daily Show” featured 32 liberal guests and just one conservative—policy expert Oren Cass, who discussed Trump-era tariffs. Cass praised host Jon Stewart for his curiosity, but said Colbert preferred to “preach to a choir.”
Despite the criticism, Colbert has not responded to media requests. He will remain on air until spring 2026. Meanwhile, Kimmel will wrap up his contract this fall, and Fallon and Meyers are signed through 2028.
Trump’s former chief strategist, Steve Bannon, called for a federal investigation into late-night TV producers. He said their lopsided coverage amounts to illegal in-kind contributions to Democrats and claimed Colbert’s losses could total $500 million.
