Yes. And the gut punch is intended to break our spirits and make us feel like they can take down our heroes and eventually we will become resigned and submit. Just as the ICE kidnappings are meant to make us afraid and feel that none of us is safe. I hope these heinous moves will continue to have the opposite effect: to embolden us to band even more strongly together to resist and, for those of us not yet directly in their sights, to protect those members of our communities who are most vulnerable.
I'm so grateful to Colbert for all he offers (and will hopefully continue to offer somewhere accessible). Fascists know how powerful art and humor can be. We are in it. Thank you for this an all your posts.
I’ve heard it said ( by him probably ) that “the tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut by the lawnmower”. Stephen isn’t the first to be cut by Trumps lawnmower and he won’t be the last. The thing is, the lawn continues and spreads and more fill it in and this resistance movement grows and spreads as more people are affected by the cruelty and vindictiveness of this regime. All they’re accomplishing is to swell our ranks, so we can elevate others, like Stephen Colbert, to the level of folk heroes and we can heed the call to all become folk heroes who are standing up to the criminality, cruelty and evil of a regime that seeks to wipe out democracy and freedom. Trump and his evil empire is rotten to the core and they will fall as all tinpot dictators do. Democracy is an ideal worth striving for. Capitalism isn’t.
Totally agree, and even though it happened for different reasons (though all cause of Trump), it felt like a double punch in the gut given that it was the same week NPR and PBS were defunded. Waiting to see when the Daily Show is canceled, given it’s also on Paramount ;(
I’m grateful you wrote about this—I’ve felt similarly gut punched and surprised at how much this really scares me. I’m grateful that in your sharing there’s this ground for your incredible readers to share their empowering perspectives in the comments. Feeling hands of comfort and strength on my back, and feeling emboldened to reach my hands back out as well.
Maybe we’ll see Steven Colbert joining us here on Substack 🔥
The cancellation of his show may be intended to hurt us, the viewers, but it may emd up just being another nail in the coffin for the networks, especially if Colbert starts his own show on one of the social media platforms & brings all his viewers with him.
The world is changing, & as disorienting as it can feel, there is a lot of potential for shifts in transformative directions as we all have to become stronger & more empowered in building the structures that support a world we would love to live in….which is definitely far from the world that DT is trying to push us all into !!
Yes. I had the same reaction to the Colbert announcement. Thanks for this. The road gets much harder from here... but we know the assignment.
The one thing that brings me hope is this: authoritarians want us to feel that their rule is inevitable. I do not feel that at all. This circus needs to leave town. And THAT, I feel, is inevitable--if we do our job.
Hello Starhawk. I too was shocked upon hearing of Mr Colbert’s dismissal AFTER criticism of Trump.This is really scary now. It’s nothing less than Fascism when any criticism of a leader whether in jest or in earnest isn’t allowed and also firings of beloved talk show hosts for openly simply voicing differing views. It’s so Stalinist! George Orwell’s 1984 is in action in 2025 in the USA sad to say. I love my USA neighbours to the South as a Northern Canadian cousin and friend. But yours and our spirits WON’T be broken. We bend but we don’t break. FREEDOM will RISE again. Shout it out. Freedom can’t be kept down! Blessed be and lots of love ❤️
I was wandering when this would happen :( .... Daily Show next? It's not only fascism, it's foolish. Giving people the illusion of freedom by allowing them shows to air their grievances and vent is surely what a wiser dictator would do, so that people don't feel the need to actually rise up because you've already given them the illusion of doing something by collectively laughing about it. At least, I always assumed this was the real reason Britain allows so many comedy shows that take the p*ss out of the government...!
Same here, Starhawk! But Colbert is a powerhouse and will not be kept down. Having been mowed down a time or two myself, I affirm the blade of grass grows back stronger, and in this case, even funnier! I can hear him now, "Paramount needed a pair of balls and the only way to find a pair was to cut off their noses to spite their faces?"
The face of Stephen Colvert is the face of freedom, the face of satire, the face of -- he is so humble he probably won't be saying this, but it needs saying -- the face of courage! Cut them all down and they all grow back stronger! Bravaloha, Steven!
Yes. And the gut punch is intended to break our spirits and make us feel like they can take down our heroes and eventually we will become resigned and submit. Just as the ICE kidnappings are meant to make us afraid and feel that none of us is safe. I hope these heinous moves will continue to have the opposite effect: to embolden us to band even more strongly together to resist and, for those of us not yet directly in their sights, to protect those members of our communities who are most vulnerable.
