With less than a week before the midterms, CBS’s host of The Late Show Stephen Colbert gave up all pretenses of being a comedian to welcome Senator Elizabeth Warren to his Wednesday show. He will give four reasons why Democrats should vote next week.
Colbert began his descent into DNC TV with the question, “Does your closing argument matter as we enter the last few days?”
Warren agreed, saying, “So, this election is about a huge decision, I mean, like giant differences.” There will be four items on the ballot.
“Roe V. Wade” is the first of these things. The Republicans want to ban abortion access in all parts of the country. The Democrats believe that the decision should be made by the doctor and patient, not your local elected officials. Yes, Pennsylvania, I am looking at you. John Fetterman
Colbert did not respond to the request and, after some exaggerated note-taking, asked for the second reason. Warren agreed, “The economy will be on the ballot.”
Colbert interrupted to offer very little pushback, pointing that the conventional wisdom suggests that Republicans have an advantage because of inflation. Warren continued, “Whoa!” Many billionaires believe that… A lot billionaires believe that. Here’s the deal: The Republicans claim that their main economic plan is to cut Social Security, Medicare, and give billionaires and billionaires more tax breaks.
After some talk about Social Security, Colbert asked the most difficult question of the interview. Even though it wasn’t very difficult, Colbert said, “What’s your plan on inflation?”
Warren cited Democrats’ inflationary-causing spending to be their solution to spending. “So, look, that’s going after the costs that families directly feel. We’re lowering healthcare costs and putting a limit on insulin. The climate plan will lower the cost of utilities.”
Colbert was intrigued by the Biden’s student loan forgiveness program after she praised it. Warren couldn’t decide if the order was so uncontroversial that previous presidents had done the same thing, or a historic achievement.
Let’s face it, if the judges actually understood the law, it will happen. It’s clear that the president is authorized to do this. President Obama did it. It was done by President Trump, and it is possible for President Biden to do the same. Take a deep breath and think about that one on student loans.
Colbert did not respond. Moving on to reason number three, Warren stated, “So, third thing is climate. It’s–our world is on the ballot. The Republicans want to continue taking money from Big Oil. They want to embrace climate deniers.”
Colbert only offered a slight resistance when asked if the climate bill had affected gas prices. Warren claimed that it had, but in a ridiculous way. Colbert asked if it was related in that the more we shift to clean energy and the more to renewable energy, we are less dependent on countries like Russia or Saudi Arabia, which decide how high or low oil prices will be.
Colbert and Warren were most aligned over the last reason, which Warren claimed was that “democracy” is on the ballot.
Colbert replied by affirming that “while all of these-while all of these–are important… none of them matters unless you save this one.”
Warren and Colbert might have believed that.
Apple sponsored this segment.
Here’s a transcript from the November 2 show:
CBS The Late Show With Stephen Colbert
11/3/2022
12:05 AM ET
STEPHEN COLBERT: There is a strange dichotomy out there-there–that there is–I’ve seen headlines that say, lack of enthusiasm. Other headlines have said, “This is historic turnout that hasn’t been seen since mid-70s.”
This is a strange and important time. Do you have a closing argument for the last few days?
ELIZABETH WAREN: This is about a huge decision, I mean, big differences. There will be four items on the ballot. Roe v. Wade will be on the ballot regardless of who is listed. The Republicans want to ban abortion access in all parts of the country. The Democrats believe that the decision should be made by the patient and doctor, not your local elected officials. Yes, Pennsylvania, I am looking at you. John Fetterman.
COLBERT: Okay, that’s one.
WARREN: That’s one.
COLBERT : That’s one. Hold on.
WARREN: You bet.
COLBERT: One. Two.
WARREN: The economy will be on the ballot. The Republicans are now –
COLBERT: A lot of people– a lot of people–Republicans– a lot of people think the Republicans have an advantage on the economy because of inflation.
WARREN: Whoa! Many billionaires believe that.
COLBERT – A lot of billionaires?
WARREN: Many billionaires believe that. Many billionaires believe that because the Republicans claim their main economic plan is to cut Social Security, Medicare, and give billionaires and billionaires more tax breaks.
COLBERT : Let’s just stop there for a second.
WARREN: Yeah.
COLBERT: Medicare and Social Security.
WARREN: Yeah.
COLBERT – This has been long called the third rail in American politics.
WARREN: That’s what you would think.
COLBERT – Why do you think they’re willing lick it?
WARREN: They have very long tongues. Keep in mind that this one is actually a joke. Let’s try another state. The Republicans stated that they would vote every five years whether to retain Social Security and Medicare.
Ron Johnson, Wisconsin’s governor, says he wants every year to vote. Wisconsin, we are looking at you. Mandela Barnes is your guy. This is what you have to do.
COLBERT: Okay. That’s–that’s–
WARREN: Okay. That’s the second. Democrats want the economy to work for everyone, right? Lowering healthcare costs –
COLBERT: What is the plan for inflation?
WARREN: It’s going after the costs that families directly feel. We’re lowering healthcare costs and putting a limit on insulin. The climate plan will lower the cost of utilities. We are pursuing it directly. We’ve done it. We’ve reduced student loan debt for 43 millions Americans. This is where families live.
COLBERT – Do you think that will happen? Because there was yet another stay by a federal court on that. Do you think that will happen?
WARREN: If the judges actually read the law, then it’s going be a reality. It’s clear that the president is authorized to do this. President Obama did it. It was done by President Trump, and it is possible for President Biden to do the same. Take a deep breath and think about that one on student loans.
Twenty million Americans will see their student loan debt forgiven. Half of all Latinos will have all their debt forgiven. Nearly a third (33%) of all African-Americans will see their debt forgiven. This is not an economic justice issue. It is a racial injustice issue. This is the first major federal effort to close America’s racial wealth gap.
COLBERT : Okay, let’s move to three. That’s three, so–
WARREN: Okay. By the way, I should mention that anyone who hasn’t signed up for student loan debt reduction should. That’s studentaid.gov, right? Okay, I’d like to do that.
COLBERT : So, what’s third–what’s third thing?
WARREN: The third thing is climate. It’s on the ballot. The Republicans want to continue taking money from Big Oil. They want to embrace climate deniers. Already, the Democrats have made a large down payment. Already, we have passed laws to reduce climate emissions by 40% by 2030. We need more senators to make even more cuts and save the planet. This is why Democrats are number three.
COLBERT – Is that the–is that the–is that the–is that the–addressing climate change or the global warming bill? Are they in any way connected to the rise in fuel prices.
WARREN: No. It actually works the opposite way. It is true that it is related in that the more we shift to clean energy, and the more to renewable energy, we are less dependent on countries like Russia or Saudi Arabia who decide the price of oil.
Ultimately, this climate initiative by the Democrats has had one effect: to lower the cost of energy for all Americans.
COLBERT: Okay, so, four–
WARREN: It makes it even better. That’s three.
COLBERT: That’s three. So, what’s the fourth?
WARREN: Four: Democracy is on the ballot
COLBERT These are all important, but the rest of them–while they are important–are not.
WARREN: Yeah.
COLBERT – Unless you save this one, all of it doesn’t matter.
WARREN: That’s right. We have to save democracy. Let’s face facts, the Republicans continue to believe the big lie. They continue to try and excuse and make up what happened on January 6. The Democrats have a clear message: Every American citizen should be able to vote and get their vote counted. That’s the deal. This is how democracy works.
