Regular viewers of the “Colbert Report” during the 2012 election cycle were better educated about the campaign finance law following a landmark U.S. Supreme Court ruling known as Citizens United than the viewers of more traditional news outlets, according to study done by researchers at Annenberg Public Policy Center of the University of Pennsylvania and the Pew Research Center. The study, titled "Stephen Colbert's Civics Lesson," was part of larger research the Annenberg Public Policy Center is undertaking in examining the media’s ability to educate the public.

“What we weren’t kind of expecting was the fact that 'The Colbert Report’ would outperform other news sources in teaching citizens about these groups,” says Annenberg senior researcher and the study’s lead author Bruce Hardy, referring to the campaign finance organizations known as super PACs and 501(c)(4)s that are playing an increasing role in the electoral process