>> DEMOCRATS ARE CURRENTLY DEBATING WHETHER TO INCLUDE THE
MINIMUM WAGE HIKE IN THE STIMULUS PACKAGE, BUT NOT ALL OF
THEM ARE ON BOARD.
SENATOR JOE MANCHIN SAID HE SUPPORTS A MINIMUM WAGE
INCREASE, BUT NOT AS HIGH AS $15 AN HOUR.
>> MANCHIN SAYS $11 WOULD ALLOW THE PARTY TO COMPROMISE ON ONE
OF THE THORNIEST ISSUES IN THIS DEBATE.
>> JOE MANCHIN, HE'S REALLY PLAYING DEAL MAKER HERE.
>> Announcer: IT'S "A LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT."
TONIGHT: A DOSE OF GOOD NEWS.
PLUS STEPHEN WELCOMES BILLIE EILISH
AND ANNA PALMER AND JAKE SHERMAN
FEATURING JON BATISTE AND STAY HUMAN.
AND NOW, LIVE oN TAPE FROM THE ED SULLIVAN THEATER OFFICE
BUILDING IN NEW YORK CITY, IT'S STEPHEN COLBERT!
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY!
WELCOME TO "A LATE SHOW."
I'M YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT.
I HOPE YOU'RE DOING OKAY.
IT'S GOOD TO SEE YOU.
IT HAS BEEN-- IT'S BEEN A ROUGH YEAR.
HOW ROUGH?
WELL, IN THE LAST 24 HOURS, THE BIGGEST STORIES ALL INVOLVE OLD
MEN CRYING.
IT'S LIKE BEING AT DENNY'S THE DAY THEY DISCONTINUE THE $6.99
SUPER SLAM.
THE FIRST WEEPING SEPTUAGENARIAN: PRESIDENT JOE
BIDEN.
AND IT IS OUR GOOD GRACE THAT HE IS WILLING TO WEEP.
BECAUSE YESTERDAY, THE PRESIDENT
COMMEMORATED THE HEARTBREAKING NUMBER OF AMERICANS WHO HAVE
DIED DURING THE PANDEMIC.
>> TODAY, WE MARK A TRULY GRIM, HEARTBREAKING MILESTONE,
500,071 DEAD.
THAT'S MORE AMERICANS WHO DIED IN ONE YEAR IN THIS PANDEMIC
THAN IN WORLD WAR I, WORLD WAR II, AND THE VIETNAM WAR
COMBINED.
>> Stephen: THAT IS A HORRIFYING AND TRAGIC NUMBER THAT WAS
COMPLETELY AVOIDABLE, THAT WE COULD ALL SEE COMING, AND WAS
CLEARLY THE RESULT OF FAILED LEADERSHIP.
AFTER ALL, THERE WOULD HAVE BEEN WAY MORE CASUALTIES IN WORLD
WAR II IF PATTON'S SPEECH WENT LIKE THIS:
>> NOW, I WANT YOU TO REMEMBER THAT NO BASTARD EVER WON A WAR
BY DYING FOR HIS COUNTRY.
SO DON'T LET THE NAZIS DOMINATE YOUR LIFE.
THEY'LL BE GONE BY THE SPRING.
NOW, TAKE THE ADVICE OF MY FAVORITE PILLOW SALESMAN, AND
EAT YOUR BLEACH.
IT'LL GO THROUGH YOU LIKE CRAP THROUGH A GOOSE.
>> Stephen: IT WAS A DEVASTATING, BUT POWERFUL SPEECH
BECAUSE OF BIDEN'S WILLINGNESS TO SHARE IN OUR NATIONAL GRIEF
BY NAMING HIS PERSONAL EXPERIENCE WITH UNIMAGINABLE
LOSS.
IT'S HARD FOOTAGE TO PLAY ON A COMEDY SHOW LIKE THIS, BUT IT'S
NUTRITIOUS TO THE SOUL TO SEE A PRESIDENT FINALLY FACING OUR
EMOTIONAL REALITY.
AND IT'S REFRESHING.
BECAUSE THE PREVIOUS GUY'S EMOTIONAL RANGE RAN THE GAMUT
FROM ANGRY TO HANGRY.
TO PUT THE MONUMENTAL LOSS HE WAS ADDRESSING INTO PERSPECTIVE,
THE U.S. HAS ABOUT 4% OF THE WORLD'S POPULATION AND RECORDED
25% OF THE COVID CASES AND 20% OF THE FATALITIES.
IF A RESTAURANT HAD THE HEALTH RECORD THE UNITED STATES DOES,
THE LETTER GRADE OUT FRONT WOULD BE "NOT AVAILABLE-- INSPECTOR
DEVOURED BY RATS."
BUT DESPITE THE HISTORY OF BADNESS, THERE ARE REASONS FOR
HOPE.
THE VACCINATIONS ARE SPEEDING UP.
AND, YESTERDAY, WE LEARNED ANOTHER ONE IS ABOUT TO COME ON
THE MARKET, BECAUSE JOHNSON & JOHNSON ANNOUNCED IT CAN
PROVIDE 20 MILLION VACCINE DOSES BY LATE MARCH.
THAT IS SUCH GREAT NEWS, I COULD CRY!
BUT I KNOW JOHNSON & JOHNSON HAS A STRICT POLICY OF "NO MORE
TEARS."
OH, AND THERE'S MORE GOOD NEWS: THE SEVEN-DAY AVERAGE NUMBER OF
CASES IS DOWN 75%, DAILY HOSPITAL ADMISSION RATE DROPPED
60%, AND IN THE PAST WEEK, DEATHS HAVE DROPPED NEARLY 39%.
THAT IS WONDERFUL-- IF YOU IGNORE THE FACT THAT THESE
NUMBERS ARE COMPARABLE TO LAST SUMMER'S PEAK.
ALL RIGHT!
WE'RE BACK WHERE WE WERE WHEN WE THOUGHT IT COULDN'T GET ANY
WORSE, BUT WE WERE WRONG!
WOO-HOO!
JIMMY, HIT THE FIREWORKS!
YEEEEAH.
ICA BOOM!
I'M NOT THE ONLY ONE BANKING DOWN MY ENTHUSIASM.
APPARENTLY, THE BIDEN ADMINISTRATION ITSELF HAS
REFUSED TO PUBLICLY CELEBRATE THE PROGRESS WE'RE MAKING
BECAUSE THEY FEAR "IT WILL PROMPT PANDEMIC-WEARY
AMERICANS TO RELAX TOO SOON."
( AS BIDEN ) "DON'T LET YOUR GUARD DOWN,
JACK!
OL' CORONA COULD JUST BE PLAYIN' POSSUM!
OKAY?
THE BOTTOM OF THE TRASH CAN, YOU THINK IT'S A DEAD RAT, THEN IT
JUMPS UP AND GRABS YOU BY THE EARS.
THEY GOT OPPOSABLE THUMBS!
START BURROWING IN YOUR EYE SOCKET!
ANYWAY, STOP, DROP, AND ROLL-- DON'T DO DRUGS.
( LAUGHTER ) READING IS FUNDAMENTAL.
ONLY DOPES DO DOPE."
LAUGH ONE OF THOSE IS APPLICABLE.
THE POINT IS, I KNOW IT'S BEEN ALMOST A YEAR, BUT WE CAN'T LET
UP NOW.
AND SOMEBODY OUGHT TO TELL THAT TO NEW YORK GOVERNOR AND MAN
JUST DARING YOU TO PULL HIS FINGER, ANDREW CUOMO.
