When Trump was re-elected, a long 179 days ago, given his long-running history of going after media, and his hand-picked FBI head Kash Patel saying they’d go after media…I told my wife, that’s it. I gotta get out of here. We’re not gonna be safe.
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For those of you who know history, there’s nothing cowardly about getting out of the boiling pot before it boils.
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But she calmed me down. Her son is here in the US, and we couldn’t leave. So we’re here. So I’m forced to be…if not brave, stupid.
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In a democracy, a free press and a right to free speech are sacrosanct. And yet, they’re also, always, vulnerable. The key to protecting them is 1) not elected a wannabe dictator who doesn’t care about democratic principles, but only cares about his or herself 2), separation of powers 3), a brave and educated citizenry unwilling to give up their rights and with enough time and wherewithal to make a stand.
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“Trump isn’t a fascist snowflake Authoritarian!,” MAGA cries. 

Nah: he’s just defunding Sesame Street (NPR, PBS, local stations hardest hit), suing journalists for doing journalism (snowflake), pressuring 60 Minutes to shut up or their parent company may not get their license, and now this—which was not about success (Colbert is #1 in rankings) but, likely, political pressure.

Saddened. He’s a sweetheart, a talent, a delight, a believer in humanity and democracy.

Networks, Netflix, HBO…Hire him. We’ll watch and subscribe and share.

Colbert’s Late Night is top rated. It’s raking in cash. This decision is about cowards bowing to corrupt political pressure from wannabe unAmerican fascists. They did this to our dear Conan, back in the day, but Colbert, unlike Conan, is ranked #1. The overall market may be declining, but fact is it’s a huge show for the entertainment industry. His parent company is trying to get its license to sell and that has to be approved by Trump, because agencies are no longer operated independently of Trump’s whims, likes, and dislikes. Colbert also just won an Emmy, which brings in more attention and advertisers.

“Other fans quibbled with the description of the move by CBS officials as “purely a financial decision,” noting that Mr. Colbert hosted the most-watched late night television show…” @nytimes

“Paramount is in the midst of closing a multibillion-dollar merger with the movie studio Skydance, a deal that requires approval from the Trump administration. Paramount recently agreed to pay President Trump $16 million to settle a lawsuit over an interview on “60 Minutes,” a move Mr. Colbert criticized on his show as “a big fat bribe.” The merger still requires the approval of the Federal Communications Commission…” ~ The New York Times

His show is number one. It’s a great, fun, sweet, sharp show—it’s good for the entertainment industry, so there’s no way they’re canceling it because of money. It’s because of pressure, just as with 60 Minutes. So sad.

 

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A post shared by Waylon Lewis (@waylonlewis)

Colbert was top rated–#1. Funny is subjective, but millions found him not only funny, but caring, and enlightening.