Key Takeaways
- Stephen Colbert criticized CBS for paying $16 million to settle a lawsuit with the Trump administration, making a joke about the cost of obeying Donald Trump.
- The Federal Communications Commission (FCC) issued new guidance stating that daytime and late-night television talk shows do not have a blanket exemption under the Communications Act of 1934.
- Colbert believes the new guidance is an attempt to silence him and other late-night TV hosts, such as Seth Meyers and Jimmy Kimmel.
- The FCC Chair, Brendan Carr, stated that the new guidance reminds talk shows to provide all candidates with equal opportunities, but Colbert feels this is a threat to their freedom of speech.
Introduction to the Controversy
On January 22, 2026, Stephen Colbert, the host of "The Late Show," took a jab at his employer, CBS, for paying $16 million to settle a lawsuit with the Trump administration. This lawsuit was filed by Trump, who alleged that the network deceptively edited an interview with then-Vice President Kamala Harris that aired on its "60 Minutes" news program. Colbert made a joke about the cost of obeying Donald Trump, saying that paying $1 billion for a permanent seat on the new Board of Peace seems steep, especially when compared to the $16 million that CBS paid to settle the lawsuit.
The New Board of Peace
The new Board of Peace, introduced by President Donald Trump, is intended to help end the two-year war between Israel and Hamas in Gaza. However, the board’s requirements have raised some eyebrows, including the fact that countries must pay $1 billion for a permanent seat or be offered a three-year term. Trump has stated that this board has the potential to be "one of the most consequential bodies," but many are skeptical about its effectiveness and the costs involved. Colbert’s criticism of the board and its requirements is just one example of the controversy surrounding this new initiative.
The End of "The Late Show"
Colbert’s dig at CBS comes as "The Late Show" is set to air its final episode in May. Paramount canceled the late-night talk show last May, citing it as "purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night." This decision has been met with disappointment from fans and critics alike, who see "The Late Show" as an important platform for commentary and satire. Despite the show’s impending end, Colbert continues to use his platform to speak out on issues that matter to him, including the new guidance from the FCC.
The FCC’s New Guidance
The Federal Communications Commission issued a public notice on January 21, 2026, with new guidance stating that daytime and late-night television talk shows do not have a blanket exemption under the Communications Act of 1934. This law requires FCC licensees to offer equal broadcast opportunities to political candidates, but it was amended in 1959 to exempt newscasts, news interviews, news documentaries, and on-the-spot coverage of news events. The new guidance has raised concerns among late-night TV hosts, including Colbert, who believe it is an attempt to silence them and restrict their freedom of speech.
Colbert’s Response to the FCC
Colbert responded to the FCC’s new guidance by saying that it was an attempt to silence him and other late-night TV hosts, such as Seth Meyers and Jimmy Kimmel. He joked that he was flattered to think that appearing on his show had the power to affect politics, but he also expressed his concern about the implications of this new guidance. Colbert has been doing his job for 21 years and believes that the government should not have the power to restrict his freedom of speech. He also referenced the temporary pulling of Kimmel’s show off the air after FCC Chair Brendan Carr made comments that were interpreted as a threat to pull the ABC station licenses if Kimmel wasn’t fired over remarks about Charlie Kirk’s assassination.
The FCC Chair’s Statement
FCC Chair Brendan Carr stated on January 21, 2026, that the new guidance reminds talk shows to remember their obligation to "provide all candidates with equal opportunities." He wrote that for years, legacy TV networks had assumed that their late-night and daytime talk shows qualify as "bona fide news" programs, even when motivated by purely partisan political purposes. However, many see this statement as a thinly veiled threat to late-night TV hosts, who are concerned about the implications of this new guidance on their freedom of speech and their ability to comment on political issues. The controversy surrounding the FCC’s new guidance is likely to continue, with many questioning the motives behind this new policy and its potential impact on the world of late-night television.