BECAUSE, YESTERDAY, THE GOVERNOR ANNOUNCED THAT, FOR THE FIRST
TIME IN NEARLY A YEAR, MOVIE THEATERS IN NEW YORK CITY WILL
BE PERMITTED TO OPEN.
IT'S ALL PART OF CUOMO'S NEW COVID RESPONSE PLAN, "OPERATION:
PLEASE STOP TALKING ABOUT THE NURSING HOME THING."
( AS CUOMO ) "I WAS A MEME!
REMEMBER?
DO I HAVE A NIPPLE RING OR DON'T I?
WHERE ARE MY CUOMOSEXUALS AT?" NOW, I AM NOT A PUBLIC HEALTH
EXPERT, NOR DO I RUN A MOVIE THEATER, BUT THIS SOUNDS
QUESTIONABLE TO ME.
THE WHOLE REASON CASES ARE GOING DOWN IS THAT WE'RE NOT DOING
THINGS LIKE GOING TO THE MOVIES.
BUT IT'S HARDLY WORTH IT JUST TO BE COMPLETELY CONFUSED BY
"TENET" ON THE BIG SCREEN!
OF COURSE, THE GOVERNOR PROMISES THERE WILL BE PRECAUTIONS.
FOR INSTANCE, THE THEATERS WILL ONLY BE PERMITTED TO OPERATE AT
25% OF THEIR MAXIMUM CAPACITY, WITH NO MORE THAN 50 PEOPLE PER
SCREENING.
SO, IF YOU WANT TO SEE THE NEW LIAM NEESON MOVIE "MARKSMAN,"
YOU SHOULD BE SAFE.
BRING 49 FRIENDS.
( LAUGHTER ) ARE YOU A BIG FAN?
ARE YOU A BIG MAN.
ARE YOU LOOKED FORWARD TO SEEING "MARKSMAN"?
YOU'RE AFRAID LIAM IS GOING TO BE MAD ABOUT THE JOKE.
LIAM AND I ARE FRIENDS.
YOU CAN'T TELL FROM THAT JOKE, BUT WE'RE FRIENDS!
HE DOESN'T WRITE THEM.
( LAUGHTER ) HEHE HAS A CERTAIN SET OF SKILLS
THEY DO NOT INVOLVE WRITING MOVIES.
( LAUGHTER ) IN ADDITION, MASKS WILL BE
MANDATORY, AND THEATERS WILL BE REQUIRED TO HAVE ENHANCED AIR
FILTRATION SYSTEMS.
AND YOU'D BETTER HOPE THESE PRECAUTIONS WORK, BECAUSE TESTS
FOR THE CORONAVIRUS WILL NOT BE REQUIRED.
IT EXPLAINS THE UPDATE TO THEIR LITTLE SONG:
♪ LET'S ALL GO TO THE HOSPITAL
♪ AND HAVE THE DOC SWAB OUR SPITTLE
♪ LET'S ALL GO TO THE HOSPITAL
♪ BECAUSE WE WATCHED "THE CROODS" ♪
>> Stephen: DESPITE THE ENHANCED RISK, THE GOVERNOR MADE IT CLEAR
THAT MOVIE THEATER EMPLOYEES ARE NOT YET ELIGIBLE FOR THE
COVID-19 VACCINE.
SO, THEY'RE GOING TO WANT TO USE A LOT OF PURELL.
OR THE POPCORN TOPPING.
THAT WILL EVENTUALLY KILL EVERYTHING IT TOUCHES.
THIS STORY UNDERLINES THE FUNDAMENTAL INEQUITY IN
DISTRIBUTING VACCINES IN THIS COUNTRY.
FOR INSTANCE, ACCORDING TO THE C.D.C., BLACK PEOPLE AND LATINOS
ARE THREE TIMES MORE LIKELY TO BE HOSPITALIZED AND TWICE AS
LIKELY TO DIE FROM THE VIRUS, BUT BLACK AND LATINO AMERICANS
ARE BEING VACCINATED AT LOWER RATES.
SO THE STATE OF CALIFORNIA DECIDED TO DO SOMETHING
ABOUT THAT.
THAT'S NICE.
THEY CREATED A PROGRAM WHERE MEMBERS OF UNDER-SERVED
COMMUNITIES WOULD BE THE ONLY ONES ALLOWED TO MAKE CERTAIN
VACCINATION APPOINTMENTS USING SPECIAL ACCESS CODES PROVIDED TO
COMMUNITY ORGANIZATIONS.
AND IF YOU USE THE CODE "UP, UP, DOWN, DOWN, LEFT, RIGHT, LEFT,
RIGHT, B., A., START," YOU GET A VACCINE APPOINTMENT AND THE
FEATHER THAT MAKES YOU FLY.
THIS IS AN EQUITABLE SYSTEM PROMOTING FAIRNESS, SO
NATURALLY, LOS ANGELES' WEALTHY ARE NABBING THE SECRET VACCINE
APPOINTMENT CODES FROM MINORITY COMMUNITIES.
IT'S ALL CHRONICLED IN THE NEW SERIES, "THE REAL ASS WIPES OF
BEVERLY HILLS."
ONTO THE NEXT CRYING OLD MAN, ATTORNEY GENERAL NOMINEE, AND
MAN DESCRIBING HIS INVISIBLE RABBIT FRIEND, MERRICK GARLAND,
WHO VOWS TO TARGET WHITE SUPREMACISTS AS ATTORNEY
GENERAL.
AND FOR A CHANGE, IT'S NOT TO GIVE THEM MEDALS OF FREEDOM.
GARLAND ALREADY HAS A LIFETIME APPOINTMENT AS A FEDERAL JUDGE,
BUT HE'S GIVING THAT UP TO BE ATTORNEY GENERAL, AND YESTERDAY,
HE TEARFULLY EXPLAINED WHY.
>> I COME FROM A FAMILY WHERE MY GRANDPARENTS FLED ANTI-SEMITISM
AND PERSECUTION.
THE COUNTRY TOOK US IN-- AND PROTECTED US.
AND I FEEL AN OBLIGATION TO THE COUNTRY TO PAY BACK, AND THIS IS
THE HIGHEST, BEST USE OF MY OWN SET OF SKILLS TO PAY BACK.
>> Stephen: THAT'S WHAT WE'VE COME TO IN THIS COUNTRY: THE
GRANDSON OF PEOPLE WHO FLED GENOCIDE IS PROMISING TO SAVE
OUR COUNTRY FROM WHITE SUPREMACISTS.
AND THEY'RE NOT GOING TO BE HARD TO FIND.
JOSH HAWLEY IS SITTING RIGHT ACROSS THE ROOM FROM HIM.
SPEAKING OF MOBS OF ANGRY IDIOTS, THIS WEEK IS THE
CONSERVATIVE POLITICAL ACTION CONFERENCE, OR CPAC.
IT'S A WHO'S WHO OF "WHO NEEDS THAT MANY GUNS IN THEIR REC
ROOM?" OF COURSE, WITH ALL THE CRISES
FACING OUR NATION, CONSERVATIVES ARE FOCUSING ON THE MOST
PRESSING ISSUE OF ALL: FASCISTS BEING KICKED OFF OF TWITTER.
THIS YEAR'S THEME IS "AMERICA UNCANCELED."
I DIDN'T KNOW AMERICA WAS CANCELED!
ALTHOUGH, I'M NOT SURPRISED.
THE LAST SEASON WAS PRETTY UNBELIEVABLE.
A PANDEMIC AND NAZIS?
OKAY, PICK ONE.
