>> RUSSIAN PRESIDENT VLADIMIR PUTIN SIGNALED A MAJOR, PUBLIC
ESCALATION OF THE WAR IN UKRAINE, ANNOUNCING THE
MOBILIZATION OF SOME 300,000 RUSSIAN RESERVISTS.
>> AFTER PUTIN'S CONSCRIPTION ANNOUNCEMENT, RUSSIANS ARE
LOOKING FOR WAYS OUT OF THE WAR, MAKING "HOW TO BREAK ARM" THE
♪ ♪ ♪
>> Announcer: IT'S "THE LATE SHOW WITH STEPHEN COLBERT."
TONIGHT: JAMES AND THE GIANT PREACH.
PLUS, STEPHEN WELCOMES: OLIVIA WILDE
AND UKRAINE'S FOREIGN MINISTER, DMYTRO KULEBA
FEATURING LOUIS CATO AND THE LATE SHOW BAND.
AND NOW, LIVE ON TAPE FROM THE ED SULLIVAN THEATER IN NEW YORK
CITY, IT'S STEPHEN COLBERT!
♪ ♪ ♪ ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ).
>> Stephen: GOOD TO SEE YOU.
LOVELY TO SEE YOU.
GENTLEMEN, GENTLEMEN, MY LADIES.
HAPPY WEDNESDAY.
NICE TO SEE YOU.
HEY!
HEY, PLEASE HAVE A SEAT, EVERYBODY.
WELCOME, WELCOME, ONE AND ALL, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN TO "THE
LATE SHOW."
I'M YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT.
AND I'M HERE TO SALE YOU, FOLKS IT'S BEEN A TERRIBLE, HORRIBLE,
NO-GOOD, VERY BAD WEEK FOR FORMER PRESIDENT, THE REAL DIM
SHADY.
AND THINGS JUST A LITTLE BIT MORE WORSER, BECAUSE TODAY, NEW
YORK ATTORNEY GENERAL LETITIA JAMES, WHO HAS BEEN
INVESTIGATING THE EX-PRESIDENT'S BUSINESS DEALINGS FOR THREE
YEARS, MADE A BIG ANNOUNCEMENT.
>> I AM ANNOUNCING THAT TODAY WE'RE FILING A LAWSUIT AGAINST
DONALD TRUMP FOR VIOLATING THE LAW AS PART OF HIS EFFORTS TO
GENERATE PROFITS FOR HIMSELF, HIS FAMILY, HIS COMPANY.
( RINGING BELL ) >> Stephen: THAT SOUND MEANS THE
EX-PRESIDENT JUST HIT HIS 1,000th LAWSUIT!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) JONNY...
( APPLAUSE ) JOHNNY, TELL HIM WHAT HE'S
WON!
>> CONTINUED FREEDOM!
THERE ARE NO CONSEQUENCES!
CAUSE AND EFFECT IS A LIE!
WE'RE NOTHING BUT CLUSTERS OF MATTER HURTLING THROUGH AN
INDIFFERENT UNIVERSE!
I'M GOING TO GO EAT AN ENTIRE SHEET CAKE ON MY BRAND-NEW
DINETTE SET FROM BROYHILL.
BROYHILL: GOD IS DEAD!
BACK TO YOU, STEVE!
>> Stephen: THANKS, JOHNNY!
SO, WHAT CRIME DID HE CRIME THIS TIME?
BANK FRAUD.
ALLEGEDLY.
AND REPEATEDLY.
( LAUGHTER ) THE PRESIDENT WOULD CLAIM HIS
PROPERTIES WERE WORTH A LOT MORE THAN THEY ACTUALLY WERE, SO HE
COULD USE THEM AS COLLATERAL FOR HUGE LOANS HE DESPERATELY
NEEDED FROM THINK ABOUTS.
AND WHEN IT COMES TO FAKING THE NUMBERS, LETICIA JAMES ISN'T.
SHE HAS THE RECEIPTS, OVER 200 OF THEM, INCLUDING HIS COMPANY
CLAIMING THAT A DOZEN RENT-STABILIZED APARTMENTS WERE
WORTH MORE THAN $49.5 MILLION WHEN, IN FACT, THEY HAD BEEN
APPRAISED AT A COMBINED $750,000.
THAT IS 65 TIMES LESS MONEY!
AND IT'S NO SURPRISE.
THE PRESIDENT IS KNOWN FOR INFLATED ASSETS.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) I'M GUESSING THIS PRESS
CONFERENCE GOT THE EX-PREZ RANKLED TO HIS CANKLES, BECAUSE
THE ONE THING HE HATES MORE THAN ANYTHING IS PEOPLE HEARING HE'S
NOT AS RICH AS HE CLAIMS HE IS.
CASE IN POINT, JAMES REVEALED HIS PROPERTY AT MAR-A-LAGO HAS A
VALUE OF $75 MILLION.
NOT BAD.
BUT THE EX-PRESIDENT HAD CLAIMED IT WAS WORTH $739 MILLION.
WELL, OF COURSE, IT'S WORTH LESS NOW!
THE F.B.I. TOOK AWAY ALL THE MOST RE-SELLABLE DOCUMENTS!
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
SO-- ( APPLAUSE )
THEY ENJOYED THAT.
>> Louis: I ENJOYED THAT!
>> Stephen: ENJOYED THE JOKE.
SO WHAT, EXACTLY, IS THE FAMILY LOOKING AT IN TERMS OF
PUNISHMENT?
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL HAS ASKED THAT A JUDGE REVOKE THE FAMILY'S
BUSINESS CERTIFICATE, BAR THE FAMILY FROM SERVING AS AN
OFFICER OF ANY BUSINESS IN THE STATE, AND A FIVE-YEAR BAN ON
THE FAMILY FROM ACQUIRING REAL ESTATE OR GETTING BUSINESS LOANS
FROM ANY COMPANY IN NEW YORK.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) SO... SO... THE FAMILY WOULDN'T
BE ALLOWED TO HAVE A BUSINESS BE ON THE BOARD OF A BUSINESS,
DO REAL ESTATE BUSINESS, GET
BUSINESS LOANS, OR ROCK TO BACHMAN TURNER OVERDRIVE'S
"TAKING CARE OF BUSINESS."
THE ATTORNEY GENERAL ALSO WANTS PAYBACK-- LITERALLY.
SHE'S ASKING FOR THE FAMILY TO REPAY $250 MILLION TO LENDERS.
( APPLAUSE ) LONG GREEN, BABY.
>> Louis: PAYBACK!
>> Stephen: TO WHICH THE FAMILY SAID, "WHAT A COINCIDENCE!
WE HAVE A 300-SQUARE-FOOT STUDIO APARTMENT ON STATEN ISLAND
THAT'S VALUED AT EXACTLY $250 MILLION!"
( APPLAUSE ) WE ALSO HAVE A HORSE.
IN CLOSING, THE ATTORNEY GENERAL BROKE OUT THE RHYMING
DICTIONARY.
>> CLAIMING YOU HAVE MONEY THAT YOU DO NOT HAVE DOES NOT AMOUNT
TO THE ART OF THE DEAL.
