FCC Commissioner Links Colbert's Firing to Trump Influence

FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr indicated that the dismissal of comedian Stephen Colbert was influenced by former President Donald Trump's actions. During a Sunday interview on Fox News, host Howard Kurtz mentioned that critics suspected an orchestrated effort to oust Colbert to facilitate Skydance Media's acquisition of Paramount, aligned with the Trump administration's interests. Carr dismissed these claims but expressed optimism about the commitments made by the new CBS owners. He highlighted their pledge to promote unbiased, fact-based journalism, covering diverse political and ideological viewpoints, and to eliminate discriminatory practices related to diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI), along with reinvesting in local journalism. He praised the importance of satire but remarked that Colbert and similar entertainers have shifted from humorous commentary to more serious, doctrinal roles, suggesting that this change is a consequence of Trump’s influence. Carr stated that Trump's rhetoric challenged the traditional media elites in Hollywood and New York, asserting they no longer hold sway over American media narratives.