RECENTLY HAVE BEEN DEFENDING THE CURRENT ACCESSIBILITY OF
ASSAULT-STYLE WEAPONS. >> A LOT OF PEOPLE FOR PURPOSES
OF GOING OUT, TARGET SHOOTING. IN MY STATE, THEY USE THEM TO
SHOOT PRAIRIE DOGS. >> WHY DOES SOMEONE NEED AN
AR-15? >> WELL, IF YOU TALK TO THE
PEOPLE THAT OWN IT, KILLING FERAL PIGS AND, YOU KNOW,
WHATEVER, THE MIDDLE OF LOUISIANA
>> PRETTY SMALL ANIMALS. PROBABLY DON'T NEED ASSAULT
WEAPONS TO KILL THEM.
>> DID YOU KNOW THE REPUBLICAN SENATOR WHO SAID PEOPLE NEED
ASSAULT RIFLES TO HUNT FERAL HOGS HAS RECEIVED ALMOST $2.9
MILLION IN DONATIONS FROM THE N.R.A.?
>> Announcer: IT'S "THE LATE
SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT." TONIGHT:
PLUS, STEPHEN WELCOMES: CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF
CHIWETEL EJIOFOR AND MUSICAL GUEST KURT VILE
FEATURING JON BATISTE AND STAY
HUMAN.
AND NOW, LIVE ON TAPE FROM THE ED SULLIVAN THEATER IN NEW YORK
CITY, IT'S STEPHEN COLBERT!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ♪ ♪ ♪
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) GENTLEMEN, ONE AND ALL, TO "THE
LATE SHOW." I AM YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT.
AND I-- ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
YOU FEEL THAT? THAT IS RAW, UNCUT, BLUE FLAKE
EXCITEMENT BECAUSE EVERYBODY KNOWS TOMORROW NIGHT, AT LONG
LAST, THE PUBLIC HEARINGS ON THE JANUARY 6 INSURRECTION WILL
FINALLY KICK OFF. THEY'LL BE BROADCAST HERE ON
CBS, AND AFTERWARD, "THE LATE SHOW" WILL BE LIVE!
BOOM! ( APPLAUSE )
WATCH ME TALK ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED, WHEN THEY WERE TALKING
ABOUT WHAT HAPPENED ON THE DAY WE ALL SAID, "WHAT THE HELL JUST
HAPPENED?" ( LAUGHTER )
TOMORROW NIGHT-- STARTING TOMORROW-- FOR TWO WEEKS, RIGHT?
IT'S TWO WEEKS OF HEARINGS, RIGHT?
STARTING TOMORROW AND FOR TWO WEEKS OF THESE PUBLIC
HEARING,s THIS IS A CRUCIAL OPPORTUNITY
FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE TO LEARN THE FULL DEPTH AND BREADTH OF
THE FORMER PRESIDENT'S MONTHS- LONG, VIOLENT CONSPIRACY TO
OVERTHROW A FREE ELECTION AND REMAIN IN POWER.
HANGING OVER THE HEARINGS IS ONE QUESTION THAT COULD DEFINE THE
FUTURE OF OUR REPUBLIC: WHO CARES?
>> THERE ARE ALL KINDS OF DISTRACTIONS BEFORE THE AMERICAN
PEOPLE, AND SO I THINK THAT THEY NEED TO HEAR SOMETHING NEW,
THINGS THAT THEY HAVEN'T HEARD BEFORE.
>> THEY JUST NEED TO FOCUS THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION ON IT.
>> THEY HAVE TO GRIP THE AMERICAN PUBLIC.
>> THEY NEED TO MAKE THIS REALLY A COMPELLING NARRATIVE.
>> IT DOESN'T HAVE TO LOOK LIKE "TOP GUN."
YOU WANT TO FIND THAT SWEET SPOT IN THE MIDDLE.
>> Stephen: YEAH, IT DOESN'T HAVE TO LOOK LIKE "TOP GUN,"
BUT JUST IN CASE, THEY'RE GOING TO HAVE ADAM SCHIFF AND JAMIE
RASKIN PLAY HOT SHIRTLESS VOLLEYBALL.
HE'S CUT. HE'S CUT.
HERE'S THE THING: HEARINGS ONLY MATTER IF PEOPLE ARE HEARING
THEM, WHICH IS WHY WE AT "THE LATE SHOW" HAVE PUT
TOGETHER A PROMO GUARANTEED TO PUT THE ASSES IN THE TV SEATS.
JIM? >> THURSDAY, THURSDAY, THURSDAY!
UNDER THE CAPITOL MEGADOME! IT'S THE HEARINGS ON JANUARY 6!
6, 6, 6! A CONSTITUTION-CRUSHING LINEUP
OF INSURRECTIONIST MAYHEM, FEATURING EXPLOSIVE REVELATIONS
ABOUT THE WINE GREMLIN. THE OXY-OGRE.
AND WHOEVER THE HELL THIS IS. BRING IN THE PAIN OF FORMER
PRESIDENT SCHMUCK-A-TSARS. NEED MORE TO MAKE YOU CARE ABOUT
THE FALL OF DEMOCRACY? HOW ABOUT THE THING YOU CRAVE
MOST? ANOTHER, EVEN SADDER SEASON OF
"THIS IS US." EVERY EPISODE IS A FUNERAL.
♪ ♪ ♪ STILL WANT MORE?
HOW ABOUT BOOBS? WITH $2 GAS.
ONLY YOU CAN SAY DEMOCRACY LIKE THE FOUNDERS INTENDED, BY
WATCHING TV! >> Stephen: NOW, WE WILL LEARN
MORE-- ( APPLAUSE )
SEE PEOPLE ARE-- PEOPLE ARE EXCITED, JON.
WE WILL LEARN MORE ABOUT WHAT TO EXPECT FROM OUR GUEST TONIGHT,
CALIFORNIA DEMOCRAT AND COMMITTEE MEMBER ADAM SCHIFF.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) THERE TONIGHT.
