- 8 hours ago
Stephen Colbert 2026 04 22 Pete Buttigieg JOAN
Category
馃摵
TVTranscript
00:01A marathon reading of the entire Bible here in Washington is going to last more than a week.
00:06This is a seven-day marathon event from Genesis all the way to Revelation.
00:11Trump is participating in a marathon reading of the entire Bible.
00:16When you run a marathon, you reach for Gatorade.
00:19When you participate in a Bible marathon, you reach for Goderade, the church cruncher.
00:26Gatorade gives you the stamina to recite all the words in the Bible, and even some that aren't in there.
00:31And in his own house, he prosperously affected.
00:35Available in Mary Magdalene, Cain and Apple, Bold Testament, and Let My People Mango.
00:42Whichever you choose, you shall love thy flavor.
00:45Gatorade, let there be electrolytes.
00:51It's The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
01:16And now, live on tape from the Ed Sullivan Theater in New York City, it's Stephen Colbert.
01:40Welcome, friends.
01:41Thank you very much.
01:42Welcome, everybody in here, out there, all around the world to The Late Show.
01:46I'm your host, Stephen Colbert.
01:48Let's, uh, what do we got?
01:50Oh, I know.
01:51First of all, uh, happy Earth Day to all who celebrate.
01:55I, uh...
01:57I do.
01:58I-I celebrate Earth Day.
01:59I grew up on Earth.
02:01Uh...
02:02Technically, I still live, uh, on Earth, but just-just for tax purposes.
02:07Um...
02:07Half the year, I live on a moon base with Conan O'Brien.
02:12That's why he's so tall.
02:14This year, there's some positive Earth news out there, which is nice.
02:18Recent studies have found that rainforests can recover from deforestation in mere decades,
02:22which, I'm told, is not news to anyone who's ever gotten a Brazilian.
02:30Speaking...
02:33Speaking of Brazil, uh, Iran.
02:38Uh...
02:39Share a lot of the same letters.
02:40Yesterday, Trump announced that he was extending a ceasefire between the United States and Iran
02:45hours before it was set to expire.
02:48This time, he did not specify an end date.
02:52Huh.
02:53You know what?
02:54I am-I'm beginning to think this war might not be over by Memorial Day.
02:59Which, uh, which reminds me.
03:01Hold on one second.
03:02Okay.
03:02Let me just, uh, let me just sign this, uh, box here.
03:05Uh, FedEx to A-B-C.
03:10Care of Jim E Kimmel, Hollywood.
03:22Enjoy, buddy.
03:25Coming to you.
03:25Can we get this in the mail?
03:27Get that in the mail?
03:28There we go.
03:31Whoo!
03:32Whoo!
03:35Now, mere hours after Trump's ceasefire extension,
03:38Iran seized two ships in the Strait of Hormuz.
03:42Which leads us to the segment that will follow me to my grave.
03:47Hormuz news you can use.
03:50Iran takes twos.
03:52We in deep doo-doos.
03:55The captured ships were two cargo vessels named the M.S.C. Francesca and the Epaminandas.
04:04Which is actually how I pronounce empanadas after a night of drinking.
04:08Oh, let's, let's, let's get some Epaminandas.
04:13Siri!
04:15Siri Epaminandas near me.
04:19Epaminandas with the green sauce.
04:22And she's calling 911 again.
04:26One Iranian official explained Trump's ceasefire extension means nothing.
04:29Adding, the losing side cannot dictate terms.
04:33Hey!
04:33Hey, buddy, we're America.
04:35We don't lose wars.
04:37We just leave them.
04:40Now, Trump was not happy about Iran giving him the Middle East finger.
04:46So last night, he rage posted,
04:49Iran doesn't want the Strait of Hormuz closed.
04:52They want it open so they can make $500 million a day,
04:56which is therefore what they are losing if it is closed.
05:00They only say they want it closed because I have totally blockaded closed.
05:06So they merely want to save face.
05:10Sounds like someone just learned what the word blockaded means.
05:14He continued,
05:16Iran, a country, wants to save face thing over your skull,
05:21which is why they're being stupid, dumb,
05:23but they will soon be filled with regret.
05:25I don't know that one.
05:28No, you know that.
05:30With no clear exit for the U.S.,
05:32it's no surprise that, according to several U.S. officials,
05:35the president wants out of the increasingly unpopular war.
