In a recent episode of “The Late Show with Stephen Colbert,” host Stephen Colbert did not disappoint with his witty and humorous take on current events. Returning from a week off, Colbert wasted no time diving into the whirlwind of controversial actions by President Donald Trump.
Throughout the monologue, Colbert highlighted Trump’s various actions, each seemingly more concerning than the last. Colbert jokingly remarked that it was difficult to determine which action by the president was the most criminal or catastrophic. Playing with metaphors, Colbert compared the current state of affairs to frogs in boiling water, emphasizing that everyone is trapped in the pot, no matter their political affiliation.
One particularly alarming statement made by Trump caught Colbert’s attention. In a tweet, Trump claimed that he can break any law he wants without consequence. Colbert took this as a tyrannical declaration of power and a disregard for the American legal system.
Colbert cleverly pointed out that the quote Trump used in his tweet, “He who saves his country does not violate any law,” was actually a fake quote commonly misattributed to Napoleon Bonaparte. Colbert expressed his concern that Trump was openly announcing his intention to break the law to accomplish his goals.
Moving on to another topic, Colbert playfully mocked Trump’s attempt to rename the Gulf of Mexico as the “Gulf of America.” Colbert pointed out that despite Trump’s proclamation, the Associated Press and other outlets continued to refer to the body of water by its traditional name. As a response to the AP’s refusal to use Trump’s new name, they were banned from the Oval Office and Air Force One indefinitely.
Colbert further lightened the mood by addressing the importance of the Oxford comma and chastising the AP for not using it in their style guide. He humorously highlighted the potential confusion that arises when the comma is omitted, using a hypothetical party invitation with names that could be interpreted as both individual or coupled.
Surprisingly, MapQuest emerged as a hero in this chaotic landscape. Despite other online outlets succumbing to the pressure to conform to Trump’s renaming, MapQuest continued to list the body of water as the Gulf of Mexico. Colbert cheekily celebrated MapQuest’s rebellious act, jokingly urging his viewers to embrace printed directions and relive the ’90s.
Colbert went on to address the Senate’s confirmation of Robert Kennedy Jr. as Health and Human Services secretary, jokingly congratulating him on bringing back polio and smallpox. He criticized Kennedy’s past statements linking antidepressants to school shootings and accused him of promoting baseless conspiracy theories.
In a final twist, Colbert revealed that Trump appointed himself as chairman of the Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts. This move allowed him to dictate future programming and replace members of the board with his political allies and donors. Some artists, disapproving of Trump’s involvement, cut ties with the Kennedy Center and canceled shows.
Despite the challenges of navigating these tumultuous times, Colbert encouraged his audience to hold onto hope and find solace in the truth and beauty of the arts. With his signature blend of satire and wit, Colbert once again delivered an entertaining and thought-provoking monologue on “The Late Show.”