>> Jon: ADAM IS HERE. >> Stephen: HE'S ON THE SHOW
TONIGHT. THAT'S THE KIND OF SHOW WE RUN
HERE. HE'S GOING TO GREASE US WITH ALL
THE HOT. TREASON. GOSS. I REALLY HOPE HE DOES THAT.
WE'RE ALSO GETTING MORE DETAILS ABOUT THE EX-PRESIDENT'S PLANS
FOR THAT TERRIBLE, TERRIBLE DAY. YOU MIGHT REMEMBER AT THE RALLY,
WHEN HE RILED UP THE MOB TO MARCH ON THE CAPITOL?
>> WE'RE GOING TO WALK DOWN-- AND I'LL BE THERE WITH YOU--
WE'RE GOING TO WALK DOWN. WE'RE GOING TO WALK DOWN.
>> Stephen: OF COURSE, HE DIDN'T.p ( LAUGHTER )
TOLD, NONE WAS MORE OBVIOUS THAN "I'M GOING FOR A WALK."
( LAUGHTER ) NOW, REMEMBER--
( APPLAUSE ) REMEMBER, THE PRESIDENT'S
CRONIES HAVE CLAIMED OVER AND OVER AGAIN FOR THE PAST 17
MONTHS THAT THEY COULDN'T HAVE PREDICTED WHAT WAS GONNA HAPPEN,
THAT THE CROWD MARCHING ON THE CAPITOL WAS JUST A SPONTANEOUS
OUTBURST OF PATRIOTIC ZIP TIES AND BODY ARMOR.
BUT WE JUST LEARNED THAT IS JUST AS BIG A LIE AS HIS OATH OF
OFFICE, BECAUSE THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE HAS UNCOVERED THAT THE
FORMER PRESIDENT PUT NEARLY TWO WEEKS OF PERSISTENT PRESSURE ON
THE SECRET SERVICE TO DEVISE A PLAN FOR HIM TO JOIN HIS
SUPPORTERS ON THE MARCH TO THE CAPITOL.
TWO WEEKS. SO HE KNEW EXACTLY WHAT HE WAS
DOING... ( AUDIENCE BOOING )
IS A SENTENCE I NEVER THOUGHT I WOULD SAY ABOUT THE FORMER
PRESIDENT. NOW, HE MAY BE PUTTING THAT--
( APPLAUSE ) PRESSURE ON, BUT THE SECRET
SERVICE SAID, "SORRY, YOU CAN'T."
BUT THEN, ON JANUARY 6, THE FORMER PRESIDENT WENT ONSTAGE
AND SAID "HEY, LET'S DO IT ANYWAY."
SO, THE SECRET SERVICE SCRAMBLED TO LOOK INTO A MOTORCADE THAT
WOULD ESCORT HIM TO THE CAPITOL, BUT ULTIMATELY, SCUTTLED THE
IDEA AS "UNTENABLE" AND "UNSAFE"-- COINCIDENTALLY, ALSO
THE SECRET SERVICE CODE NAMES FOR DON JR. AND ERIC.
( LAUGHTER ) I THINK THAT'S RIGHT, UNTENABLE
AND UNSAFE. IT'S TOO BAD.
I WOULD HAVE LOVED TO SEE HIM STRUGGLE UP THE CAPITOL STEPS,
BATTING AWAY COPS WITH A K.F.C. DRUMSTICK, ONLY TO TRY TO HEAVE
HIMSELF THROUGH THE WINDOW AND GET STUCK "WINNIE THE POOH"
STYLE. ( LAUGHTER )
HANG SOME TEA TOWELS, PUT SOMANTLERS ON IT.
WE'VE GOT AN UPDATE ON THE PLAGUE.
NO, NOT THAT ONE, THE OTHER ONE. AND I'LL CATCH YOU UP IN THE
LATEST INSTALLMENT OF MY TWICE-RUNNING SEGMENT:
>> DAWN OF THE PLANET OF THE MONKEYPOX.
>> YOU GOT TO TELL THEM MONKEYPOX IS PEOPLE!
>> Stephen: UP TO THIS POINT, EXPERTS HAVE REPEATEDLY SAID
THAT THIS VIRUS CAN BE TRANSMITTED BY CLOSE CONTACT,
LIKE SEXUAL INTERCOURSE. BUT NOW THEY'RE SAYING
MONKEYPOX CAN BE AIRBORNE, TOO. I'M BEING TOLD WE HAVE FOOTAGE
OF THE SCIENTISTS MAKING THE DISCOVERY.
>> FLY! FLY!
( APPLAUSE ) MONKEYPOX CAN BE TRANSMITTED
THROUGH AEROSOLS MAKES IT SIMILAR TO THE CORONAVIRUS.
NO, NO, NO!
I CAN'T GO BACK TO LYSOL-ING ALL MY MONKEYS.
( LAUGHTER ) ( LAUGHTER )
I SAID HAPPIER THAN MONKEYPOX. ( LAUGHTER )
OF PAYING HIGHER PRICES, SO CORPORATE AMERICA HAS COME UP
WITH A CLEVER SOLUTION: QUIETLY SHRINKING PACKAGE SIZES WITHOUT
LOWERING PRICES, IN A PHENOMENON CALLED SHRINKFLATION.
IN THEIR DEFENSE, CORPORATIONS SAY, "THE WATER'S JUST VERY
COLD." THESE MANUFACTURERS THINK THEY
CAN GET AWAY WITH IT, BECAUSE THEY ASSUME CUSTOMERS WILL
NOTICE PRICE INCREASES BUT WON'T KEEP TRACK OF SMALL DETAILS,
LIKE THE NUMBER OF SHEETS ON A ROLL OF TOILET PAPER.
WELL, MAYBE PEOPLE WONT, BUT THOSE DAMN BEARS SURE WILL!
