It’s tax day and Stephen Colbert is here to lighten the mood on “The Late Show.” With his signature humor, Colbert begins by reminding everyone that they have just 20ish minutes to get their taxes in before the deadline. And if you’re an IRS worker, well, you’ve recently been fired – sorry about that.
But it’s not all tax talk tonight. Colbert notes that Major League Baseball is also celebrating Jackie Robinson Day, though thanks to the Trump administration, no one knows why. Every player and coach was wearing Robinson’s number 42, leading Colbert to reference the old Abbott and Costello bit, “Who’s on first?”
But amidst the tax day chaos and historical celebrations, there’s another reason some people are getting upset. According to The Atlantic, the constitutional crisis is already here, and Colbert humorously ponders what he should wear – a jumpsuit perhaps?
One example of this crisis is the case of Kilmar Alrego Garcia, a Maryland dad who was deported to El Salvador despite a judge’s order barring his deportation. It turns out, it was an “administrative error” according to Trump’s own people. Colbert playfully mocks the situation, comparing it to sending the wrong email to just one guy in accounting. It happens, right?
The case made its way to the Supreme Court, where they ruled against the Trump administration and ordered them to facilitate Garcia’s return from El Salvador. However, Trump is defying the Supreme Court’s orders, causing a constitutional crisis. Colbert dryly comments that these are court orders, not mere suggestions. He emphasizes that the Supreme Court has more power than the bathroom sign that says employees must wash their hands, because we all know how Trump ignores that sign.
To make matters worse, the administration is now claiming that they didn’t make an error but intentionally deported Garcia. They argue that he is an MS-13 gang member. Colbert humorously points out that wearing a Chicago Bulls hat seems to be the evidence against him, jokingly stating that it’s the MAGA crowd’s whole deal to judge people based on their hats.
But the implications of this case go beyond just one person. Colbert highlights that Trump has been contemplating the idea of sending American citizens to El Salvador. It’s a concerning power grab that puts us on a dangerous path.
Thankfully, there’s one institution standing up to Trump. Harvard became the first university to refuse to comply with the administration’s demands, which included shutting down diversity and inclusion programming and conducting plagiarism checks on faculty members. Harvard‘s president boldly declared that the university will not surrender its independence or constitutional rights.
In response to their defiance, the Trump administration froze $2.2 billion in Harvard‘s federal funding. However, it’s doubtful that Harvard will be greatly affected, considering its long-standing history and endowment. As Colbert jokingly mentions, Harvard was founded in 1636, offering majors like Latin Grammar, Intro to Leechcraft, and Witchkindling.
As Colbert wraps up, he teases the guests for the evening and promises a humorous celebration of the richest people in the world. With his trademark wit and satirical take on current events, Stephen Colbert keeps his audience entertained while shedding light on the constitutional crisis happening right under our noses.
