Stephen Colbert Reportedly Departs CBS for CNN in Behind-the-Scenes Deal Involving Rachel Maddow

By [Author Name]
July 30, 2025

New York — Stephen Colbert, longtime host of The Late Show on CBS, has reportedly stepped away from the network in a surprise development that, according to multiple sources, involves a confidential agreement with CNN and the involvement of MSNBC anchor Rachel Maddow.

The move — not yet confirmed by CBS or CNN — was described by two industry insiders as “months in the making” and could mark one of the most significant late-night media shakeups in recent memory.

Colbert, who has anchored The Late Show since 2015 and is widely credited with revitalizing CBS’s late-night presence, is believed to have quietly terminated his contract earlier this month. One CBS executive, speaking on the condition of anonymity, confirmed that senior leadership was informed “after the fact” and described the mood internally as “blindsided and deeply unsettled.”

According to sources familiar with the matter, the development is part of a larger project spearheaded by Rachel Maddow, who, despite scaling back her MSNBC schedule, has remained actively engaged in high-level media strategy. Maddow is believed to have approached Colbert in the spring with a proposal to develop a new primetime format that would blur the boundaries between satire, political analysis, and long-form narrative journalism.

One individual close to the discussions said Maddow presented Colbert with a draft proposal entitled The 11th Hour Recharged, described as “an unfiltered, co-anchored hour of live editorial and cultural commentary tailored for the 2026 election season and beyond.”

The same individual indicated that Maddow had initiated several private meetings with Colbert — some of which were held in Washington, D.C., and New York — and that discussions intensified in early July. On July 26, Colbert was seen entering CNN’s headquarters in Manhattan late at night. Sources familiar with CNN operations confirmed that he met with network CEO Mark Thompson that evening, reportedly finalizing terms of an early 2026 rollout for the new program.

“CNN has been seeking a meaningful reboot in primetime,” said a former CNN producer with knowledge of the internal situation. “Bringing in Colbert — and potentially Maddow in a co-executive or editorial role — represents a major bet on intelligence, personality, and credibility in a post-Trump media era.”

Both Colbert and Maddow declined to comment through their respective representatives.

If confirmed, Colbert’s departure would create an immediate vacuum at CBS, which has already been grappling with viewership erosion in late night amid increasing competition from streaming platforms and social media. A senior network official said that CBS legal teams are currently reviewing Colbert’s exit agreement, particularly clauses related to non-compete provisions.

Legal experts suggest Colbert may have leveraged a narrow exemption in his original 2015 agreement, possibly tied to multi-platform content production rather than direct television broadcasting — a technicality that may allow him to circumvent CBS’s exclusivity requirements.

Maddow, who signed a lucrative reduced-schedule deal with MSNBC in 2022, reportedly negotiated with CNN under a limited personal production umbrella, allowing her to executive-produce content for other platforms. If accurate, this would mark her first significant external collaboration since entering semi-retirement from nightly programming.

Industry observers say the move could signal a deeper shift in American news and commentary broadcasting, as personalities once associated with legacy formats experiment with new cross-network partnerships.

“This isn’t just a talent swap,” said Marcy Duvall, a professor of media history at Columbia University. “If Maddow and Colbert are indeed teaming up, we may be looking at the beginning of a new hybrid genre — somewhere between nightly commentary, serialized analysis, and cultural critique. It challenges the traditional segmentation of news and entertainment.”

In recent years, both CNN and MSNBC have struggled to stabilize primetime programming. CNN, in particular, has faced turbulence following the departure of longtime anchor Don Lemon, the ousting of CEO Chris Licht, and a string of underperforming specials and rebrands. According to Nielsen data, CNN’s viewership between 10 and 11 p.m. ET has declined by over 30% since early 2023.

The timing of Colbert’s reported move — just over a year before the 2026 midterm elections and amid rising political volatility — could provide CNN with a new foothold among viewers seeking a combination of incisive commentary and credibility.

As of this writing, neither CBS nor CNN has issued an official statement. However, multiple sources inside CNN have confirmed that a full-hour primetime slot will be “significantly revised” beginning in Q1 of 2026. While on-air promotions have not yet been launched, a CNN executive acknowledged there were “plans underway for a bold new programming direction.”

Meanwhile, CBS staffers were seen exiting The Late Show studio earlier this week carrying what appeared to be archival materials and set props. One employee, who asked not to be named, simply said: “The next era begins. Whether we’re ready or not.”

If the move proceeds as reported, it will mark a major transition in the career of Stephen Colbert — from satirist, to late-night statesman, to architect of a new media frontier. And for Rachel Maddow, it may signal the beginning of a second act no less influential than the first.