The Democrats Need to Stop Talking About Stephen Colbert

As an average woman with average employment who makes a living writing about late-night television, I barely have time to think about the Stephen Colbert cancellation beyond the direct confines of my job. There’s just too much going on. 

ICE arrests in New York have surged by 200 percent in the last five months, the amount due on my student loans keeps changing, there have been two earthquakes in my neighborhood this week alone. And that list is just a smidgen of what’s been happening in my own 10-mile radius. It doesn’t get into war, tariffs, censorship, pedophilia rings or the gutting of scientific research. 

But somehow, while every facet of our society is being dismantled with cruel fervor, I keep hearing the nation’s most powerful politicians talking about Stephen Colbert. It’s not unexpected for Trump to harp on Colbert. The president has the cognitive skills of a nine-year-old and the temperament of that French chef in Disney’s 1989 The Little Mermaid. Until Truth Social is pried out of his swelling hands, we’re going to be hearing from Trump about people he sees on television. 

And while the circumstances of Colbert getting canceled are certainly concerning and symptomatic of much larger issues like corruption and attacks on the free press, it would be really great if the leaders of the opposition to Trump stopped talking about The Late Show host. When his cancellation was first announced, everyone from Senator Adam Schiff to Senators Bernie Sanders and Elizabeth Warren were speaking out against CBS’ decision. Sanders and Warren even sent a letter to Paramount and Skydance asking for transparency around Colbert’s cancellation, among other concerns related to corruption and bribery. 

Senator Chris Murphy posted a video to socials in support of Colbert. Senator Elissa Slotkin came on the show (and missed a crucial vote to do so), shortly followed by Former Vice President Kamala Harris. It was Harris’ first interview since her loss to Trump in November 2024. The message from the Lib Resistance brigade was clear: They stand behind Stephen Colbert. 

This message was most recently reiterated by Warren (again) when she appeared in a video with Hacks creator Paul H. Downs earlier today. At one point, Warren says, “What are we going to do about this business of censorship, not just of the hard news, but people who tell jokes?”

“In the Stephen Colbert case, this is the President of the United States, at least it appears, holding back favors and making threats that then cause these giant corporations to censor their own people, and once we’ve headed down that path, we no longer have an independent media,” Warren continued. 

And sure, she’s not wrong. It’s not incorrect to say that the president having sway over his on-air critics is a symptom of our fascist takeover. But it’s not the most concerning symptom of what is diseasing this country. It makes me feel insane to have Colbert’s show be a cause celebre in the context of everything else. It’d be like going to the doctor because you have cancer, but they’re only focused on treating your indigestion. 

The worst part is that Democrats are aware that Colbert isn’t going to be a rallying cause for the American people. Within days of Colbert’s cancellation, the New York Times ran a story titled “Do Democrats Want a Fight Over Colbert?” Reporter Jess Bidgood interviewed Dem lawmakers and strategists who questioned the wisdom of rallying around The Late Show host when so many people are suffering so much more acutely. 

“I love Stephen Colbert, and his show is very funny,” Senator Tina Smith said to the Times. “And I also think that what happens with the Colbert show is not like the most salient issue for most voters right now.”

I’m not sure about the “very funny” bit, but otherwise, I couldn’t agree with Smith more. Colbert is a sexy, clicky, character compared to what else is happening right now; there’s plenty of Boomer Facebook engagement to be found in Colbert’s cancellation. But it would be so nice to feel this same enthusiastic fight from Democrats against even one of Trump’s destructive policies. It would be even better if they tried to get as much press coverage talking about those issues as they’ve gotten about a multimillionaire talk show host who is almost certainly going to pivot to podcasting next June. 

Instead, we’re living in loser land. The Democrats can’t win presidential elections. They can’t keep control of Congress. They can’t save abortion rights. They can’t stop Trump’s deportations. They can’t keep healthcare for the country’s poorest. They can’t protect education for the country’s youngest. They can’t protect funding for scientific research or public broadcasting. They can’t pass any climate policies. They can’t lower the cost of living or raise wages. They can't make flying on airplanes or being in public spaces safer. They can’t regulate corporate greed. Ultimately, they can’t keep Colbert on air either. But maybe they hope that since we don’t care about that as much, it won’t feel like such a let down when they fail. 

Three months ago, Warren said on Colbert: “We have the power to stop Trump.” It would be great to see a few examples.