‘A warning shot’: ‘Daily Show’ mastermind says CBS axed Colbert show for a much darker reason than we think

CBS claims to have ended Stephen Colbert’s late-night show due to monetary concerns, given the tough environment for late-night TV. However, Lizz Winstead, a key figure in satirical comedy and one of the minds behind The Daily Show, strongly doubts this explanation. She believes there’s a much more troubling reason behind the decision.

Fox reported that Winstead doesn’t buy the official story because of her deep understanding of late-night TV and Colbert’s unique role in it. She sees the cancellation of such a major show as an extreme step, one that doesn’t make sense if it’s just about finances. A show with Colbert’s reputation and influence, she argues, should be safe from simple budget cuts. To her, CBS’s decision reveals something deeper: a fear of supporting a program that regularly holds powerful figures accountable.

Windstead said, “To just drop the franchise itself, right, its not like Stephen Colbert, its a double, its a twofer, right? And that says to me, you’re afraid, because we’ve watched, with The Daily Show, with John Oliver, we’ve watched how people who do not have a dog in the fight, and what I mean by that is people who call BS no matter who the powerful person is, on their hypocrisy or screwing up. And that’s what Stephen has done brilliantly, Jon [Stewart] has done brilliantly, John Oliver has done brilliantly,” Winstead said.

CBS may be afraid of the truth spilling out from talk shows

This bold approach, delivered through humor, connects with audiences in a way that traditional news often doesn’t. Winstead emphasizes how genuine these comedians are—their strong opinions feel real and heartfelt. This passion, or “fire,” as she puts it, is what builds a dedicated fanbase and keeps people tuning in night after night.

Winstead even wrote in The Rolling Stone that, “This is why Colbert’s cancellation hits different. Not just because he’s one of the greats, but because his ousting is a warning shot. It tells comedians — even the white, male, successful ones — that there’s a line. And if you cross it, they’ll find an excuse to take you out.”

Winstead suggests that this very honesty and willingness to challenge authority is what makes these comedians a threat. She believes that when powerful people can’t handle being mocked or having their actions exposed, they look for other ways to shut down critics. In her view, canceling Colbert’s show is one of those tactics—a “plan b” to silence voices that reach and influence audiences in ways other critics can’t. She outright says that networks seem less and less willing to support progressive viewpoints, hinting at a bigger trend of suppressing critical voices.

The timing of the cancellation makes Winstead even more suspicious. She points to recent events before the announcement, particularly Colbert’s public criticism of a deal between Paramount and former President Donald Trump over a lawsuit involving 60 Minutes. Colbert called the settlement a “big fat bribe,” right before a major Paramount merger.

Winstead thinks comments like these, which touch on sensitive corporate and political issues, might have played a part in CBS’s decision. This fits with what many liberal commentators believe—that the cancellation was politically motivated, not just a financial move.