During a recent interview on The Late Show, host Stephen Colbert made a statement that caught both his guest and audience by surprise. Colbert, who was used to be known for his sharp wit and satirical humor, told CNN’s Kaitlan Collins that CNN “just reports the news as it is.” The audience immediately burst into laughter, clearly amused by what seemed to be a tongue-in-cheek remark. Collins, visibly taken aback, asked if it was meant to be a joke, to which Colbert, maintaining a straight face, responded, “No.”
Video below:
This moment highlighted the public’s skepticism about CNN’s objectivity, particularly given the network’s often criticized for perceived bias. The audience’s reaction was loud enough to potentially disrupt the show, showing that Colbert’s attempt to gaslight the audience struck a chord with his viewers. Whether intentional or not, this exchange served as a commentary on the state of media trust in the U.S.
The audience’s laughter was more about the irony than the joke itself. Colbert, who once thrived on sharp, bipartisan satire, now often aligns with the Democratic narrative, making his humor feel less fresh and more predictable. Collins seemed caught off guard, possibly recognizing the awkwardness of the moment.
Maybe we can expect something like this from the mainstream media:
“We have decided to stop filming in front of a live audience.”
