America Needs Colbert (Editorial by Bloomberg)
"The silencing of jokes and jabs on network airwaves shatters a tangible demonstration of nuanced thinking, free speech and philosophical complexity.
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The big difference now versus then, however, is that most of the more recent presidents have had the good sense to at least pretend to be good-natured about it, understanding that the host’s critique was often simply a barometer for public sentiment. (And from Bill Clinton’s paradigm-shifting appearance on The Arsenio Hall Show in 1992, a free-wheeling, self-deprecating appearance on a late show couch has become as much of an obligatory campaign stop as the Iowa state fair.)
The tension — between affection and criticism, between respect and ridicule — isn’t just par for the course in late night. It’s a particularly American quality, a tangible demonstration of the nuanced thinking, free speech and philosophical complexity that allows us to not only protest the actions of our government, but to position such protests as explicitly patriotic.
And, so, the silencing of jokes and jabs on network airwaves marks the shattering of yet another norm by this administration — by no means its most frightening, but an unsettling one nevertheless.
Anyone who thinks Trump will stop at Colbert and The Late Show is fooling themselves. Before being sworn in for his current term, he was already threatening Comcast Corp. — NBC’s parent company — over Seth Meyers’ critical commentary. It was a continuation of his actions back in 2018, when he reportedly pressured Walt Disney Co. executives to silence Jimmy Kimmel. And in a post on this social media platform on Tuesday, he wrote: “The word is, and it’s a strong word at that, Jimmy Kimmel is NEXT to go in the untalented Late Night Sweepstakes and, shortly thereafter, Fallon will be gone.”
Even the kings of olden times kept a jester around to keep them humble and honest. Late-night hosts have carried on that tradition in many ways. Silencing them isn’t just about protecting power — it’s about eliminating one of the last spaces where it’s still publicly challenged."
https://www.bloomberg.com/opinion/articles/2025-07-25/stephen-colbert-is-the-kind-of-late-night-show-host-america-needs?srnd=homepage-americas
= new reply since forum marked as read
He's on the air at least 4 nights every week, and the anti-Chump jokes are flying. Plus his guests are prominent Democratic leaders like Sen. Adam Schiff, Gov. Josh Shapiro, AOC, and many others. Colbert clips and replays of his shows are all over the internet and YouTube.
Not to mention that The Late Show has been the highest-rated of the late-night talk shows for the last several years.
Stephen Colbert could easily morph into a successful podcaster, if that's how he decides to go. But I think he really likes the live audience, the Late Show band, the nightly comedy bits, the musical and celebrity guests. Colbert does it all so well that I believe he'll land at another network or cable channel, maybe HBO or Sony?
I don't know, but he'll land on his feet.
Meanwhile Chump will land on his butt, hopefully in prison.
