Colbert ‘Charlie Brown’ Joke Conjures Untested Copyright Theory; Bloomberg Law, May 29, 2026

  Kyle Jahner, Bloomberg Law; Colbert ‘Charlie Brown’ Joke Conjures Untested Copyright Theory

"But use of the music also touches on issues involving “synchronization rights"—a separate right to use music that appears in an audio-visual work.

The concept arose from a 1948 New York federal court case describing the form of copyright movie studios acquired in order to use music in their films. Theaters didn’t have to separately pay the performance rights organization for the right to use the songs on top of rights to play the movie because the movie producer already had paid for the right to incorporate the music into their work, the court said.

How exactly that right relates to taped television performances and rebroadcasts on TV and online isn’t well-tested. 

John Simson, a professor of IP law at American University, said there’s a broad assumption that a sync license is required to do virtually anything with a taped performance.

“Publishers in the US have taken the position that it’s a sync even if you just show video of a performance,” said Simson, former executive director of sound recording rights clearinghouse SoundExchange. “I don’t really agree with that.” 

“No one’s really gone to the mat on that” by taking a case far enough to set precedential boundaries for what kinds of re-uses of already-licensed works require a distinct sync license, he said."

Trump posts AI video depicting him throwing Colbert in a dumpster and dancing; The Hill, May 22, 2026

RYAN MANCINI , The Hill; Trump posts AI video depicting him throwing Colbert in a dumpster and dancing

"President Trump late Friday shared an AI-generated video depicting him throwing former late night host Stephen Colbert into a dumpster and subsequently dancing — the latest instance of the president using artificial intelligence to mock his enemies.

The video, posted to Truth Social, shows Colbert onstage for the taping of the last episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert” before Trump walks up behind him, grabs him by his shoulders and tosses him into a dumpster. Trump closes the lid to the dumpster and starts dancing to the Village People’s “YMCA.”"

STEPHEN COLBERT USES COPYRIGHTED ‘PEANUTS’ MUSIC DURING FINALE: ‘I HOPE THIS DOESN’T COST CBS ANY MONEY!’; Rolling Stone, May 22, 2026

 ELISABETH GARBER-PAUL , Rolling Stone; STEPHEN COLBERT USES COPYRIGHTED ‘PEANUTS’ MUSIC DURING FINALE: ‘I HOPE THIS DOESN’T COST CBS ANY MONEY!’

"During the final episode of The Late Show, host Stephen Colbert purposely used copyrighted music during a segment, a move that could potentially cost his former bosses at CBS a lot of dough if the music was unauthorized, and the usage were to end in a lawsuit.

“Peanuts is a powerful brand and corporation in and of itself. Anyone illegally using that music is going to have to pay through the nose,” he said, before addressing his band leader, Louis Cato. “Louis, Louis! Is the band right now playing the same Peanuts music I just said people were being sued for, for using without permission? Is that what you’re doing?” The band was indeed launching into the familiar Vince Guaraldi song. “Oh no, I hope this doesn’t cost CBS any money!” Colbert said."

Censorship Comes for Stephen Colbert; The Atlantic, February 17, 2026

David A. Graham , The Atlantic; Censorship Comes for Stephen Colbert

"Crackdowns on speech by prominent figures pave a way for the government to regulate speech more broadly, which should be concerning for people of any political leaning because the party and people in power can change."

Stephen Colbert says CBS lawyers pulled James Talarico interview as early voting begins in Texas; AP, February 17, 2026

MEG KINNARD, JIM VERTUNO AND JOHN HANNA, AP; Stephen Colbert says CBS lawyers pulled James Talarico interview as early voting begins in Texas

"Late-night host Stephen Colbert said his interview with Democratic Texas Senate candidate James Talarico was pulled from Monday night’s broadcast over network fears it would violate regulatory guidance from the Trump administration on giving equal time to political candidates.

The issue came just hours before early voting opened Tuesday in Texas’ primary elections, which feature hotly contested Senate nomination races in both parties. 

“He was supposed to be here, but we were told in no uncertain terms by our network’s lawyers, who called us directly, that we could not have him on the broadcast,” Colbert said on his program, ”The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.”

“Then I was told, in some uncertain terms, that not only could I not have him on, I could not mention me not having him on. And because my network clearly doesn’t want us to talk about this, let’s talk about this.”"

We are witnessing the silencing of American media; The Guardian, July 30, 2025

Robert Reich, The Guardian; We are witnessing the silencing of American media

"It’s the same with American universities, whose professors have often criticized Trump’s illegal and unconstitutional actions and whose research has often yielded conclusions that contradict Trump’s lies (such as that climate change is a “hoax”).

Columbia University and a handful of others have gone out of their way to “cooperate” with the Trump regime in order to avoid Trump’s wrath.

What does “cooperation” entail? Silencing Trump’s potential critics.

Columbia has just agreed to allow the regime to review its admissions and hiring practices in order to receive the federal research grants that the regime had held back.

Friends, this is how democracy dies.

The silencing is happening across America because Trump cannot stand criticism, because he’s vindictive as hell, and because he’s willing and able to use every department and agency of the federal government to punish any media corporations or universities that allow criticism of him.

Shame on any media outlet or university that allows Trump to silence it.

Trump is a dangerous despot. America needs its Eduardo Porters, Stephen Colberts, and all others in the media and in academia who have helped the nation understand just how truly dangerous Trump is."

Stephen Colbert Latches Onto One Disturbing Word in Trump’s Epstein Defense; The Daily Beast, July 28, 2025

Michael Boyle , The Daily Beast; Stephen Colbert Latches Onto One Disturbing Word in Trump’s Epstein Defense

"Stephen Colbert was baffled by Donald Trump’s attempts to downplay his former friendship with Jeffrey Epstein—especially the claim that the president had “never had the privilege” of going to Epstein’s island. 

Colbert played the clip of Trump saying this to his audience, who groaned at Trump’s choice of words. “I’m sorry,” Colbert said. “What? You never had the privilege of going to Epstein’s island?""

CBS: Caving. Bowing. Scraping.; The New York Times, July 26, 2025

 MAUREEN DOWD, The New York Times; CBS: Caving. Bowing. Scraping.

"CBS is, as Colbert said, “morally bankrupt.” It’s sickening to see media outlets, universities, law firms and tech companies bending the knee. (Hang tough, Rupert!)

Satirists are left to hold people accountable, and they are more than ready."