Overview
- The Before Columbus Foundation announced on Wednesday, July 29, 2026, that Colbert is one of the recipients of its 47th annual American Book Awards and will be given an anti-censorship prize.
- CBS ended The Late Show in May after an 11-year run, citing economic reasons, and Colbert and others have publicly questioned whether that explanation fully accounts for the cancellation.
- Colbert shares the anti-censorship award with independent bookseller Mitchell Kaplan of Books & Books, highlighting ties between media figures and defenders of open expression in publishing.
- The foundation, set up by Ishmael Reed, honored a broad slate of writers this year including a lifetime award for Karen Tei Yamashita and recognitions for works by Nicholas Boggs and John Fugelsang.
- The prize boosts Colbert’s public profile as he heads into the fall season with Emmy nominations for The Late Show and scheduled appearances, and it sharpens public attention on how commercial and political pressures shape mainstream media.