Conservatives Should Stop Pretending That Trump Had Nothing To Do With Colbert's Cancellation

 

Over the past several days, conservative writers such as Jeffrey M. McCall, Tom Purcell of Townhall.com, and NRO's Armond White have celebrated the end of Late Night with Stephen Colbert. 

The common denominator between these pieces is twofold.

First, that Colbert was cancelled strictly for financial reasons due to the high cost of producing his show.

Second, that Colbert's overtly political brand of comedy alienated half of America's viewers.

Nonsense.

For starters, Colbert had been the number one rated late night talk show for nine consecutive years. 

Let us also remember that FOX News has a late-night show in the form of Greg Gutfeld who has an equally political brand of comedy. Yet somehow McCall, Purcell and White make no mention of him. Would that be because they agree with Gutfeld's politics and object to Colbert because he hold views contrary to their own?

Now I understand that Colbert's political humor isn't for everyone. Indeed, I pointed that out myself when I wrote a piece for NRO back in 2017 concerning the 25th anniversary of Johnny Carson's retirement from The Tonight Show. 

Yet whether you agree or disagree with his brand of humor, Stephen Colbert no longer has a late-night talk show on CBS for one reason.

President Trump.

When the cancellation was announced in July 2025, I wrote:

The network cited an unspecified "financial decision" as the reason for its cancellation as it evidently will withdraw from late night TV altogether.

I would hazard a guess that its "financial decision" is to appease President Trump so the administration will approve Paramount's merger with Skydance. Earlier this week, Colbert was publicly critical of CBS' parent company Paramount for settling Trump's frivolous lawsuit against 60 Minutes and the network at the beginning of the month. That will not help Paramount's standing with Trump.

There is really no other reason for CBS to pull the plug on Colbert. It is a ratings juggernaut. But the merger is a higher priority. Giving $16 million to the Trump Presidential Library (an oxymoron if there ever was one) is but a drop in the bucket. Trump is going to want a lot more. He wants a scalp and Stephen Colbert's will do just nicely given he is a persistent thorn in the President's side. 

Indeed, Trump not only celebrated Colbert's network TV demise but hoped for his other late-night colleagues to be removed from the airwaves. 

Trump made similar remarks when CBS announced Colbert's cancellation last summer:

Let me put it another way. Does anyone honestly believe that CBS would have cancelled Colbert had we elected Kamala Harris?

With that, I will cede that one of my takes in that post did not age so well:

What CBS will do after the late local news is anyone's guess although I would not be shocked if someone in the MAGAverse like Charlie Kirk got a time slot. 

Less than 2 months later, Kirk would be felled by an assassin's bullet.

In any event, Colbert's slot has been taken over by Byron Allen, a veteran comedian and successful media mogul. I'm old enough to remember Allen from his days on Real People. For his part, Allen has said there is enough political humor on late-night TV. I have no objection to this statement. Political humor has never been part of Allen's schtick. So, why start now? Yet it would not surprise if CBS either lured Gutfeld or eventually replaced Allen with a MAGA friendly host. After all, they've done it at their anchor desk.

Of course, Colbert will be just fine. He will be co-writing the next Lord of the Rings film with his son, Peter McGee.

But conservatives ought to stop pretending that President Trump had nothing to with Stephen Colbert's removal from CBS' late-night lineup. To do otherwise is simply dishonest and disingenuous. 

An Afternoon & Evening at The Brattle: Kings of the Road, Ghost World & Massacre at Central High

 

With Memorial Day weekend being unseasonably cool, I spent most of Saturday at The Brattle Theatre picking where I left off last night following the 50th anniversary screening of Taxi Driver. 

Today, I saw three films which had very little in common with each other - Kings of the Road, Ghost World and Massacre at Central High. The only thing which connected them is these films are commemorating anniversaries. Both Kings of the Road and Massacre at Central High are commemorating their 50th anniversaries this year while Ghost World commemorates its 25th anniversary.

Kings of the Road (1976)

Of the three films, I was most interested in seeing Kings of the Road for the simple reason that it is directed by Wim Wenders. Of course, Wenders directed Paris, Texas which is among my favorite films of all-time. I have also viewed Wings of Desire.

Kings of the Road has elements of both Paris, Texas and Wings of Desire. Like the latter, Kings of the Road is filmed in black and white. Like the former, Kings of the Road shows both the beauty and bleakness of the outdoor landscape in both rural and urban settings. I can also see why Wenders recruited Ry Cooder because much of the background music is played on acoustic slide guitar. 

The two main characters portrayed by German actors Rüdiger Vogler and Hanns Zischler spend extended amounts of time not engaging in dialogue when they are together. Vogler plays a traveling film projectionist who aids Zischler who drives his car into the river. Both men are individualists who keep drifting apart yet their wills bring themselves back to the other until it is time for them to permanently go their separate ways.

