Embattled funnyman Stephen Colbert\u2019s \u201cLate Show\u201d became a \u201ctherapy\u201d session for the left \u2014 and it\u2019s no surprise viewers took notice, a new study found.<\/p>\n
Since 2022, Colbert has hosted 176 left-leaning guests and only one Republican on soon-to-be cancelled \u201cThe Late Show,\u201d according to a study<\/a> by media watchdog NewsBusters \u2014 a staggering imbalance that has tracked with his 2025 guest list.<\/p>\n In just the first six months of this year, the show booked 43 left-leaning political guests \u2014 and zero conservatives \u2014 leading all late-night programs in partisan tilt.<\/p>\n A study conducted by media watchdog NewsBusters reveals that \u201cThe Late Show With Stephen Colbert\u201d has hosted 176 left-leaning guests and only one Republican since 2022. Scott Kowalchyk\/CBS<\/p>\n \u201cColbert\u2019s show has been late-night group therapy for liberals,\u201d NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck told The Post. \u201cAmericans have continually shown they no longer have the time or patience for such partisan sneering masquerading as comedy.\u201d<\/p>\n Colbert\u2019s roster included 14 Democratic politicians and 29 liberal journalists or celebrities, including socialist Big Apple lawmakers such as mayoral frontrunner Zohran Mamdani and City Comptroller Brad Lander<\/a>, plus big-name Democrats like Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Cory Booker.<\/p>\n The media crowd featured MSNBC\u2019s Chris Hayes, HBO\u2019s John Oliver and New York Times columnist Ezra Klein.<\/p>\n Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming) was the only conservative to appear on \u201cThe Late Show\u201d since 2022, making her Colbert\u2019s lone right-leaning guest during that period. <\/p>\n The two sparred on-air<\/a> in December 2023, with Cheney pushing back against Colbert\u2019s critiques of the GOP and Donald Trump.<\/p>\n Cheney has since been a notorious critic of Trump, consistently speaking out against his influence in the Republican party and even campaigning with Kamala Harris<\/a> during the 2024 election.\u00a0<\/p>\n She could not be reached for comment.<\/p>\n Colbert booked 43 liberals and no conservatives in 2025, topping late night\u2019s partisan guest list, the study shows. Scott Kowalchyk\/CBS<\/p>\n Colbert also hosted former Illinois Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger<\/a> in January 2025, though the study did not count him in the tally due to his repeated criticism of Trump and comments aligning with Democrats \u2014 including a 2024 interview where he said there\u2019s \u201cnothing more conservative\u201d than voting for Kamala Harris, Houck said.<\/p>\n The study\u2019s release came a few weeks before CBS announced \u201cThe Late Show\u201d will be canceled<\/a> in May 2026. <\/p>\n The network cited massive financial losses<\/a> and called the move \u201cpurely a financial decision.\u201d<\/p>\n But the timing raised eyebrows.<\/p>\n Just three days earlier, Colbert used his June 30 monologue to slam CBS parent company Paramount Global for settling a $16 million defamation lawsuit with Donald Trump<\/a>. <\/p>\n The settlement helped clear the way for Paramount\u2019s $8 billion merger<\/a> with Skydance Media \u2014 a deal approved Thursday<\/a> by the Trump-led Federal Communications Commission.<\/p>\n \u201cIt\u2019s a \u2018big fat bribe,\u2019\u201d Colbert whined to viewers<\/a> and warned, \u201cThey left me alive. And now for the next 10 months, the gloves are off.\u201d<\/p>\n The jab sparked speculation that the cancellation wasn\u2019t just about ratings or revenue. <\/p>\n