Colbert axed after hosting 176 liberals, one conservative: Study

Embattled funnyman Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” became a “therapy” session for the left — and it’s no surprise viewers took notice, a new study found.

Since 2022, Colbert has hosted 176 left-leaning guests and only one Republican on soon-to-be cancelled “The Late Show,” according to a study by media watchdog NewsBusters — a staggering imbalance that has tracked with his 2025 guest list.

In just the first six months of this year, the show booked 43 left-leaning political guests — and zero conservatives — leading all late-night programs in partisan tilt.

“Colbert’s show has been late-night group therapy for liberals,” NewsBusters managing editor Curtis Houck told The Post. “Americans have continually shown they no longer have the time or patience for such partisan sneering masquerading as comedy.”

Colbert’s 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, plus big-name Democrats like Chuck Schumer, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders and Cory Booker.

The media crowd featured MSNBC’s Chris Hayes, HBO’s John Oliver and New York Times columnist Ezra Klein.

Former Rep. Liz Cheney (R-Wyoming) was the only conservative to appear on “The Late Show” since 2022, making her Colbert’s lone right-leaning guest during that period.

The two sparred on-air in December 2023, with Cheney pushing back against Colbert’s critiques of the GOP and Donald Trump.

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 during the 2024 election. 

She could not be reached for comment.

Colbert also hosted former Illinois Republican congressman Adam Kinzinger 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 — including a 2024 interview where he said there’s “nothing more conservative” than voting for Kamala Harris, Houck said.

The study’s release came a few weeks before CBS announced “The Late Show” will be canceled in May 2026.

The network cited massive financial losses and called the move “purely a financial decision.”

But the timing raised eyebrows.

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.

The settlement helped clear the way for Paramount’s $8 billion merger with Skydance Media — a deal approved Thursday by the Trump-led Federal Communications Commission.

“It’s a ‘big fat bribe,’” Colbert whined to viewers and warned, “They left me alive. And now for the next 10 months, the gloves are off.”

The jab sparked speculation that the cancellation wasn’t just about ratings or revenue.

Some CBS staffers reportedly called the decision “chilling,” while others said the numbers spoke for themselves — pointing to The Late Show’s massive $100 million-plus annual budget and costly $40 to $50 million yearly losses, all while its audience keeps shrinking.

“Year after year of this show has been defined by unrepentant sneering, visceral hatred for more than half the country,” Houck said.

“So between that and the precipitous decline in linear TV subscribers providing a steady revenue stream, Paramount was left with no choice.”

Since 2022, NewsBusters tracked 511 liberal or Democratic guests across late-night TV, compared to just 14 conservatives and Republicans.

The study covered the shows of five major late-night hosts: Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Seth Meyers, Jimmy Fallon and The Daily Show.

In the first six months of 2025, “The Daily Show” stacked 32 left-leaning guests, Meyers had 16, Kimmel 10 and Fallon five.

Not a single conservative, aside from “The Daily Show’s” lone outlier: policy expert Oren Cass who spoke on Trump-era tariffs, NewsBusters found.

Their tally found 106 of 107 guests — spanning partisan officials and journalists or celebrities who discussed politics — leaned left, for a 99% liberal tilt.

Cass, who praised “The Daily Show” host Jon Stewart for being open-minded and “genuinely interested” during his own March appearance, said Colbert seemed to be more focused on “reinforcing a dogmatic worldview and trying to preach to a choir.”

Colbert, who did not return a request for comment, will stay on air through next spring.

Over at rival networks, Kimmel is set to film the final season of his three-year deal this fall, while Fallon and Meyers re-upped last year to stay on through 2028.

President Trump’s former chief strategist Steve Bannon said a serious review is needed of the companies producing late night TV shows. 

“The Federal Election Commission and [Department of Justice] must commence an immediate investigation into these companies for illegal campaign contributions,” he told The Post. 

“This is a deeply ingrained pattern of criminal behavior to assist the Democratic Party. Colbert’s losses could reach $500 million — that’s simply a contribution in kind.”