• Writers Guild demands New York Attorney General investigate CBS over Colbert’s cancellation, citing potential political collusion. The guild suspects Paramount’s settlement with President Trump and upcoming merger influenced the show’s termination. Political figures raise alarm over free speech and media independence amid broader scrutiny of the administration’s relationship with corporate media.

NEW YORK, NY (TDR) — The abrupt cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has ignited a firestorm of controversy, with the Writers Guild of America (WGA) demanding a formal investigation into whether Paramount, CBS’s parent company, bowed to political pressure from President Trump’s administration.

The guild’s statement, released Friday, urges New York Attorney General Letitia James to examine whether the show’s cancellation served as an implicit favor to the Trump administration ahead of a multi-billion dollar merger involving Paramount and Skydance Media.

“Given Paramount’s recent capitulation to President Trump in the CBS News lawsuit, the Writers Guild of America has significant concerns that The Late Show’s cancelation is a bribe, sacrificing free speech to curry favor with the Trump Administration as the company looks for merger approval,” the guild declared in its official statement.

Paramount’s Legal and Corporate Ties

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10

The controversy stems from Paramount’s recent settlement with President Trump over a defamation suit involving CBS News and a 2023 60 Minutes segment featuring Kamala Harris. The $16 million resolution coincides with Paramount’s push to finalize a $28 billion merger with Skydance, a deal requiring regulatory approval from the Trump administration.

Two days after Colbert criticized the settlement on air—calling it a “big fat bribe”—Paramount announced that The Late Show would end in May 2026. The company cited “financial reasons,” pointing to declining cable revenue and late-night viewership.

Political Pressure or Business Decision?

CBS has denied any political motivation, yet the timing raised eyebrows. Senator Elizabeth Warren took to X (formerly Twitter), stating:

“CBS canceled Colbert’s show just THREE DAYS after Colbert called out CBS parent company Paramount for its $16M settlement with Trump – a deal that looks like bribery. America deserves to know if his show was canceled for political reasons.”

CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM THE THE DUPREE REPORT

WGA added that such moves echo a broader “attack on a free press” by President Trump, citing the administration’s past lawsuits against CBS and ABC, and budgetary threats to public media outlets like NPR and PBS.

“Cancelations are part of the business,” the guild wrote, “but a corporation terminating a show in bad faith due to explicit or implicit political pressure is dangerous and unacceptable in a democratic society.”

Trump’s Reaction and Industry Fallout

President Trump, for his part, celebrated the news on Truth Social, writing:

“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings.”

The cancellation follows a broader trend in late-night television, where ad revenue and cable subscribers continue to erode in the wake of streaming dominance. Yet critics argue that terminating Colbert’s show—Paramount’s most visible liberal voice—under these specific circumstances raises urgent concerns over free expression.

Legal Questions Ahead

Attorney General James, already engaged in multiple high-profile lawsuits against the Trump administration, has not formally responded to the guild’s request. Still, her office’s prior litigation against perceived government overreach may make this case hard to ignore.

Will the Attorney General open a probe, or will Paramount’s explanation suffice? As media consolidation and political influence converge, public trust in both institutions may hang in the balance.

Follow The Dupree Report on YouTube

Freedom-Loving Beachwear by Red Beach Nation - Save 10% With Code RVM10