IT'S THE ART OF THE STEAL.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: PRETTY GOOD.
IT'S PRETTY GOOD, BUT YOU GOTTA WONDER, HOW LONG DID THE
ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE WORK ON THAT ONE?
"ART OF THE SQUEAL?
NO.
ART OF CONGEAL?
NO.
ART OF SHAQUILLE O'NEAL?
DAMMIT!
PUT ON A POT OF COFFEE.
WE'RE HERE TILL WE GET IT RIGHT!
THE LEGAL NEWS TODAY ISN'T ALL BAD FOR THE FORMER PRESIDENT.
SOME OF IT IS EXTRAORDINARILY TERRIBLE, BECAUSE HE'S STILL IN
BIG, BIG, BIG TROUBLE FOR STEALING A BUNCH OF
CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS AND USING THEM TO PROP UP THE SHORT LEG OF
THE MAR-A-LAGO WAFFLE STATION.
HERE'S BASICALLY WHERE THINGS STAND.
LAST WEEK, A FLORIDA JUDGE WHO THE FORMER PRESIDENT APPOINTED
AGREED TO HELP HIM STALL THE D.O.J. BY RULING THAT THE
CLASSIFIED DOCUMENTS SHOULD BE REVIEWED BY A "SPECIAL
MASTER"-- SPECIFICALLY, JUDGE RAYMOND DEARIE.
AND IF YOU THOUGHT THE TERM "SPECIAL MASTER" DIDN'T COME OFF
AS KINKY ENOUGH, MEET "SPECIAL MASTER DEARIE."
( LAUGHTER ) SOUNDS LIKE AN S&M GRANDMA.
( AS SWEET GRANDMA ) "I'M YOUR SPECIAL MASTER NOW,
DEARIE.
OKAY?
YOU CRAWL INTO THE RED ROOM OF PAIN, YOU CRAWL-- LISTEN HERE,
WORM, LISTEN HERE, WARM.
YOU CRAWL INTO THE RED ROOM OF PAIN AND YOU LICK THE TENNIS
BALLS AT THE BOTTOM OF MY WALKER.
OR YOUR ORTHOTICS.
THE.
YESTERDAY, JUDGE DEARIE GREW IMPATIENT WITH THE FORMER
PRESIDENT'S LAWYERS.
HERE'S WHY.
THE EX-PRESIDENT HAS REPEATEDLY MADE PUBLIC STATEMENTS CLAIMING
THAT HE HAD DECLASSIFIED THE RECORDS.
BUT NEITHER HE NOR HIS LAWYERS HAVE EVER MADE THOSE SAME
ASSERTIONS IN COURT, WHERE THEY COULD FACE PENALTIES FOR LYING.
THE D.O.J., ON THE OTHER HAND, SAYS ALL THE DOCUMENTS ARE
CLASSIFIED, POINTING TO THE EVIDENCE THAT THE DOCUMENTS
ALL SAY "CLASSIFIED."
( LAUGHTER ) SO THE JUDGE STRAIGHT-UP ASKED
THE EX-PRESIDENT'S LAWYERS, "ARE THESE 'DECLASSIFIED'?"
AND THEN THEY SAID, "WE CAN'T TELL YOU IF THOSE CLASSIFIED
DOCUMENTS ARE CLASSIFIED OR DECLASSIFIED, AND WE CAN'T TELL
YOU WHY WE CAN'T TELL YOU, 'CUZ IT'S CLASSIFIED."
JUDGE DEARIE DID NOT GO FOR THE WHOLE NOT-GONNA-ANSWER-YOU
THING, SAYING "YOU CAN'T HAVE YOUR CAKE AND EAT IT."
WELL, HOLD ON. IN THIS CASE, THAT'S NOT ACTUALLY TRUE.
BECAUSE AT MAR-A-LAGO, AS SOON AS THE EX-PRESIDENT FINISHES HIS
PIECE OF CHOCOLATE CAKE, WHAT DOES HE GET?
>> THE MOST BEAUTIFUL PIECE OF CHOCOLATE CAKE THAT YOU'VE EVER
SEEN.
>> Stephen: WITH ALL THIS BAD NEWS, THE EX-PRESIDENT NEEDS A
LITTLE PICK-ME-UP.
AND, APPARENTLY, HE GETS IT OUT ON THE LINKS, BECAUSE WE JUST
LEARNED FROM THE "NEW YORK TIMES'" MAGGIE HABERMAN, THAT
EVER SINCE HE'S BEEN OUT OF OFFICE, A ROTATING CAST OF AIDES
HAS BEEN TASKED WITH FOLLOWING HIM AROUND THE GOLF COURSE AND
GIVING HIM POSITIVE REINFORCEMENT FROM TWITTER.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
THAT IS JUST SAD!
THAT IS SO PATRETTIC.
( AS AIDE ) "UH, DON'T WORRY ABOUT THAT
FEDERAL INVESTIGATION, MR. PRESIDENT, 'CUZ LOOKS LIKE
@Q-PATRIOT-LINDA-845 SAYS, 'YOU HAVE MUCH STRONGER ARMS THAN
PRESIDENT BRANDON, HASHTAG-MAGA, HASHTAG-NOT-MY-LITTLEMERMAID.'"
>> Louis: WOW, WOW, WOW, REALLY?
# >> Stephen: SPEAKING OF PEOPLE
WHO FLATTER THE FORMER PRESIDENT, VLADIMIR PUTIN.
TODAY, VLAD ANNOUNCED A MAJOR ESCALATION IN HIS INVASION OF
UKRAINE IN A RARE ADDRESS DIRECTLY TO THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE.
PUTIN GAVE HIS ADDRESS FROM WHAT APPEARS TO BE RUSSIA'S BASEMENT
REC ROOM WHERE HE KEEPS HIS COLLECTION OF USED PHONES FROM
1987.
( LAUGHTER ) HIS BIG ANNOUNCEMENT WAS THAT
RUSSIA WAS CALLING UP ROUGHLY 300,000 RESERVISTS, INCLUDING
MEN AND WOMEN AGED 18 TO 60 YEARS OLD.
THAT MIGHT CHANGE THE ENERGY ON THE BATTLEFIELD:
( AS MIDDLE-AGED PERSON ) "I'LL ATTACK THAT HILL IN A
SECOND.
I GOTTA FINISH THIS WORDLE.
I'M GONNA START WITH "AIOLI."
NO CAN THE CRAVE."
DAMN IT!
I FORGOT MY C-PAP MACHINE.
ALEXA?
SET UP A REMINDER TO GET UP THREE TIMES TO PEE!"
PUTIN IS SO DESPERATE FOR REINFORCEMENTS, HE'S RESORTED TO
SENDING VOLUNTEERS TO THE FRONT LINE WITH LITTLE TRAINING.
YOU CAN SPOT THE NEWBIES RIGHT AWAY, ESPECIALLY IF THEY'RE
DRIVING A TANK.
