On Monday’s edition of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, once-weekly host Jon Stewart offered his strongest rebuke regarding the capitulation of American institutions towards the Trump administration, including his parent company, Paramount Global.
Stewart was referring to The Late Show With Stephen Colbert’s sudden cancellation by CBS. Both shows and networks fall under the Paramount Global umbrella.
Despite CBS’ stance that the decision to cancel the long-running franchise was made from a financial perspective, Stewart noted the timing of it, saying, “Was this purely financial, or maybe the path of least resistance for your $8 billion merger?”
Stewart was referencing Paramount Global’s multibillion-dollar merger with Skydance Media, which is still awaiting government approval.
He said CBS lost the benefit of doubt when it reached a $16 million settlement with President Donald Trump earlier this month, bringing to a close the lawsuit filed late last year by the president and his campaign, which accused CBS News of “deceitful” editing during a 60 Minutes interview with former Vice President and then-Democratic presidential candidate Kamala Harris.
Stewart went on to criticize CBS and Paramount Global executives for their “corporate fear” in capitulation toward the Trump administration. He said the shows that they seek to cancel are the very ones that brought value to the company, and he wondered why audiences would continue to turn to these networks, knowing this behavior.
He used the example of The Wall Street Journal, which released an exclusive on Jeffrey Epstein and Trump that upset the president. This resulted in Trump suing the publication for $10 billion.
The WSJ is owned by Rupert Murdoch, the same person who leads Fox News.
Stewart decried that “this is not the moment to give in,” as some American institutions believe “bending the knee to Trump” will save them from his wrath.