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Piers Morgan Says Late-Night Hosts Are 'Hyper-Partisan Activist Hacks For The Democrats' & It's 'No Wonder' Stephen Colbert 'Got Canned'

Piers Morgan Says Late-Night Hosts Are 'Hyper-Partisan Activist Hacks For The Democrats' & It's 'No Wonder' Stephen Colbert 'Got Canned'

Yahoo28-07-2025
While Stephen Colbert has received plenty of support from fellow television mainstays and late-night hosts following the unceremonious cancellation of The Late Show, Piers Morgan isn't among them.
Earlier today, the British media personality took to X to slam Colbert and other longtime late-night hosts, alleging these figures were nothing more than puppets for the Democratic Party.
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'This is so damning,' Morgan wrote alongside a cover of New York Post that outlined the political leanings of Colbert's guests, which skewed toward the left. 'Most of America's biggest late-night hosts have become nothing more than hyper-partisan activist hacks for the Democrats — a party that's rarely been more unpopular. No wonder Colbert got canned. More will follow.'
Morgan, who has alternately supported and critiqued president Donald Trump and does not consider himself right-wing, continued his commentary in several other tweets, beginning with an endorsement of Jay Leno's recent comments questioning why late-night hosts would 'alienate' half their audience by 'cozying too much to one side or the other.'
The host of YouTube's Piers Morgan Uncensored continued in another tweet, this time aimed at fellow U.K.-hailing peer John Oliver: 'UPDATE: Just watched a drooling @60Minutes segment tonight about John Oliver who was proud of telling his viewers not to vote for Trump at last election. He told them to vote for Kamala Harris instead. That's not comedy, it's partisan political activism.'
And, when responding to a tweet by political commentator and MSNBC contributor Brian Tyler Cohen, Morgan stated, 'Trump didn't cancel Colbert… he cancelled himself with poor ratings, huge costs, and boring viewers with anti-Trump bias.'
Just a couple days after Stephen Colbert ripped into parent company Paramount's $16 million settlement with president Donald Trump on the air — a move he likened to a 'big fat bribe' aimed to grease the Federal Trade Commission's approval of a year-long pending merger between Paramount Global and David Ellison's Skydance Media — he revealed to audiences that CBS would be axing The Late Show, the franchise first begun by host David Letterman in 1993. Executives defended the cancellation, calling it 'purely a financial decision against a challenging backdrop in late night' that 'is not related in any way to the show's performance, content or other matters happening at Paramount.'
Since Colbert made the shocking revelation public July 17, Trump has vocally celebrated the show's retiring, as a majority of the show's writers represented by the Writers Guild of America have called on New York State Attorney General Letitia James to launch an investigation into 'potential wrongdoing' at Paramount. This comes as a number of Senate Democrats, like Adam Schiff and Elizabeth Warren, made statements defending constituents' right to know if the series was canceled due to political reasons.
In additional fallout, protesters gathered outside the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City where Colbert tapes to push back against the decision. As for Colbert himself, he has made it clear that he will not go gentle into that good night, telling Trump to 'go f— himself.'
He added in the July 21 episode of his show, 'But [CBS] made one mistake. They left me alive. Now for the next 10 months, the gloves are off. I can finally speak unvarnished truth to power and say what I really think about Donald Trump. I don't care for him. Doesn't have the skillset to be president.'
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Abandoned Baby Was Initially Mistaken for a Doll. Then the Man Who Found Him Was Asked to Adopt: ‘One Surprise After Another'
Abandoned Baby Was Initially Mistaken for a Doll. Then the Man Who Found Him Was Asked to Adopt: ‘One Surprise After Another'

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Abandoned Baby Was Initially Mistaken for a Doll. Then the Man Who Found Him Was Asked to Adopt: ‘One Surprise After Another'

