Exclusive: Multiple CBS staffers who spoke with The Independent said they aren’t buying the company’s claim that Colbert’s cancellation was a ‘financial decision,’ adding that the demise of the show has left ‘everyone stunned.

Several Democratic lawmakers, including Sens. Elizabeth Warren and Adam Schiff, questioned if Colbert’s show was canceled due to his criticism of President Donald Trump.

CBS dropped a massive bombshell by announcing the end of The Late Show With Stephen Colbert, with the final episode scheduled to air in May 2026. This jaw-dropping development represents a significant upheaval in network television and signals CBS’s complete withdrawal from the traditional late-night talk show format.