A shocking change in late-night TV. A salacious story about Jeffrey Epstein. What do they have in common? Donald Trump.

The shocking cancellation of Late Show With Stephen Colbert raises questions about the Paramount merger and Trump's influence.

CBS says its decision to end Stephen Colbert’s late-night comedy show is financial, not political. Yet even with the ample skepticism about that explanation, there’s no denying the economics were not working in Colbert’s favor.

Before Stephen Colbert's "Late Show" was canceled, Jon Stewart hadn't "heard anything" about whether his Comedy Central show would be canceled.

Colbert himself is a member of the WGA, as are 23 other people on the staff of "The Late Show." With the ending of Colbert's run -- and the outright cancellation of "The Late Show" -- so hot on the heels of a fiery monologue from the host earlier this week where he referred to Paramount's settlement with the president as a "big fat bribe,

CBS’ decision to cut ties with Stephen Colbert and its decades-old “Late Show” franchise come next May will leave a major hole in the format — but one that has been widening. TV networks have been cutting costs at their late-night mainstays for the past few years.

On Thursday, Stephen Colbert, the beloved, sharp-tongued comedian and host of the Late Show, announced that CBS was cancelling the legendary franchise. “This is all just going away,” Colbert told the audience, as they responded with a wave of gasps and jeers. Online, the news was met with a similar blend of shock and anger.