If it seems like it concerns two of the least likable, least reputable people in their separate fields of operations, that's because it does.
Stephen Colbert, the bespectacled, jug-eared, unclever, canceled talk show host, on his last obnoxious gasp of airtime as he runs out the clock, has figured out yet another way to publicly flog his bosses for the sin of dismissing him.
Purely based on performance metrics alone, how the man still has a paycheck baffles me. Judging by his umbrage peacocking, you'd think CBS was trying to frogmarch the most popular late-night host in history off-air at the height of his appeal.
But that's not the case with Colbert at all. Instead of pulling even those types who would go to an execution out of curiosity, Colbert's ratings are already in the dead zone.
The Stephen Colbert ratings freefall has reached an undeniable breaking point. As The Late Show with Stephen Colbert approaches its already-announced cancellation, the program is now posting record-low January numbers, marking one of the steepest late-night declines in recent television history.
According to Nielsen data reported this week, Colbert’s show is averaging roughly 285,000 viewers in the crucial 25–54 demographic, putting it on track for its worst January performance ever in the category that advertisers actually care about. With just months left before the curtain closes for good, the ratings trajectory suggests viewers have been checking out long before CBS formally pulled the plug.
...While total viewership erosion has been gradual over the past several years, the collapse in the 25–54 demo tells the real story. Late-night television lives or dies by that number, and Colbert’s January performance places him firmly near the bottom of the competitive pack.
...CBS previously framed the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert as a financial decision rather than a creative one. The January Colbert ratings collapse makes clear that those financial pressures are themselves a direct result of audience rejection. As viewership — particularly in the key 25–54 demographic — continues to erode, the show becomes increasingly difficult to justify economically, turning declining interest into an unavoidable business problem.
Colbert can't even garner the progressive pity watchers who protested the show's cancellation - that's how bad he is.
So what's a pathetic, egotistical hack to do?
Double down on what got him this low and jump on any chance to badmouth the people still signing a hefty paycheck he's not earning to drum up some more of those sympathy headlines.
He's gotta take what he can manufacture.
Lucky thing he had a like-minded, low-ethics fellow on the other night who's well acquainted with manufacturing facades and faux controversies.
Texas congressional conman and U.S. Senate candidate James Talarico - or as we know him here, 'Texas Opie' - is a carnival barking Elmer Gantry-type preacher who looks like he just popped out of Hooterville, and loves himself some camera time, wherever it might be.
The little man is running in the Texas Democratic U.S. Senate primary against another fiery, do-nothing, know-nothing progressive of legend, Dallas Congresswoman Jasmine Crockett. She does tend to suck all of the air out of the room, so Talarico needs all the help he can get publicity-wise.
As of polls taken in the middle of this month, she's also overtaken Talarico as the choice among voters with a pretty significant lead.
...In a statewide sample of 550 likely Republican primary voters conducted between Jan. 20 and Jan. 31, Paxton led incumbent U.S. Sen. John Cornyn by 7 percentage points. Across the aisle, a similar poll of 550 likely Democratic primary voters shows Crockett running ahead of state Rep. James Talarico by 8 percentage points. The survey findings are a change from recent polls that found both races to be neck-and-neck.
There's another data point in that most recent poll that Democrat power brokers are interested in.
...Meanwhile, the survey shows 47% of likely Democratic primary voters intend to support Crockett compared to 39% for Talarico — a marked difference from a recent poll that indicates that they were in dead heat.
The Dallas congresswoman also led Talarico in most key demographic groups for the primary, except for white voters and those who have an advanced degree, according to the Monday figures. The survey indicates that 46% of likely Latino primary voters support Crockett and 37% back Talarico, while 15% are unsure. Previous polls have shown Talarico, who recently garnered an endorsement from the state’s largest Hispanic Democratic organization, leading among Latino voters instead.
The last thing they want is an unleashed Crockett rampaging across the Texas landscape in full battle mode. Colbert is a Democratic operative from way back, with ties in the party that run deep, and a sister who, besides being a former Clemson University Director, is a Democrat politician. Colbert is more than willing to step in to help at any given time by using his late-night platform.
Which is what he did, issuing an invitation to Texas Opie to stop by for a friendly sit-down, again, in the middle of a U.S. Senate campaign.
Texas Opie hot-footed it over there like he was on fire.
This is the interview Donald Trump didn’t want you to see.
— James Talarico (@jamestalarico) February 17, 2026
His FCC refused to air my interview with Stephen Colbert.
Trump is worried we’re about to flip Texas. pic.twitter.com/BCev5jZbKc
The only problem with the visit was that, as Talarico is a candidate, a gentle warning was issued by the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) to remember that 'in-kind' appearances with the other declared candidates then had to be scheduled for fairness.
What was the big deal? Why couldn't Crockett do her thing? She's been on the show at least five or six times previously.
