Sen. Elizabeth Warren; Paul W. Downs Getty Images Share on Facebook Share on X Share to Flipboard Send an Email Show additional share options Share on LinkedIn Share on Pinterest Share on Reddit Share on Tumblr Share on Whats App Print the Article Post a Comment Senator Elizabeth Warren and Hacks creator Paul W. Downs have some thoughts about the decision to cancel Stephen Colbert's Late Show, about censorship, and the role comedy plays in a healthy democratic society. Warren posted a video Tuesday to her YouTube channel, FaceTiming into the Hacks writers room as Downs and his team brainstorm season five of the HBO Max comedy series, which takes a satirical look at Hollywood (and late night in particular), as well as topics that touch the third rail of politics, like "cancel culture" and climate change. Related Stories TV 'The Gilded Age' Director Salli Richardson-Whitfield on Key Character's Fate Going Into Finale: "No One Saw That Coming" TV How to Stream Marc Maron's New Comedy Special Online Season four saw Deborah Vance's (Jean Smart) late night dreams end in dramatic fashion, and Warren connects the dots to CBS' shock decision to cancel the Late Show: "I've now finished season four, so I have since figured out that you all are in the prediction business and very, very good at it," Warren quips to Downs. "What are we going to do about this business of censorship, not just of the hard news...but people who tell jokes?" "I think that's one of the most tragic things about the cancellation of the Stephen Colbert show is that he was one of the hosts that was actually speaking truth to power, and talking about some of the absurdity that's happening in Washington, and making it accessible for people from both sides to understand what's happening," Downs tells Warren. "It's just really shocking to me that an American institution like this, which built the wealth of CBS, could be canceled." Warren adds that while she understands that the economics of late night are changing, and that these shows need to make money, she finds it hard to overlook the politics of the moment. "In the Stephen Colbert case, this is the President of the United States, at least it appears, holding back favors and making threats that then cause these giant corporations to censor their own people, and once we've headed down that path, we no longer have an independent media," Warren said. "It's really scary, and you know, in our show, that's exactly why Deborah stepped down, because she believed in a business that was better than being censored, and she wouldn't roll over for this huge tech company in her corporate overlord," Downs added. "So it is really scary when those outlets are taken away. It's really terrifying. It feels like the most brazen example of what's going on in the country, because there's no way to really spin it." And could Warren herself make an appearance in an upcoming episode of the show? "If you need somebody for a cameo, I bring my own jackets," Warren quips. "Be careful what you wish for, because that would be huge," Downs replies. Watch the video, below. THR Newsletters Sign up for THR news straight to your inbox every day Subscribe Sign Up THR, Esq Sean "Diddy" Combs Denied Release From Jail Until Sentencing Sports Trump Takes on L.A. Olympics: Will Lead Task Force on 2028 Games (Exclusive) Rose McGowan Rose McGowan Found Happiness "Talking to Trees" in Mexico and Has Emerged With New Creative Fire Obituaries Jane Morgan, "Fascination" Singer and 'Ed Sullivan Show' Staple, Dies at 101 General News Next Gen 2025: The Hollywood Reporter Accepting Nominations for 35 Under 35 List soulja boy Soulja Boy Arrested on Suspicion of Weapons Charge During Traffic Stop in L.A. THR, Esq Sean "Diddy" Combs Denied Release From Jail Until Sentencing Sports Trump Takes on L.A. Olympics: Will Lead Task Force on 2028 Games (Exclusive) Rose McGowan Rose McGowan Found Happiness "Talking to Trees" in Mexico and Has Emerged With New Creative Fire Obituaries Jane Morgan, "Fascination" Singer and 'Ed Sullivan Show' Staple, Dies at 101 General News Next Gen 2025: The Hollywood Reporter Accepting Nominations for 35 Under 35 List soulja boy Soulja Boy Arrested on Suspicion of Weapons Charge During Traffic Stop in L.A.