Two things about Kings of the Road will stay with me. The first was the lack of adult women in the film. In just under 3 hours, there were only 2 adult women in the entire film. The first woman isn't introduced until halfway through the film and was played by Lisa Kreuzer (who was married to Wenders at the time). Kreuzer plays a potential love interest for the traveling film projectionist as she turns out to be a ticket taker in an adult movie theatre. 

The second thing which will forever stay with me was seeing the act of defecation on film. That I cannot unsee. 

Ghost World (2001)

I can be grateful that no one involved in the making of Ghost World defecated on film.

My curiosity regarding this film was that it included the likes of Steve Buscemi, Bob Babalan, Ileana Douglas, an uncredited Terri Garr and a young Scarlett Johannson - two years before her breakthrough role in Lost in Translation. Johannson was the co-lead in the film with Thora Birch portraying two high school graduates trying to figure out what to do with their lives. The two have been inseparable since childhood but a rift develops when Johannson's character focuses on employment while Birch's character slowly becomes obsessed with an older, socially awkward record collector played by Buscemi. 

As time goes on, Birch's character proceeds, often unintentionally, to make the lives of everyone around worse. In the end, she acquires enough self-awareness to conclude that it is best for all parties concerned that she leaves town and start over.

Both Birch and Johannson give good performances. It is astounding to me that Birch, while a steadily working actress, has not enjoyed the same level of stardom as Johannson. Unfortunately, film is a visual medium, and Johannson is more conventionally attractive than Birch. It isn't to say that Birch isn't attractive but not in the way casting directors view beauty. Which is a shame. But such is life.

Massacre at Central High (1976)

What drew me to this film was the presence of Andrew Stevens (the son of actress Stella Stevens) who was in arguably the worst episode of Columbo to ever air. Other familiar names include Robert Carradine who sadly took his own life back in February and Lani O'Grady, who would later join the cast of the hit ABC sitcom Eight is Enough. On yet another sad note, O'Grady would die of a drug overdose in 2001 at the age of 46.

However, the lead here was a fellow named Derrel Maury whose face I recognized but could not remember where I saw him. Well, now I know I saw him on some episodes of Happy Days and the short-lived Joanie Loves Chachi where he was part of the main cast.

In any case, Maury plays a new student at Central High named David who is a friend of Mark (played by Stevens). Much to David's chagrin, Mark has fallen into with three student bullies who run the school. Eventually, David takes out the bullies when they attempt to rape two female students played by O'Grady and Cheryl Smith. Alas, the bullies get their revenge by slamming a car he is fixing on his leg forcing its amputation.

Following David's recovery, he swiftly kills the three bullies in brutal fashion which gives the bullied students a new lease on life. However, that lease would be a short-term one when the bullied students turn out to be every bit as cruel as the bullies they once despised. So, Robert sets about killing them one-by-one. 

I must say this made for an unconventional plot device. The problem was with its execution as much of the acting was over the top. Meanwhile, the killings, while gruesome, were greeted with derisive laughter. What was also glaringly absent was the lack of both parents and teachers. It was as if the students, or at least the bullies, ran the high school themselves. 

Then there was also the gratuitous nudity. OK, that wasn't so bad.

Nor was the film nearly as horrible as Bad Girls Go to Hell or Marty Supreme.

Even if some aspect films of the film were shitty, there was no on-screen defecation. 

When it comes to Memorial Day weekend, I don't want to be couped up at home. And if the weather isn't conducive to being outdoors for an extended period of time, then 7½ hours at the Brattle isn't a bad way to spend a Saturday on a holiday weekend.

Thoughts on Taxi Driver at 50: How Many Travis Bickles Roam The Earth?

I began Memorial Day weekend by attending a 50th anniversary screening of Taxi Driver at the Brattle Theatre.

The screening was sold out with many in attendance were born in this century. Several Gen Zers came by and asked what the lineup was for and when Taxi Driver was uttered, they understood. They may not have seen the film, but they know Robert DeNiro and 'You talkin' to me?'. They also understand the significance of Martin Scorsese. 

I have seen Taxi Driver on TV on a number of occasions and, more recently, have delved into the perspective of YouTube movie reactors such as CineBinge and Popcorn in Bed. But until tonight, I had never viewed it on the big screen.

Based on the reactions I heard following the screening, people were most impressed by the musical score composed by Bernard Herrmann. It proved to be his epitaph as he died on Christmas Eve, 1975 only hours after completing his final work. He would be posthumously nominated for an Academy Award for Best Original Score.

