In a rare display of unity that transcended their usual on-air banter, late-night hosts Jimmy Kimmel, Stephen Colbert, and Seth Meyers jointly pledged $1 million to support independent journalism on December 24, 2025 – the same day Congress finalized deep cuts to federal funding for NPR and PBS as part of a broader spending bill.

The pledge, announced quietly through a joint statement released via their production companies rather than on their shows, was directed toward organizations like ProPublica, The Marshall Project, and local investigative outlets. “Independent journalism is the backbone of democracy,” the statement read. “When public funding is threatened, it’s our responsibility to step up – not with jokes, but with action.”

No cameras captured the moment. No monologues joked about it. No studio audiences applauded. The hosts – often rivals in ratings but aligned in their criticism of media consolidation and political pressures – chose silence on air, letting the donation speak for itself.

Insiders describe the move as months in the making. Sources close to the trio say private discussions began in mid-2025, accelerated by the cancellations of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert and After Midnight, Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension following controversial comments, and broader concerns over shrinking newsrooms. “This wasn’t impulsive,” one producer told Deadline anonymously. “They’ve been coordinating with journalism nonprofits for a while. The NPR cuts were the trigger, not the cause.”

The funding cuts stemmed from a Republican-led bill slashing Corporation for Public Broadcasting allocations by 40%, citing “bias” in reporting – a long-standing grievance amplified under the Trump administration. NPR, already facing advertiser pullbacks and internal turmoil, warned of station closures and layoffs affecting rural communities.

In Washington, the pledge drew mixed reactions. Progressive lawmakers praised it as “vital private support for public good,” while some conservatives dismissed it as “Hollywood elites propping up liberal media.” FCC Commissioner Brendan Carr, who previously targeted Kimmel, called it “admirable but irrelevant” to systemic issues.

Media circles are abuzz with speculation. Is this the start of a larger coalition? Rumors swirl of additional pledges from figures like Jon Stewart, John Oliver, and even streaming personalities. One executive noted: “Late-night hosts have influence beyond ratings now. This could redefine how entertainment supports journalism in a fragmented era.”

For Kimmel, Colbert, and Meyers – all navigating career transitions amid 2025’s late-night upheaval – the donation marks a shift from satire to substance. Colbert, whose show ends in May 2026, has increasingly focused on advocacy. Kimmel, back on air after suspension, has championed health care and gun reform. Meyers has spotlighted local reporting.

As 2025 closes, the $1 million pledge stands as a quiet counterpoint to a noisy year in media. No punchlines needed – the message is clear: when institutions falter, individuals can still hold the line.

If this is only the first step, independent journalism may have found unexpected allies in Hollywood’s sharpest voices.