PUTIN'S ANNOUNCEMENT SEEMS TO HAVE REALLY RESONATED WITH THE
RUSSIAN PEOPLE, BECAUSE RIGHT AFTER HE SPOKE, FLIGHTS LEAVING
RUSSIA SOLD OUT.
AND, REPORTEDLY, RUSSIAN AIRLINES HAVE BEEN ORDERED TO
STOP SELLING TICKETS TO RUSSIAN MEN BETWEEN 18 TO 65.
( AS RUSSIAN, ON PHONE ) "CHHHELLO, RON DeSANTIS?
I WANT TO GO TO MARTHA'S VINEYARD.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) DA, DA, YA, YA, D.
DA, I AM VENEZUELAN.
I HAVE A GREAT RECIPE FOR EMPANADA.
IS POTATO."
( LAUGHTER ) PUTIN'S ALREADY TRYING TO CREAT
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) PUTIN'S ALREADY TRYING TO CREATE
HIS ARMY OF THE FUTURE.
LAST MONTH, HE RESTORED A MILLION-RUBLE AWARD ESTABLISHED
BY STALIN IN 1944 FOR WOMEN WHO GIVE BIRTH TO 10 OR MORE
CHILDREN, CALLED THE "MOTHER HEROINE AWARD."
BECAUSE AFTER GIVING BIRTH TO 10 OR MORE CHILDREN, THOSE MOTHERS
ARE GONNA WANT SOME HEROIN.
BUT THE MOBILIZATION WAS THE LIGHTER PART OF PUTIN'S SPEECH,
BECAUSE HE WARNED "THOSE WHO TRY TO BLACKMAIL US WITH NUCLEAR
WEAPONS SHOULD KNOW THAT THE PREVAILING WINDS CAN TURN IN
THEIR DIRECTION," ADDING, "THIS IS NOT A BLUFF."
FIRST OF ALL, GULP.
SECOND, PEOPLE WHO AREN'T BLUFFING GENERALLY DON'T SAY,
"THIS IS NOT A BLUFF."
I WANT TO PLAY CARDS WITH THAT GUY, BECAUSE I THINK HE'S
ALREADY LOST A FEW HANDS OF STRIP POKER.
( LAUGHTER ) PUTIN, ALSO--
( APPLAUSE ) SURE.
LOVE HIS NIPPLES!
"THIS IS THE BBC."
PUTIN ALSO ANNOUNCED HE HAS PLANS TO HAVE THE
RUSSIAN-OCCUPIED PARTS OF UKRAINE HOLD IMMINENT VOTES ON
JOINING RUSSIA.
AND DON'T WORRY ABOUT MAIL-IN BALLOTS BECAUSE, REPORTEDLY,
RUSSIAN OFFICIALS WOULD GO DOOR TO DOOR WITH THE POLICE TO
ENCOURAGE PEOPLE "FREED FROM NAZISM" TO VOTE.
'CUZ NOTHING SAYS "FREE FROM NAZISM" LIKE POLICE BANGING ON
EVERY DOOR AND GOING: "OPEN UP!
IT'S NOT THE NAZIS!
LET US IN AND TELL US HOW HAPPY YOU ARE THAT WE'VE INVADED YOU!
OR ELSE WE'LL GIVE YOU A HIGH-CALIBER 'I VOTED' STICKER."
WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU TONIGHT.
MY GUESTS ARE OLIVIA WILDE AND UKRAINE'S FOREIGN MINISTER
DMYTRO KULEBA.
STICK AROUND, WON'T YOU.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY,
WELCOME BACK.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MY FIRST GUEST IS AN ACTOR AND DIRECTOR
YOU KNOW FROM "DRINKING BUDDIES," "HOUSE," AND
"BOOKSMART."
HER NEW FILM THAT SHE DIRECTED AND STARS IN IS "DON'T WORRY
DARLING."
>> BOYS AND THEIR TOYS.
AT LEAST WE KNOW THEY'RE GETTING WORK DONE.
>> WHAT DO YOU THINK THEY'RE REALLY DOING OUT THERE?
>> WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
>> I MEAN, I KNOW WHAT THEY SAY KNOW-- DEVELOPMENT OF
PROGRESSIVE MATERIALS.
BUT SOMETIMES PETER INSIGNEUATES THAT THEY'RE ACTUALLY MAKING
WEAPONS AND THAT IT'S ALL HAPPENING UNDERGROUND BECAUSE
FRANKLY I DISCOVERED-- >> HEY.
>> SORRY.
>> WE'RE ALL HERE BECAUSE WE BELIEVE IN THE MISSION.
>> YES.
>> WE HAVE JOBS, TOO, THAT ARE JUST AS IMPORTANT, JUST AS
VITAL, WHAT WE DO AT HOME-- SUPPORTING THEM, TAKING CARE OF
THEM.
WITHOUT THAT, THEY COULDN'T BE OUT THERE CHANGING THE WORLD.
>> Stephen: PLEASE WELCOME BACK TO "THE LATE SHOW," OLIVIA
WILDE!
♪ IT'S ALL RIGHT ♪ ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: THERE YOU GO.
NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> IT'S SO GOOD TO BE HERE.
>> Stephen: IT'S BEEN TOO LONG.
>> I KNOW.
>> Stephen: SINCE-- "BOOKSMART."
>> Stephen: A YEAR BEFORE COVID HIT.
>> TWEFT YEARS AGO.
>> Stephen: SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
THERE IS NO TIME ANYMORE.
>> IT HAS NO MEANING.
>> Stephen: DO YOU REMEMBER WHEN YOU WERE HERE, WE GAVE YOU
A LITTLE DIRECTOR'S CHAIR?
>> OF COURSE, IT'S BY MY BED.
>> Stephen: IT'S TO CELEBRATE WHAT AN EXTRAORDINARY FRESHMAN
OFFERING FROM A NEW DIRECTOR THAT WAS.
IT CAME OUT OF THE GATE SO BEAUTIFULLY WITH THAT MOVIE.
>> OH, THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: AND I JUST WANTED TO SAY-- PEOPLE ARE GOING TO
HAVE THEIR OWN OPINIONS ABOUT MOVIES, BUT I WATCHED "DON'T
WORRY DARLING," AND I DON'T WANT TO GIVE ANYTHING AWAY,
OBVIOUSLY, BECAUSE THERE'S SOMETHING TO GIVE AWAY, WHICH I
DON'T WANT TO DO.
BUT THE WAY THAT YOU LAY OUT THIS CONCEPT-- WHICH IS A
CONCEPT THAT WE'VE SEEN BEFORE, WHICH IS SORT OF AN UNSETTLING
UTOPIA, YOU KNOW.
>> EXACTLY.
>> Stephen: OR A SEDUCTIVE DISTONIA.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: YOU DO IT WITH INTRIGUE.
YOU DO IT WITH TENSION.
AND YOU DO IT IN WAYS THAT I HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE THAT ARE
ALSO FUNNY.
FOR INSTANCE, YOUR CHARACTER, PARTICULARLY, IS VERY FUNNY.
>> SHE IS.
