In a recent episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert wasted no time in diving into the latest news. The talk show host started off by discussing the shocking indictment of New York City Mayor Eric Adams on federal criminal charges. The timing of the charges, just days after Adams held the city’s first national antirat summit, raised eyebrows and left Colbert wondering about the suspicious nature of the situation.
The charges against Adams include bribery, fraud, and soliciting illegal foreign campaign donations from the Turkish government. Prosecutors allege that Adams received valuable flight upgrades from Turkish Airlines as part of these illegal dealings. Colbert couldn’t help but joke about the unusual nature of the alleged bribes, imagining a conversation between Adams and a briber where the discussion revolved around flight upgrades.
But Adams’ legal troubles don’t end there. The federal investigation also subpoenaed records related to Adams’ ties with five other countries – Israel, Qatar, China, Uzbekistan, and South Korea. Adams’ team members are also under investigation by the FBI, which comes as no surprise given Adams’ previous remarks about following the law.
While Adams addressed the charges at a press conference, he made headlines for his inability to unlock his seized phone, claiming he had forgotten the password. Adams’ phone seizure and the ongoing investigation continue to cast a shadow over the mayor’s office.
Another prominent figure making headlines is former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani. Giuliani, who served as former President Donald Trump‘s attorney, was recently disbarred in Washington D.C. due to his involvement in Trump’s failed attempts to overturn the 2020 election results. Colbert couldn’t resist poking fun at Giuliani’s situation, joking that while Giuliani may have been disbarred, he can still go to the “dispar.”
Switching gears to politics, Colbert highlighted a new ad released by the Lincoln Project in support of Vice President Kamala Harris. The ad, narrated by actor Sam Elliott, urges Americans to get over any hesitations they may have with a woman president. Colbert couldn’t help but express his surprise and amusement when Elliott dropped a swear word in the ad, noting that it was a powerful statement.
Lastly, Colbert touched on Trump’s recent rally in North Carolina, where the former president boasted about the economy during his administration. However, his counting skills left something to be desired as he claimed to have had the greatest economy four, seven, six, and five years ago. Colbert playfully compared Trump’s counting to a classic math joke about why 10 is afraid of seven.
As always, the Late Show with Stephen Colbert delivered a mix of news, humor, and celebrity guests. In this episode, Colbert tackled the legal troubles of Eric Adams and Rudy Giuliani, highlighted a powerful ad featuring Sam Elliott, and poked fun at Trump’s counting abilities. With his lively hosting and witty commentary, Colbert never fails to entertain viewers of the talk show.