THEY'RE OBSESSED WITH RECTAL HYGIENE!
THEY TALK ABOUT IT AS A "FAMILY!"
IT'S UPSETTING TO WATCH! ( LAUGHTER )
NOW, FOLGER'S-- I DON'T WANT TO KNOW.
I DON'T WANT TO KNOW! DON'T DO IT IN THE WOODS!
FOLGER'S COFFEE RECENTLY DOWNSIZED ITS 51-OUNCE CONTAINER
TO 43.5 OUNCES. ( AUDIENCE BOOING )
>> Stephen: YEAH. ( LAUGHTER )
♪ THE BEST PART OF WAKING UP IS NOTHING IN YOUR CUP ♪.
( LAUGHTER ). BUT THE MOST TROUBLING CHANGE IS
THAT BAGS OF FRITOS SCOOPS MARKED "PARTY SIZE" USED TO BE
18 OUNCES, BUT NOW THEY ARE 15.5 OUNCES.
( AUDIENCE BOOING ) ET TU, FRITO?
15.5 OUNCES ISN'T A PARTY. IT'S BARELY A GATHERING.
WHEN I CRACK OPEN A PARTY-SIZE BAG OF FRITOS, I DO
THE RIGHT THING AND EAT THE WHOLE DAMN BAG BY MYSELF
( APPLAUSE ) YEAH!
THIS IS AMERICA. LAN
LAND OF THE FREE-TOS.
BUT NOW, WITH THE SMALLER BAG, I'LL BE 2.5 OUNCES SHORT OF
TOTAL SHAME. SO I'LL HAVE TO OPEN UP A SECOND
BAG, AND THEN I'LL FINISH THAT ONE BECAUSE, AGAIN, FREEDOM.
BUT NOW, AFTER TWO BAGS, 31 OUNCES OF FRITOS DEEP, I FEEL
TERRIBLE ABOUT MYSELF. AND THERE'S ONLY ONE THING THAT
CAN MAKE ME FEEL BETTER: ANOTHER BAG OF FRITOS!
THIS WAY LIES MADNESS. ( APPLAUSE )
THEY THOUGHT WE WOULDN'T FIND OUT!
BUT WE DID! >> I KNEW IT WAS YOU, FRITO.
>> Stephen: WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.
MY GUESTS ARE CHIWETEL EJIOFOR, BUT WHEN WE RETURN, FROM THE
JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF.
STICK AROUND. ♪ ♪ ♪
( APPLAUSE )
EVERYBODY.
GIVE IT UP FOR JON BATISTE AND STAY HUMAN!
THAT'S ALL! JON, JON, JON.
>> Jon: HELLO. >> Stephen: A QUICK REMINDER
WE'RE GOING TO BE LIVE TOMORROW NIGHT, HERE IN THE ED SULLIVAN
THEATER, FOLLOWING THE PRIME-TIME JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE
OPENING PRESENTATIONS. IT'S GOING TO BE FASCINATING.
I CANNOT WAIT. >> Jon: I WONDER WHAT'S GOING
TO HAPPEN. >> Stephen: I HOPE THEY
EDUCATE US, EDUCATE US. TONIGHT WE HAVE COMING OUT HERE
IN A MOMENT, A BRILLIANT ACTOR, CHIWETEL EJIOFOR WILL BE HERE
TONIGHT. >> Jon: YES, INDEED.
>> Stephen: BUT, BEFORE ANY OF THAT, MY FIRST GUEST SONT IS
A SEASONED INVESTIGATOR WHO HAS SERVED AS A CALIFORNIA
CONGRESSMAN FOR OVER 20 YEARS. PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE
SHOW," CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF! ♪ ♪ ♪
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: THANK YOU, SIR.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. I KNOW YOU AND THE REST OF THE
JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE ARE EXTRAORDINARILY BUSY RIGHT NOW,
PREPARING FOR TOMORROW'S PRIME-TIME BROADCAST OF THE
CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS. WE'VE SEEN A LOT OF HEARINGS
OVER THE LAST FIVE YEARS, TWO IMPEACHMENT HEARINGS.
WE'VE SEEN THE MUELLER HEARINGS. HOW ARE THESE HEARINGS THAT ARE
GOING TO KICK OFF TOMORROW NIGHT DIFFERENT?
>> THEY'LL BE DIFFERENT IN A NUMBER OF RESPECTS.
THE MUELLER HEARING WAS ESSENTIALLY ONE WITNESS SPEAKING
IN VERY-- WELL, ABRIEFATED FASHION BEFORE THE COMMITTEE,
VERY LITTLE IN TERMS OF AUDIO OR VISUAL, OTHER ELEMENTS TO THAT
HEARING. EVEN THE UKRAINE HEARINGS
INCORPORATED DOCUMENTARY EVIDENCE IN ADDITIONAL LIVE
TESTIMONY. BUT BOTH WERE CHARACTERIZED BY
VIGOROUS IN-FIGHTING AMONG COMMITTEE MEMBERS.
THIS INVESTIGATION HAS BEEN UTTERLY NONPARTISAN.
WE HAVE BEEN SINGULARY DEVOTED TO PURSUING THE TRUTH, SO YOU'RE
GOING TO SEE NONE OF THE KIND OF BICKERING THAT USUALLY
CHARACTERIZES CONGRESSIONAL HEARINGS.
WE'RE GOING TO SEE LIVE TESTIMONY.
YOU'RE GOING TO SEE VIDEOTAPE TESTIMONY FROM OTHER INTERVIEWS
OR DEPOSITIONS. AUDIO EVIDENCE, DOCUMENTARY
EVIDENCE, HOPEFULLY WOVEN TOGETHER IN A WAY THAT TELLS THE
STORY OF HOW A PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES AND HIS ENABLERS,
FOR THE FIRST TIME IN HISTORY, ATTEMPTED, THROUGH A
MULTIFACETED CAMPAIGN, TO INTERFERE WITH THE PEACEFUL
TRANSFER OF POWER. WE WANT THE PUBLIC TO UNDERSTAND
HOW CLOSE WE CAME TO LOSING OUR DEMOCRACY.