>> Stephen: IT'S LAID OUT IN A WAY I HAVEN'T SEEN BEFORE.
IT'S ABSOLUTELY INTRIGUING.
MY FIRST REACTION WATCHING THE MOVIE WAS IT'S NO MISTAKE WHAT
YOU DID IN "BOOKSMART."
YOU BELONG IN THAT DIRECTOR'S CHAIR.
AND CONGRATULATIONS ON YOUR SECOND FILM.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH, THANK YOU.
THAT MEANS A LOT ( APPLAUSE ).
>> Stephen: I KNOW YOU WORKED ON IT FOR-- HOW LONG?
>> THREE YEARS.
>> Stephen: THREE YEARS.
THROUGH COVID?
>> YES, AND IT WAS A MASSIVE TEAM EFFORT.
THERE WERE SO MANY OF US WHO CAME TOGETHER AND PUSHED
TROUGH, YOU KNOW, CHALLENGE AFTER CHALLENGE.
BUT WE'RE SO PROUD OF IT.
IT'S SO EXCITING.
>> Stephen: WELL, AFTER WORKING FOR THREE YEARS ON
SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: IT MUST BE PARTICULARLY FRUSTRATING TO HAVE
PEOPLE TALKING ABOUT A LOT OF THINGS THAT AREN'T THE FILM
ITSELF.
>> OH, ARE THEY.
>> Stephen: REALLY?
YOU HAVEN'T HEARD?
NO.
THERE HAVE BEEN A LOT OF TALK.
>> YUP.
>> Stephen: THESE ARE THINGS THAT--
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: THE REPORTS OF FEUD.
>> RIGHT.
>> Stephen: PEOPLE ANALYZING BODY LANGUAGE.
PRIVATE MESSAGES BEING RELEASED?
>> YES.
>> Stephen: NARRATIVES AND COUNTER-NARRATIVE.
OLIVIA WILDE, IS THERE ANYTHING OR NOTHING IN THAT LIST YOU
WOULD LIKE TO CLEAR UP?
>> WELL, YOU KNOW, IT'S KIND OF-- IT'S INTERESTING.
THE WHOLE EXPERIENCE HAS SORT OF CHANGED MY WAY OF THINKING ABOUT
THE INTERNET AND HOW WE CHOOSE TO INTERACT WITH IT-- OR NOT.
BUT, REALLY, IT'S KIND OF IRONIC, BECAUSE ALL OF THIS IS
REALLY WHAT THE FILM'S ABOUT.
THE FILM IS ABOUT THE NARRATIVES WE ARE FED AND WHETHER WE CHOOSE
TO ACCEPT THEM OR QUESTION THEIR SOURCES.
AND AS YOU SAID, THERE WERE PRIVATE MESSAGES THAT WERE
RELEASED WITHOUT CONTEXT TO TRY TO MAKE A SITUATION LOOK LIKE
SOMETHING THAT IT WASN'T.
I-- EARLY ON IN THE PROCESS OF MAKING THE FILM, AS THE
DIRECTOR, I TRIED TO MEDIATE, YOU KNOW, A SITUATION BETWEEN
PEOPLE TO TRY TO SEE IF THEY COULD WORK TOGETHER HAPPILY.
ONCE IT BECAME CLEAR THAT IT WAS NOT A TENABLE WORKING
RELATIONSHIP, I WAS GIVEN AN ULTIMATUM.
I CHOSE MY ACTRESS-- WHICH I'M VERY HAPPY I DID.
AT THE TIME WAS I BUMMED THAT WE WEREN'T ABLE TO MAKE IT WORK?
SURE.
DID INFORMATION ABOUT HIM COME TO LIGHT LATER THAT MADE ME
CONFIDENT WE MADE THE RIGHT DECISION?
ABSOLUTELY.
>> Stephen: JUST TO BE CLEAR HERE, DID YOU FIRE SHIA LABOUF.
>> WE HAD TO REPLACE SHIA.
HE'S A FANTASTIC ACTOR AND IT DIDN'T WORK.
WHEN HE GAVE ME THE ULTIMATUM HIM OR FLORENCE, I CHOSE
FLORENCE.
>> Stephen: ARE YOU, JUST TO BE CLEAR HERE BECAUSE PEOPLE ARE
PARSING.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: ARE YOU SAYING-- AND CORRECT ME IF I'M WRONG,
THAT HE WOULDN'T...
DO THE MOVIE IN THE WAY THAT YOU WANTED HIM TO?
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: AND, THEREFORE, HE HAD TO GO.
SO HE CAN SAY HE QUIT, AND YOU FIRED HIM, AND BOTH OF YOU CAN
THINK YOU'RE RIGHT?
>> IT'S A QUESTION OF SEMANTICS.
>> Stephen: BUT, HONEST TO GOD, IS THAT IT?
>> YEAH, ABSOLUTELY.
>> Stephen: IT HAS TO BE THIS WAY.
HE SAID, "I CAN'T DO THAT, I'M LEAVING."
AND YOU SAID, "YOU'RE FIRED."
>> I SAID, "THAT'S GREAT, YOU GO AND WE WILL MOVE ON."
IT WASN'T GOING TO MOVE FORWARD IN THE WAY HE WANTED IT TO, SO
HE HAD TO LEAVE.
>> Stephen: SO WHO CONTROLS THE NARRATIVE OF THAT STORY?
IS IT THE STAR WHO GETS TO SAY THEY LEFT OR THE DIRECTOR WHO
GETS TO SAY, "YOU'RE FIRED."
BECAUSE THAT'S A BIG STRUGOLE MOVIE SETS.
WHO'S IN CONTROL, THE STAR OR DIRECTOR.
OLIVIA WILDE, I ASK YOU.
>> IT HAPPENS ALL THE TIME.
I THINK EVERY PRODUCTION, THERE ARE SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN,
WHO ARE OUT IN THE PERIOD OF TIME LEADING UP TO ANY
PRODUCTION.
THERE'S SO MANY PEOPLE WHO ARE IN FOR A PERIOD AND OUT FOR A
PERIOD.
AND IT'S ALL A MATTER OF, YOU KNOW, RESOLVING CONFLICT.
AND ANYONE WHO HAS DEALT WITH CONFLICT KNOWS THERE ARE LEVELS
BEFORE THERE IS A CONCLUSION.
IN THIS CASE, EVERYONE IN THE END ENDED UP WHAT THEY WANTED.
HE DIDN'T WANT TO BE PART OF THE PRODUCTION IN THE WAY I LIKE TO
MAKE PRODUCTIONS.
SO HE MOVED ON.
HE MOVED ON AND REPLACED HIM AND ENDED UP WITH A CAST THAT I'M SO
PROUD OF WIKH A MOVIE I'M REALLY PROUD ABOUT.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.
WE'LL BE BACK WITH MORE OLIVIA WILDE.
STICK AROUND.
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY, WE'RE BACK HERE WITH OLIVIA
WILDE, DIRECTOR OF "DON'T WORRY DARLING."
OLIVIA WILDE, CHRIS PINE IS PARTICULARLY SEDUCTIVELY SPOOKY.