WE'VE JUMPED THE SHARK.
OOOH, NAZI SHARKS.
STILL, BETTER THAN LAST YEAR'S CPAC THEME: "GIVING THE FLAG THE
CLAP."
ACCORDING-- REALLY, REALLY?
YOU THINK I'M AFRAID OF OFFENDING THE FLAG?
IS THAT-- OKAY.
ACCORDING TO CPAC-- I JUST HAVE TO CHECK.
WHEN YOU TURN YOUR BACK ON ME AND WALK AWAY I HAVE TO MAKE
SURE THERE'S A REASON FOR YOU REMOVING YOURSELF FROM THE ROOM.
ACCORDING TO CPAC, IT'S TIME TO STAND UP FOR AMERICANS WHOSE
VIEWS HAVE GOTTEN THEM "CANCELED."
WHICH IS WHY THEY KICKED THINGS OFF BY CANCELING AN APPEARANCE
FROM ONE OF THEIR PANELISTS FOR A HISTORY OF MAKING ANTI-SEMITIC
CLAIMS.
GOOD-- CONSERVATIVES DON'T WANT TO BE ASSOCIATED WITH ANYONE
LIKE THAT.
IT COULD SULLY THE GOOD NAME OF THE MOB WITH ALUMINUM BATS WHO
TRIED TO MURDER MIKE PENCE.
THE CANCELED MAN IN QUESTION IS A RAPPER NAMED YOUNG PHARAOH,
WHO WAS PULLED FROM THE LINEUP AFTER JOURNALISTS POINTED OUT
HIS RECORD OF PUBLICLY REJECTING THE EXISTENCE OF
JUDAISM OUTRIGHT.
OKAY, PRETTY BOLD STANCE TO REJECT THE EXISTENCE OF THE
WORLD'S OLDEST MONOTHEISTIC RELIGION.
THEY'VE BEEN AROUND FOR A WHILE, AND THEY WRITE IT ALL DOWN!
IT'S KIND OF THEIR THING.
YOU KNOW WHO COULD TELL YOUNG PHARAOH THAT JUDAISM EXISTS?
OLD PHARAOH!
THERE'S A PRETTY FAMOUS OLD BOOK ABOUT IT!
THERE'S EVEN A NEW BOOK ABOUT IT!
CPAC APPARENTLY HADN'T KNOWN ABOUT YOUNG PHARAOH'S HISTORY OF
ANTI-SEMITISM, AND CALLED HIS VIEWS "REPREHENSIBLE," SAYING
THEY HAVE "NO HOME WITH THEIR CONFERENCE."
YES, CONSERVATIVES WOULD NEVER DOUBT THE EXISTENCE OF JEWISH
PEOPLE.
OTHERWISE, WHO'S OPERATING THE SPACE LASER?
SPEAKING OF SPACE, IT'S TIME FOR "SPACE NEWS: MARS EDITION."
IT'S BEEN A BIG WEEK FOR SPACE.
ON THURSDAY, NASA SUCCESSFULLY LANDED THE PERSEVERANCE ROVER ON
MARS.
AND YESTERDAY, THEY DROPPED THE HOT FOOTAGE.
LOOK AT THAT I HAD-DEF!
MAN THE FIRST INTERPLANETARY LANDING IN FULL COLOR!
THE RED AND WHITE PARACHUTE, JUST LIKE THE APOLLO MISSIONS--
BUT IT'S MARS!
THIS IS SO EXCITING!
IT'S LIKE I'M THERE!
I CAN ALMOST TASTE MATT DAMON'S POOP POTATOES!
AND HERE'S ANOTHER AMAZING SHOT OF THE JET-POWERED SKYCRANE
LOWERING THE ROVER DOWN TO THE SURFACE.
THAT'S AMAZING!
AND YOU KNOW THAT SKYCRANE'S GOING TO HAVE A HELL OF A TIME
PICKING THAT ROVER BACK UP.
EVEN WHEN YOU'RE RIGHT OVER IT, YOU END UP PICKING UP A
KNOCK-OFF BEANIE BABY, OR SOMETHING UPON
IT WASN'T JUST VIDEO.
WE ALSO GOT OUR FIRST LISTEN TO THE SOUND OF MARS FROM NASA'S
OFFICIAL SOUNDCLOUD: >> Stephen: WOW.
WE FINALLY KNOW WHAT IT WOULD SOUND LIKE IF SOMEBODY
BUTT-DIALED YOU FROM MARS.
THIS WAS TRULY AN HISTORIC EVENT.
BUT TODAY, WELL, NOTHING WOULD BE COMPLETE WITHOUT ANOTHER OLD
MAN CRYING.
THIS IS THE MOMENT THAT ALEJANDRO MIGUEL SAN MARTEEN,
THE CHIEF ENGINEER OF FOUR PREVIOUS MARS LANDINGS,
CELEBRATED THE PERSEVERANCE TOUCHING DOWN FROM HIS HOME
OFFICE!
>> YES!
>> DON'T BREAK THE TABLE!
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: YES, THAT'S A
THING.
AND FROM ONE OLD MAN ON THE EDGE OF TEARS TO ANOTHER: AMERICA IS
SO FRUCKING PROUD.
WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.
MY GUESTS ARE BILLIE EILISH, AND VETERAN JOURNALISTS ANNA PALMER
AND JAKE SHERMAN.
STICK AROUND!
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪█ç
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
>> Stephen: HEY, WELCOME BACK, EVERYBODY.
TO "A LATE SHOW."
LET'S SAY HELLO TO JON BATISTE.
HELLO, JON.
>> Jon: HELLO, STEPHEN.
WHAT'S THE WORD.
>> Stephen: THE WORD IS I'M WORRIED ABOUT TIGER WOODS.
YOU KNOW, YOU'VE GOT A PHONE THERE.
HAVE YOU HEARD ANYTHING.
WE'RE ABOUT 6:00 RIGHT NOW, AND LAST I HEARD HE WAS STILL IN
SURGERY.
>> Jon: YUP, I HEARD.
I HEARD.
AND IT'S TERRIBLE NEWS.
IT'S THE WORST NEWS.
SOMEBODY LIKE HIM WHO HAS INSPIRED SO MANY, AND GIVEN HIS
LIFE TO GOLF, YOU KNOW.
WE HOPE THAT HE CAN PULL THROUGH, BECAUSE HE'S INSPIRED
US, AND WE NEED TO SEND OUR GOOD ENERGY TO HIM RIGHT NOW.
>> Stephen: AS OF THE STAEMENT RIGHT NOW, THE REPORTS
ARE IT'S NOT LIFE THREATENING.
>> Jon: OKAY.
>> Stephen: BUT WHO KNOWS WHAT IT DOES TO THE REST OF HIS
CAREER, TOO.
WHILE HE'S AT THE END OF IT, TWO YEARS AGO, THE AMAZING COMEBACK
WINNING THE MASTER'S, YOU KNOW-- >> Jon: THAT WAS INSPIRING TO
SEE.
I REMEMBER WATCHING HIM WHEN I WAS, LIKE, FIVE YEARS OLD, AND
HE WAS COMING UP AND JUST WHAT HE HAS REPRESENT GLD YEAH, BACK
IN '97, WHEN HE WON THE MASTER'S.
YOUNGEST PERSON EVER, LARGEST MARGIN TO EVER WIN IT BY.
I WAS NOT FIVE.
I WAS A LITTLE OLDER THAN FIVE WHEN I WATCHED THAT.
( LAUGHTER ) BUT IN THAT AREA.