05:38In fact,
05:39two-thirds of Americans disapprove of Trump's handling of the war with Iran,
05:43according to a new NBC News Decision Desk poll,
05:46powered by SurveyMonkey.
05:49And I'm being told we have footage of that survey in progress.
05:55He does good work.
05:57He does very good work.
06:02By the way,
06:03I hear SurveyMonkey has an on-again, off-again thing with MailChimp.
06:10In response to his sinking poll numbers,
06:12today Trump posted a New York Times article praising the Apprentice's ratings
06:16from April of 2004.
06:21Always a tip-off that life isn't going great for you
06:23when you start to brag about something from 22 years ago.
06:27You kids think Dad's a loser.
06:29Well, I'll have you know that back in high school,
06:32I once won two free tickets to see the spin doctors in Anaheim
06:36at the Grove.
06:39This conflict needs to end soon, please,
06:42because, reportedly,
06:43the world's top condom maker
06:45is set to raise prices due to the Iran War.
06:49Forget the Strait of Hormuz,
06:50now this war has come to pound town.
06:54The brand in question is called, uh,
06:56Carex.
06:57I know Durex.
06:59Carex sounds like the knock-off condoms
07:01you found at the dollar store.
07:03Uh, uh, the guy says they're the same.
07:05By the way, are you allergic to
07:07vinyl siding?
07:16May contain traces of gypsum.
07:21Here's what's going on, y'all.
07:22The war in Iran
07:23has made Carex's raw materials more expensive,
07:26so they plan to raise prices by 20 to 30 percent.
07:31Well, we're just going to have to find alternatives to condoms,
07:33you know?
07:34There's plenty.
07:35I remember back in health class,
07:36they said you could use a banana peel.
07:40I think, I think that's what they said.
07:42I know there was a banana on the teacher's desk.
07:46I was pretty high.
07:49I ate the banana.
07:52Carex also supplies prophylactics
07:54to global aid programs
07:56run by the United Nations.
07:58Ah, yes!
07:59United Nations brand condoms.
08:01You know their slogan.
08:03You are the father!
08:10Speaking of condoms,
08:12several Finnish Air Force pilots
08:13were disciplined
08:14for drawing male genitalia in the sky
08:17using their flight patterns.
08:19Let's take a look.
08:20Okay, okay, I see it.
08:23Wow, that's great work.
08:25Uh, oh, wow.
08:26We got a Top Gun there.
08:28Uh, and one more.
08:30Okay.
08:32I have notes on that one.
08:34Because this, this looks less like a penis
08:36and more a pair of scissors
08:37or maybe a cute, skinny mouse.
08:41If your penis looks like this,
08:43consult a doctor
08:45or an exterminator.
08:47Should not have a tail.
08:49In, in other weenie news,
08:51there's an update on
08:52FBI Director Cash Patel
08:56seen here smelling what he dealt.
08:59Last week...
09:02Last week,
09:03The Atlantic published
09:04a bombshell article
09:05that alleges Patel gets drunk
09:07and passes out at work.
09:09On Monday,
09:10he sued The Atlantic for defamation,
09:12and yesterday,
09:13he had a chance to defend himself.
09:15Can you say definitively
09:17that you have not been intoxicated
09:19or absent during your tenure
09:20as FBI Director?
09:22I can say unequivocally
09:24that I never listen
09:25to the fake news mafia.
09:27And as when they get louder,
09:28it just means I'm doing my job.
09:30Uh, that's not a no?
09:33All right.
09:35Sir?
09:36Sir, have you been drinking tonight?
09:38Officer,
09:39I can say unequivocally
09:41that I am just on the way
09:42to pick up my...
09:45Epaminondas.
09:48Ep...
09:49Order theory.
09:52Siri, drive car.
09:57By the way,
09:57this isn't the first time
09:58Patel has had to
09:59try to go after someone
10:00for saying he parties too hard.
10:02Last year,
10:03he sued a former FBI official
10:04who claimed he had been
10:05visible at nightclubs
10:07far more
10:08than he had been
10:09at the Bureau's headquarters.
10:11That's ridiculous.
10:12I mean,
10:13he might have been
10:14at nightclubs,
10:14but there's no way
10:15he's visible.