>> HE IS.
>> Stephen: IT'S A SORT OF PORTRAYALAVE CULT LEADER THAT IS
ONE AND THE SAME TIME RECOGNIZABLE AND ATTRACTIVE IN
WAYS I DON'T EXPECT.
I HOPE YOU'LL TAKE THIS THE RIGHT WAY.
BEING SOMETHING OF A MIDCENTURY MALE, I WOULD MOVE TO VICTORY IN
A MINUTE.
>> THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I WANT YOU TO FEEL.
>> Stephen: MORALLY, I WOULDN'T WANT TO LIVE THERE--
>> THAT'S MY POINT.
>> Stephen: BUT FROM MY OWN APPETITES, I WOULD MOVE THERE IN
A SECOND.
DON'T JUDGE YOU.
>> I DON'T JUDGE YOU.
THIS IS WORSE.
I'M A WOMAN.
>> Stephen: WHO COULDN'T WOONT LIKE A COLD COCKTAIL AND AN
>> MARTINIS FOR BREAKFAST.
WHO IS ACTUALLY BRAVE ENOUGH TO QUESTION A SYSTEM THAT REALLY
WORKS FOR THEM IN A REALLY AMAZING WAY, A COMFORTABLE
WORLD.
WE'RE ALL REALLY GOOD AT BEING COMFORTABLE IN BUBBLES.
THAT'S WHAT WE WERE TRYING TO KIND OF UNPACK.
>> Stephen: FLORENCE PUGH'S CHARACTER-- CHOOSE NAME ESCAPED
ME.
>> ALICE.
>> Stephen: ALICE GOES DOWN THE RABBIT HOLE, SHALL WE SAY.
AND SHE QUESTIONS IT.
>> SHE DOES.
>> Stephen: A BEAUTIFUL PERFORMANCE.
>> SHE IS SENSATIONAL IN THIS FILM.
SHE IS BRAVE ENOUGH TO LISTEN TO THE BRAVE PEOPLE WHO CAME BEFORE
HER, WHO EVERYBODY ELSE IGNORED AND TRUST HER INSTINCTS.
AND SHE IS THE ONE BRAVE ENOUGH TO DISMANTLE THE SYSTEM.
SHE IS A SUPER HERO.
AND FLORENCE PUGH IS AS GOOD AT DRAMATIC WORK AS SHE IS AT
ACTION.
THERE ARE REAL ACTION SEQUENCESS IN THE FILM.
SHE HAS A RUN WHICH I REFER TO AS HER "TOM CRUISE RUN."
IT'S THE MOST IMPRESSIVE RUN I'VE EVER SEEN.
>> Stephen: SPEAKING OF FLORENCE PUGH, AMAZING
PERFORMANCE, LET'S GET TO ANOTHER QUESTION YOU SHOULDN'T
HAVE TO ANSWER.
PEOPLE SAY YOU ARE FEUDING WITH FLORENCE PUGH.
IS THERE ANYTHING UP TO THE SAY THAT'S?
>> THE ONLY THING I WANT TO SAY TO THAT, ANOTHER WEIRD RUMOR
SPIT-GATE -- >> Stephen: DID HARRY STYLES
SPIT ON CHRIS PINE?
WHY OR WHY NOT?
SUPPORT YOUR ANSWER.
>> HE DID NOT.
BUT I THINK IT'S A PERFECT EXAMPLE OF PEOPLE WILL LOOK FOR
DRAMA ANYWHERE THEY CAN.
HARRY DID NOT SPIT ON CHRIS, IN FACT.
BUT THAT -- >> Stephen: TIME WILL TELL.
>> NO, HE REALLY DIDN'T!
>> Stephen: WELL... WE SHALL SEE.
>> WE'VE SEEN IT.
WE'VE SEEN IT.
>> Stephen: SCIENCE ISN'T IN YET GEE, THAT'S EXACTLY WHAT I
MEAN.
PEOPLE CAN LOOK AT A VIDEO THAT SHOWS EVIDENCE OF SOMEONE NOT
SPITTING ON SOMEONE ELSE AND THEY WILL STILL SEE WHAT THEY
WILL SEE.
THAT IS CLICKBAIT.
>> Stephen: I HAVE NOTHING BUT RESPECT FOR FLORENCE'S TALENT.
SHE'S ON THE SET OF HER MOVIE, "DUNE."
AND I HAVE NOTHING AGAINST HER FOR ANY REASON.
>> Stephen: PEOPLE POINTED OUT THAT HE WAS HAVING AN APERRAL
SPRITZ DURING THE PRESS CONFERENCE AND SHE DIDN'T SHOW
UP FOR IT.
>> THEY DID POINT THAT OUT.
I DON'T FEEL LIKE MY LEAL MALE DIRECTOR COLLEAGUES ARE
ANSWERING QUESTIONS ABOUT THEIR CAST --
>> Stephen: I AGREE WITH YOU.
HERE'S THE THING.
YOU'RE RIGHT, YOU'RE RIGHT.
I THINK YOU'RE EXACTLY RIGHT.
MUCH IN THE SAME WAY THAT I WANT TO GO TO VICTORY, NOT ON MORAL
GROUNDS, BUT ON APPETITE ROUNDS.
THESE ARE NOT QUESTIONS TO GIVE A DIRECTOR.
THEY SHOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE MOVIE ITSELF.
>> THAT'S RIGHT.
>> Stephen: BUT THESE ARE THE QUESTIONS THAT HAVE SORT OF
CONSUMED THIS MOVIE.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: AND I AM GIVING IN TO AN APPETITE BY ASKING YOU
THESE QUESTIONS.
>> YES, I FULLY UNDERSTAND.
>> Stephen: BUT I WILL ALSO SAY THIS.
WE'RE COMING UP ON THE 100th ANNIVERSARY OF THE HOLLYWOOD
SIGN.
IT'S 100 YEARS.
>> OH, YEAH.
>> Stephen: MOSTLY MALE DIRECTOR, ALMOST ENTIRELY MALE
DIRECTORS FOR THAT 100 YEARS.
HOLLYWOOD, FOR LACK OF A BETTER WORD, IS ESSENTIALLY A BOX OF
BROKEN TOYS.
WE ALL HAVE OUR PROBLEMS. EVEN IF EVER RUMOR OF YOUR MOVIE WERE
TRUE, IT WOULD BE PRETTY LIGHT FARE COMPARE TO ALFRED HITCHCOCK
OR ANY OF THE GREAT DIRECTORS OUT THERE WE ADMIRE SO MUCH.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: AND I DON'T THINK, I DON'T THINK A MALE DIRECTOR
WOULD BE-- >> NO.
>> Stephen: WOULD BE RUMORED.
I WOULDN'T EVEN HAVE THESE QUESTIONS.
>> NO, YOU WOULDN'T.
>> Stephen: THEY WOULDN'T BE SWIRLING AROUND THE FILM.
>> PEOPLE WOULD BE TALKING ABOUT THE MOVIE.
THEY'RE PRAISED FOR BEING TYRANNICAL.