IT WAS INTJERZ.
>> Jon: AROUND THERE.
>> Stephen: THERE WAS A 5, THERE WAS A 5 IN THERE.
A MULTIPLE OF FIVE.
>> Jon: IT WAS JUST AS GOOD, I BET, THOUGH.
>> Stephen: IT WAS PRETTY EXCITING.
I REMEMBER EVIE GOING, "YOU DON'T WATCH SPORTS."
I SAID, "SHHH!
I CAN'T BELIEVE WHAT I'M WATCHING."
WE WISH HIM THE BEST AND, OF COURSE, THE BEST FOR HIS FAMILY.
>> Jon: ABSOLUTELY.
>> Stephen: JON BATISTE, DO YOU HAVE ANY MUSIC THAT WANTS TO
COME OUT OF YOU RIGHT NOW?
>> Jon: LET'S SEE, I WAS THINKING...
♪ ♪ ♪ >> Stephen: JON BATISTE,
EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU, JON.
>> Jon: YES, INDEED.
>> Stephen: MY FIRST GUEST TONIGHT IS A MUSICIAN WHO MADE
HISTORY LAST YEAR WHEN SHE WON FIVE GRAMMY AWARDS, INCLUDING
BEST NEW ARTIST AND ALBUM OF THE YEAR, AT THE AGE OF 18.
PLEASE WELCOME TO "A LATE SHOW," BILLIE EILISH.
HI, BILLIE.
>> HI, STEPHEN.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> Stephen: I'M DOING GREAT.
IT'S REALLY NICE TO HAVE YOU ON.
>> IT'S SO GOOD TO BE ON.
I'M GEEKED.
HOW ARE YOU?
>> Stephen: GOOD, I'M GLAD.
I HOPE THAT'S A GOOD THING.
EVERYBODY KNOWS-- EVERYBODY KNOWS WHO HAS BEEN PAYING
ATTENTION IS NOT ONLY ARE YOU A GIFTED ARTIST, BUT YOU SHOT OUT
OF A CANNON A FEW YEARS AGO.
SUDDENLY, YOU'RE-- YOUR LIFE WENT FROM, YOU KNOW, FUN, YOU
KNOW, CONCERTS, TO JUST EXPLODING AND BEING A WORLDWIDE
PHENOMENON.
BUT THEN SUDDENLY COVID COMES IN.
YOU'RE THROW SHOWS IN TO A MASSIVE WORLDWIDE TOUR, AND
EVERYTHING HAS TO GO QUIET.
HOW DID THAT FEEL?
>> IT FELT...
THE SAME AS IT FELT FOR EVERYBODY ELSE.
IT WAS SO WEIRD.
I MEAN, IT WAS WEIRD.
I MEAN, LIKE, NONE OF THE YEAR WENT AT ALL THE WAY I THOUGHT.
AND I DON'T THINK-- LIKE, I REALLY THINK THAT'S FOR
EVERYONE, OBVIOUSLY.
>> Stephen: OF COURSE.
>> I THINK I'M JUST GLAD THAT I HAD THE YEAR BEFORE THAT TO
REALLY HAVE A MOMENT BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, I JUST-- I JUST THINK
ABOUT THE PEOPLE THAT AT THE BEGINNING OF 2020 WERE HAVING A
BIG MOMENT, AND, LIKE, THINGS WERE HAPPENING, AND THINGS WERE
COMING, AND THEN... THAT MAKES ME SO SAD.
SO I FEEL FOR THEM.
BUT, YOU KNOW, IT'S BEEN HARD FOR EVERYBODY.
IT'S BEEN SO WEIRD.
SO WEIRD.
>> Stephen: YEAH, IT'S BEEN BIZARRE.
IT ALMOST FEELS LIKE WE'RE ALL LIVING UNDER SOME WEIRD SPELL.
>> ( LAUGHS )
YEAH, IT DOES.
>> Stephen: THE REASON I ASK-- WE'LL GET TO THE DOCUMENTARY IN
JUST A MOMENT-- BUT I KNOW AT TIMES THE PACE YOU HAVE TO LIVE
WHEN THIS IS YOUR TIME TO SHINE AND THIS IS YOUR TIME TO TAKE
ADVANTAGE OF THE AUDIENCE PERCEIVING YOUR ART FOR THE
FIRST TIME AS SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL AND SOMETHING THEY
WANT TO BE PART OF.
BUT IT CAN ALSO BE VERY TAXING.
I MEAN, THIS DOCUMENTARY WE'RE GOING TO TALK ABOUT IN A MOMENT,
YOU'RE EXHAUSTED IN A LOT OF THIS.
YOUR ANKLES ARE GOING, YOUR SHINS ARE GOING, YOUR BACK IS
GOING.
AND THEN YOU HAVE THIS ARTIFICIALLY IMPOSED TIME TO BE
QUIET.
IS THERE ANYTHING ABOUT THAT, THAT YOU'RE GRATEFUL FOR?
>> YEAH, TOTALLY.
I MEAN, LISTEN, THE YEAR HAS SUCKED, AND I DON'T-- IF I COULD
GO BACK AND I COULD CHANGE IT, I WOULD.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, YOU KNOW, I'VE GOTTEN MORE TIME OFF THAN
I'VE EVER, EVER, EVER, EVER HAD, AND OF COURSE I THINK THAT GOES
FOR EVERYONE.
BUT THAT WAS TRUE FOR ME AFTER TWO WEEKS OF IT, YOU KNOW.
THAT WAS, LIKE, TWO WEEKS ALREADY AT THE BEGINNING OF
QUARANTINE WAS THE MOST TIME I'D HAD OFF IN, LIKE, FOUR YEARS.
SO-- AND ALSO, I MADE AN ALBUM IN IT.
>> Stephen: OH, GOOD!
>> YEAH, I'VE MADE AN ALBUM.
AND I JUST DON'T THINK I WOULD HAVE MADE THE SAME ALBUM OR EVEN
THE ALBUM AT ALL IF IT WEREN'T FOR COVID.
SO, YOU KNOW, THAT DOESN'T MEAN IT'S ABOUT COVID AT ALL.
IT'S JUST, YOU KNOW, YOU'RE JUST-- WHEN THINGS ARE DIFFERENT
IN YOUR LIFE, YOU'RE DIFFERENT.
IT'S JUST HOW IT IS.
SO I HAVE TO THANK COVID FOR THAT.
AND THAT'S ABOUT IT ( LAUGHS )
THAT'S ABOUT IT.
>> Stephen: WELL, THE NEW MOVIE IS "BILLIE EILISH: THE
WORLD'S A LITTLE BLURRY."
IT'S A DOCUMENTARY ON APPLE TV+, AND IT COMES OUT THIS FRIDAY.
AND IT'S ABOUT TWO HOURS, 15 MINUTES LONG.
I'VE SEEN AN HOUR AND 45 MINUTES SO FAR.
DON'T TELL ME HOW YOU END.
AND IT'S BY THE GREAT DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER R.J.
CUTLER.
AND, FIRST OF ALL, I MEAN, I'VE BEEN ON TV A LOT, BUT WHAT'S IT
LIKE TO HAVE A CAMERA LIVING WITH YOU?
WHAT IS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE?
>> IT'S VERY INVASIVE.
BUT IT'S ALSO FUN BECAUSE THE WAY THAT I PUT IT THE OTHER WAY
WAS, LIKE, YOU KNOW, AS HUMAN BEINGS, I THINK WE ALL TEND TO
FEEL PRETTY IRRELEVANT ALL THE TIME.