"We were in no position to start a family or have a baby enter our lives at all, nor were we thinking about it," says Pete Mercurio — then fate intervenedNEED TO KNOW In 2000, social worker Danny Stewart made headlines when he found an abandoned infant at a New York City subway station Stewart and his then-boyfriend, Pete Mercurio, became the boy's foster parents and eventually adopted him A new animated short film, 18 Months, tells a dramatized version of their storyThere's no wrong way to build a family. That's the message Danny Stewart and his husband, Pete Mercurio, are hoping to spread with a new film 18 Months, inspired by the couple's true story of unexpectedly becoming parents after Stewart found an abandoned baby in a New York City subway station 25 years ago. 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'We were in no position to start a family or have a baby enter our lives at all, nor were we thinking about it.' But that night, Stewart saw a box with what looked like a doll in it on the 14th Street subway platform — and was shocked when he looked closer and saw movement. He quickly notified authorities and the infant was swept away. Stewart was celebrated as a hero — and interviewed by the likes of CNN and the BBC — before interest in the story initially subsided. That, thought Stewart, now 59, was that. A shiny moment in the news and then back to his regular life. Then things took a wild turn when Stewart was asked to provide testimony at a hearing to sever the baby boy's biological parental rights so that the child, then called "Daniel Ace Doe," could be placed in a foster home. (The birth parents never came forward; a DNA test many years later revealed he was Pacific Islander.) Little baby Doe seemed destined for a life in the foster care system and perhaps adoption down the line until a judge stepped in. At a certain point during the hearing, the judge asked Stewart to stay until the end of the proceedings. That's when she asked an unexpected question: Would he be interested in adopting the baby? He stammered out a yes. It was, says Mercurio, 'The question that changed our lives forever.' The judge got the couple into a short-lived pilot program that allowed them to quickly become foster parents and eventually adopt the boy, whom they named Kevin Stewart-Mercurio. While it was initially a challenge for Mercurio and Stewart, they quickly adapted: Their roommate moved out, and Kevin moved in. A same-sex couple raising a child of a different race, they were generally accepted and supported by their New York City community, they say — though Mercurio admits he was waiting for some sort of pushback or challenge to their adoption during what became a two-year process. 'They're going to see two men on the forms and we're going to get delayed,' Mercurio says of his fears back then. 'None of that happened because the judge was so in charge of everything and wanted this to happen.' Never miss a story — sign up for to stay up-to-date on the best of what PEOPLE has to offer​​, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories. Kevin proved to be a motivated and talented boy who excelled academically and socially. The family was open about his origin story, and they shared it with his classmates. 'We wanted to be honest with him,' Stewart says. 'It was always about love and being found.' Mercurio put together a short picture book when Kevin was about 5 as a way to tell the story of how their family came to be, and the dads would read it to Kevin every night. 'Is this about me?' he asked one night. When Mercurio told him it was, Kevin wanted him to read it again. The next time it was his turn at show-and-tell, he brought the book and shared it with his classmates. 'He owned the story after that, which was really comforting for us that it wasn't a traumatic thing for him,' Mercurio says. He says the couple only encountered one piece of hate mail about them being gay and questioning how they could become a real family. But he knows this sort of discrimination has dogged other gay couples. Naturally, as Kevin grew older, he began to ask questions about his background. 'I think in his middle years, just past elementary school as he was entering his teen years, where he seemed to be like 'Who am I?' 'What is my identity?' ' Mercurio says. Their family was also not as well-off as some others in their neighborhood. 'I just got emotional because I remember feeling at the time that if Kevin had been adopted by one of these families, he could have had all that,' Mercurio says. 'But I don't feel that way now.' Stewart says he believes his son struggled a bit with a sense of being alone. 'I think it came to a head in college when he said there were differences not only racially, but also financially and class-wise,' Stewart says. 'As a parent, I wished we could have prepared him for the racial discrimination he felt when he went off to college.' Kevin would tell them how sometimes when he sat down on the bus, people wouldn't sit next to him. Or when he went to school in Philadelphia and would take the train home to New York City — if he was late, he avoided running to the train while wearing his hoodie and carrying his backpack. 'That was just heartbreaking stuff we did not prepare him for,' Mercurio says. 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Trump's Fed Pick Could Face Resistance From Colleagues on Rates
Trump's Fed Pick Could Face Resistance From Colleagues on Rates