THEY CAN BE INVESTIGATED TIME AND TIME AGAIN AND IT DOESN'T
TAKE OVER THE CONVERSATION THE THEIR TALENT OR THE FILM ITSELF.
THIS IS SOMETHING WE HAVE COME TO EXPECT.
IT IS VERY DIFFERENT STANDARDS CREATED FOR WOMEN AND MEN.
IN THE WORLD AT LARGE.
I'M NOT JUST TALKING ABOUT HOLLYWOOD.
WHEN PEOPLE SEE THE FILM-- AND I REALLY HOPE YOU DO-- THEY WILL
FIND WE WERE TRYING TO DO SOMETHING REALLY AMBITIOUS AND A
LOT OF PEOPLE DID A LOT OF HARD WORK.
WE MADE A MOVIE DURING THE PANDEMIC.
THAT'S LIKE BUILDING A HOUSE IN A HURRICANE.
SO WE CAN HANDLE A LITTLE TWITTER STORM.
WE'RE ALL RIGHT.
BUT IT'S VERY-- IT'S VERY FRUSTRATING WHEN PEOPLE ARE SORT
OF SIDELINING US IN A WAY I DON'T SEE THEM DOING TO MEN.
YOU KNOW WHAT?
THE FILM IS SOMETHING THAT IS A PRODUCT OF SO MUCH HARD WORK,
AND WE'RE JUST PROUD.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A BREAK, BUT WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK
WITH MORE OF THE DIRECTOR OF "DON'T WORRY DARLING," OLIVIA
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY, WE'RE BACK HERE WITH YOUNG
OLIVIA WILDE.
OLIVIA WILDE, I WANT TO TALK ABOUT SOME OF THE HARD WORK YOU
DID, AND THAT IS DIRECTING YOURSELF.
AS I SAID, YOU'RE A CHARACTER IN THIS, AND YOU'RE A FUN CHARACTER
IN THIS.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: ESPECIALLY I LOVE THE FACT THAT THIS YOUNG LADY
RIGHT HERE WHO PLAYS YOUR DAUGHTER IS YOUR DAUGHTER.
>> SHE IS MY REAL DAUGHTER.
THAT'S DAISY.
AND SHE WAS VERY GOOD AT PLAYING MY DAUGHTER.
>> Stephen: THERE'S A LOT OF-- THERE ARE MANY FUNNY LINES OF
YOU YELLING AT YOUR CHILDREN OFF CAMERA YELLING, "DON'T DO THAT.
DON'T HIT HER."
WAS THAT A NATURAL WAY YOU EFFECT SPEAK TO YOUR CHILDREN?
>> I WAS A LITTLE MEANER THAN I WAS SPEAKING TO HER.
IT WAS THE DRUNK 1960s VERSION OF ME, I GUESS.
IT WAS GREAT HAVING HER THERE.
I WAS LIKE SOMEWHERE UB SENTENCERLY THIS IS SEEPING IN
THAT HER MOTHER IS.
IN CHARGE AND SUPPORTED BY THIS AWESOME CREW.
>> Stephen: IN CHARGE AND PERFORMING IN IT.
WHAT IS THAT LIKE TO DIRECT YOURSELF?
>> I MEAN, IT'S INSANE.
IT WAS INSANE.
BECAUSE I WAS ALSO PRODUCING THE MOVIE.
IT WOULD BE LIKE ACTING A SCENE IN A BIKINI-- WHICH MAKES IT
WEIRD-- GETTING UP, HOLDING MY DAUGHTER, RUNNING OVER TO THE
MONITOR, TALKING TO MY D.P.
AND THE OTHER PRODUCER TELLING ME ABOUT COVID SHUTDOWNS, WHICH
WAS INSANITY, SITTING DOWN, CALLING "ACTION," AND DOING IT
AGAIN.
IT WAS WILD.
>> Stephen: WAS THERE A PARTICULAR TYPE OF SCENE YOU
ENJOYED.
WAS IT THE COMEDY OR SUSPENSE?
THERE ARE A FEW MOMENT THERE THAT DO MAKE YOUR SKIN CRAWL.
YOU'RE NOT SURE ABOUT WHAT'S TO HAPPEN IN THE SCENE.
>> ALL OF THAT WAS SO FUN.
I THINK MY FAVORITE STUFF TO DIRECT WERE THE ACTION
SEQUENCES.
I LOVE CAR CHASES.
WHAT I REALLY WANT TO DO IS "FAST AND FURIOUS 45," OR
WHATEVER THEY'RE ON.
THIS IS A RIG, CALLED THE BISCUIT RIG, WHICH IS HOW YOU
SHOOT HIGH-SPEED CAR CHASES. AND IT'S REALLY FUN.
IT'S BASICALLY THE BEST DISNEYLAND RIDE YOU CAN IMAGINE.
AND I GOT TO BE RIPPED AROUND AS FLORENCE WAS PRETENDING TO DRIVE
THIS AMAZING ABILITYs CORVETTE AND IT WAS GREATEST DAY OF MY
LIFE, WEEK OF MY LIFE.
AND THAT MADE ME REALIZE YEAH, I WANT TO DIRECT CRAZY ACTION
SEQUENCE S.
>> Stephen: YOUR CHARACTER BUNNY HAS A HELL OF A PAIR OF
EYEBROWS.
SHE'S A RECOGNIZABLE CHARACTER.
SHE'S SORT OF AN ARCHTYPE OF MIDCENTURY, SORT OF UNSETTLING
UTOPIA.
IS THERE AN INSPIRATION FOR HER?
>> YES, SHE IS VERY MUCH BASED ON MY GRANDMOTHER JEANNE, WHO
WAS A REALLY FABULOUS WOMAN, WHO WAS INCREDIBLY BRILLIANT.
AND SHE LARGELY LIVED TO CREATE A VERY FABULOUS LIFE FOR HER
FAMILY.
WAS A WONDERFUL WIFE, A VERY GLAMOROUS WIFE.
BUT I ALWAYS THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, SHE WAS VERY WELL EDUCATED.
SHE STUDIED POETRY.
SHE WAS VERY WELL READ.
BUT HER EXISTENCE WAS LARGELY BASED AROUND HER HUSBAND.
AND I THOUGHT, YOU KNOW, I WONDER WHAT IT REALLY WOULD BE
LIKE TO GET IN HER SKIN.
BECAUSE I COULD KIND OF JUDGE THE LACK OF AUTONOMY FOR A TIME,
IT REALLY SEALED LIKE A FABULOUS LIFE.
THEY PARTIED A LOT.
>> Stephen: BUT HER CLOTHES.
>> THEY HAD BETTER CLOTHES.
THEY DRESSED UP TO FLY.
I FLY LOOKING VERY BAD.
JUST A LOT OF SWEAT PANTS, SO MESSY.
JEANNE WAS ALWAYS FABULOUS.
AND I THOUGHT, OKAY, FOR A MINUTE I'LL GET TO BE AS OF
FABULOUS AS GRANDMA JEANNE?
.>> Stephen: ANYBODY IN THE FAMILY RECOGNIZE HER?
