A new NBC News poll measuring public sentiment toward a mix of political figures, institutions, and cultural touchstones finds Stephen Colbert ranking near the very top of the list—second only to Pope Leo XIV in net favorability.
The survey of 1,000 registered voters, conducted February 27–March 3, 2026, asked participants to rate their feelings toward a series of figures and entities as very positive, somewhat positive, neutral, somewhat negative, or very negative. Colbert earned 35% positive ratings and 25% negative ratings, giving the host of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert a +10 net favorability score.
That placed him behind only Pope Leo, who posted a +34 net rating—and made the two men the only names in the survey to receive a net positive favorability score.
Everyone else tested landed in negative territory. Among those trailing the late-night host were Marco Rubio (-7), J.D. Vance (-11), Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (-11), and Donald Trump (-12). Both major parties also posted negative ratings, with the Republican Party at -14 and the Democratic Party at -22.
1,000 registered voters rated each item as very/somewhat positive, neutral, or very/somewhat negative. Sorted by net favorability (positive minus negative).
Colbert’s inclusion in the poll is notable in itself. While the survey largely focused on political leaders, institutions, and public policy topics—including immigration enforcement, artificial intelligence, and sanctuary cities—the late-night host was the lone entertainment figure included among them, underscoring the degree to which Colbert has become a part of the political conversation.
Since taking over The Late Show in 2015, the former Colbert Report star has positioned his nightly monologue as pointed commentary on Washington and the news cycle—frequently targeting figures like Trump and Vance in the process. He’s scheduled to end his run on CBS May 21.
The NBC News survey suggests that while American voters remain deeply polarized about most political figures and institutions, Colbert himself continues to register as a comparatively positive presence across the broader electorate.