10:17The guy's not tall enough
10:18to see over the bar.
10:21One acorn cap full
10:22of alcohol, please.
10:24Golly, that's a lot.
10:26Someone should really
10:27take away the keys
10:28to my snail.
10:33Patel was also asked
10:34about an incident
10:35described in the same
10:36Atlantic article
10:37where he couldn't
10:39log in to his FBI computer
10:40and he panicked
10:42thinking that it meant
10:43he had been fired.
10:44Court.
10:44Can you explain
10:44the computer login issue?
10:46Just explain
10:47the computer login issue.
10:48You were not able
10:48to log in to the...
10:49Your lawsuit contends
10:50that you were not able
10:51to log in to the system.
10:53What did you think
10:54after you were unable
10:55to log in to the system?
10:56Let's have a survey.
10:58How many of you people
10:59believe that's true?
11:09I'm sorry.
11:10Um, uh, go on.
11:13I've answered your question.
11:15It's simply as follows.
11:17I was never locked
11:18out of my systems.
11:20Anybody who says...
11:21Your lawsuit says
11:21the opposite.
11:22Your lawsuit contends...
11:23Anyone that says
11:24the opposite is lying.
11:27Okay.
11:28So Cash says
11:30that anyone who says
11:31that Cash was locked
11:32out of Cash's FBI computer
11:34is lying.
11:34But the reporter points out
11:36that in Cash's own lawsuit,
11:38Cash says Cash was locked
11:40out of Cash's FBI computer.
11:42So Cash is lying
11:44that the reporter
11:45is lying about Cash.
11:46Which means, hold on.
11:50He has to leave the grain
11:51with the fox
11:52before he can go get drunk
11:53with the chicken.
11:55We've got a great show
11:56for you tonight.
11:57My guests
11:58are Pete Buttigieg
12:00and Andy Serkis.
12:02But when we come back,
12:03your chance
12:04on the part
12:05of the late show history.
12:07Stick around.
12:28Welcome back, everybody.
12:29Give it up for Louis Cato
12:30and the great big joy machine.
12:32There you go.
12:36Folks, in case you're not aware,
12:39the network has canceled the show.
12:44And, um...
12:45And, of course,
12:45that boo is just our audience
12:47honoring CBS's hit show, Ghosts.
12:50Boo.
12:51The motto is boo, right?
12:53It's boo.
12:54So we're going to have to leave
12:55the beautiful Ed Sullivan Theater
12:57and, more importantly,
12:58all the beautiful stuff in it,
12:59which legally is
13:00property of the network.
13:02But they're not really
13:04paying attention to us
13:05at this point.
13:06So instead,
13:06we're harnessing the power
13:08and style of home shopping
13:09to sell it all
13:11and donate the proceeds
13:12to charity.
13:13This is Late Show
13:14Home Shopping
13:15canceled clearance sale.
13:17Bye-bye, bye.
13:29Welcome to the shop.
13:31Tonight, we are selling items
13:32that will make your friends
13:33say, wow,
13:34and your accountants say,
13:35why?
13:37Everything you see here,
13:38plus more,
13:39is up for auction
13:39on our website,
13:41ColbertLateShow.com
13:42slash eBay,
13:43or use this QR code.
13:45QR codes,
13:46you know their slogan.
13:47The Thing That Makes Your Dad Say,
13:49Can I Please Just Get a Real Menu?
13:53Go bid on these items, folks,
13:54because all the proceeds
13:55will go to the charity
13:56of my choice,
13:57which is
13:58Jose Andres'
13:59World Central Kitchen.
14:01And joining me...
14:08Joining me tonight,
14:09as always,
14:10please welcome my co-host,
14:11Jon Stewart.
14:15Hey, dude.
14:16I couldn't see you.
14:17Oh, my goodness.
14:18Look at that.
14:22Please.
14:24Please have a seat.
14:25Jon,
14:26thanks so much for being here.
14:28Always, Stephen.
14:29I came as soon as I heard
14:30about your cancellation.
14:33That happened nine months ago, Jon.
14:35Uh,
14:36what day of the week was that?
14:38Uh, it was on a Thursday.
14:39Ah,
14:40I only pay attention
14:41to news on Mondays.
14:43My mistake.
14:44Now,
14:45let's sell some great items
14:46for a great cause.
