Stephen Colbert, who has never shied away from political satire, went back to his roots Thursday night — reviving his infamous right-wing alter ego in response to the cancellation of Jimmy Kimmel Live! after threats from Trump’s FCC chairman Brendan Carr.
Opening The Late Show, Colbert quipped, “We still on the air? Fantastic. Apparently, Brendan Carr has not seen tonight’s episode yet.” The joke referenced Carr’s direct pressure campaign on ABC affiliates, which ultimately led to Jimmy Kimmel being pulled off the air after he made comments about Donald Trump’s reaction to the assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
Declaring late-night hosts “America’s most vulnerable,” Colbert introduced CBS’s new “ombudsman” — his MAGA-friendly “cousin,” also named Stephen Colbert. The character, first popularized on The Daily Show and later The Colbert Report, was resurrected to satirize the increasingly authoritarian demands on television networks.
“America is facing perhaps its greatest crisis in 249 years,” Colbert’s conservative cousin said, rising from under the desk. “People are saying things that hurt Donald Trump’s feelings.”
In a parody of his old Word segment, Colbert laid out a “plan” for hosts to survive under Trump’s media crackdown: silence. “You can have your rights just as long as you don’t use them,” he mocked, before advising fellow TV hosts to simply repeat White House talking points, turn in colleagues for saying the wrong thing, and never complain — no matter what the president does.
The satirical bit skewered not just Trump but also the chilling effect his administration’s pressure is having on networks like ABC, CBS, and Disney. “It always starts small,” Colbert warned in his monologue before going into character. “If ABC thinks this is going to satisfy the regime, they are woefully naive.”
The return of Colbert’s alter ego came amid a wave of backlash over Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension, which critics from across the political spectrum have labeled blatant censorship. Colbert made his solidarity clear with a blunt declaration: “Tonight, we are all Jimmy Kimmel.”
Through satire, Colbert exposed the irony of Trump’s FCC invoking free speech while silencing critical voices. “So give up, America,” his alter ego concluded. “Stop saying anything that might upset the president. And if you think that’s a terrible idea — no, you don’t.”
The audience roared, recognizing the character who once lampooned Fox News hosts had returned with perfect timing to address a new era of state-pressured media.