When Stephen Colbert claimed that CNN was an "objective" news source on his evening show, the largely liberal New York audience cracked up, even though the host did not mean to make it a joke as he was speaking to CNN pundit Kaitlan Collins.  

Collins claimed that Donald Trump has not settled on an "attack line" against Harris due to the VP's age, race, and gender. "[Trump] really has struggled with how to go after someone who's 20 years younger than him, who is a different gender, a different race. It's kind of been this moment where he has not been able to coalesce around a single attack line.” 

Colbert replied, "I know you guys are objective over there; that you just report the news as it is." 

After the line, the audience roared with laughter to the dismay of Collins, who then asked Colbert, "Was that supposed to be a laugh line?" Colbert admitted that it wasn't supposed to be a joke, but then said, "I guess it is."

Many reacted to the clip from the Colbert Report, saying that even liberal viewers knew of the outlet's bias. Turning Point USA founder and CEO Charlie Kirk posted it and commented, "Even liberals know CNN is functionally a Democrat super PAC." 

Elon Musk also reacted to the clip, writing in a post, "Lmaooo, the public knows." 

Senior Senate staffer Rachel Bovard also commented on the clip, “lol not even lefties think CNN is objective, which is pretty dang funny.”