>> YES, MY SIBLINGS SAW HER.
I I THINK SHE WOULD BE REALLY PROUD OF IT IT.
IF I TOLD HER I WOULD BE DIRECTING MOVIES WILL AT THIS
SCALE, I DON'T THINK SHE WOULD HAVE BELIEVED IT WAS POSSIBLE,
AND THAT'S COOL.
>> Stephen: WHAT'S NEXT?
>> SO MANY FUN THINGS.
I'M MAKING A DOCUMENTARY AND A FEW PROJECTS ARE IN DEVELOPMENT.
IT'S BEEN THREE YEARS.
I'M EXCITED TO JUST GET THIS BABY OUT.
IT'S LIKE I'VE BEEN PREGNANT FOR 1,000 MONTHS.
I DON'T KNOW HOW MANY MONTHS ARE IN THREE YEARS.
DON'T QUIZ ME.
BUT THEN JUST TO SEE IT IN THEATERS AND JUST HAVE PEOPLE
OWN IT ON THEIR OWN, AND THEN I WILL REST FOR A SMALL PERIOD OF
TIME AND GET BACK IN THE GAME.
>> Stephen: OLIVIA, IT WAS LOVELY IT SEE YOU.
>> THANK YOU SO MUCH.
>> Stephen: THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU.
>> Stephen: "DON'T WORRY DARLING" IS IN THEATERS FRIDAY.
OLIVIA WILDE, EVERYBODY!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH UKRAINE'S FOREIGN MINISTER
DMYTRO KULEBA.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY,
IT IS AN HONOR TO INTRODUCE MY NEXT GUEST.
HE SERVES AS UKRAINE'S MINISTER OF FOREIGN AFFAIRS.
PLEASE WELCOME DMYTRO KULEBA!
♪ ♪ ♪ ( APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: MINISTER, THANKS FOR BEING HERE.
IT'S KIND OF AN AUSPICIOUS NIGHT FOR YOU TO BE HERE, GIVEN THE
SPEECH THAT PUTIN GAVE THIS MORNING TO THE RUSSIAN PEOPLE
ABOUT CALLING UP THOSE CONSCRIPTS, ESSENTIALLY.
BEFORE WE GET TO THAT, I WANT TO ASK YOU ABOUT THE MORALE OF THE
UKRAINIAN PEOPLE.
YOU STUNNED PROGNOSTICATORS WHEN YOU HELD THE RUSSIANS OFF FROM
KYIV AT THE BEGINNING OF THE WAR.
( APPLAUSE ) AND THEN TOOK BACK MUCH OF THAT
AREA IN THE NORTH.
AND THEN, THIS LATEST COUNTEROFFENSIVE, WHERE YOU TOOK
BACK THE KHARKIV REGION HAS BEEN CALLED THE GREATEST
COUNTEROFFENSIVE SINCE WORLD WAR II.
AGAIN, IT'S IMPRESSED AND STUNNED THOSE, FOR LACK OF A
BETTER WORD, IN THE WEST.
WHAT HAS THAT MEANT TO THE MORAL OF THE UKRAINIAN PEOPLE?
>> WELL, IT PROVES NOT ONLY TO US BUT TO THE ENTIRE WORLD THAT
WE KNOW HOW TO WIN AND WE WILL.
( APPLAUSE ) IF I MAY, I JUST WANTED TO SAY
THANK YOU FOR THIS ROUND OF APPLAUSE.
THIS IS YOUR APPLAUSE.
IT'S NOT TO ME BUT TO THE PEOPLE OF UKRAINE AND OUR BRAVE
SOLDIERS.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: I THINK YOU'RE
VERY RIGHT THERE.
( CHEERING )
>> Stephen: VLADIMIR PUTIN THIS MORNING SAID THAT, AMONG
OTHER THINGS, THAT HE PLANS TO HOLD VOTE, SO HE SAYS, ON
ANNEXATION OF THESE RUSSIAN-OCCUPIED AREAS IN
EASTERN UKRAINE.
SPOILER ALERT-- HE'S GOING TO SAY THE VOTES WERE
OVERWHELMINGLY IN FAVOR, NO MATTER WHAT ACTUALLY HAPPENS.
WHAT DOES IT MEAN TO UKRAINE IF THOSE VOTES ARE HELD, THE
RUSSIAN CLAIM THAT THAT IS NOW PART OF RUSSIA, AND THEN HE'LL
BE TIEBL SAY IF YOU GO TO TAKE BACK THAT PART OF YOUR COUNTRY,
YOU ARE ACTUALLY INVADING HIS COUNTRY.
>> IT REALLY DOESN'T MEAN ANYTHING TO US, WE WILL KEEP
FIGHTING.
WHATEVER HE SAYS, WHATEVER HE DOES, HE CAN ARRANGE SHAM
REFERENDUMS, HE CAN CALL IT PART OF THE MOON-- WHATEVER.
THIS IS OUR LAND.
THIS IS OUR PEOPLE.
WE WILL RETAKE EVERY SQUARE MEET OF OUR TERRITORY, AND WE WILL
LIBERATE PEOPLE.
YOU ASKED ME ABOUT THE MORAL.
YOU KNOW, THE MOST IMPRESSIVE PART FOR ME WAS THE MORAL OF THE
PEOPLE THAT WE LIBERATED IN OUR TERRITORIES.
SOME OF THEM CAME TO OUR SOLDIERS AND SAID, "WE ALMOST
LOST HOPE THAT YOU WOULD BE BACK, AND NOW YOU ARE HERE."
AND THERE WERE THESE SCENES OF JOY AND TEARS.
NOTHING INSPIRES MORE THAN THESE SCENES BECAUSE YOU UNDERSTAND
THERE ARE SOME PEOPLE STILL UNDER OCCUPATION.
AND PUTIN AND RUSSIAN OCCUPIERS CONVINCED THEM THAT THIS IS IT.
RUSSIA IS HERE FOREVER.
WE'RE NEVER GOING TO LEAVE.
TAKE US.
ACCEPT US.
EPIBRACE US.
BUT THEY'RE STILL WAITING.
WAITING FOR LIBERATION.
WHEN YOU IMAGINE HOW THESE PEOPLE FEEL, IT REALLY MAKES YOU
WORK MUCH HARDER, BE YOU A DIPLOMAT OR SOLDIER, YOU REALLY
WANT TO LIBERATE THESE PEOPLE AS SOON AS POSSIBLE, WHATEVER PUTIN
THINKS OF IT OR WHATEVER DECISION HE MAKES.
>> Stephen: HE IMPLIED THIS MORNING, ALMOST DIRECTLY, THAT
NUCLEAR WEAPONS ARE NOT OFF THE TABLE, FIRST CITING, SOMEHOW,
THAT THE WEST IS ACTUALLY RATCHETING UP THE NUCLEAR DANGER
HERE, AND THAT NUCLEAR WEAPONS ARE NOT OFF THE TABLE.
AND SAID, AS I SAID EARLIER, "I'M NOT BLUFFING," HE SAYS.
