The Stephen Colbert Late Show cancellation sent shockwaves through the comedy world — and triggered a powerful wave of support for political satire and free speech. The Late Show’s cancellation was supposed to scare comedians and audiences who enjoy political humor. Instead, many are fighting back. Stephen Colbert announced The Late Show’s cancellation on July 18. Immediately, experts weighed in on the importance of the show’s political commentary and criticism of the Trump administration, comedians explained that this indeed cancel culture at its finest, and many united to defend Colbert’s right to free speech. In a major display of support, fellow late night hosts appeared on The Late Show, made video statements, and spoke up.

The cancellation follows a Paramount $16 million settlement over a “60 Minutes” interview with Vice President Kamala Harris, according to NPR.

Stephen Colbert is and has been one of Trump’s most consistent critics. Not only has he performed monologues criticizing the President’s decisions, policies, and awkward moments, the show has also provided a platform for fellow critics. Of note, Colbert has sustained some criticism for his interview of progressive New York City mayoral candidate, Zohran Mamdani. Overall, The Late Show has been seen as a consistent source of validation and even education for progressives.

Colbert has platformed both Jon Batiste and Louis Cato as band leaders. The Late Show’s head writer is Felipe Torres Medina, a Colombian-American who has also written a book about his experiences with the U.S. immigration system. The show has also included guests of countless backgrounds, belief systems, professions, and identities.

But not all is hopeless. Despite the many emergencies we’re dealing with: ICE Raids, the Big Beautiful Bill, and more, many are taking the time to defend political humor and educating themselves on how fascist movements restrict free speech.

In the meantime, The Stephen Colbert Late Show cancellation has gotten the attention of Senator Ed Markey, who released a letter stating his concerns. Indivisible, a national advocacy organization with multiple chapters across the country has begun a petition to save the show and organized an in-person rally.

The Late Show is slated to end in May 2026, but it’s obvious Stephen Colbert’s career won’t be over then. He’s not the only comedian or humorist we can expect to continue offering criticism, education, and commentary. As we take the time to ponder the implications of The Stephen Colbert Late Show cancellation, now is also a good time to start supporting BIPOC, immigrants, and LGBTQ+ creators who also offer wit and humor using their own experiences. Note: there are many options out there, but this humble list is just a start.

Comedians

Rita Brent

Comedian Rita Brent is from Jackson, Mississippi and her work has appeared in Comedy Central, CNN, and more. She began taping a locally based TV show, Late Night with Rita Brent in Jackson, where she interviews local activists, creators, and leaders. The show is available on her YouTube channel, and it’ll be available to local viewers through FOX40. Brent’s guests offer a thoughtful perspective on Mississippi, and the show is a reminder that it’s important to consider Southern Black perspectives.

Cristela Alonzo

Mexican-American comedian Cristela Alonzo is known for her show Cristela, her Netflix comedy specials, and her biting humor. Through her standup, Alonzo discusses her stories, hardships, and the lessons learned in a way that engages people who’ve been through similar experiences. Alonzo is also a dedicated activist and consistently tweets her opinions, is involved in politics, and uses her platform consistently to educate her audience.

Ramy Youssef

Youssef has notably appeared on a spot in The Late Show, and he’s consistently used his humor to share his experiences as an Egyptian-American and Muslim. His show Ramy has been consistently praised for its portrayal of Muslim Americans in the U.S. Youssef has supported multiple social justice causes, including a ceasefire for Gaza, and he co-created Netflix’s Mo along with fellow comedian Mo Amer.

Even more comedians

Standup and entertainment are full of people who are using wit and humor to talk about today’s political landscape. A few people who’ve been working for years include Dulcé Sloan, Margaret Cho, Aida Rodríguez, Wanda Sykes, Marcella Arguello, Josh Johnson, and more.

Podcasts and education

Bitter Brown Femmes

Hosts Cassandra Alicia and Ruben Ángel essentially gossip about political issues that affect LGBTQ+ folks, women, and marginalized communities of all backgrounds. Some of their recent episodes address the Blue Origin “space trip,” colonialism in the live-action Lilo & Stitch, and more.

5-4

Lawyers Rhiannon Hamam, Michael Liroff, and Peter Shamshiri dissect Supreme Court (SCOTUS) cases one by one. They pepper in humor, a progressive world view, and often mention how this case might affect you today. As a bonus: they also have an episode on whether or not you should go to law school.

TransLash

Journalist Imara Jones dissects issues that affect the Trans community, highlights voices, and explains court cases affecting trans rights today. Though this isn’t a comedy podcast, TransLash offers prescient political commentary from a trans point of view, and also has multiple episodes focusing on joy, poetry, and culture.

El Cuartico (in Spanish)

Venezuelan comedians Estefanía León, Chucho Roldán, and Daniel Enrique (now based in Mexico City), focus on Venezuelan immigrant culture, humor, and politics. They also do deep dives on political issues facing migrants today, including Venezuelans leaving the US, the truth about Tren de Aragua, personal finance, and more.

Amanda’s Mild Takes (TikTok)

During a time when multiple news channels focus on sensationalism, historian Amanda Nelson uses a calm measured approach to explaining the news. Often, this results in funny, and witty videos that also educate viewers while breaking down Trump’s agenda.

More podcasts and online education sources

Again, there are plenty of podcast hosts, TikTokers, and YouTubers who are working hard to educate marginalized communities, offer commentary, and whose hard work deserves recognition.

Here are some places where you can get commentary and discover news voices. Tamarindo Podcast has been around since 2016, and they discuss issues relevant to the Latinx community, Tamarindo Podcast also platforms Latinx comedians, authors, creators, and entertainers at different levels of their career. The Sam Sanders Show features interviews, entertainment criticism from Sam Sanders, and guests from a wide variety of backgrounds.

Finally, we can’t neglect to mention Latino USA, which covers everything from politics, to entertainment to other discourse that’s affecting the Latinx community. Their recent reporting also includes a deep dive on Latina tradwife TikTok.

The Late Show is still on at 11:35 pm ET/10:35 pm CT at CBS until May 2026.