14:48Let's do it.
14:48First up
14:49is a beautiful piece of decor.
14:51It's the red carpet
14:52our guests walk on
14:54to enter the Late Show stage.
14:56Yes.
14:56Yes.
14:56Before our guests
14:57can enter.
14:59Before our guests can enter,
15:00they first have to walk down
15:01this carpet
15:02and stand on
15:03the little gold star
15:04at the end,
15:04waiting for Stephen
15:05to call their name.
15:07It's all part of the sick
15:08head games he plays
15:09to make himself
15:12feel important.
15:14Busted,
15:15this gorgeous carpet
15:17has welcomed
15:17countless guests
15:18to the Late Show
15:19like presidential candidates,
15:20American icons,
15:21and the crew
15:23of trained cats
15:24called the Amazing Acro Cats,
15:27which means
15:28you're going to want
15:29to clean it
15:29because the Acro Cats
15:31also sprinkled
15:32some Acro Pea.
15:33Now,
15:34John,
15:34what would you pay
15:35for an incredible item
15:36like this?
15:37What would I pay?
15:37I mean,
15:38it's a lot,
15:38I mean,
15:39with the cats
15:39and all,
15:40well,
15:41I'm going to say
15:42$40 to $50 million.
15:45That's what I would pay.
15:46Great guest,
15:47John,
15:47but as always,
15:48wrong.
15:49In honor,
15:50in honor,
15:50or in honor
15:51of my favorite guest
15:53that I've ever had
15:54on the show,
15:55we are starting the bidding
15:56at just 50 cent.
16:00Well,
16:00to make this right,
16:01red carpet,
16:01even better,
16:02I'm going to be throwing
16:03in my own
16:06celebrity rug.
16:07Yes,
16:08ladies and gentlemen,
16:10you can get,
16:11that's right,
16:14but you can get
16:16the wig I wore
16:18during the first season
16:19of The Daily Show,
16:20and as you can tell
16:21from looking at it,
16:22time is a mother
16:23Yes.
16:25A cruel,
16:26cruel mistress,
16:27John.
16:28It really is
16:28just the worst.
16:29Up next,
16:31we have an item
16:32so rare,
16:33basically no one
16:34even knew it existed.
16:35You can put the head away.
16:36All right.
16:37No one knew it existed
16:38until this very moment.
16:39It is a prop certificate
16:40I had made for a joke
16:42when I hosted
16:43the 2006 White House
16:45Correspondent Center
16:4620 years ago this month.
16:4820 years ago this month?
16:50It was part of
16:51the only joke,
16:51and this is true,
16:52the only joke
16:53I cut on the fly
16:54while I was up
16:55at the podium.
16:56You see,
16:56George W. Bush
16:57had just given out
16:57a lot of medals
16:58of freedom
16:58to a bunch
16:58of the staff
16:59who were overseeing
17:00Iraq,
17:00and it wasn't going well.
17:02And I mentioned
17:02that he gives out
17:03these medals of freedom
17:04like candy,
17:05but nobody gives him
17:06anything,
17:06and that ended tonight.
17:07So I was going
17:08to give him
17:09the highest honor
17:09a citizen can give
17:10a president
17:11this certificate
17:13of presidency
17:14that reads,
17:16from Stephen Colbert
17:18to George W. Bush
17:19in recognition
17:21that you are
17:22president of the United States.
17:24I even signed it
17:25and dated it.
17:27There you go.
17:29Fantastic.
17:29Fantastic.
17:30Yeah.
17:31My plan was
17:33to hand this
17:34to George W. Bush
17:35and say,
17:36why don't you give this
17:36to your mom?
17:37She could put it
17:37on the refrigerator
17:38or something.
17:38Oh, that's such a
17:39lovely gesture.
17:41I can't remember.
17:42Why didn't you do that?
17:43Well, John,
17:44I'm not sure
17:44if you are familiar
17:45with that speech,
17:46but by the end,
17:47the vibes were
17:47a little tense.
17:48So I decided
17:51to not do that joke,
17:52which means
17:52I still have this item,
17:54and it's now perfect
17:55for anyone out there
17:56who was a fan
17:57of my 2006
17:58Correspondents Dinner
17:59speech,
17:59or of George W. Bush,
18:01or somehow
18:02of both.