I'm so grateful to Colbert for all he offers (and will hopefully continue to offer somewhere accessible). Fascists know how powerful art and humor can be. We are in it. Thank you for this an all your posts.
I’ve heard it said ( by him probably ) that “the tallest blade of grass is the first to be cut by the lawnmower”. Stephen isn’t the first to be cut by Trumps lawnmower and he won’t be the last. The thing is, the lawn continues and spreads and more fill it in and this resistance movement grows and spreads as more people are affected by the cruelty and vindictiveness of this regime. All they’re accomplishing is to swell our ranks, so we can elevate others, like Stephen Colbert, to the level of folk heroes and we can heed the call to all become folk heroes who are standing up to the criminality, cruelty and evil of a regime that seeks to wipe out democracy and freedom. Trump and his evil empire is rotten to the core and they will fall as all tinpot dictators do. Democracy is an ideal worth striving for. Capitalism isn’t.
Totally agree, and even though it happened for different reasons (though all cause of Trump), it felt like a double punch in the gut given that it was the same week NPR and PBS were defunded. Waiting to see when the Daily Show is canceled, given it’s also on Paramount ;(
Your belief that Colbert will be all right and may be even better going independent is reassuring.
Journalist Jim Acosta and historian Heather Cox Richardson talked about the growing strength of independent media (on his Substack two days ago.)
It was encouraging to hear how this trend in independent media gives Heather hope!
I’m grateful you wrote about this—I’ve felt similarly gut punched and surprised at how much this really scares me. I’m grateful that in your sharing there’s this ground for your incredible readers to share their empowering perspectives in the comments. Feeling hands of comfort and strength on my back, and feeling emboldened to reach my hands back out as well.
Thank you for this.
Maybe we’ll see Steven Colbert joining us here on Substack 🔥
The cancellation of his show may be intended to hurt us, the viewers, but it may emd up just being another nail in the coffin for the networks, especially if Colbert starts his own show on one of the social media platforms & brings all his viewers with him.
The world is changing, & as disorienting as it can feel, there is a lot of potential for shifts in transformative directions as we all have to become stronger & more empowered in building the structures that support a world we would love to live in….which is definitely far from the world that DT is trying to push us all into !!
Yes. I had the same reaction to the Colbert announcement. Thanks for this. The road gets much harder from here... but we know the assignment.
The one thing that brings me hope is this: authoritarians want us to feel that their rule is inevitable. I do not feel that at all. This circus needs to leave town. And THAT, I feel, is inevitable--if we do our job.
Hello Starhawk. I too was shocked upon hearing of Mr Colbert’s dismissal AFTER criticism of Trump.This is really scary now. It’s nothing less than Fascism when any criticism of a leader whether in jest or in earnest isn’t allowed and also firings of beloved talk show hosts for openly simply voicing differing views. It’s so Stalinist! George Orwell’s 1984 is in action in 2025 in the USA sad to say. I love my USA neighbours to the South as a Northern Canadian cousin and friend. But yours and our spirits WON’T be broken. We bend but we don’t break. FREEDOM will RISE again. Shout it out. Freedom can’t be kept down! Blessed be and lots of love ❤️
I was blown away to hear that he show was cancelled. I love Stephen Colbert!!
He really is AMAZING!
Your words echo my thoughts! Definitely a gut punch. Wonder what good trouble Colbert can stir up in the next few months. And, after!
Fortunately, he has resilience and a calling to keep speaking out.
I was wandering when this would happen :( .... Daily Show next? It's not only fascism, it's foolish. Giving people the illusion of freedom by allowing them shows to air their grievances and vent is surely what a wiser dictator would do, so that people don't feel the need to actually rise up because you've already given them the illusion of doing something by collectively laughing about it. At least, I always assumed this was the real reason Britain allows so many comedy shows that take the p*ss out of the government...!
Same here, Starhawk! But Colbert is a powerhouse and will not be kept down. Having been mowed down a time or two myself, I affirm the blade of grass grows back stronger, and in this case, even funnier! I can hear him now, "Paramount needed a pair of balls and the only way to find a pair was to cut off their noses to spite their faces?"
The face of Stephen Colvert is the face of freedom, the face of satire, the face of -- he is so humble he probably won't be saying this, but it needs saying -- the face of courage! Cut them all down and they all grow back stronger! Bravaloha, Steven!
BOYCOTT CBS AND TELL THEM WHY
I used to love Colbert but his silence on genocide lost me as a fan.