Stephen Colbert’s ‘Late Show’ heavily featured liberal guests, jokes targeted conservatives 87% of time in final years: study
AI bias-comparison
Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" has been the subject of a study by the Media Research Center (MRC), which claims that 87% of the jokes made in its final years targeted conservatives, particularly former President Donald Trump. The study notes that Colbert made a total of 3,639 jokes about Trump from January 3, 2023, until his final episode.
Coverage diverges significantly along the bias spectrum. Right-leaning outlets like Fox News and the New York Post emphasize the MRC's findings, framing Colbert's humor as overwhelmingly partisan and critical of conservatives. In contrast, Mashable takes a lighter approach, focusing on Colbert's comedic style and his playful jab at CBS, without delving into the political implications of the study.
What's missing from the coverage is a broader discussion of the potential impact of late-night comedy on public opinion and political discourse, which could provide valuable context for understanding the significance of the study's findings. This absence may reflect a blind spot among right-leaning sources that focus primarily on the study's partisan implications.
Headline framing
Headlines from Fox News and the New York Post emphasize Stephen Colbert's bias against conservatives, while Mashable presents a more neutral take on his final show.
Coverage by perspective
Center · 1 source
Right · 2 sources
Bias ratings: AllSides Media Bias Chart + Ad Fontes + MBFC consensus. AI comparison: Cerebras Llama 3.3-70B with light editorial prompt. No paywall, no tracking, reader-funded — support →