18:05Very good.
18:06That's a Ben Dyer.
18:06That is.
18:08Barely touched.
18:09Barely touched.
18:10You know what?
18:10That is gorgeous.
18:12And to make this
18:12even better,
18:13I'm going to throw
18:13in my own certificate.
18:14This is very exciting news.
18:15I've never before given this.
18:16For all the people
18:17who have mixed up
18:18my name over the years,
18:20it's a certificate that says,
18:21I hereby declare
18:21that you are right.
18:22My name is actually
18:23John Daly.
18:26You were not wrong
18:26when you said it that way,
18:28and it was not embarrassing
18:29at all,
18:30and that's signed
18:30John Stewart,
18:32and then, of course,
18:34Leibowitz at the end,
18:34which I dropped
18:35so that people
18:36don't know
18:36I'm a Jew.
18:40Wow, John.
18:41I had no idea.
18:42No one does.
18:43No one knew.
18:44They can't tell at all.
18:46I thought you were
18:46a defrocked priest.
18:48John.
18:48I've seen that one.
18:49That is going to make
18:50someone very happy
18:51and or very confused.
18:55Last,
18:56and also largest, folks,
18:57we are selling off
18:58the giant sign
18:59from the top of our set
19:00that reads,
19:02The Late Show With.
19:03Buy this,
19:04and like me,
19:06you could have
19:06The Late Show
19:06hanging over your head
19:07for the rest of your life.
19:10And by the way,
19:10if that's not enough,
19:11I am also going to throw in,
19:12and this is very exciting news
19:14because it's a wonderful sign,
19:15a limited edition
19:17Daily Show mug
19:18that I have signed.
19:20Steven,
19:22that's what I'm doing.
19:23I'm not generous.
19:24Wow.
19:25John, how much would you pay
19:26for all these incredible items
19:27together?
19:28And before you answer,
19:29let me just take
19:30a sip of water.
19:43Yes?
19:43Oh, yeah.
19:44No, I was,
19:44I was,
19:45so,
19:46well,
19:46you would get the giant sign,
19:48a standard size mug,
19:50which is,
19:52I don't know,
19:53like 20 bucks.
20:00Very hard not to,
20:01very hard not to,
20:02I understand.
20:03John,
20:04there's no way,
20:05there's no way,
20:06way we could start bidding
20:07that high.
20:10Well, Steven,
20:11what would you like
20:12to start the bidding at?
20:12Before you tell me,
20:15do you mind
20:15if I take a sip of water?
20:17Not at all,
20:18John.
20:19John,
20:19you get the big sign,
20:21the Daily Show mug,
20:22and I will throw in
20:23the Late Show mug
20:24I just used
20:25for that spit take,
20:26and we are starting bidding
20:27at just $19.99.
20:44If I may,
20:45that is actually
20:46tremendous value.
20:47Oh.
20:47Thank you, John.
20:48Yeah.
20:49To bid on these great items
20:50and more,
20:50head to
20:50ColbertLateShow.com
20:52slash eBay,
20:53where you can also buy
20:54our commemorative
20:56The Last Show t-shirts.
21:01What?
21:03What?
21:04There are,
21:05wait, what?
21:07There are,
21:08you,
21:09what?
21:09There are t-shirts?
21:12Oh, my God.
21:14I can't believe it.
21:16I can't believe it.
21:19Yes, John.
21:21Yes, John,
21:22there are t-shirts,
21:23and they're very absorbent.
21:27Oh!
21:28With Pete,
21:29Billy James.
21:30John Torres!
21:31.
21:46Hey, everybody.
21:47Welcome back.
21:51Welcome.
21:53Ladies and gentlemen,
21:55My first guest tonight is a Navy veteran, former mayor of South Bend, Indiana,
22:02and former presidential candidate who served four years
22:04as the United States Secretary of Transportation.
22:07Please welcome back to The Late Show, Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
22:36Nice to see you.
22:38Same here.
22:42Wow.
22:43There you go.
22:45People are excited for Pete Buttigieg.
22:49Nice to see you again.
22:52Good to be back.
22:53I'm so happy to be here.
22:54The first time you and I spoke was seven years ago.
22:58Look at these young fellas.
23:01That's pre-2020.
23:04That's pre-COVID.