AND EVEN THOUGH IT WAS VERY INVASIVE AND A LOT AT SOME
POINTS-- AND SOMETIMES I JUST WAS LIKE, "YOU GOTTA GO--" IT
WAS FUN-- IT WAS FUN TO HAVE PEOPLE THAT ARE LITERALLY JUST
THERE TO WATCH YOU LIVE YOUR LIFE.
THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THAT.
THERE IS NOTHING IN LIFE THAT IS LIKE THAT.
SO IT WAS VERY FUN.
AND I KIND OF LOVED IT, TO BE HONEST WITH YOU UPON.
IT WAS A LOT, AT TIMES, AGAIN, BUT IT WAS ALSO FUN.
IT WAS FUN TO BE ABLE TO-- THERE'S A CAMERA THERE.
AND I DON'T KNOW.
IT WAS WEIRD.
IT'S A WEIRD WAY TO LIVE, BUT IT'S ALSO FUN.
AND THEY WERE REALLY RESPECTFUL.
SO THEY WERE VERY MUCH, LIKE, IF I WAS LIKE, "OKAY, I CAN'T DO
THIS RIGHT NOW," THEY WOULD JUST LEAVE, WHICH WAS GREAT.
AND THAT'S SO NEEDED.
>> Stephen: IT'S AN AMAZING FILM, AND IT SHOWS WELL HOW MUCH
YOU AND YOUR FAMILY LOVE EACH OTHER, AND HOW SUPPORTIVE THEY
ARE OF YOU AND YOUR BROTHER, FINNEAS.
YOU'RE WRITING AND YOUR PRODUCING PARTNER.
AND IT ALSO SHOWS YOU AS A COMPLEX AND BEAUTIFUL ARTIST.
>> THANKS.
>> Stephen: IS THERE ANY WAY THAT-- WHO IS ALSO KNOWN FOR
BEING VERY AUTHENTIC, TRYING TO BE HERSELF.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: HER-- AND BEING VERY TRUE TO YOUR OWN
EXPRESSION.
DOES THE CAMERA CHANGE THE OBSERVED IN ANY WAY?
THERE'S A MAXIM OF PHYSICS, I DON'T REALLY UNDERSTAND,
OBSERVATION CHANGES WHAT'S BEING OBSERVED.
>> RIGHT.
>> Stephen: HOW DID IT CHANGE YOU?
ARE YOU REALLY YOU IN THIS?
>> GOOD QUESTION!
>> Stephen: IT'S WHAT I DO.
>> SO I THINK I AM.
I THINK THAT IT'S REALLY IMPORTANT TO KNOW, THOUGH, AS
A-- AN AUDIENCE MEMORY OF A DOC, THIS DOC, AND EVERY OTHER DOC,
OF BEING VERY CONSCIOUS OF THE FACT THAT IT'S NOT EVERYTHING.
YOU'RE SEEING A SLIVER OF MY LIFE AT THAT TIME, YOU KNOW.
AND I SAY THAT BECAUSE I GREW UP WATCHING DOCUMENTARIES ABOUT
ARTISTS AND ABOUT WHATEVER.
IN MY HEAD WHEN I WAS YOUNGER, I JUST IMMEDIATELY, NATURALLY WAS
LIKE, "OH, NOW I KNOW EVERY SINGLE THING ABOUT THEM.
I KNOW EVERYTHING THEY'VE BEEN THROUGH AND EVERYTHING THEY WERE
GOING THROUGH AND THINKING ABOUT."
AND I THINK YOU TEND TO FEEL LIKE THAT BECAUSE, AS PEOPLE, WE
GO, "WELL, WHAT I KNOW IS ALL THERE IS TO KNOW."
( LAUGHS ) NATURALLY.
SO I THINK IT'S IMPORTANT FOR PEOPLE TO KNOW THAT IT'S NOT--
IT'S NOT ALL THAT WAS GOING ON.
THERE'S A TON THAT ISN'T IN THERE.
BUT I-- IT'S PRETTY MUCH ME.
AND IT'S KIND OF A HUGE BUMMER BECAUSE I WAS SUPER ANNOYING
THEN.
YOU KNOW, IT'S ROUGH.
IT'S HARD FOR ME TO WATCH.
>> Stephen: IT'S VERY-- IT'S FEARLESS.
IT'S VERY GENEROUS OF YOU TO SHARE YOUR LIFE, AND IT'S REALLY
INSTRUCTIVE.
BECAUSE AS I SAID, YOU'RE A COMPLEX AND BEAUTIFUL AYERST,
AND YOU SEE THE COMPLEXITY AND HOW AUTHENTIC YOU ARE TO
YOURSELF IN WATCHING THIS DOCUMENTARY.
AND IT PAID OFF.
TURNS OUT YOU BET ON YOURSELF, AND A LOT OF PEOPLE AGREED THAT
THEY WANTED TO HEAR YOUR MUSIC, AND YOU'VE HAD AN AMAZING,
AMAZING COUPLE OF YEARS.
AND THERE'S A CLIP HERE I WOULDN'T MIND YOU SETTING UP, IF
YOU DON'T MIND, FROM THE FILM.
WHAT ARE YOU FINDING OUT IN THIS MOMENT?
>> THIS IS ME DEAD ASLEEP BEING WOKEN UP BY MY FAMILY TO TALK
ABOUT GRAMMY NOMINATIONS.
>> Stephen: JIM.
>> NOMINATIONS.
RECORD OF THE YEAR.
"BAD GUY."
ALBUM OF THE YEAR.
WHAT ALBUM WOULD THAT BE?
"WHEN WE ALL FALL ASLEEP, WHERE DO WE GO."
SONG OF THE YEAR, "BAD GUY."
BEST NEW ARTIST.
>> WHY DO YOU SOUND LIKE THAT?
>> BEST POP SOLO PERFORMANCE, AND BEST POP VOCAL ALBUM.
AND PRODUCER OF THE YEAR WOULD BE OUR BROTHER.
>> OH, HE GOT IT?
>> YEAH.
>> YAY!
HE WAS SO ANXIOUS ABOUT THAT.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: THAT'S GREAT.
THAT'S GREAT!
AND AS SOMEONE WHO HAS HAD TEENAGED CHILDREN, HAVING TO
WAKE THEM UP FOR IMPORTANT ANNOUNCEMENTS, I THINK THAT'S
100% AUTHENTIC ( LAUGHS )
>> OH, GOD.
WHAT A CRAZY DAY THAT WAS.
AND IT'S FUNNY LISTENING TO THAT NOW AND SEEING THAT NOW, BECAUSE
I ONLY CARED ABOUT FINNEAS' NOMINATIONS.
AS SOON AS SHE WAS LIKE, "FINNEAS GOT NOMINATED," I WAS
LIKE, "THAT'S SO COOL," BECAUSE I WAS SO HAPPY FOR HIM.
>> Stephen: NOT ONLY NOMINATED BUT YOU GUYS SWEPT RIGHT THERE.
THAT'S YOU AND YOUR BROTHER, FINNEAS, WITH YOUR 11 GRAMMYS
BETWEEN THE TWO OF YOU.
CONGRATULATIONS.
WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK, BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, I WILL
ASK BILLIE HOW YOU DEAL WITH WORLDWIDE FANDOM AND STILL STAY
YOURSELF.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY.
WE'RE BACK WITH SUPER STAR BILLIE EILISH.
YOU-- YOU SAY SOMETHING BEAUTIFUL ABOUT YOUR FANS, YOU
SAY YOU DON'T THINK OF THEM AS YOUR FANS.
