>> Stephen: NICE TO SEE YOU AGAIN!
>> NICELY TO SEE YOU, STEPHEN COLBERT!
>> Stephen: ALWAYS A PLEASANT VISIT FROM GAYLE KING.
>> THIS IS MY TERROR FACE, THOUGH.
>> Stephen: THAT'S YOUR TERROR FACE?
>> YES, I'M REALLY -- THIS FAKE BOMB STUFF OR THIS BOMB --
>> Stephen: YEAH, THE REAL BOMBS DIDN'T GO OFF.
>> THAT BEGS THE QUESTION.
IS THE PERSON BEHIND THIS JUST INCOMP AT THE PRESENT TIME OR
ARE THEY JUST TRYING TO SCARE US?
IF THEY'RE TRYING TO SCARE US, MISSION ACCOMPLISHED.
ARI AM WORRIED.
YOU'RE NOT WORRIED.
YOU CLEARLY DON'T HAVE A WORRIED FACE.
LOOK AT HIM H, HE CLEARLY DOESN'T HAVE A WORRIED FACE.
>> Stephen: GAYLE, I'M AMERICA'S SWEETHEART, EVERYBODY
LOVES ME.
EVERYBODY LOVES ME.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> I'M GOING TO HANG OUT WITH
YOU.
YOU SHOULD SEE ME LOOKING ALL AROUND WHEN I WALK OUT OF THE
BUILDING.
I'M NOT KIDDING.
>> Stephen: IN GENERAL, THERE'S THE EMOTIONAL EFFECT IT
HAS ON ANYONE.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: CERTAINLY, PEOPLE WHO HAVE BEEN CRITICS OF THE
PRESIDENT WHO MIGHT BE TARGETED BY SOMETHING LIKE THIS.
>> KNOW ANYBODY LIKE THAT?
( LAUGHTER ) AND I'M NOT EVEN A CRITIC AND
I'M WORRIED.
IT'S NOT OUR JOB TO CRITICIZE OR MAKE AN OPINION, WE JUST GIVE
YOU THE FACTS AND LET YOU THE AUDIENCE DECIDE.
SO I DON'T EVEN CALL MYSELF A CRITIC, AND I AM WORRIED.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: THE FUNNY THING IS
THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF SEES ALL MEDIA OTHER THAN FOX NEWS AS A
NATURAL CRITIC.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: BECAUSE IF YOU REPORT FACTS, YOU ARE ALMOST
AUTOMATICALLY CALLING HIM OUT ON A LIE.
>> YES, I KNOW.
WELL, WAIT, WAIT -- ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
>> Stephen: YOU DON'T MEAN TO, BUT BY VALUING FACTS, YOU'RE
DEVALUING HIS MESSAGE.
>> IT DOES SEEM TO BE, THOUGH, IF YOU DO A STORY FACTUAL THAT
HE DOESN'T LIKE YOU ARE LABELED FAKE NEWS MEDIA.
>> Stephen: ENEMY OF THE PEOPLE.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE -- I'M SURE THIS HAS
HAPPENED TO YOU IN THE PAST AND CERTAINLY HAPPENED TO CNN, WHICH
IS RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER HERE IN NEW YORK --
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: -- WHEN THE NEWS MEDIA ITSELF BECOMES THE STORY,
BECAUSE THAT'S SUPPOSED TO BE THE SORT OF THING THAT
REPORTERS, JOURNALISTS AVOID, TELL THE STORY BUT NOT BE THE
STORY.
>> I TRY TO GO MY WHOLE LIFE AND NOT BE THE STORY.
I MEAN THIS SINCERELY, BUT, LATELY, WE HAVE FOUND OURSELVES,
MEMBERS OF THE NEWS MEDIA, YOU KNOW, MEGYN KELLY, THE WHOLE
#metoo POVMENT IS A STORY, I TRY TO GO MY WHOLE LIFE AND NOT
BE THE STORY, AND THAT'S HOW IT IS, BUT EVEN WHEN WE ARE THE
STORY, IT'S OUR JOB TO REPORT THAT, TOO, AS DIFFICULT AS IT
MAY BE.
>> Stephen: HARD TO BE OBJECTIVE AND GET YOUR EMOTIONS
OUT OF THAT WHEN YOU'RE THE STORY.