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Trump's Fed Pick Could Face Resistance From Colleagues on Rates

(Bloomberg) — President Donald Trump's relentless calls for dramatic reductions in interest rates, along with his ability to make changes to the Federal Reserve's leadership, is drawing more attention to the way monetary policy decisions are made — and the people who make them. PATH Train Service Resumes After Fire at Jersey City Station Mayor Asked to Explain $1.4 Billion of Wasted Johannesburg Funds Chicago Curbs Hiring, Travel to Tackle $1 Billion Budget Hole Seeking Relief From Heat and Smog, Cities Follow the Wind A close look at that group — barring additional surprise departures from the Fed — suggests the president probably won't get the outsize rate cuts he wants in 2026. Fed Governor Adriana Kugler announced last week she'll resign on Aug. 8, five months before her term was set to run out. Trump said he expects to name a replacement in the coming days. 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He said last week he would go into the September policy meeting with 'very much an open mind' about lowering rates, and described the labor market as 'still solid' after gradually cooling over the past year. Hammack, who voted against a rate cut in December, only her third meeting as a policymaker, has shown cautiousness over inflation and a willingness to publicly disagree with her colleagues. She said Friday that while the jobs report was 'disappointing,' she still had confidence in the Fed's decision to keep rates steady last week and believes officials are further from their inflation goal than their employment target. Logan took the helm at the Dallas Fed in 2022 after more than two decades on the markets desk at the New York Fed, where she oversaw management of the Fed's balance sheet. She said in July that officials should hold rates steady for a while longer to bring inflation closer to the 2% target. Kashkari, who previously worked for the Treasury Department under George W. Bush and Barack Obama, oversaw the Troubled Asset Relief Program (TARP) during the financial crisis. He said last week that the Fed is committed to making decisions based on the best data. Paulson, who started in the role in July and will be voting as a policymaker for the first time next year, was previously the director of research at the Chicago Fed, where she worked since 2001. Her career as an economist will make her more prone to taking an analytical approach to policy decisions, said Mester. 'All four of the voters coming in are particularly attuned to financial markets and would be particularly sensitive to any indication that the Fed's credibility is at risk,' said Julia Coronado, founder of the research firm MacroPolicy Perspectives and a former Fed economist. Potential Divisions Projections released in June showed 10 officials predicted at least two cuts in 2025. Those in favor of lowering rates this fall could grow after the July jobs report revealed a weaker labor market than previously thought. Additional deterioration could swing the committee in favor of more cuts. But if the new chair is unable to achieve consensus, it could lead to votes even more deeply split – a dynamic that hasn't been seen in decades. That could raise doubts in financial markets about the central bank's direction and its ability to manage inflation, potentially leading to higher long-term interest rates, said Mester. Waller has also nodded to those financial risks. If the next chair lacks credibility with markets, 'you're going to see inflation expectations spike,' Waller said in a July interview with Bloomberg TV. 'You will not get lower interest rates. You will get higher interest rates.' 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Smithfield's 'We Speak Pork' Campaign Features Pork So Good It Speaks for Itself
Smithfield's 'We Speak Pork' Campaign Features Pork So Good It Speaks for Itself

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time25 minutes ago

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Smithfield's 'We Speak Pork' Campaign Features Pork So Good It Speaks for Itself