THEY'RE A PART OF YOU.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: BUT THEY ALSO-- AND YOU'RE VERY AUTHENTIC WITH
THEM.
YOU WANT TO GIVE TO THEM.
DO YOU EVER-- DO YOU EVER HAVE TROUBLE GIVING THEM EVERYTHING
THAT THEY MIGHT WANT FROM YOU?
>> ALL THE TIME.
ALL THE TIME.
I MEAN, IT'S HALF THE TIME THAT I FEEL LIKE I NEED TO GIVE THEM
MORE, AND HALF THE TIME I FEEL LIKE I'VE GIVEN TOO MUCH.
AND IT'S A-- IT'S A FUNNY BALANCE BECAUSE IT'S-- YOU KNOW,
SINCE THE BEGINNING I'VE WANTED TO HAVE A RELATIONSHIP WITH THE
FANS THAT I WOULD HAVE WANTED AS A FAN.
LIKE, THAT WAS MY GOAL.
I WANTED TO BE THE ARTIST THAT I WOULD WANT TO BE A FAN OF.
YOU CAN'T HAVE A BAD MOMENT, LIKE DOESN'T MATTER WHAT YOU'RE
FEELING OR THINKING OR WHAT'S GOING ON, WHAT YOU JUST WENT
THROUGH OR ANYTHING AT ALL.
LIKE -- >> Stephen: BECAUSE IT'S THEIR
BEST MOMENT.
>> IT'S THEIR-- EXACTLY.
IT'S THEIR BEST MOMENT, AND THAT'S THE THING OF, LIKE YOU
KNOW, I FIND MYSELF BEING LIKE, "OH, MY GOD!
I DON'T WANT TO TAKE A PICTURE!
I DON'T WANT TO--" IN MY HEAD I'M THINKING THAT.
I'M LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU KNOW HOW MINOR THIS IS FOR ME TO DO, TO MAKE SOMEBODY
REALLY HAPPY?
YOU FORGET THAT.
BUT YOU HAVE TO REMEMBER THAT THAT THAT MOMENT MEANS SO MUCH
TO THOSE PEOPLE.
THE SMALLEST THING CAN MEAN THE BIGGEST THING.
AND THAT GOES WITH EVERYTHING IN LIFE, LIKE, LITERALLY
EVERYTHING.
YOU DO NOT KNOW WHAT YOU'RE SAYING, HOW IT'S AFFECTING
PEOPLE.
YOU CAN SAY THE LITTLEST THING AND NOT REMEMBER YOU SAID IT,
AND IT COULD RUIN SOMEBODY'S LIFE.
OR THE OTHER WAY AROUND, YOU COULD SAY ONE COMPLIMENT, AND IT
WAS JUST SOMETHING YOU THOUGHT, AND IT MAKES SOMEBODY FEEL
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT AND BETTER ABOUT THEMSELVES.
AND IT'S JUST LIKE WE FORGET WHAT WE DO REALLY AFFECTS OTHER
PEOPLE, IN VERY LARGE WAYS.
AND SO IT'S KIND OF A TOUGH BATTLE OF, LIKE, I AM FEELING
REALLY, REALLY, REALLY HORRIBLE, AND I WANT TO BE SCREAMING, AND
I CAN'T BECAUSE I DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE A BAD EXPERIENCE,
AND I DON'T WANT THEM TO HAVE A BAD MOMENT, AND THEN, YOU KNOW,
THEY THINK ABOUT IT.
THAT-- THAT-- THE IDEA THAT SOMEBODY COULD MEET ME AND HAVE
A BAD EXPERIENCE█ç MAKES ME WANT TO JUMP OFF A CLIFF, LIKE,
SERIOUSLY.
I WANT EVERYONE THAT I COME IN CONTACT WITH TO FEEL COMPLETELY
JUST THE HIGHEST HIGH THAT THEY COULD POSSIBLY FEEL.
AND IF ANYBODY HASN'T FELT THAT, I HATE THAT, AND I'M SURE IT'S
BECAUSE I WAS, YOU KNOW, GOING THROUGH SOMETHING.
>> Stephen: BECAUSE YOU'RE HUMAN.
BECAUSE YOU'RE HUMAN.
>> YEAH, YEAH.
>> Stephen: IT'S TOUGH BEING A MORTAL.
BUT YOU'VE ALSO-- YOU KNOW, YOU ALSO HAVE BEEN THAT FAN.
ONE OF THE GREAT MOMENTS IN IT IS YOU MEETING JUSTIN BIEBER.
>> YUP!
>> Stephen: IT'S EXTRAORDINARY.
BECAUSE YOU TALK ABOUT HOW MUCH YOU LOVE HIM, ESPECIALLY WHEN
YOU WERE YOUNGER, WHEN YOU WERE, LIKE, 12.
WHEN THAT MOMENT COMES, FOR THE AUDIENCE, WE SEE EXACTLY YOU
HAVING THAT EXPERIENCE THAT YOUR FANS ARE HAVING WITH YOU.
IT'S A BEAUTIFUL CIRCLE.
WHAT WAS THAT LIKE FOR YOU?
>> IT WAS INSANE.
I CAN'T EVEN TELL YOU.
I MEAN...
I DON'T KNOW.
I CAN'T-- I CAN'T EVEN-- I CAN'T EVEN BEGIN TO THINK ABOUT ME AT
12 HEARING WHAT MY LIFE IS NOW.
I MEAN, I CAN'T-- I CAN'T EVEN-- I CAN'T EVEN--
( LAUGHS ) I CAN'T EVEN FATHOM IT.
I, LIKE, WISH-- I WISH THAT, LIKE, SOME SPIRIT COULD HAVE
COME DOWN AND BEEN LIKE, "BILLIE, GUESS WHAT'S ABOUT TO
HAPPEN TO YOU IN A FEW YEARS?" BUT AT THE SAME TIME, THEN IT
WOULD HAVE MESSED EVERYTHING UP.
I WOULD HAVE BEEN FLIPPING OUT.
YEAH, I DON'T UPON.
IT WAS UNBELIEVABLE.
I DON'T KNOW-- YOU KNOW, NOBODY GETS TO MEET THEIR IDOLS,
REALLY, AND I NEVER WOULD HAVE THOUGHT I WOULD HAVE GOTTEN TO.
AND I'VE GOTTEN TO DO MUCH MORE THAN THAT.
AND IT'S COMPLETELY SURREAL.
AND I DON'T UNDERSTAND IT AT ALL.
>> Stephen: I'VE GOT A QUESTION FOR YOU-- AND FORGIVE
ME IF THIS IS JUST ME NOT KNOWING ENOUGH OF YOUR WORK.
BUT I'VE LISTENED -O YOUR STUFF IN THE PAST, AND I'VE LISTENED
TO A LOT LEADING UP TO THIS INTERVIEW, AND, OBVIOUSLY, THAT
YOU█ç SOUND LIKE IF YOU WANTED TO-- YOU HAVE A BEAUTIFUL
VOICE-- YOU SOUND LIKE IF YOU WANTED TO, YOU COULD BURN THE
ROOM DOWN.
YOU COULD TURN THE POWER SWITCH, AND BLOW SOME WINDOWS OUT.
BUT INSTEAD OF BURNING IT DOWN, YOU SMOLDER THE ROOM.
LIKE, YOU'RE SETTING FIRES EVERYWHERE, BUT IT'S NOT A FLAME
THROWER.