AND MOST IMPORTANT, THE FACT THAT WE ARE NOT OUT OF THE
WOODS. IT WOULD BE ONE THING IF WHAT
STARTED ON JANUARY 6 OR CULMINATED ON JANUARY 6, THE
VIOLENT ATTACK HAD ENDED ON THE SIXTH.
IT DIDN'T END. THE EFFORT TO USE THE LIE THAT
RESULTED IN THAT VIOLENCE HAS CONTINUED.
AND IF ANYTHING, OUR DEMOCRACY IS EVEN MORE VULNERABLE TODAY
THAN IT WAS ON JANUARY 6. >> Stephen: NOW, YOU GUYS
HIRED A FANCY TV PRODUCER, A GUY WHO USED TO WORK AT ABC, TO HELP
WITH THE BROADCAST. IN WHAT WAY IS THIS FELLA
HELPING YOU? AND, SECONDLY, DID YOU THINK YOU
NEEDED A FANCY TV PRODUCER BECAUSE THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
AREN'T INTERESTED IN WHETHER DEMOCRACY SURVIVES?
>> WE'RE NOT COMMENTING ON THE INTERNAL STAFFING OR HOW WE'RE
STRUCTURING THE HEARINGS, BEYOND A CERTAIN DEGREE.
BUT, LOOK, THIS IS A VERY DIFFERENT ERA THAN WATERGATE.
I WISH WE WERE BACK IN THE DAY WHEN THE AMERICAN PUBLIC WOULD
SIT FOR HOURS AND HOURS AT A TIME AND WATCH HEARINGS OF
NATIONAL CONSEQUENCE, AND THEY WOULD BE PRESENTED, YOU KNOW, BY
MAJOR NETWORKS, RATHER THAN, YOU KNOW, THE TALKING HEADS ON FOX
NEWS. BUT WE'RE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD
NOW, WHERE MOST PEOPLE GET THEIR INFORMATION FROM SOCIAL MEDIA,
WHERE WE HAVE TO BE ABLE TO TELL THE STORY IN AN ENGAGING WAY,
TELL IT IN A LIMITED PERIOD OF TIME.
THE CHALLENGE WE HAVE IS WE HAVE INTERVIEWED OVER 1,000 PEOPLE.
WE'VE GATHERED OVER 100,000 DOCUMENTS.
THERE'S NO SHORTAGE OF EVIDENCE TO PRESENT TO THE PUBLIC.
AND THE QUESTION IS HOW DO WE PRESENT IT IN A WAY THAT IS
ENGAGING, THAT TELLS THE STORY IN A CLEAR, COMPELLING WAY?
AND THAT'S WHAT WE'RE AIMING AT, JUST A STRAIGHT RETELLING OF
WHAT HAPPENED SO THAT THE PUBLIC, WHICH KNOWS A LOT
ALREADY. IT KNOWS A PIECE HERE AND A
PIECE THERE. BUT HASN'T SEEN HOW IT ALL FITS
TOGETHER. THERE WERE EFFORTS TO DECAPITATE
THE LEADERSHIP OF THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT AND GET IT TO DO THE
PRESIDENT'S WILL. THERE WERE EFFORTS TO PUT
PRESSURE ON STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS OFFICIALS THAT RESULT
IN THE CREATION OF FAKEEX LECTORS.
THERE WERE PRESSURES OF COURSE FOR THE VICE PRESIDENT.
THEY CAME TOGETHER IN THE VIOLENT ATTACK, THAT LAST-DITCH
EFFORT TO SLOW OR STOP THE TRANSFER OF POWER.
AND WHAT WE AIM TO DO IS TO TELL THAT STORY AND DO IT IN A WAY
THAT WILL HOLD THE PUBLIC'S ATTENTION.
>> Stephen: THAT'S WHAT-- WHAT YOU'RE SAYING IS AN IMPORTANT
POINT HERE IS THAT WHILE IT'S CALLED "THE JANUARY 6
COMMITTEE," YOU GUYS ARE ACTUALLY STUDYING MONTHS OF--ILE
USE THE TERM "CONSPIRACY." MONTHS OF CONSPIRING IN ORDER TO
OVERTURN A FREE AND FAIR ELECTION THAT WAS A SLOW-MOTION
COUP THAT WE WATCHED HAPPEN THAT PREDICTABLY RESULTED IN JANUARY
6. THE ONLY PEOPLE WHO DIDN'T SEE
SOMETHING LIKE THIS COMING WERE DELUDING THEMSELVES.
AND MY CONCERN IS THAT WE ALL SAW THIS HAPPEN WITH OUR EYES.
WE SAW WHAT WAS HAPPENING IN THE MONTHS LEADING UP TO IT, ALL THE
LIES AND THE DENIAL AND THE SUBTERFUGE THAT WAS HAPPENING.
MY CONCERN IS THAT WE WILL GET A LOT MORE EVIDENCE OF THE THINGS
THAT WE ALREADY KNOW. WHAT I'M HOPING WE'LL GET
EVIDENCE OF THINGS WE DIDN'T KNOW, THAT WE'LL SEE A COMPLETER
PICTURE THAT COULD POSSIBLY BE CHANGE THE MINDS OF SOMEONE OUT
THERE. WILL WE LEARN THINGS THAT WE DID
NOT KNOW, ACTIONS, EVENTS, PARTS OF A CONSPIRACY THAT WE HAVE NOT
SEEN BEFORE? >> YOU WILL CERTAINLY LEARN A
GREAT MANY THINGS THAT ARE NOT IN THE PUBLIC ARENA ALREADY.
