After the CBS network cancelled The Late Show With Stephen Colbert after three decades, one media expert has weighed in with her thoughts on the fate of political satire on national television.

Media expert shares her expert opinion on the fate of political satire on national TV

After the CBS network axed The Late Show With Stephen Colbert after 33 years on the air, many Americans have raised concerns for the fate of political satire on national television.

This month, it was announced that The Late Night Show would end in May 2026. CBS claimed that this decision was made for financial reasons against “a challenging backdrop in late-night TV” and added, “It was not anything to do with the show’s performance content or other matters happening at Paramount.”

While this was the reasoning stated, some viewers wonder if President Donald Trump had any sway in the decision, as Colbert slammed his own network over their $16 million settlement with him. As these conspiracy theories run rampant online and Hollywood celebrities everywhere openly boycott the decision, one media expert has weighed in with her professional take on the matter.

In an interview with The Mirror US, Christina Flowers, Director of Media Relations at Connecticut College, shared, “As someone who’s been a fan of Colbert since way back to the Dana Carvey show, it is a bit of personal bummer. In the terms of the media landscape, it feels huge.”

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is ending in 2026 (Image: CBS via Getty Images)

Flowers continued, “To see it, The Late Show with Stephen Colbert cancelled while it is still #1 in the ratings, feels like a seismic admission that late-night TV isn’t an institution anymore. It is programming like anything else. When you start with that idea, it is very easy to go down the rabbit hole of whether Network TV is even an institution anymore. If the #1 late night show can’t justify its existence financially (to take CBS at their word) how long before dramas follow suit? Sitcoms?”

She added, “If advertisers no longer see the utility in buying ads on late-night TV while online ad sales, podcast ad sales, and print ad sales are all dropping, what does that mean for advertising and marketing as well? It quickly becomes far larger than just Colbert or his show. And if you like TV, work in it, or work in advertising, it gets scary in a hurry.”

Some believe that Stephen’s jibes at the network and Trump could play a factor in the reasoning for his show’s cancellation. Addressing this conspiracy theory, Flowers believes that it is too far-fetched to be the sole deciding factor behind the show ending.

The Late Show has been on the air for the past 33 years (Image: AP)

The media expert explained, “I certainly don’t think they helped. I’m not all-in on conspiratorial thinking enough to think Colbert called the Paramount settlement a bribe and then Trump or someone in his admin picked up the phone, called the network, and whispered, ‘Do it.’”

She added, “But I do think a company that was already inclined to give in when they had what most agreed was a pretty strong case that they’d win is likely to also ring their hands about one of their biggest personalities on one of their flagship programs talking about the president and calling attention to the settlement.”

What continued to fuel this conspiracy theory was Trump’s inappropriate online reaction to the news of the show’s cancellation. Taking to Truth Social, Trump posted, “I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.”

Some people believe Stephen’s criticism of Donald Trump contributed to the decision(Image: CBS via Getty Images)

Addressing this controversial choice by the president, Flowers said, “I think it is important to remind everyone that this is the president of the United States taking time to celebrate a TV show’s cancellation. Not even talking about the loss of jobs and the history that represents.”

She added, “Just the idea that he would take the time to essentially touchdown dance about a TV show leaving the air in 10 months isn’t normal. It seems important to keep reminding ourselves of that. Also, just super petty in a way that should give anyone pause.”

Flowers went on to note that political satire on national television is an important aspect of American culture and a basic First Amendment right. If newscasters are hesitant to criticize American politics or the president because they fear cancellation, this limits free speech and the ability to hold the government accountable.

Many Hollywood celebrities have showcased their anger over the decision including Sandra Oh(Image: CBS via Getty Images)

Speaking on the importance of political satire to America, Flowers said, “Because it speaks directly to the health of the First Amendment in the U.S.. We can debate the effectiveness of political satire all day, and there are plenty of signs to point to it not exactly toppling empires.”

She added, “However, that doesn’t mean it being strangled is inconsequential. American institutions giving in to leaders who won their election with under 50% of the popular vote is a bad sign for the health of entertainment, broadcast TV, satire, and the First Amendment in general.”

Wrapping up her thoughts, Flowers said, “I just want to stress that I don’t think Trump said kill the Late Night show and CBS said ‘yes sir, right away, sir,’ but that there is a general environment of acquiescence and putting business interests above public duty that, if anything, is even more disconcerting.”

She concluded, “If it was only giving in to Trump, that’s bad. But this suggests an environment that stretches beyond his term and may have less to do with politics and more to do with a general obsession with making money above all else.”