ARE YOU EVER-- ARE YOU EVER GOING TO BELT FOR US, JUST
ABSOLUTELY SHATTER SOME GLASS?
( LAUGHS ) >> THERE'S A COUPLE OF MOMENTS.
>> Stephen: OKAY.
>> A COUPLE MOMENTS ON THIS ALBUM WHERE I PULL SOME TRICKS
OUT.
>> Stephen: OKAY.
>> YOU KNOW, IT'S REALLY JUST ABOUT WHAT I FEEL LIKE SOUNDS
GOOD, YOU KNOW.
IT'S NOT LIKE I CAN'T DO IT.
I JUST-- I JUST -- >> Stephen: CLEARLY, YOU CAN
DO IT.
I'M JUST WONDERING WHEN-- >> YEAH, NO, YOU'LL GET-- YOU'LL
GET A LITTLE BIT.
IT WILL COME.
>> Stephen: ALL RIGHT, GOOD.
WELL, IT'S LOVELY TALKING TO YOU.
THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
AND, LISTEN, WHEN THE ALBUM COMES OUT, I HOPE YOU'LL COME
BACK AND PERFORM LIVE, I HOPE IN FRONT OF THE AUDIENCE AT THE ED
SULLIVAN THEATER BECAUSE-- ANY DAY NOW, RIGHT?
>> ANY DAY.
>> Stephen: ANY DAY NOW WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THE VACCINE.
>> YES!
OH, MY GOD, I WOULD LOVE TO.
I WOULD LOVE TO.
>> Stephen: THAT WOULD BE GREAT.
BILLIE, THANK YOU AGAIN.
"BILLIE EILISH: THE WORLD'S A LITTLE BLURRY" WILL OPEN IN
SELECT THEATERS AND PREMIERE GLOBALLY ON APPLE TV+ ON FRIDAY.
THANKS, BILLIE.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH JOURNALISTS ANNA PALMER AND JAKE
SHERMAN.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
>> Stephen: HELLO, AND WELCOME
BACK.
MY NEXT GUESTS ARE JOURNALISTS WHO HAVE BEEN COVERING NATIONAL
POLITICS FOR OVER A DECADE.
NOW THEY'RE CO-FOUNDERS OF "PUNCHBOWL NEWS" AND HOSTS OF
"THE DAILY PUNCH" PODCAST.
PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "A LATE SHOW," ANNA PALMER AND JAKE
SHERMAN.
ANNA, JAKE, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING US.
>> Stephen: BEFORE WE GET INTO ANYTHING ELSE, YOU BOTH REPORTED
ON CONGRESS FOR OVER A DECADE.
I WANT TO ASK YOU-- I'VE HEARD THAT'S KIND OF A CRAZY BEAT,
THAT THAT'S LIKE A SEVEN-DAYS-A WEEK, 365 DAYS A YEAR.
YOU'RE ESSENTIALLY ALWAYS WORKING.
IS THAT TRUE?
>> IT IS, UNFORTUNATELY.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: AND YOU-- AND YOU HAVE ESSENTIALLY NO SOCIAL LIFE
OUTSIDE OF THE JOB BECAUSE EVERY TIME YOU HAVE TIME TO GO OUT FOR
DRINKS, YOU HAVE TO GO OUT WITH SOMEBODY WHO MIGHT BE A SOURCE
FOR YOU ON CAPITOL HILL.
IS THAT TRUE?
>> IT'S NOT UNTRUE.
( LAUGHTER ) REPUBLICAN.
>> Stephen: YOU'RE NOT UNDER OATH.
IT'S OKAY.
YOU CAN-- YOU CAN FUDGE IF YOU WANT.
IT'S ALL RIGHT.
BUT THEN-- OKAY, SO, BUT, THEN, ALL YOUR FRIENDS ARE THE PEOPLE
WHO ARE YOUR SOURCES, AND THEN YOU'RE THE PEOPLE WHO THEY WANT
TO PLANT, YOU KNOW, STORIES WITH.
DO YOU GUYS EVER, LIKE, GET MAD-- DO YOUR FRIENDS ON CAPITOL
HILL EVER GET MAD AT YOU FOR WRITING ABOUT THEM?
AND DO YOU EVER GET MAD AT THEM FOR PLANTING STORIES WITH YOU,
LIKE THIS MUTUAL SORT OF CODEPENDENCY?
>> WELL, I HAVE-- I HAVE A "NO FRIEND ZONE" ON CAPITOL HILL PB
SO I TRY NOT TO BE FRIEND WITH ANYBODY WHO I WRITE ABOUT, WILL
WRITE ABOUT, MIGHT WRITE ABOUT, OR MIGHT EVEN THINK ABOUT.
SO IT'S A GOOD RULE-- IT'S A GOOD RULE OF THUMB WHEN YOU'RE
COVERING CONGRESS.
>> Stephen: ANNA, DO YOU HAVE A "NO FRIEND ZONE."
>> NO, I DON'T KNOW WHAT HE'S TALKING ABOUT.
I THINK OUR JOB IS CHARM, DISARM, GET PEOPLE TO TELL YOU
INFORMATION THAT COULD GET THEM FIRED.
( LAUGHTER ).
>> Stephen: AND HOW MANY TIMESES HAVE YOU HAD TO PUNCH
MONORAJU IN THE THROAT TO GET TO MITCH McCONNELL BEFORE HE CAN?
>> IT'S FUNNY YOU SAY THAT.
WE WORKED WITH HIM FOR A VERY LONG TIME AT POLITICO, AND HE
IS-- HE IS KNOWN TO JUMP OUT OF BUSHES AND BE AROUND A CORNER
WHEN YOU LEAST WANT TO SEE HIM.
I MEAN, HE IS OUR FRIEND.
WE DON'T REPORT ON HIM.
HE DOESN'T JUMP OUT OF BUSHES ON US --
>> Stephen: I MEAN, YOU HAVE TO BEAT HIM TO THE CONGRESSMEN.
YOU HAVE TO BEAT HIM.
>> RIGHT.
BUT WE ALSO DON'T PUNCH HIM.
>> Stephen: ANNA, DO YOU PUNCH HIM?
>> NO THE PUNCHBOWL IS THE ONLY PUNCHING I'M DOING THESE DAYS.
>> Stephen: JAKE, YOU WERE IN THE CAPITOL DURING THE ATTACK.
WHAT WAS THAT EXPERIENCE LIKE?
>> IT WAS VERY SEARING.
IT'S LIKE-- NOT TO MINIMIZE IT AT ALL-- BUT IT'S LIKE SOMEBODY
COMING INTO YOUR HOUSE-- I MEAN, WE BASICALLY LIVE IN THE
CAPITOL.
WE SPEND ALL OF OUR DAYS THERE, 12 HOURS A DAY FOR THE LAST
DECADE OR SO.
AND IT'S LIKE SOMEONE COMING INTO YOUR HOUSE AND INVADING IT.
IT WAS VERY SCARY.
I MEAN, PEOPLE WERE BANGING ON THE DOORS, WHEREAS AT A CERTAIN
POINT OUR OFFICE AND THE CAPITOL IS JUST, YOU KNOW, A COUPLE OF
HUNDRED FEET OR SO FROM THE HOUSE FLOOR, WHERE KIND OF THE
CENTER STAGE OF THE INSURRECTION, WHERE SOMEONE WAS
SHOT AND KILLED.
AND WE WERE-- WE TURNED TO EACH OTHER AT SOME POINT IN THIS ROOM
AND SAID TO OURSELVES, "HOW DO WE MAKE SURE NO ONE FINDS US?"