BUT YOU'RE RIGHT, THE PUBLIC KNOWS A LOT ALREADY, AND WHAT IS
SO CHALLENGING AND HAS BEEN REALLY SINCE THE BEGINNING OF
THIS TRUMPEST ERA IS THAT THE PUBLIC IS EXPOSED TO ONE SHOCK
AFTER ANOTHER, ONE INCREDIBLE AND TRAGIC BREAKDOWN OF OUR
DEMOCRATIC SYSTEM AFTER ANOTHER. AND YOU GET NUMB WITH IT.
AND I THINK THE CHALLENGE FOR OUR COMMITTEE IS TO BREAK
THROUGH THAT, TO GRAB PEOPLE BY THE LAPELS AND SAY, "WE CAME
CLOSE TO LOSING OUR DEMOCRACY." >> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A
QUICK BREAK, BUT WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH MORE CONGRESSMAN ADAM
SCHIFF. ♪ ♪ ♪
WE'RE BACK HERE WITH A MEMBER OF THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE,
CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF. WHAT IS THE WORST-CASE SCENARIO
HERE? LET'S SAY THIS JANUARY 6
COMMITTEE DIDN'T EXIST. THERE WASN'T AN INVESTIGATION.
WHAT IF PEOPLE DON'T CARE ABOUT WHAT THEY LEARN?
WHEN YOU SAY, "LOSE OUR DEMOCRACY," I'VE HEARD THAT
PHRASE A LOT. I'VE USED THAT PHRASE A LOT.
IT MEANS SOMETHING TO ME. WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO YOU?
WHAT ARE YOU DESCRIBING IN LOSING OUR DEMOCRACY?
>> WELL, ONE OF THE GOALS, I THINK OF THE FORMER PRESIDENT
AND HIS ENABLERS IS TO SUCCEED WHERE THEY FAILED IN 2020.
IN 2020, THEY INCITED A VIOLENT ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL.
THEY TRIED TO COERCE STATE AND LOCAL ELECTIONS OFFICIALS TO
OVERTURN THE RESULT. THEY TRIED ANY NUMBER OF MEANS
TO STOP THE MOST IMPORTANT PART OF A DEMOCRACY, WHICH IS THE
PEACEFUL TRANSFER OF POWER. WHAT THEY SEEM TO HAVE LEARNED
IS THAT MAYBE A VIOLENT ATTACK ON THE CAPITOL IS NOT THE BEST
WAY TO UNDERMINE A DEMOCRACY. MAYBE THE BEST WAY IS TO MAKE IT
REALLY HARD FOR PEOPLE TO VOTE. AND EVEN WHEN THEY DO VOTE, IF
THEY DON'T VOTE YOUR WAY, MAKE IT EASY FOR PARTISAN
LEGISLATURES TO OVERTURN THE RESULTS OR DRIVE LOCAL
MEROTACRATTIC OFFICIALS OUT OF TOWN WITH DEATH THREATS, REPLACE
THEM WITH PEOPLE WHO BASICALLY WILL BE STOOGES OF THE FORMER
PRESIDENT. THAT'S HOW YOU LOSE A DEMOCRACY.
>> Stephen: BUT HAVEN'T THOSE THINGS ALREADY HAPPENED?
>> THOSE THINGS ARE HAPPENING. WE'RE PUSHING BACK.
WE'RE FIGHTING BACK. AND WE NEED TO, I THINK, ALERT
THE COUNTRY THAT THIS IS ANYTHING ON.
THE REASON THE SYSTEM HELD-- AND IT DIDN'T HOLD BY MUCH-- IS THAT
THERE WERE A LOT OF VERY PRINCIPLED ELECTIONS OFFICIALS
AROUND THE COUNTRY, INCLUDING A LOT OF REPUBLICANS, WHO STUCK
THEIR NECK OUT, WHO CONTINUE TO STICK THEIR NECK OUT, AND SAY,
YOU KNOW, WE'RE GOING TO UPHOLD OUR DEMOCRACY IN THE WAY IT'S
SUPPOSED TO WORK, WHOEVER WINS AND WHOEVER LOSES.
BUT THOSE PEOPLE ARE AT RISK. AND WE NEED TO SOUND THE ALARM.
>> Stephen: TOMORROW, WE'LL HEAR FROM TWO--
( APPLAUSE ) QUESTED AND OFFICER CAROLYN
EDWARDS. WHO ARE THEY AND WHY ARE THEY
IMPORTANT TO THE STORY? >> CAROLYN EDWARDS IS A RANK AND
FILE CAPITOL POLICE OFFICER. SHE WAS AMONG THE FIRST
ASSAULTED, BRUTALLY ASSAULTED ON JANUARY 6.
AND HER TESTIMONY, I THINK, WILL BE A POWERFUL REMINDER OF WHAT
THAT DAY WAS REALLY LIKE, THAT THIS WAS NOT A NORMAL TOURIST
DAY. THIS WAS NOT LEGITIMATE
POLITICAL DISCOURSE. THERE WERE OVER 100 CAPITOL
POLICE OFFICERS AND METROPOLITAN POLICE OFFICERS WHO WERE BADLY
BEATEN, GOUGED, BEAR SPRAYED, AND WHO SUFFERED AND CONTINUE TO
SUFFER SERIOUS INJURIES AS A RESULT.
NICK QUESTED IS A DOCUMENTARY FILMMAKER WHO WAS PRESENT ON
JANUARY 5 AND 6, HAS SOME FOOTAGE THE PUBLIC HAS NEVER
SEEN. >> Stephen: IS HE THE GUY WHO
WAS FOLLOWING AROUND THE PROUD BOYS?
>> HE DOES HAVE FOOTAGE-- I THINK HE WAS EMBEDDED WITH SOME
OF THESE GROUPS. AND HE WILL BE SHARING THAT
FOOTAGE AND TESTIMONY. I CAN'T GO INTO ANY OF THE
SPECIFICS OF IT. >> Stephen: THAT'S FINE, YOU
CAN GO INTO SPECIFICS. THAT'S ALL RIGHT WITH ME.
