Fact check: Is Stephen Colbert starting a new news program with Rachel maddow

1. Summary of the results

Based on the comprehensive analysis of multiple sources, there is no evidence that Stephen Colbert is starting a new news program with Rachel Maddow. Multiple fact-checking sources have explicitly rated this claim as false ^{[1] [2]}. The rumor appears to have circulated online claiming that Rachel Maddow launched her own newsroom with Stephen Colbert and Joy Reid, but investigations found no supporting evidence ^[2].

The available evidence shows that:

• The Late Show with Stephen Colbert will end in May 2026 and has been canceled by CBS ^{[3] [4]}
• Colbert has landed a guest role on the show "Elsbeth" following his late-night show's cancellation ^{[3] [4]}
• Rachel Maddow appeared as a guest on The Late Show on August 19, 2025 ^[5], but this was a standard guest appearance, not an announcement of a joint venture
• Current MSNBC programming shows Rachel Maddow continuing with her existing show format ^{[6] [7] [8]}

2. Missing context/alternative viewpoints

The original question lacks important context about the current status of both hosts' careers:

• Stephen Colbert's career transition: The question doesn't acknowledge that Colbert's Late Show is ending in May 2026, which would be relevant timing for any potential new ventures ^{[3] [4]}
• Rachel Maddow's established platform: The question doesn't consider that Maddow already has an established news program on MSNBC and continues to produce content regularly ^{[6] [7] [8]}
• Guest appearance context: The fact that Maddow recently appeared on Colbert's show ^[5] might have contributed to speculation, but this was a standard promotional appearance rather than a business announcement

3. Potential misinformation/bias in the original statement

While the original statement is phrased as a question rather than a definitive claim, it amplifies unsubstantiated rumors that have been circulating online. The analyses reveal that:

• False rumors have been actively spreading about collaborations between these hosts, specifically including Joy Reid as well ^{[2] [9]}
• Fact-checkers have specifically debunked these claims, suggesting they gained enough traction to warrant official verification ^{[1] [2]}
• The question format itself may inadvertently legitimize baseless speculation by treating unverified rumors as worthy of serious consideration

The persistence of these rumors despite clear debunking suggests they may serve certain interests, potentially benefiting social media engagement algorithms that thrive on speculation about popular media personalities, or clickbait content creators who profit from generating discussion around celebrity collaborations.