DOES PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY BELIEVE THAT HE'S BLUFFING?
>> I THINK WHEN SOMEONE SAYS, "I'M NOT BLUFFING," AND ALSO THE
CASE HE ACTUALLY IS.
BECAUSE IF YOU ARE SO-- ( APPLAUSE )
BECAUSE IF YOU ARE SO CONFIDENT IN YOURSELF, YOU KNOW, WHY
SHOULD YOU BE REPEATING ALL OF THIS?
BUT THIS DOESN'T MEAN WE SHOULDN'T TAKE HIM SERIOUSLY.
AND I CAN SAY TWO THINGS.
FIRST, WE AS A NATION ARE READY TO FACE ANY CHALLENGE THAT WE
HAVE TO IN ORDER TO PREVAIL.
BECAUSE WE UNDERSTAND THAT WE ARE FIGHTING FOR OUR FREEDOM AND
FOR OUR RIGHT TO BE OURSELVES.
AND IF WE HAVE TO GO THROUGH THE MOST DEVASTATING, DIFFICULT
THINGS, WE WILL TAKE UP, WE WILL FACE THIS CHALLENGE WITH
DIGNITY.
AND THIS IS HOW OUR PRESIDENT, PRESIDENT ZELENSKYY, REALLY KIND
OF POSITIONED HIMSELF FROM THE VERY BEGINNING OF THE WAR, FROM
THE DAY ONE.
HE SAID, "THIS WAR IS NOT OUR CHOICE.
IT WAS IMPOSED ON US.
BUT IF YOU DECIDE TO FIGHT WITH US, WE WILL STAND UP TO THE
CHALLENGE."
AND I DON'T WANT YOU TO THINK THAT WE ARE KIND OF FULL OF
BRAVADO, AND ARE IRRESPONSIBLE PEOPLE.
NO, WE ARE NOT.
BUT WE DO BELIEVE IN OUR CAUSE.
AND WE GUILTY-- IF WE HAVE TO, WE WILL GO THROUGH EVERYTHING.
THIS SAID, I WANT TO SAY ONE THING, ANOTHER THING.
FOR MANY YEARS, FOR DECADES, THE SOVIET UNION WAS THREATENING THE
UNITED STATES AND OTHER FREE NATIONS OF THE WORLD WITH THE
USE OF NUCLEAR WEAPONS.
AND THERE WAS NOT A SINGLE MOMENT WHEN YOU IN THE UNITED
STATES OR OTHER PARTS-- OTHER COUNTRIES OF THE WORLD SAID,
"OH, THEY'RE THREATENING US WITH NUKES.
MAYBE WE SHOULD STEP BACK.
MAYBE WE SHOULD MAKE A CONCESSION.
MAYBE WE SHOULD ABANDON CONCEDE TO THEM.
RIGHT?
YOU ALWAYS HAD A VERY EFFECTIVE DETERRENT STRATEGY THAT HELPED
YOU TO WIN IN THE COLD WAR.
SO THIS IS WHAT WE CALL ON YOU AND OTHER NATIONS, DO NOT BE
AFRAID.
DETER.
BE STRONG.
AND WE WILL WIN JOINTLY.
>> Stephen: WE WEREN'T DETERRED, BUT WE WERE AFRAID.
THERE WAS A LOT OF ANXIETY.
THERE WAS A LOT OF DUCK-AND-COVER.
>> WE ARE ALL HUMAN BEINGS.
IT'S OKAY TO BE AFRAID.
BUT I THINK-- YOU KNOW WHAT I LEARNED IN THIS WAR?
IT'S ABSOLUTELY NORMAL NOT TO HAVE FEAR, YET TO BE AFRAID.
YOU KNOW, YOU ARE A HUMAN BEING.
I AM AFRAID OF MY-- OF THE SECURITY, OF WHAT WILL HAPPEN TO
MY CHILDREN.
THEY ARE WITH ME IN UKRAINE.
THEY GO TO SCHOOL.
THEY HAVE TO GO TO THE BOMB SHELTER EVERY TIME THE AIR RIDE
SIREN IS ON.
BUT AT THE SAME TIME, I HAVE NO FEAR TOWARDS THE ENEMY, AS
PARADOXICALLY AS IT SOUNDS.
WE SHOULD NOT ALLOW FEAR TO PARALYZE OURSELVES.
BUT IT'S ABSOLUTELY NORMAL TO BE AFRAID OF CERTAIN THINGS-- OF
LOSING SOMEONE CLOSE TO YOU OOR, YOU KNOW, FACING A PROBLEM YOU
CANNOT STAND.
BUT NUMBER ONE, WHEN THE ENTERED UKRAINE ON THE 24th OF
FEBRUARY-- I WAS COMING BACK FROM THE UNITED STATES, BY THE
WAY-- I LEFT MY FEAR AT THE BORDER.
AND MILLIONS OF UKRAINIANS, THEY ABANDONED FEAR.
THIS IS THE ONLY-- THIS IS REALLY THE ONLY WAY FOR YOU TO
WIN.
YOU HAVE TO REMAIN REASONABLE, BUT YOU HAVE TO ABANDON FEAR.
AND WHEN MY PRESIDENT SAID, "I'M NOT LEAVING KYIV, I'M STAYING
HERE.
I WILL STAY WITH THE NATION, WITH THE SOLDIERS."
THAT WAS THE MOMENT WHEN WE AS A NATION PUT FEAR ASIDE AND SAID,
"WE'RE GOING TO FIGHT."
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: YOU HAVE PUSHED
THE RUSSIAN ARMY BACK TO THEIR OWN BORDERS, AND YOU HAVE DONE
SO WITH A COUNTRY THAT CERTAINLY EIGHT YEARS AGO WAS LARGELY
AGRARIAN, DOESN'T HAVE A LARGE MILITARY, WITH THE ASSISTANCE OF
SOME OF THE EQUIPMENT WE HAVE, BUT WITH YOUR OWN GRIT YOU HAVE
DONE THIS, AGAINST AN ARMY THAT THE WESTERN POWERS-- TO CALL
THEM THAT-- HAVE SPENT TRILLIONS OF DOLLARS OVER THE LAST 70
YEARS TO PREPARE TO FIGHT AGAINST.
HOW DOES IT FEEL TO BE THE PEOPLE WHO DID THAT WITHOUT THAT
LEVEL OF PREPARATION FOR 70 YEARS YOU? GUYS PICKED
YOURSELVES UP AFTER 2014, AND THE TAKEOVER OF CRIMEA, AND HAVE
NOW FOUND YOURSELF DEFEATING THE VAUNTED RUSSIAN ARMY?
>> WELL, IT PRETTY MUCH FEELS LIKE BEING UKRAINIAN.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: MINISTER, THANK
YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
UKRAINIAN FOREIGN MINISTER DMYTRO KULEBA,
EVERYBODY!
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN MY GUESTS WILL BE NEIL DEGRASSE TYSON AND
STAR OF "SOMEBODY FEED PHIL," PHIL ROSENTHAL.
GOOD NIGHT.