( LAUGHTER ). THINK, IMPORTANT EYEWITNESSES
THAT CAN SHARE WITH THE PUBLIC AND REMIND THEM AGAIN ABOUT THE
HORRORS OF THAT DAY. AND ALSO WHO WAS THERE AND THE
PARTICIPATION OF THESE WHITE NATIONALIST GROUPS.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK, BUT WHEN WE COME BACK, I
WILL ASK THE CONGRESSMAN WHAT THE BEST POSSIBLE OUTCOME OF
THESE HEARINGS COULD BE. STICK AROUND.
WE'RE BACK HERE WITH A MEMBER OF THE JANUARY 6 COMMITTEE,
CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF. NOW, THERE HAVE BEEN A COUPLE OF
INDICTMENTS OF PEOPLE WHO HAVE DEFIED THE SUBPOENA.
NAVARRO THIS WEEK. BANNON PREVIOUSLY.
BUT THIS WEEK, THE D.O.J.-- OR LAST WEEK, THE D.O.J. DECLINED
TO CHARGE MARK MEADOWS AND DAN SCAVINO, WHO WERE BOTH ACTING
WHITE HOUSE CHIEF OF STAFF, AND SCAVINO WAS A COUNSELOR OF THE
PRESIDENT OF SOME REGARD. WHAT IS YOUR REACTION TO THE
D.O.J. NOT ENFORCING THE SUBPOENAS ON THOSE TWO MEN?
>> DEEPLY DISAPPOINTED AND ALARMED.
BECAUSE IF THE DEPARTMENT OF JUSTICE IS UNWILLING TO
PROSECUTE PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FLAGRANT CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS,
THEN IT'S GOING TO BREED FURTHER CONTEMPT.
OTHER PEOPLE SIMPLY DECIDING THEY, TOO, DON'T NEED TO SHOW
UP. THAT A SUBPOENA IS, WELL, MAYBE
I WILL, MAYBE I WON'T. THE REALITY IS BOTH OF THEM HAVE
VERY DIRECT EVIDENCE RELEVANT TO OUR INVESTIGATION.
BOTH OF THEM HAVE EVIDENCE AND LINES OF QUESTIONS WE WANT TO
ASK THEM THAT DON'T INVOLVE ANY CONCEIVABLE PRIVILEGE.
SO TO ME THE DECISION OF THE DEPARTMENT IS INEXPLICABLE, AND
IT DOESN'T, I THINK, HERALD GOOD NEWS IN TERMS OF ACCOUNTABILITY
BECAUSE IF THE DEPARTMENT IS UNWILLING TO PROSECUTE PEOPLE
WHO ARE IN OBVIOUS CONTEMPT OF CONGRESS, THEN WHAT ABOUT THE
MORE SERIOUS CRIMES INVOLVING THE EFFORTS TO OVERTURN THE
ELECTION? >> Stephen: AT THE END OF THIS
INVESTIGATION, ON THE 23rd, WHICH I BELIEVE IS THE LAST
NIGHT, WHICH WILL ALSO BE IN PRIME TIME, WHAT IS THE
BEST-CASE SCENARIO? WHAT DO YOU HOPE THE OUTCOME OF
THIS IS? >> I HOPE THE OUTCOME IS THAT
FOR AMERICANS THAT HAVE AN OPEN MIND, THAT THEY WILL SEE ALL OF
THE DIFFERENT EFFORTS THAT WERE MADE TO INTERFERE WITH A FREE
AND FAIR ELECTION BY THE FORMER PRESIDENT AND OTHERS TO IRRIGATE
TO THEMSELVESES WILL THE DECISION.
FORGET ABOUT WHAT MILLIONS AND MILLIONS OF AMERICANS VOTED FOR.
IT'S OUR INHERENT RIGHT TO POWER.
WE'RE GOING TO OVERTURN THE ELECTION.
WE'LL USE VIOLENCE IF NECESSARY. I HOPE THEY SEE JUST HOW
DANGEROUS THAT WAS. I HOPE THAT IT PUTS TO REST FOR
ANYONE WITH AN OPEN MIND JUST THE EXTRAORDINARY DANGER AND
DISASTER THAT WAS JANUARY 6 AND WHAT LED TO IT.
BUT MOSTLY, I HOPE THAT IT MOTIVATES PEOPLE TO TAKE ACTION
TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY. BECAUSE WE WILL TAKE ACTION IN
CONGRESS. WE WILL WORK ON ELECT TORRAL
ACCOUNT ACTS AND OTHER FORMS, AND WE MAINTAIN SUCCEED IN
GETTING PASSED. BUT ULTIMATELY, IT'S UP TO THE
CITIZENRY TO PROTECT OUR DEMOCRACY.
AND IF WE CAN ENGAGE THE PUBLIC AND SHOW THEM THE PERIL AND
MOTIVATE THEM TO DO SOMETHING, THEN I WILL CONSIDER IT A GREAT
SUCCESS. ( APPLAUSE ).
LUCK TOMORROW AND OVER THE NEXT SEVERAL WEEKS.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE. >> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: CONGRESSMAN ADAM SCHIFF, EVERYBODY!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH CHIWETEL EJIOFOR.
EVERYBODY! FOLKS, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY
NEXT GUEST IS A BRILLIANT ACTOR YOU KNOW FROM "KINKY BOOTS," "12
YEARS A SLAVE," AND "DOCTOR STRANGE IN THE MULTIVERSE OF
MADNESS." HE NOW STARS IN "THE MAN WHO
FELL TO EARTH." >> YOU'RE A DINOSAUR.
>> EXCUSE ME. >> IT'S A GOOD THING.
JUSTIN HAS A CHILD WHO QUITE BRILLIANTLY ANNOUNCED THAT
EVERYONE ON EARTH IS EITHER AN ALIEN OR A DINOSAUR.
