Stephen Colbert Says Quiet Part Out Loud, Admits Late-Night TV Tells You How To Think

Late-night host Stephen Colbert just admitted that shows like his are meant to instruct viewers on how to think.

The host of “The Late Show” was attempting to defend the existence of the late-night genre during a recent interview with GQ.

While speaking on the topic, Colbert said, “Well, we are like your friend who at the end of the day paid attention to what happened today more than you did. And then we curate that back to you at the end of the day.”

“But it’s really more about how we feel about—or I, as the person who is the vehicle for that—how we felt about today. All those things that might’ve made you confused, angry, or anxious or happy or surprised or something like that,” Colbert added. “I share those feelings with the audience and they laugh or they don’t laugh. And there’s a sense of community there.”

The host claimed that “these late-night shows are for millions of Americans a third space to come together and think about the day.”

Social media commenters couldn’t help but notice that Colbert was basically admitting to influencing his audience into certain reactions.

???? NEW: Stephen Colbert Says the Role of Late Night TV is to Tell You How to Think About the News

“We’re like your friend who … paid attention to the news more than you did … and then we curate that back to you at the end of the day. But it’s really more about how we feel… pic.twitter.com/w2PNiOL7Gz

— Chief Nerd (@TheChiefNerd) November 7, 2025

“Amazing admission. Basically late night TV is [propaganda.] They’ll tell you what to think,” one X user marveled.

“He said the quiet part out loud,” another person wrote.

“Hence his decline into irrelevance. Anyone taking guidance from this narcissist needs to seek immediate help,” a third person chimed in.

CBS announced in July that it was canceling “The Late Show” after the upcoming season, which inspired outsized reactions from the Left. The network described the move as a “purely financial decision.” A report stated that the program was losing $40 million annually.

Colbert went off on an expletive-laced tirade during his first monologue following the announcement, blasting President Donald Trump and CBS. Colbert mentioned how the network’s parent company, Paramount Global, paid Trump a $16 million settlement after being accused of election interference.

Other late-night mainstays such as Jimmy Kimmel and Jimmy Fallon came to Colbert’s defense, saying the reports claiming that “The Late Show” was losing tens of millions were “nonsensical.”