>> I THINK EVERYBODY SITTING ON TV THAT YOU WATCH HAS AN
OPINION, THEY HAVE AN EMOTION, AND SOMETIMES I'M BITING THE
INSIDE OF MY CHEEKS SO MY EMOTION DOESN'T COME OUT BECAUSE
I WANT TO SAY THIS IS FRICKIN' CRAZY, BUT THAT'S NOT MY JOB TO
DO.
BUT IT'S HARD TO DO.
>> Stephen: SPEAKING OF FRICKIN' CRAZY --
( LAUGHTER ) -- YOU BROUGHT UP THE MEGYN
KELLY STORY A MOMENT AGO.
>> BECAUSE IT'S A STORY TODAY.
>> Stephen: AND SHE'S LEFT NBC?
>> IT HAS NOT BEEN CONFIRMED.
THERE'S ALL SORTS OF RUMORS AND SPECULATION.
I SUSPECT THAT, BEFORE THIS WEEK IS OVER, I THINK THAT, YOU KNOW,
I DON'T THINK SHE WILL BE AT NBC, BUT I DO NOT HAVE ANYTHING
TO REPORT AT THIS TIME.
LET'S SAY THIS, IT'S NOT LOOKING GOOD FOR ME MEGYN KELLY.
>> Stephen: WHAT DID YOU MAKE OF HER INITIAL STATEMENT AND
POLICY.
>> LOOK, I HAVE BLACK FACE 24-7, SO IT IS NEVER AN ISSUE FOR ME.
I THOUGHT HER ANDY LACK WHO RUNS NBC SUMMED IT UP NICELY WHEN HE
SAID IT'S A VERY UNFORTUNATE THING.
I KNOW MEGYN KELLY.
I HAPPEN TO LIKE MEGYN KELLY, SHE AND I WENT TO THE KENTUCKY
DERBY TWO YEARS AGO AND WE BONDED.
I THINK SHE'S A SMART COOKIE AND VERY GOOD AT WHAT SHE DOES.
BUT I THINK SHE CLEARLY STEPPED IN IT, SHE MADE A TERRIBLE
MISTAKE AND I WAS SURPRISED SHE WOULD HAVE MADE A MISTAKE OF
THAT KIND.
BUT SHE'S VERY SMART.
SHE'S AN ATTORNEY -- >> Stephen: SHE'S LIKE AN ODD
CULTURAL CUL-DE-SAC TO HAVE GROWN UP ON THAT THE
CONVERSATION THAT BLACK FACE IS BAD NEVER DROVE BY YOUR HOUSE.
( LAUGHTER ) >> I AGREE.
AND I DIDN'T LIKE IT WHEN SHE SAID SANTA CLAUS IS WHITE.
>> Stephen: AND JESUS IS WHITE.
( LAUGHTER ) >> SHE'S SAID A COUPLE OF
THINGS.
>> Stephen: COUPLE, THREE.
( LAUGHTER ) >> BUT I NEVER WISH BAD ON
ANYBODY, I DON'T.
>> Stephen: I BELIEVE THAT.
I DON'T.
I'M NOT A POLLYANNA GIRL, I'M NOT THAT, BUT I DO FEEL THIS IS
A ROUGH TIME FOR HER.
>> Stephen: THE MIDTERMS ARE TWO WEEKS AWAY.
>> YES, YES!
>> Stephen: THE FEELING -- I'M EXCITED ABOUT THAT,
THOUGH.
>> Stephen: YOU FEEL A NATIONAL TENSION HAPPENING.
>> WELL, I FEEL A NATIONAL TENSION, AND I FEEL THIS IS A
MIDTERM UNLIKE MANY OTHER.
FOR MOST PEOPLE -- WELL, I'LL SAY THE PUBLIC, WE IN THE MEDIA
PAY ATTENTION, BUT THE PUBLIC THINKS MIDTERM, NO BIG DEAL.
THIS IS A VERY BIG TIME.
NORMALLY ONE SIDE OR THE OTHER IS ARCHED UP ABOUT THE MIDTERMS.
THIS TIME YOU HAVE BOTH DEMOCRATS AND REPUBLICANS SAYING
WE'VE GOT TO GET TO THE POLLS, WE'VE GOT TO GET TO THE POLLS
AND, YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU DO HAVE TO GET TO THE POLLS.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) IT'S GOING TO BE A LONG DAY.
AREN'T YOU GUYS LIVE?
AREN'T YOU GUYS LIVE THAT DAY?