IF YOU'RE A DINOSAUR, YOU'VE BEEN ON THE PLANET FOR A LONG,
LONG TIME, LIVED MANY LIVES. YOU ARE WISE, VERY TOUGH, YOU
KNOW THE TERRAIN, YOU KNOW HOW TO SURVIVE.
ALIEN, ESSENTIALLY, JUST ARRI ARRIVED, DOESN'T HAVE ANY OF
THAT. BUT DOES HAVE PERSPECTIVE.
>> AND YOU ARE? >> AN ALIEN.
>> Stephen: PLEASE WELCOME TO "THE LATE SHOW," CHIWETEL
EJIOFOR! ♪ ♪ ♪
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: THANKS FOR BEING
HERE. >> REAL PLEASURE, REAL PLEASURE
TO BE HERE. >> Stephen: NICE TO HAVE YOU
ON. YOU STAR IN "THE MAN WHO FELL TO
EARTH." AND PEOPLE MAY KNOW THIS AS A
FILM SOME 45 YEARS AGO WITH DAVID BOWIE, WHO PLAYS AN ALIEN
WHO COMES TO THE PLANET. THIS ISN'T A REMAKE, RIGHT?
>> NO, THIS IS-- THIS IS A SEQUEL OF SORTS, YOU KNOW, THIS
IS 40 YEARS AFTER THE EVENTS OF THE FILM, "THE MAN WHO FELL TO
EARTH." AND SO, IT JUST PICKS UP THE
STORY, EXPANDS THESE CHARACTERS AND CARRIES ON TELLING THIS KIND
OF REMARKABLE TELL OF-- YOU KNOW, THIS IS ANOTHER ANTHEAN,
AND I'M AN ANTHEANPLAYING FARADAY.
AND IT PICKS UP FARADAY'S STORY AS HE COMES TO EARTH.
>> Stephen: HOW DO YOU PREPARE AS AN ACTOR TO PLAY AS A PERSON
WHO HAS NO KNOWLEDGE OF HUMAN EXISTENCE?
HOW DO YOU GET THE BACK STORY ON A LITERAL ALIEN?
>> IT'S INTERESTING BECAUSE, YOU KNOW, YOU CAN'T REALLY-- YOU
CAN'T-- OBVIOUSLY, YOU CAN'T BASE IT ON ANYTHING IN A WAY.
YOU'VE GOT TO FIND YOUR OWN-- YOU CAN ONLY PLAY YOUR OWN
ALIEN, YOU KNOW, IS THE THING. ( LAUGHTER ).
>> SO YOU'VE KIND OF GOT TO-- YOU'VE KIND OF GOT TO FIND YOUR
INNER ALIEN. >> Stephen: I CAN IMAGINE
SOMETIMES IN MY LIFE WHEN I FELT LIKE AN ALIEN.
>> EXACTLY. >> Stephen: HAVE YOU FELT LIKE
AN ALIEN? >> TOTALLY.
I THINK THAT'S THE THING THAT YOU FIND-- I THINK EVERYBODY
HAS. EVERYBODY HAS HAD THOSE MOMENTS
WHEN YOU FEEL LIKE YOU'RE ON THE OUTSIDE LOOKING IN TO A
CIRCUMSTANCE. AND THOSE CAN BE LARGE ISSUES.
YOU KNOW, MY FAMILY IMMIGRATED TO THE U.K. FROM NIGERIA, IN
THAT KIND OF CONTEXT, ONE CAN VERY EASILY UNDERSTAND THE IDEAS
OF BEING ALIEN, FINDING YOUR FEET IN A NEW PLACE.
BUT I THINK IT'S LIKE THE FIRST DAY AT SCHOOL.
WE ALL HAVE THESE EXPERIENCE WHERE'S WE FELT THIS WAY, AND
IT'S FOR ME TRYING TO PLAY THIS PART WAS REALLY TO LOOK AT THOSE
EXPERIENCES, UNDERSTAND THEM SORT OF INTERNALLY.
AND THEN JUST TRY AND BE FREE WITH IT, YOU KNOW, JUST TRY AND
REALLY PLAY WHAT THOSE EMOTIONS MIGHT LEAD TO, WHAT THOSE
FEELINGS MIGHT BE. >> Stephen: YOU STARTED
PERFORMING AT A PRETTY YOUNG AGE, RIGHT, I UNDERSTAND, 12,
13, SOMETHING LIKE THAT? >> ABOUT 13, YEAH.
>> Stephen: I USED TO BE AN ACTOR, AS OPPOSED TO WHATEVER
THIS IS. ( LAUGHTER )
AND I LOVED BEING ON STAGE BECAUSE IT FELT LIKE HOME WHEN
THE WORLD DIDN'T FEEL LIKE HOME IN MANY WAYS.
I'M CURIOUS HOW IT FELT TO YOU AT THAT AGE WHEN CERTAINLY GOING
INTO YOUR TEENAGED YEARS, MANY PEOPLE FEEL DISCONNECTED FROM
THEIR FRIENDS AND ANXIOUS AND NOT KNOWING WHAT'S HAPPENING TO
THEMSELVES AND THEIR PLACE IN THE WORLD.
WHAT DID IT PROVIDE YOU? >> WELL, IT WAS AN EXTRAORDINARY
FORM OF SELF-EXPRESSION, YOU KNOW.
THE FREEDOM OF SELF EXPRESSION WITHOUT FEAR OF EXPOSURE --
>> Stephen: SAY THAT AGAIN ONE MORE TIME.
>> THE FREEDOM OF SELF-EXPRESSION WITHOUT THE FEAR
OF EXPOSURE. .>> Stephen: THAT'S BEAUTIFULLY
PARSED. GIVE SOMEONE A MASK AND THEY CAN
SHOW YOU THEIR REAL FACE. >> EXACTLY.