Creative platform designed to drive awareness among Gen Z and Millennials, expand Smithfield's leadership in packaged meats segment Smithfield - We Speak Pork Smithfield - We Speak Pork Smithfield - We Speak Pork Smithfield - We Speak Pork SMITHFIELD, Va., Aug. 05, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Smithfield® has launched a new national advertising campaign, 'We Speak Pork,' showcasing pork so good it speaks for itself. The video campaign features Emmy Award-winning writer, actor and comedian Ben Schwartz as the voice of Smithfield's portfolio of products, including bacon, Prime Fresh lunch meat, smoked hams and pre-marinated pork tenderloins. Schwartz's credits include NBC's 'Parks and Recreation,' 'House of Lies,' the 'Sonic the Hedgehog' movie series, 'The Afterparty,' and the 'Ben Schwartz and Friends Tour,' which sold out Radio City Music Hall and the Sydney Opera House. 'This new creative campaign is an extension of Smithfield Foods' continuing strategy to grow our leadership position in the value-added packaged meats segment,' said Steve France, president of packaged meats for Smithfield Foods. 'We Speak Pork puts our delicious Smithfield products front and center – in their own voice – to remind consumers of the unmatched flavor and quality of Smithfield's expertly crafted pork products. It's an entertaining way to appeal to new audiences and let them see the fun side of the Smithfield brand.' 'I am proud to finally answer the question that has tormented mankind for years: "If Smithfield pork could talk, what would it sound like?" The answer is me. And in a way, I feel like we always knew. I am excited to work with Smithfield and begin my pork product journey as the voice of their "We Speak Pork" campaign,' said Schwartz. Designed to drive awareness among Gen Zs and Millennials, the campaign provides a relevant and authentic voice for the Smithfield brand to drive curiosity and consideration. The creative platform grabs attention with bold product visuals to showcase the versatility and convenience of Smithfield's products, which allow consumers to explore bold flavors for everyday use. Smithfield holds the #1 market position in uncooked bacon and smoked ham in the U.S., and top-ten positions in uncooked breakfast sausage and packaged lunch meat nationwide. The new 'We Speak Pork' ads, directed by David Ma and created by The Escape Pod Chicago, are now on digital channels including streaming platforms, and are also available on the Smithfield brand's YouTube channel. To see the complete line of Smithfield products, recipes, inspiration tips and more, please visit The Smithfield brand leads Smithfield Foods' portfolio of iconic brands including Eckrich, Farmland and Nathan's Famous, among many others. Smithfield Foods' brands hold the #2 overall U.S. market position for branded packaged meats, with top-three share in 15 of the 25 packaged meats categories in which they compete. About SmithfieldSmithfield® isn't only a leading provider of high-quality pork products. We're also a leading provider of the most important part of any meal: premium, high-quality meat. And we take our meat duties seriously. After all, the rest of the meal is just a side dish. Smithfield products were first introduced in 1936 in Smithfield, Virginia, by people who lived for the love of meat. Today, the Smithfield brand stands for craftsmanship, authenticity and pure passion as we continue to give meat lovers across the country the deliciousness they crave: our classic bacon, slow-smoked holiday hams, hand-trimmed ribs, marinated fresh pork, smoked meats, and even more meaty magic. All Smithfield products not only meet our customers' high flavor standards but also meet the highest quality and safety standards in the industry. All while being produced right here in the USA. To learn more about the Smithfield portfolio of products, please visit and connect with us on Facebook, Instagram, YouTube and X (formally known as Twitter). Smithfield® is a brand of Smithfield Foods, Inc. About Ben SchwartzBen Schwartz is an Emmy Award-winning writer, actor and comedian. His credits include NBC's 'Parks and Recreation,' 'House of Lies,' the 'Sonic the Hedgehog' movie series, 'The Afterparty,' and the 'Ben Schwartz and Friends Tour,' which sold out Radio City Music Hall and the Sydney Opera House. Find out more about Ben at About Smithfield Foods Smithfield Foods (Nasdaq: SFD) is an American food company with a leading position in packaged meats and fresh pork products. With a diverse brand portfolio and strong relationships with U.S. farmers and customers, we responsibly meet demand for quality protein around the world. Contact:Ray AtkinsonSmithfield Foods, Inc.(757) 576-1383ratkinson@ Photos accompanying this announcement are available at: A video accompanying this announcement is available at

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