CBS confirmed that The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026, as revealed by Colbert during a recent taping. The cancellation comes just two days after Colbert publicly criticized the network for settling a lawsuit with former President Donald Trump. The lawsuit arose over CBS’s alteration of an interview with then–Vice President Kamala Harris before the 2024 election.

Colbert expressed deep frustration with CBS during his Monday monologue, saying, “I am offended…I don’t know if anything—anything—will repair my trust.” He jokingly suggested the network settle with him for $16 million, calling it a “big fat bribe.” CBS later issued a press release, echoing Colbert’s announcement via an Instagram clip, confirming that the show will conclude next spring.

CBS executives described the decision to retire the franchise as financially motivated, not due to content issues. They praised Colbert as “irreplaceable” and celebrated his era as a “historic run” in late-night television. The network emphasized that the ending reflects broader economic pressures on the genre, rather than any creative disagreements or controversies tied to Paramount’s recent dealings.

Reaction in Washington was swift. Senator Adam Schiff (D‑CA), who had recently appeared on the show, accused CBS and Paramount of politically motivated reasoning behind the cancellation. In a post on X, Schiff demanded transparency, declaring that the public “deserves to know” if politics factored into the decision.

Ratings for The Late Show have declined over time. Although Colbert averages around 2.4 million viewers—strong by today’s standards—this marks a significant drop from David Letterman’s peak of about 4.1 million in 2004–05. The decline underscores the broader challenges facing late-night television in a changing media landscape.