>> Stephen: WE ARE LIVE.
WE'RE ACTUALLY GOING TO BE LIVE ALL DAY BUT ONLY GOING TO
BROADCAST THE LAST HOUR.
YOU GUYS LITERALLY ARE ALL DAY.
>> SO WE'LL BE ON IN THE MORNING.
>> Stephen: FROM 7:00 TO -- 7:00 TO 9:00.
WE'LL GO TO THE WEST COAST, SOMETIMES YOU GO LIVE ON THE
WEST COAST.
>> Stephen: SURE.
THEN WE COME BACK AT 9:00 AT NIGHT AND ARE THERE UNTIL
2:00 IN THE MORNING.
WE'LL BE THERE FOR YOU, PEOPLE!
>> Stephen: YOU HAVE AN HOUR BREAK BECAUSE WE'RE ON.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: BUT YOU HAVE THE ABILITY TO BREAK IN.
CBS NEWS WILL BE ABLE TO BREAK INTO MY SHOW.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: GAYLE HAS BEEN GIVE AN BIG RED BUTTON TO BREAK
INTO THE MIDDLE.
>> I'M TIED OF HIM!
BUZZ, LET'S GET IN!
BUT THE MIDTERMS, A LOT IS HAPPENING.
THERE'S A LOT AT STAKE.
>> Stephen: FROM MY POINT OF VIEW, YOU HAVE AN OPPORTUNITY TO
CONTINUE ON THE RIGHT, YOU HAVE AN ABILITY TO CONTINUE THE MAKE
AMERICA GREAT AGAIN AGENDA, AND THOSE IN OPPOSITION TO THE
PRESIDENT, IT'S SORT OF A BRUSH BACK PITCH TOWARD AUTHORITARIAN
TENDENCIES.
>> I'VE ALWAYS THOUGHT AMERICA IS GREAT.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) WHEN YOU GO AND TRAVEL AROUND
THE WORLD, AND WHEN YOU COME HOME, THERE IS NOTHING LIKE THE
UNITED STATES OF AMERICA.
>> Stephen: YOU REALIZE YOU JUST TOOK SIDES WITHOUT MEANING
TO.
>> NO, I DIDN'T.
>> Stephen: YES, YOU DID.
NO, I DID NOT.
>> Stephen: YOU'RE SAYING THAT MAKE AMERICA GREAT AGAIN IS A
MEANINGLESS STATEMENT.
HOW DARE YOU.
>> I SAID TO YOU, STEPHEN COLBERT, AMERICA'S ALWAYS BEEN
GREAT AND I STILL STAND BY THAT.
>> Stephen: I AGREE WITH YOU.
I AGREE WITH YOU.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) SO HOW DO YOU KEEP THE ENERGY
GOING?
IF YOU'RE DOING THE 7:00, UP AT 4:00 FOR 7:00 AND ON TILL 3:00.
>> DRUGS, DRUGS, STEPHEN!
>> Stephen: YOU HAVE HIGH-SPEED CHICKEN FEED?
WHAT ARE YOU DOING?
( LAUGHTER ) >> NO, I AM ONE OF THESE PEOPLE,
I'M SO EXCITED THAT I GET TO BE PART OF THE TEAM TO BRING YOU
THE ELECTION COVERAGE.
>> Stephen: IT'S A PRIVILEGE.
I DO THINK THAT.
I'M LOOKING AT YOUR EYES, I DON'T KNOW IF YOU'RE MAKING A
JOKE.
>> Stephen: MONEY SHOW YOU GET TO TALK TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
IS A PRIVILEGE.
>> ABSOLUTELY.
WHEN THE NIGHT COMES, I KNOW WE'LL BE READY.
WE HAVE A FIRST-CLASS TEAM, WE'LL BE ALL OVER THE COUNTRY,
AND I LOOK FORWARD THAT THAT.
BUT, LISTEN, GETTING OFF AT 2:00 OR 3:00, IT'S LIKE WHEN THE
ELECTION CAME IN 2016, THEY SAID, OH, THIS WILL BE AN EARLY
NIGHT.
THE POLLSTERS SAID WE'LL PROBABLY BE DONE BY 11:00.
>> Stephen: HE'LL CONCEDE BY 11:15.
>> IT WILL BE DONE, AND 3:00, WE WERE STILL THERE.
NOBODY REALLY KNOWS WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN ELECTION NIGHT COMING
UP.