THERE'S A BIG SIGN ON THE DOOR THAT SAYS "PRESS," "PERIODICAL
PRESS," WHICH IS NOT COMFORTING.
WE DIDN'T GET EVACUATED UNTIL SEVERAL HOURS INTO THE
INSURRECTION.
IT WAS SOMETHING I'VE NEVER FORGET.
IT WAS VERY-- VERY ALARMING AND VERY FRIGHTENING.
>> Stephen: YOU KNOW, HAVING THAT VIOLATION OF YOUR
WORKSPACE, AND OF COURSE OF THE SORT OF DEMOCRATICALLY SACRED
SPACE FOR AMERICANS, WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE TO BE REPORTING ON
CONGRESS RIGHT NOW, WHEN YOU SEE PEOPLE LIKE TED CRUZ AND JOSH
HAWLEY OUT THERE STROKING THEIR CHINS AND GOING, "OH, GOSH, I
WONDER HOW SOMETHING LIKE THIS COULD HAVE COME ABOUT?"
>> I THINK IT'S DIFFICULT, RIGHT.
I MEAN, WE ALL EXPERIENCED IT.
WE SAW THAT IT WAS AN ARMED INSURRECTION.
THE FACT THAT YOU HAVE MEMBERS GASLIGHLIGHTING AND KIND OF SAYI
THAT THEY WEREN'T ARMED, IT'S JUST FALSE.
AND I USED TO ALWAYS TELL ME MOM, "DON'T WORRY.
WE'RE IN THE CAPITOL.
WE'RE IN THE SAFEST PLACE THAT COULD EVER HAPPEN.
D.C. HAS SO MANY PROTESTS."
AND TO SEE IT TOTALLY DESECRATED LIKE THAT WITH SO MUCH DISREGARD
AND, YOU KNOW, THE FACT THAT IT WAS REALLY PLANNED, YOU KNOW,
OUT.
IT'S VERY SCARY.
AND I THINK IT'S REALLY ALARMING TO THINK THAT THESE MEMBERS--
THERE ARE ONLY A FEW OF THEM, BUT THEY ARE LOUD, AND THEY ARE
REALLY PLANTING FALSEHOODS INTO THE PUBLIC.
>> Stephen: WHAT'S GOING ON BEHIND THE SCENES IN THE G.O.P.
BETWEEN THE FACTIONS THAT WANT TO STAY CONNECTED TO DONALD
TRUMP, AND THOSE WHO WANT TO DISTANCE THEMSELVES?
>> WE WROTE THIS MORNING THAT THE REPUBLICAN PARTY IS PERHAPS
MORE ADRIFT THAN IT HAS BEEN AT ANY POINT SINCE WATERGATE.
I MEAN, WE HAVE A SMALL MINORITY OF THE G.O.P.-- WHICH, BY THE
WAY, INCLUDES MITCH McCONNELL.
TODAY RAJU ASKED MITCH McCONNELL AT A NEWS CONFERENCE
I WAS AT BASICALLY WHERE HE SHOULD HAVE-- WHETHER HE REGRETS
SPEAKING OUT AGAINST TRUMP.
AND McCONNELL SAID, "I DON'T HAVE ANY FURTHER COMMENTS ABOUT
THAT EPISODE," OR SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO HE'S NOT EVEN SAYING DONALD TRUMP'S NAME ANYMORE.
BUT IT'S AMAZING HOW MUCH ENERGY IS SPENT TRYING TO KEEP DONALD
TRUMP HAPPY.
I MEAN, IT'S JUST-- GOING DOWN TO MAR-A-LAGO.
, MAKING SURE THAT PEOPLE ARE ON THE SAME PAGE WHEN IT COMES TO
DONALD TRUMP, IT'S JUST AMAZING TO WATCH THE ENERGY THAT'S
EXPENDED, THAT'S SPENT KEEPING THE FORMER PRESIDENT HAPPY.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH ANNA PALMER AND JAKE SHERMAN OF
"PUNCHBOWL NEWS."
♪ ♪ ♪
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY.
WE'RE BACK WITH THE HOSTS OF "THE DAILY PUNCH," ANNA PALMER
AND JAKE SHERMAN.
OKAY, YOU JUST STARTED A NEW NEWS OUTLET CALLED "PUNCHBOWL
NEWS."
WHAT IS IT?
>> PUNCHBOWL IS THE SECRET SERVICE NICKNAME FOR THE
CAPITOL, WHICH WE'VE KIND OF LONG BEEN OBSESSED WITH.
AND OUR THEORY OF THE CASE IS THAT THE CENTER OF THE POLITICAL
UNIVERSE IS THE CAPITOL.
IT'S KIND OF OUR ONE BIAS.
AND OUR MOTTO IS, "POWER, PEOPLE, POLITICS."
WE VIEW EVERYTHING THROUGH THE LEADERSHIP OF CAPITOL HILL--
KEVIN McCARTHY, MITCH McCONNELL, NANCY PELOSI, AND
CHUCK SCHUMER, HOW THEY OPERATE AND EXERCISE THEIR POWER.
WE THINK THROUGH UNDERSTANDING THEM AND UNDERSTANDING THE
LEADERSHIP AT THE WHITE HOUSE AND HOW THOSE TWO INTERACT YOU
REALLY UNDERSTAND WASHINGTON MUCH BETTER.
WE'RE KIND OF OBSESSED WITH THOSE FOUR PEOPLE AND TRY TO
FOLLOWING EVERYTHING THEY DO AND EVERYTHING THEY SAY BEFORE THEY
SAY IT.
>> Stephen: POWER, PEOPLE, POLITICS.
POWER IS FIRST.
WHO HAS THE MOST POWER RIGHT NOW?
>> I WOULD SAY NANCY PELOSI.
SHE'S BY FAR ONE OF THE MOST, IF NOT THE MOST POWERFUL PEOPLE IN
WASHINGTON.
NOTHING IS GOING TO HAPPEN IN JOE BIDEN'S WASHINGTON UNLESS
SHE IS ABLE TO GET IT DONE.
I THINK PEOPLE OFTEN MISREAD HER AND HER ABILITY.
JAKE AND I OFTEN SAY YOU DO THAT AT YOUR OWN PERIL.
BECAUSE SHE AND, ACTUALLY, MITCH McCONNELL, ARE MORE ALIKE THAN
NOT.
THEIR POLITICS COULDN'T BE FURTHER FROM EACH OTHER, BUT
THEY BOTH PICK A POSITION, AND THEY JUST WORK TOWARDS IT
ENDLESSLY.
THEY AREN'T, LIKE SO MANY LEADERS, GIVEN TO THE WHIMS OF
THE DAY OR W THE NEWS CYCLE.
SHE WILL OUTWORK EVERYONE.
SHE WILL BE IN THAT POSITION AS LONG AS POSSIBLE.
SHE HAD A LOT OF SUCCESS WITH DONALD TRUMP IN TERMS OF PUSHING
BACK ON HIM, SO SHE WILL BE HUGELY IMPORTANT OVER THE NEXT
TWO YEARS.
>> Stephen: THEIR WEBSITE IS punchbowl.news AND THEIR PODCAST
IS "THE DAILY PUNCH."
ANNA PALMER AND JAKE SHERMAN, EVERYBODY.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
LATE SHOW," EVERYBODY.
TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN MY GUEST WILL BE ARSENIO HALL AND MUSICAL
GUEST CELESTE.
JAMES CORDEN IS NEXT.
GOOD NIGHT.
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
Captioning sponsored by CBS Captioned by
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