In a recent episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert delves into the latest developments in the ongoing legal battles surrounding former President Donald Trump. Trump was back in the Manhattan courtroom for the second defamation trial brought against him by E. Jean Carroll. Last May, a jury found that Trump sexually assaulted Carroll and then defamed her by lying about it. Colbert humorously refers to this as a crime known in Republican circles as presumptive nominee.
During the trial, Trump briefly testified, but it did not go as planned. The judge had set strict guidelines, allowing Trump’s attorney, Alina Habba, to ask only yes or no questions. However, Trump failed to answer with just yes or no, prompting the judge to intervene and instruct the jury to disregard everything after the initial “no.” Colbert quips that it’s fitting, considering the whole trial stems from Trump disregarding everything after his infamous “no” response to Carroll’s allegations.
The trial faced delays when a juror fell ill, and Habba also claimed to have a fever due to exposure to COVID-19. Colbert humorously suggests that Trump could have cured her instantly with a dose of horse paste and a shot of bleach, referencing Trump’s controversial comments during the early days of the pandemic. Surprisingly, Habba recovered quickly and was even photographed at a Trump Victory party in New Hampshire, leading to speculation about the severity of her illness.
Colbert turns his attention to Trump’s former economic adviser, Peter Navarro, who was recently sentenced to four months in prison for criminal contempt of Congress. Navarro was one of the architects of the false election scheme to steal the presidency from Joe Biden. Colbert playfully advises Navarro to go up to the biggest guy in prison and say, “Hello, Mr. President.”
In a lighter moment, Colbert highlights Trump’s choice of pre-show music during his recent rallies. To warm up the crowd, Trump has been playing British indie rock band The Smiths. Colbert jokes that nothing gets the crowd riled up like a plaintive acoustic ballad, wondering if Trump would ever use their music to pump up a football team.
Shifting gears to Biden, Colbert shares the good news that the United Auto Workers (UAW) endorsed him for the presidency. With the UAW’s endorsement alongside other transportation-related unions, Biden now has the support of “Planes, Trains, and Automobiles.”
Colbert also discusses the positive state of the economy under Biden’s leadership. He cites the growing Dow Jones Industrial Average, rising wages, and unemployment below 4% for 23 consecutive months. The Commerce Department recently announced that the economy grew at a 3.3% rate in the last quarter. Colbert humorously simplifies the significance of economic growth, stating that “number go up equal good.”
Despite these positive economic indicators, Colbert acknowledges that some people still feel a sense of unease, dubbing it the “vibe session.” To counter this, Colbert offers his own remedy – his “Bongo Sonic output” to brighten the nation’s economic outlook and bring us out of the vibe session.
As the episode concludes, Colbert teasingly announces his guest for the evening, leaving viewers eagerly anticipating the rest of the show.
Overall, Stephen Colbert livens up the discussion surrounding Trump’s legal battles, Biden’s endorsements, and the state of the economy in an entertaining and engaging manner.
