A candid podcast conversation has put actor Vince Vaughn back in the spotlight â this time for his sharp criticism of modern late-night television.
According to Page Six, while speaking on This Past Weekend with host Theo Von, Vaughn argued that many talk shows have drifted away from entertainment and into political messaging, a shift he believes audiences have rejected.
âThey never get it right,â the âWedding Crashersâ actor said. âI think that talk shows, to a large part, became really agenda-based.â
Vaughn, 55, suggested the change has made the genre feel less genuine over time.
âThey were going to people to what they thought. You know what I mean? And so people just rejected it because it didnât feel authentic. It felt like they had an agenda,â he continued.
The actor pointed to what he sees as a decline in humor as political commentary became more prominent.
âIt started feeling like I was fâking in a class I didnât want to take,â he added. âIâm getting scolded.â
While Vaughn didnât specifically name individuals, his remarks appeared to allude to high-profile hosts such as Jimmy Kimmel and Stephen Colbert, both known for their outspoken criticism of President Donald Trump.
Vaughn has notably not appeared on Jimmy Kimmel Live! since 2015 and has never been a guest on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, which is set to end in May.
The discussion began when Von suggested late-night shows have struggled because they tend to focus their humor on a narrow group.
Vaughn agreed, arguing that audiences have instead gravitated toward podcasts, where conversations often feel less filtered.
âIf you look at what happened to the talk shows and why their ratings are low, itâs got only to do with the fact of what you just said, which is they all became the same show,â Vaughn said.
âAnd they all became so about their Politics and whoâs good and whoâs bad,â he continued.
He added a blunt analogy to describe the experience.
âAnd itâs like, imagine sitting next to someone like that on a fâking plane. Youâd be like, bro, how do I get out of this fâking seat?â
Beyond entertainment, Vaughn also touched on his own place in the industry. He has previously identified as a Libertarian and has maintained a friendly relationship with President Donald Trump.
When asked whether he has felt excluded in Hollywood due to his views, Vaughn acknowledged the tension.
âI always got along with people and try to be honest about who I am,â he said. âBut yeah, thereâs times you felt like it wouldâve been easier. Itâs almost like a career move.â
Still, Vaughn emphasized that his views donât align neatly with one side.
âThereâs sât I donât agree with at all, and then thereâs sât I donât agree with at all,â he said, adding that ânobody wants to be told what to do.â