What is more dangerous: Paramount Global/Skydance merger or firing of Colbert?

by B. R. GOWANI

VIDEO/The Late SHow with Steven Colbert/Youtube

CBS The Late Show with Steven Colbert host was mad at POTUS:

“And now for the next ten months, the gloves are off. I can finally speak unvarnished truth to power and say what I really think about Donald Trump starting right now.”

but then when was Steven Colbert not outraged at Pres Donald Trump?

he has been poking fun at Trump for a very long time

Trump is a terribly disgusting person,

and it seems Trump played a role in Colbert getting fired

but Colbert has always had his gloves off in regards to Trump

the facts:

Trump gloated on news that Colbert will leave in May 2026:

“I absolutely love that Colbert got fired. His talent was even less than his ratings. I hear Jimmy Kimmel is next. Has even less talent than Colbert! [Fox News late night host] Greg Gutfeld is better than all of them combined, including the Moron on NBC who ruined the once great Tonight Show.”

Colbert vented his anger:

“How dare you, sir? Would an untalented man be able to compose the following satirical witticism? Go fuck yourself.”

on Trump’s comment on Kimmel, Colbert said:

“Nope, absolutely not, Kimmel. I am the martyr. There’s only room for one on this cross, and I’ve gotta tell you, the view is fantastic from up here. I can see your house!”

if Colbert was really on a cross, he would be begging for Trump’s mercy …

but the way things are going, that time seems not too far away …

unless he joins other real protest movements to oppose unfolding fascism …

rather than cracking jokes and pocketing millions of dollars

on 24 July, Trump govt approved Skydance-Paramount Global merger

Skydance paid $8 billion to takeover Paramount Global

David Ellison is the son of Larry Ellison, the co-founder of Oracle

who is worth $251 billion, and the world’s 2nd richest person

Trump got his goonda tax of $16 million from paramount Global

he also expects to get $20 million from the new owners

if Colbert would have spared some time for Palestinians,

his huge popularity could have really made a difference …

especially if he had shown outrage at repeated Palestinian massacre

as much as he was furious at Netanyahu for Israel’s attack on WCK

World Central Kitchen was struck killed 7 workers in Gaza

Spanish chef Jose Andres, Colbert’s friend, runs the WCK charity

“And as many of you know, the World Central Kitchen is near and dear to my heart. It was founded by our friend, Chef José Andrés, to bring food to hungry people after natural disasters and in war zones.”

Netanyahu tried to defend himself with the lame excuse:

This happens in war. We are conducting a thorough inquiry and are in contact with the governments. We will do everything to prevent a recurrence.”

Colbert shot back:

“Nothing just happens. You are responsible. If your answer is, ‘This happens in war,’ then maybe consider ending the war.”

Colbert was mad for the death of WCK workers – a very good gesture

but Colbert never talked about 59,106 Palestinians killed by Israel

(that include about 30% children, that is, at least 17,400 children)

actually over 400,000 Palestinian deaths …

and growing by the day as Ralph Nader points out …

this is the power of the Israeli Lobby’s hold on the US politics

Colbert could say “go fuck yourself” to Trump …

but could not mention Israeli genocide or ask US govt to stop arming Israel

Colbert doesn’t talk about Israel’s killing/starving/humiliating Palestinians …

but Colbert didn’t forget to question Zohran Mamdani about …

Israel’s right to exist

many people criticized CBS for firing Colbert

Colbert is making $15 million a year for his Late Show

he makes more money as a voice actor, stage performer, & author

his net worth is $75 million

with such money and fame, Colbert will find a way to continue working

the real danger is not the end of the Late Show but

it is the merger of the two giants Skydance and Paramount Global

a decade and a half back, Ramzy Baroud had warned us about merger:

“How will democracy, mass participation or public interest be served by the Comcast Corp.’s purchase of NBC’s Universal or the Disney Company’s acquisition of Marvel Entertainment Inc.? The media industry has turned into a jungle, where the survival of the fittest is determined not by value of content, or by contribution to society, but rather by ‘smart’ business deals that ensure survival in an increasingly demanding media market.”

when a company merges and gets bigger

the profits increases manyfold

but …

  • workers lose job
  • people’s voices vanish
  • democracy becomes a joke
  • freedom of speech for the elite enhances

Paramount Global/Skydance merger is clearly the more dangerous

and should generate more scrutiny and publicity …

B. R. Gowani can be reached at brgowani@hotmail.com