For me what truly resonated was Travis Bickle's ruminations on loneliness and trying to fit into the world.

Loneliness has followed me my whole life. Everywhere. In bars, in cars, sidewalks, stores, everywhere. There's no escape. I'm God's lonely man.

All my life needed was a sense of someplace to go. I don't believe that one should devote his life to morbid self-attention. I believe that someone should become a person like other people.

Travis Bickle did think he was becoming a person like other people in his pursuit of Betsy, the beautiful presidential campaign worker played by Cybil Shepherd. He thought he was being like other people when he took Betsy to a movie yet could not fathom why she would object be taken to an adult movie theatre in Times Square.

When Betsy rejects Travis' overtures, he plans to assassinate Charles Palantine, the presidential candidate for whom she works as an act of revenge. Of course, his violent impulses are ultimately turned towards good when he rescues Iris, a child prostitute played by Jodie Foster. 

Bickle is wounded and gets commendation for his actions effectively becoming a person like other people. Yet, at the same time, one cannot help if he is living vicariously and is idealizing what he has become as when Betsy takes a ride in Travis' cab and praises him for saving Iris. 

In the 50 years since Taxi Driver was released, how many Travis Bickles have roamed the Earth to escape loneliness in pursuit of trying to be like other people?

Unfortunately, far too many. The assassination of John Lennon, the attempted assassination of President Reagan and numerous mass shooters. 

Of course, not all Travis Bickles end up becoming killers much less wanting to act out that desire. But those Travis Bickles aren't sure how to escape loneliness to become a person like other people and many never will.

Is AOC Holding Dirty Water or Playing a Dirty Trick?

 

During a congressional hearing today, AOC questioned Jessica Kramer, an Assistant Administrator for Water at the EPA. During her questioning, AOC held up a couple of jars of discolored water which she claimed came from Morgan County, Georgia (about 215 miles northwest of Atlanta) where Meta is building a data center. AOC further claims the jars of discolored water is drinking water.

For her part, Kramer said there had been concerns about water availability (i.e. water pressure re: household appliances) but had been unaware of any issues concerning drinking water in the area arising from Meta's construction of the data center. However, Kramer agreed to conduct a review.

When I saw this, I could not help but think of this scene from Erin Brockovich. I wouldn't be surprised if AOC saw it too and got some inspiration.

From where I sit, I have no way of knowing what AOC is holding is drinking water from Morgan County, Georgia. It's possible that might be the case. But quite frankly just because AOC says she is holding a jar of contaminated drinking water from Morgan County, Georgia, doesn't mean that is true. How do we know that this jar didn't come from the Potomac River?

Any half-decent lawyer would want to know the following:

a) Where was the water obtained?

b) When was it obtained?

c) Who obtained the water and what was the chain of custody which followed?

d) How long before the hearing did AOC's office acquire these jars of water?

e) Where were these jars of water stored between their acquisition and the hearing?

f) Were these jars stored in a secure area?

g) Who in AOC's office had access to these jars?

If there is impartial evidence which substantiates AOC's claims, then fine. Yet somehow, I very much doubt that AOC or her staff would be forthcoming concerning these questions.

The Obscenity & Offensiveness of Trump's $1.776 Billion Settlement with The IRS & Treasury Department

I would be remiss if I didn't comment on the obscenity and offensiveness of the $1.776 billion settlement the Trump Administration reached with the IRS and the Treasury Department.

There is the lawsuit itself which was essentially President Trump suing himself. Which invariably meant the lawsuit would be settled under terms very favorable to Trump. The "parties" to this case didn't even feel the need to tell the judge there had been a settlement when Trump sought dismiss the case.

Then there are the byproducts of the lawsuit. What jumps out to most people is the $1.776 billion "anti-weaponization" fund. Aside from being an affront to the "Spirit of '76", methinks most of the recipients of this "anti-weaponization" will be people who used actual weapons on Capitol Hill on January 6th and were convicted for their actions. Many of those recipients will be members of militia groups like the Oath Keepers and the Proud Boys. I have a feeling that those receiving compensation from this fund will use these funds to finance acts of terrorism. Those acts of terrorism will be subsidized and underwritten by the Trump Administration.

While President Trump is not formally compensated by this deal, it reinforces his immunity from the law and is now extended to his family. As Acting Attorney General Todd Blanche put it the IRS is "forever barred and precluded" from pursuing any actions against Trump and his businesses. Of course, Blanche is hardly an impartial figure. He was, after all, Trump's personal attorney. Blanche is not a officer of the court, he is part of the King's Court.

If that wasn't enough, the IRS and Treasury Department must make a groveling, formal apology to Trump. For what is there to apologize? Neither governmental entity did anything wrong. They were acting with good faith and within the law. But that is beyond the pale for someone like Trump who does not believe he is subject to the law. The law is only for his enemies. 