THAT'S HOW I CAME TO IT. WHEN I WAS AT SCHOOL WE HAD A
GREAT THEATER, THE EDWARD ALAIN THEATER, AND I NEVER WENT TO IT.
I JUST NEVER WENT. AND WE WERE DOING A SHAKESPEARE
PLAY IN ENGLISH CLASS, WE WERE DOING "HENRY IV PART ONE" AND I
FOUND MYSELF INTRIGUED BY IT. I TURN AND SORT OF DRAWN TO THIS
IDEA, AND THAT'S WHEN I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I WONDER WHAT THIS IS
ALL ABOUT, WHAT THIS POETRY, WHAT THIS MEANING IS ALL ABOUT.
I WENT TO THE THEATER AND THEY WERE AUDITIONS FOR "MEASURE FOR
MEASURE, "AND I DECIDED TO DO THAT, AND THAT'S WHEN I STARTED
WORKING AS AN ACTOR-- WELL, DOING PLAYS.
I SUPPOSE WORKING AS AN ACTOR CAME LATER, BUT THAT'S WHEN I
FELL IN LOVE WITH IT, WITH THE IDEA OF EXPRESSING MYSELF, OF
THE FREEDOM TO DO THAT. >> Stephen: I LOVE THE TERM
"WET WEDNESDAY." IT SOUNDS LIKE THE BRITISH
VERSION OF A TACO TUESDAY. >> I THINK IT MIGHT BE THE
BRITISH VERSION. >> Stephen: YOU'RE ALSO,
YOU'RE ALSO-- YOU'RE KNOWN FOR SHAKESPEARE.
YOU WON AN OLIVIER AWARD FOR PLAYING "OTELLO."
BUT YOU'RE ALSO IN THE MARVEL UNIVERSE.
I'M JUST CURIOUS WHAT SHAKESPEARE PLAY YOU THINK WOULD
BEST TRANSLATE TO THE MCU? >> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION.
>> Stephen: THAT'S ALL I DO. THAT'S ALL I DO.
>> THAT'S A VERY GOOD QUESTION. ALL DAY, EVERY DAY.
>> Stephen: ALL GOOD QUESTIONS.
>> I THINK THAT THERE'S SO MUCH SHAKESPEARE IN THE MCU, LAY IT
IN THERE THE TEXT TO IT, A RUGGED, SHAKESPEAREAN FEEL TO IT
I THINK SOMETIMES, ALL OF THE THE KIND OF CONFLICTS AND THE
BIG SORT OF DRAMAS AND THE FANTASY OF IT ALL.
>> Stephen: AND MANICURED BEARDS AND CAPES.
>> OF COURSE. SO I THINK THERE ARE SO MANY OF
THEM. I REMEMBER SEEING "BLACK
PANTHER" AND THINKING THERE ARE ALL THE REFERENCES TO HAMLET AND
THE RELATIONSHIP TO HIS FATHER AND THE KINGDOM --
>> Stephen: YOU WERE THE GHOST OF HIS FATHER.
>> EXACTLY. I THINK GOING FURTHER INTO THE--
I KNOW, YOU KNOW, SOME OF THE-- SOME OF THE MARVEL UNIVERSE GOES
INTO THE KIND OF FANTASIES THAT WOULD BE LIKE "A MIDSUMMER
NIGHT'S DREAM" SORT OF AREA, REALLY PUSHING THAT KIND OF
ETHEREAL, MAGICAL REALM OF IT ALL WOULD BE --
>> Stephen: HERE'S MY PITCH. >> OKAY.
>> Stephen: "THE TEMPTEST," OKAY, BECAUSE WHO IS PROSPERO,
OTHER THAN THE SORCER SUPREME? >> THAT'S GENIUS.
>> Stephen: THERE ARE FIGHTS, THERE ARE STORMS.
>> IT MIGHT BE WHAT I'VE BEEN LOOKING FOR ALL THIS TIME.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ). >> Stephen: JUST SOME OF MY
IDEAS ARE FROM STEPHEN COLBERT. THAT'S ALL I ASK FOR.
NEW EPISODES OF "THE MAN WHO FELL TO EARTH" ARE AVAILABLE
SUNDAYS ON SHOWTIME. CHIWETEL EJIOFOR, EVERYBODY!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH A PERFORMANCE BY KURT VILE.
>> Stephen: PERFORMING "MOUNT AIRY HILL (WAY GONE)" FROM
HIS ALBUM, "WATCH MY MOVES," KURT VILE AND THE VIOLATORS!
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
♪ STANDING ON TOP OF MOUNT AIRY HILL
♪ THINKIN' ABOUT FLYIN'
♪ BEEN AROUND BUT NOW I'M GONE
♪ BEEN GONE BUT NOW I'M GOIN' DOWN
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪
♪ I WAS FLYIN' HIGH THROUGH THE NIGHT
♪ WHEN THE MORNIN' CAME BUT I WAS GONE
♪ IF YOU KNOW WHAT I MEAN
♪ I WAS AROUND BUT NOW I'M GONE
♪ BEEN DONE DOWN BUT NOW I'M JUST
♪ WAY DOWN LOW WATCH MY MOVES
♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ I DO THE SNAKE IN THE GRASS
HE DO THE WIGGLE IT AROUND NOW ♪ WAY DOWN LOW
I BEEN AROUND ♪ BUT NOW I'M GONE
BEEN GONE ♪ BUT NOW
I'M JUST WAY GONE ♪ I BEEN AROUND
BUT NOW I'M GONE ♪ BEEN GONE
BUT NOW I'M WAY GONE ♪ ♪ ♪
♪ ♪ ♪
♪ ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
PERFORMANCE ON ColbertLateShow.com.
KURT VILE AND THE VIOLATORS, EVERYBODY!
THAT'S IT FOR "THE LATE SHOW." TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN WE WILL BE
LIVE FOLLOWING THE JANUARY 6th COMMITTEE'S HEARINGS.
GOOD NIGHT.