You are correct that Colbert is the mouthpiece for the Democratic Party, and the Democratic Establishment has decided to freeze Jasmine Crockett out. pic.twitter.com/wGal4gtAG0
— Noodles Now (@Noodles_Now) February 18, 2026
All hell broke loose, quite probably because the point of Talarico being on Colbert was precisely to ice Crockett out and provide what used to be known as the 'Colbert bump.'
Instead of offering Crockett and the other Democrat (Ahmad Hassan) in the race a similar interview, Colbert and Talarico went into feigned outrage over 'TRUMP'S FCC banning the interview,' even after CBS issued a statement saying that their legal team had suggested shelving the Talarico interview until they'd done the others to comply with the FCC Fairness rules
Colbert has spent the past two nights slamming the 'cowardly bosses' at CBS who 'caved' to Trump's FCC demands that he spike the interview.
The 'banned ' interview with Opie, which was moved to YouTube and has since been available there, has raised $2.5M for Talarico's warchest since the phony controversy started.
...Never lead with a lie. If you lead with a lie and you're wrong, the person you're lying to will know it immediately, and you'll lose everything before the session even gets started. Credibility, control, leverage, trust, respect - all of it gone in an instant. Both @jamestalarico and @StephenAtHome led with a lie.
The FCC didn't "refuse to air" Talarico's interview with Colbert - they just tapped the Communications Act sign and told them to offer a spot to his Democrat opponents to comply with the law.
CBS didn't tell Colbert to kill the interview - they just told him the law required him to offer interviews to Talarico's two Democrat opponents to meet equal time requirements and gave him options as to how to make that happen.
But......Instead of reaching out to Jasmine Crockett and Ahmad Hassan to assess their availability for a guest spot on the show, Colbert took the well-worn clout-chasing path and ran to the media to promote himself and his manufactured grievance.
A surprisingly adult and coherent Crockett went on camera to support the FCC and the Trump administration, pointedly accusing the Talarico campaign of lying to create a sensation.
BREAKING - A fuming Jasmine Crockett has released a statement defending the federal government, confirming that Stephen Colbert and her Democratic opponent James Talarico were lying about the Trump administration pulling his interview. pic.twitter.com/gO8H14IbcO
— Right Angle News Network (@Rightanglenews) February 18, 2026
If this seems like such a staged nothing-burger on its face, that's because it turns out it is.
And if there was something that could make Stephen Colbert look like an even bigger liar than he already is, I think I've found it.
Remember, I mentioned his politician sister and what was formerly known as the 'Colbert bump'?
Well, back in 2013, when that sister was running for Congress in South Carolina, Stephen Colbert knew exactly what his responsibilities as a 'journalist' were when he mentioned his sister's candidacy on air.
...After displaying his faux surprise over learning about his sister's candidacy, Colbert said he wanted to dispel the rumor that she'd be getting some free TV time because of his show.
"Wrong," said Colbert. "No free air time, Lulu."
Lulu is Colbert's nickname for his sister.
"As a broadcast journalist, I am obligated to maintain broad objectivity. It doesn't matter that my sister is intelligent, hardworking, compassionate, and dedicated to the people of South Carolina."
Colbert, of course, is talking about what's known as the "Colbert Bump". The Chicago Tribune defined the bump as a "megaphone of influence", because a previously unknown person who is mentioned on Colbert's show, The Colbert Report, usually receives a boost in popularity.
...Colbert went on to mention the whopping 16 candidates who have filed for the Republican nomination for the seat.
"There are already some big names on the GOP ticket. I'm talking Ric 'The Stick' Bryant, the electrifying Keith Blandford, Larry 'Boom Boom' Grooms, Elizabeth 'Killing Them Softly' Moffly, and Chip 'This Is My Actual Name' Limehouse," said Colbert.
Of course, Colbert also mentioned former Gov. Mark Sanford, who is vying to gain back the First District seat he previously held.
Colbert ended the segment saying that he'd love to have his sister on the show if she won the seat so they might be able to discuss "several shocking revelations" Colbert says he uncovered from his sister's middle school diary.
Colbert's just burning bridges and scoring points with the last people who think he's useful.
None of it had anything to do with Trump and Brendan Carr's FCC.
This was a Democrat Party hit on Jasmine Crockett pure and simple...
This story just became unintentionally hilarious.
— Matt Whitlock (@MattWhitlock) February 17, 2026
Stephen Colbert and his team decided they would rather can their Talarico interview and move it to YouTube than host Jasmine Crockett for equal time. https://t.co/5ihfCgABI0
...and an in-kind fundraiser, because now Texas Opie is rollin' in the dough.
Beege ADDS: How that 'preacher's' mouth isn't in flames with all the lies he tells, I just can't explain.
The shamelessness with which this guy lies really undercuts that whole "I'm a preacher" schtick. https://t.co/PgePNDLjkc
— 🐺 (@LeighWolf) February 18, 2026
Little fella's surely more Gantry than Godly.
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