Stephen Colbert’s “Late Show” has become a platform for left-leaning guests, with a new study revealing a significant partisan bias in the show’s guest list.
According to a study by media watchdog NewsBusters, since 2022, Colbert has hosted 176 left-leaning guests and only one Republican on “The Late Show,” indicating a clear imbalance in political representation.
In the first half of 2025 alone, the show featured 43 left-leaning political guests and no conservatives, making it the most politically skewed late-night program.
NewsBusters Managing Editor Curtis Houck described Colbert’s show as “late-night group therapy for liberals,” highlighting the lack of balance in political perspectives on the show.
The roster of guests on Colbert’s show included prominent Democratic politicians, liberal journalists, and celebrities, with very few appearances by conservatives or Republicans.
While former Rep. Liz Cheney was the only conservative guest on the show since 2022, her appearance sparked a debate with Colbert over GOP politics and Donald Trump.
Colbert’s decision to host predominantly left-leaning guests has drawn criticism for its lack of ideological diversity and its potential impact on viewership.
Despite the cancellation of “The Late Show” in May 2026 due to financial losses, the show’s political bias and its implications for late-night TV have raised concerns among industry experts and viewers alike.
The study by NewsBusters also analyzed the guest lists of other late-night hosts, revealing a similar trend of left-leaning guests dominating the political discourse on these shows.
As late-night TV continues to be a battleground for political discussions, the need for diverse perspectives and balanced representation remains a crucial topic of debate among audiences and industry insiders.
While Colbert’s tenure on “The Late Show” comes to an end, the legacy of his show and its impact on political discourse in late-night television will be a topic of interest for years to come.
“Can I borrow your book?”
into a more formal request:
“May I have the privilege of borrowing your book?”
