PBS recently made the decision to pull the plug on “Citizen Koch,” a documentary about money and politics that paints a less than flattering picture of the conservative billionaire Koch brothers. As The New Yorker’s Jane Mayer reported, the decision was made in order to appease mega-donor David Koch–who has contributed some $23 million to public television–after the politically active industrialist was offended by another PBS documentary that was highly critical of him.

That hasn’t sat too well with many, including Comedy Central host Stephen Colbert. On “The Colbert Report” on Wednesday night, the political satirist criticized PBS for killing the documentary. Noting that government contributions constitute only 12 percent of PBS’ funds, Colbert explained that public television is now “more and more dependent on viewers nothing like you.”

“I guess for a donation of $75 you get the PBS tote bag,” he said. “And for $23 million, you get PBS’ nut sack.”

— Posted by Tracy Bloom.

 TRUTHDIG’S JOURNALISM REMAINS CLEAR

The storytellers of chaos tried to manipulate the political and media narrative in 2025, but independent journalism exposed what they tried to hide. When you read Truthdig, you see through the illusion.

Support Independent Journalism.

SUPPORT TRUTHDIG
In this Article:
#colbert report#david koch#koch industries#pbs#politics#stephen colbert#video