>> Stephen: OTHER HAN THE RUSSIAN, BUT EVERYBODY ELSE IS
IN THE BLANK.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) WHAT RACES -- OBVIOUSLY, YOU
BEING AN ACTUAL JOURNALIST, YOU'RE FOLLOWING THEM CLOSELY.
>> TEXAS, THE SENATOR'S RACE IN TEXAS I'M VERY INTERESTED TO SEE
HOW THAT'S GOING TO GO.
AND THE GOVERNOR'S RACE IN GEORGIA WHERE STACEY ABRAMS HAS
A CHANCE TO BE THE FIRST BLACK GOVERNOR.
I INTERVIEWED HER THIS SUMMER.
I WAS SO IMPRESSED BY HER BACK STORY, WHERE SHE CAME FROM, WHY
SHE WANTS TO DO WHAT SHE DOES.
THEY HAVE THE ISSUE OF VOTER SUPPRESSION THERE.
I'M VERY INTERESTED TO SEE WHAT'S GOING TO HAPPEN.
I JUST LIKE ALL OF IT.
>> Stephen: I BELIEVE IT'S VOTER SUPPRESSION.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: YOU THINK IT'S DEFINITELY VOTER SUPPRESSION?
>> IT APPEARS TO BE VOTER SUPPRESSION.
>> Stephen: BUT THE SECRETARY OF STATE WAS RUNNING AND ALSO
CONTROLS THE ELECTION AND HE SAYS I'M JUST ENFORCING THE LAW.
>> EXACTLY, BUT YOU GO TALK TO THE PEOPLE AND SAY, LOOK, THIS
IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.
WE DID A STORY ABOUT PEOPLE WHO SAID MY VOTE WAS CAST AWAY.
SO IT'S NOT LIKE I'M JUST MAKING THIS STUFF UP.
WE'VE TALKED TO PEOPLE WHO SAID THIS IS WHAT HAPPENED TO ME.
SO IT'S A VERY INTERESTING STORY.
I WANT TO SEE HOW THAT'S GOING TO PLAY OUT.
>> Stephen: YOU'RE A TAYLOR SWIFT FAN.
>> OH, I LOVE HER.
>> Stephen: YES.
I HAVE BEEN TO ALL OF HER CONCERTS, ANDLY GO --
>> Stephen: GET OUT!
PEOPLE WILL SAY, WHAT ARE YOU DOING HERE?
AND I GO, I LIKE TAYLOR SWIFT.
I KNOW ALL THE SONGS, I THINK SHE'S TERRIFIC.
I LIKED HER FROM THE FIRST LOVE STORY ALBUM.
♪ IT'S A LOVE STORY BABY ♪ ♪ JUST SAY YES ♪
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: WERE YOU SURPRISED
SHE ENDORSED?
>> I WAS SURPRISED TAYLOR TOOK A STAND THIS TIME DOES A SHE'S
GONE HER WHOLE CAREER STAYING OUT OF POLITICS.
IT'S LIKE WHAT MICHAEL JORDAN SAID ONCE AT THE HE NEVER TOOK A
POLITICAL STAND BECAUSE HE SAID, LOOK, REPUBLICANS BUY MY TENNIS
SHOES, TOO, SO I'M STAYING OUT OF IT.
TAYLOR SWIFT MADE THE DECISION TO STAY OUT OF POLITICS.
I THINK WHAT SHE WAS SEEING WAS BECOMING VERY TROUBLING TO HER,
THAT SHE DECIDED TO GET OUT AND ENCOURAGE PEOPLE TO VOTE.
AND WHEN YOU LOOK AT THE MILLENNIAL POPULATION -- HI, ALL
MILLENNIALS -- ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
WE LOVE THE MILLENNIALS.
THEY ARE THE BIGGEST VOTING BLOCK, BUT ONLY ONE OUT OF FIVE
ARE VOTING, SO TAYLOR IS THE ONE THAT CAN REACH THEM.
I THINK IT'S GREAT SHE IS ENCOURAGING PEOPLE TO VOTE.
>> Stephen: DO NOT BREAK TAYLOR SWIFT'S HEART.
>> YOU LIKE HER, TOO.
>> Stephen: IT'S BEEN BROKEN TOO MANY TIMES.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: SHE'LL WRITE A SONG ABOUT YOU!
BACK WITH MORE GAYLE KING!
STICK AROUND, EVERYBODY!