Washington (July 18, 2025) - Senator Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.), member of the Commitee on Commerce, Science, and Transportation, today wrote to Paramount Global Chair Shari Redstone, demanding answers on the circumstances surrounding the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” specifically requesting whether anyone in the Trump administration asked for the show to be cancelled.
In the letter, Senator Markey wrote, "Last night, Stephen Colbert announced that CBS will end ‘The Late Show with Stephen Colbert’ next spring. Although CBS, a Paramount subsidiary, has cited financial reasons — including a projected $40 million loss for the show this year — for this decision, the timing has raised public questions. Just days earlier, Colbert sharply criticized Paramount’s $16 million settlement of a lawsuit brought by President Donald Trump — a settlement many view as an attempt to facilitate government approval of the company’s proposed merger with Skydance Global. Given the importance of protecting editorial independence from political influence, and the public interest stakes in the pending merger, I am seeking additional information to understand the full context surrounding this programming decision.”
Senator Markey continued, “If Paramount is unhappy with Colbert’s monologue — including its political tone or position — the company has every right to respond with personnel and other operational decisions. And it, of course, has every right to make programming decisions for financial reasons. But Paramount should not be making editorial decisions or compromising its editorial independence at the behest of or under pressure from the government, including in the context of securing FCC merger approval. If the Trump administration is using its regulatory authority to influence or otherwise pressure your company’s editorial decisions, the public deserves to know.”
Senator Markey requested answers by July 25, 2025, to the following questions:
Has any official in the Trump administration, including the President or an official at the FCC, contacted your company about Colbert’s monologue on Monday night?
If so, did they request Paramount or CBS take any action in response to Colbert’s monologue, including the cancellation of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert”? If so, please identify those conversations and the requested actions.
Senator Markey has aggressively pushed back on the Trump administration’s efforts to attack news organizations and intimidate the media. In May 2025, as Paramount was reportedly pushing for the settlement to help facilitate approval of its merger, Senators Markey and Ben Ray Luján (D-N.M.) wrote to Federal Communications Commission (FCC) Chairman Brendan Carr requesting that the FCC hold a full Committee vote on the Paramount-Skydance merger. After Paramount announced its settlement with Trump, Senators Markey and Luján wrote to FCC Commissioner Olivia Trusty, urging the FCC to hold a full Commission vote on the pending merger. In March 2025, Senators Markey and Luján, along with Senator Jacky Rosen (D-Nev.), introduced the Broadcast Freedom and Independence Act, legislation that would prohibit the FCC from revoking broadcast licenses or taking action against broadcasters based on the viewpoints they broadcast. In February 2025, Senators Markey and Luján, along with Senator Gary Peters (D-Mich.), wrote to Chairman Carr and then-Commissioner Nathan Simington regarding the FCC’s recent, politically motivated actions against broadcasters and public media.
###
