In a recent episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert addressed the escalating conflict between Israel and Hamas. However, he also highlighted the spread of misinformation about the issue on Twitter. Thanks to Elon Musk’s decision to get rid of Twitter’s verification system, false claims started to circulate, including rumors that Benjamin Netanyahu was hospitalized and video game footage being passed off as footage of a Hamas attack.
As Colbert delved into the topic, he couldn’t help but add a touch of humor. He jokingly questioned the authenticity of every picture of soccer star Cristiano Ronaldo, remarking that he’s pretty sure every picture of Ronaldo is fake because “no one has those abs.” The host then shifted gears and discussed the ongoing search for a new Speaker of the House, as Republicans seem to be no closer to finding a consensus. He humorously compared the closed-door meeting of roughly 150 GOP lawmakers to a therapy session, quipping that he would hate to be the therapist for the House Republicans.
Colbert continued to ridicule the situation by playfully blaming the lawmakers for their parents’ divorce, suggesting that their behavior as children was the reason their parents weren’t happy. Despite the lack of progress, two declared candidates, Ohio representative Jim Jordan and Louisiana representative Steve Scalise, are in contention for the position, giving current House Speaker Kevin McCarthy some competition.
In a surprising announcement, vaccine conspiracy theorist Robert F. Kennedy Jr. revealed that he is ditching the Democratic primary to run for president as an independent in 2024. However, his decision didn’t sit well with four of his siblings, who issued a statement denouncing his candidacy and deeming it dangerous. Colbert humorously insinuated that RFK Jr.’s family dissociating themselves from his campaign is the ultimate rejection.
The host then shifted the focus to former President Donald Trump, who was campaigning in New Hampshire. Trump took shots at his likely opponent in 2024, Joe Biden, and even brought up his “boss,” Barack Hussein Obama, using his full name multiple times. Colbert hilariously pointed out that Trump bringing up Obama’s full name in 2023 is like using a 2007 dog whistle.
Trump also complained about being removed from the Forbes 400 list of richest Americans, claiming that Forbes knows less about him than Stormy Daniels. Colbert cheekily mentioned the infamous incident where Daniels spanked Trump with a Forbes Magazine, adding a touch of scandal to the mix.
The article concludes by mentioning Trump’s ongoing New York fraud trial, where his defense team is reportedly focusing on generating publicity rather than winning on merit. The defense hopes to anger the judge, discredit witnesses, and turn the trial into a media circus. Colbert cleverly likens this strategy to the infamous Fyre Festival.
In another amusing segment, Colbert highlights a library’s mistake. They had flagged a book as potentially explicit because the author’s last name is “Gay,” leading to accidental discrimination. Colbert quips that if authors want their books in Alabama libraries, they should consider adopting hetero pen names.
Overall, this episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert provided both entertainment and a lighthearted take on current events, showcasing Colbert’s talent for infusing humor into serious topics. From mocking Twitter misinformation to satirizing political affairs, Colbert’s comedic style shined brightly throughout the episode.
