Study Reveals Partisan Bias on “The Late Show” with Stephen Colbert

Since 2022, “The Late Show” hosted predominantly left-leaning guests, with a recent study indicating a stark imbalance in political representation. The analysis shows that out of 176 guests during this period, only one Republican appeared, while 14 were Democratic politicians and 29 were liberal journalists and celebrities.

In the first half of 2025 alone, the show booked 43 liberal figures and no conservatives, making it the most partisan late-night program. Notable guests included prominent Democrats such as Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, and Cory Booker, along with media personalities like Chris Hayes, John Oliver, and Ezra Klein. The network’s decision to cancel the show by May 2026 has raised questions, especially given its significant financial losses—over $100 million annually—across declining viewership and high production costs.

Colbert’s final episodes come after a series of political jabs, including a monologue criticizing CBS parent company Paramount Global for settling a $16 million defamation lawsuit with Donald Trump, which facilitated a merger with Skydance Media approved by the FCC. Colbert described the settlement as a “big fat bribe” and warned viewers that the show’s tone would change in its last months.

Some staff described the cancellation as “chilling,” citing the show’s increasingly partisan content and financial sustainability issues. The study also highlights that, overall, late-night TV heavily favors liberal guests, with the first half of 2025 featuring only one conservative guest outside of “The Daily Show,” which hosted Jon Stewart post-return in February 2024. Conservative commentator Oren Cass was the sole outlier in recent years.

Critics argue that the skewed guest lists reflect a broader trend of political bias in entertainment, with some calling for investigations into campaign contributions and influence within media companies.

While Colbert does not plan to comment further, other late-night hosts like Jimmy Kimmel, Jimmy Fallon, and Seth Meyers are already preparing for new seasons, with Kimmel ending his current deal this fall and Fallon and Meyers re-signing through 2028.