While Democrats are outraged by these developments, I cannot help but think they will set a precedent. Should Democrats ever return to power with a demagogue of their own in the White House, they will create their own "anti-weaponization" slush funds for their friends who will use the funds to enrich themselves and finance their own acts of terrorism. 

The obscenity and offensiveness will not be confined to Trump and the J6ers alone.

Belated Thoughts on The San Diego Mosque Shooting

I would be remiss if I did not put forward a comment concerning the shooting at the Islamic Center of San Diego on Monday which claimed the lives three people who were employed by the institution.

For starters, violence targeting Muslims is every bit as abhorrent as it was with the Christchurch massacre in March 2019. I mention this attack as the two teenaged perpetrators were inspired in great part by this attack. Although the perpetrators were also anti-Semitic, racist, anti-LGBTQ, they focused their ire on Muslims.

While it must be said that the Imam of the Islamic Center of San Diego has justified the October 7th attacks it does not give anyone the right to murder anyone associated with this religious institution. 

It is possible to condemn the view of the Imam where it concerns Hamas without wishing grievous harm upon those who worship or work there. 

Indeed, it is well worth noting that a senior figure in New Zealand's Muslim community claimed, without evidence, that Israel was behind the Christchurch attack. As defamatory as this statement is, those who were killed in the attack still deserve our sympathy. As Rob Eshman pointed out in The Forward:

The teenagers who opened fire on the Islamic Center of San Diego didn’t care what the imam said about Gaza. They saw Muslims, and they wanted them dead — the same way the Pittsburgh and Poway shooters saw Jews. Our enemies are not making the distinctions we make about each other. Maybe it’s time we stopped making them too.

Let me put it another way. The Imam of the Islamic Center of San Diego might very well have delighted in the murder of Jews on October 7th and would wish grievous harm upon Jews in America. If this is the case, I still don't wish bloodshed to be visited upon the Imam or anyone else associated with the Islamic Center of San Diego or any other Muslim institution in this country. 

Amtrak & Air Conditioning

Earlier this evening, I returned home from a business trip to New York. 

You may recall that my first official business trip ever was to New York in April 2025.

As with the previous trip, I travelled by Amtrak. 

However, this time around traveling by Amtrak was a considerably less pleasant experience. At least when it came to traveling from Boston to New York.

The problem was the air conditioning was not working in the coach car where I was seated. As time went on the trip became increasingly uncomfortable.

I was informed there was no air conditioning in the car and that AC was only accessible in business class and in the snack bar/concessions area.

Complicating matters is the fact that the Northeast has been experiencing a near triple digit heatwave.

Needless to say, I was quite anxious about the return trip today.

I spent nearly 2 hours on the phone with Amtrak only to be told that the best they could do is give me a voucher once I got back to Boston. I also tried to talk to someone from Amtrak when I arrived at Penn Station late this morning, but they told me they have no control over the conditions on the train. Of course, when there is a monopoly situation it is a classic case of "He who makes the gold, makes the rules."

As it turns out, poor air conditioning has been a problem on Amtrak for years. Worse still, they are under no legal obligation to provide it.

Fortunately, when I got on the train early this afternoon, I felt instantaneous relief throughout my whole body with the blast of cold air.

We were more than 30 minutes behind schedule in departing and there would be another delay of about 15-20 minutes after departing New London, Connecticut due to "police activity." But so long as there was air conditioning, I could handle those annoyances and inconveniences.

Nevertheless, I remained concerned because I will very likely be taking another business trip to New York come mid-August. It will be surely every bit as hot. 

Amtrak's Acela service has air conditioning on all its cars but I'm not sure if my employer would be prepared to foot the bill. And even then, there's no guarantee of avoiding a mishap.

Aside from rail, the only other option available to me is by plane and again I'm not sure if the company would foot that bill. Then again, a plane ride to NYC can't be that much more expensive than the train ride and I would likely take me less time to from Point A to B.

At this point, we'll cross that bridge later this summer.

In the meantime, on the subject of air conditioning, I have some happy news where it concerns my apartment. Since returning to Boston nearly five years ago, there has been an annual ritual of my friend Don Hammontree helping me to install my air conditioner. To be accurate, he installs the AC while I prevent it from falling out of the window.

However, earlier this year, my landlady had HVAC pumps installed throughout the house. Yesterday, she sent me a text notifying me that she had changed the pumps from heat to AC due to the heat wave.

Alas, the heat wave will be short-lived as we will revert to seasonal and cooler temperatures tomorrow and through the Memorial Day weekend. But I think should be able to manage for the moment.