Stephen Colbert turned into the pompous dullard he once satirized
In Focus delivers deeper coverage of the political, cultural, and ideological issues shaping America. Published daily by senior writers and experts, these in-depth pieces go beyond the headlines to give readers the full picture. You can find our full list of In Focus pieces here.

TL;DR
- Johnny Carson, unlike Stephen Colbert, avoided political commentary on his show, believing entertainers should not use their platform for political influence.
- Carson hosted *The Tonight Show* during major historical events like the Cuban Missile Crisis and the assassinations of JFK and MLK, yet the country survived without his political opinions.
- Stephen Colbert is criticized for featuring a high percentage of left-leaning guests and normalizing radical political figures, alienating half the audience.
- The article suggests Colbert's show ending is due to a combination of its partisan nature, financial unsustainability, and the rise of more cost-effective platforms like podcasts.
- Comedians like Colbert and Jon Stewart are noted for struggling to make fun of politicians like Barack Obama, instead targeting conservatives.