23:08A lot can change in seven years.
23:10You got two kids.
23:10You got the beard.
23:11You got a little salt and pepper over there.
23:14But having been in an administration, I know you'd already served as mayor,
23:17but having been in an administration and run for president,
23:19what is your view of American politics seven years later?
23:23Well, I believe a lot of the things that I believed then.
23:25But I think my experience has made me...
23:31I feel that I'm a moderate ideologically, but it's kind of radicalized me about the condition
23:37of our institutions.
23:37That there are things that we just accept that are totally unacceptable, that need more attention.
23:42Like if fixing money in politics or getting Congress to actually act as a constraint on the presidency
23:49or any of the other reforms we need, if that takes a constitutional amendment, let's do a constitutional amendment.
23:54Let's build a case for that right now.
23:56And there's a whole set of things like that in our economy, our society, our politics,
23:59that we just, we act as if they're sustainable and they're clearly not.
24:04And as much as I believed in reform seven years ago, right now I believe more than ever when,
24:08you know, folks are paying, jet fuel is doubled, diesel is up, gas is up, mortgage is higher
24:14because the president starts a war that he thinks there's no accountability for.
24:18Congress can't do anything or won't do anything, even though they have war powers, theoretically.
24:23You know, all of these things are happening because you have a president who's unaccountable,
24:28because we have a system that desperately needs reform.
24:32And as we're coming up on the 250th anniversary of our country, it's not enough to just assume
24:36that these systems are going to keep working.
24:38My warning to my own party is to avoid the temptation to think that we can just somehow take power
24:44and put everything back the way it was.
24:47The way it was wasn't working either.
24:50The way it was led to the way it is now.
24:52Exactly.
24:53All of that is what I'm going to call it.
24:54So somebody's got to change.
24:54Okay, well, okay.
24:59I mean, I think one of the things that needs to change in the United States Senate, how
25:03it's run, how people are elected, all that kind of stuff, it's a highly anti-democratic
25:06institution.
25:07Yeah.
25:07Part of the reasons why we're in the mess we are right now.
25:10But you decided not to run for Senate in Michigan, even though there was the seat opening
25:15up and you were a really good candidate for that.
25:17Is there some other office that appeals to you on any level?
25:24And I realize it's way too early.
25:27And I admit, I admit, I realize this is way too early to be talking about running for president
25:38in 2028, but I go off the air in four weeks.
25:40So why don't we just do this?
25:43We won't roll on this.
25:44We'll just, you just say, yes, I am running for president or yes, I'm not running for president.
25:50And we'll just roll that in once you announce and say, we got an exclusive here and no one
25:54here will tell anyone what you said.
25:57Does it seem fair?
26:01You're on your honor.
26:05Don't you think that'd be bad luck, though?
26:07Well, yes.
26:08Mm-hmm.
26:09Does it appeal to you at all?
26:10I mean, look, obviously, I ran for that office once.
26:13Yep.
26:13So what I'd say now, obviously, I'm a ways away from being able to make a decision like
26:18that and make news like that.
26:19But it is a decision you need to make.
26:24Your words.
26:25Your words, sir.
26:26Yeah, sure.
26:27Okay.
26:30I mean, the thing is, either way, I know what to do with myself right now.
26:33What's that?
26:34Which is make myself useful to candidates and causes that I believe in.
26:37We talked about the last time you were here.
26:38You were looking for a way to make yourself useful.
26:40Yeah, and what I found is that I can do that by going into places where a lot of Democrats
26:45don't go.
26:45You know, some of that is my unexpected specialty of going on Fox News and going into conservative
26:49outlets.
26:50Right.
26:50Always a pleasure.
26:52But you were down in Georgia, Oklahoma.
26:54Yeah, I was going to say, there's a geographic version of this, too.
26:57We were in Georgia.
26:57We were in Marjorie Taylor Greene's district.
26:59This is one of the most conservative districts in America.
27:01Yep.
27:02We had like 500 people come out in Rome, Georgia, to support a candidate who, for Congress,
27:07Sean Harris, who wound up overperforming by 25 points.
27:11It was the biggest jump yet in how much people were supporting Democrats.
27:14We were just in Tulsa, Oklahoma, just a few days ago.
27:17We had a town hall.
27:17Almost 2,000 people showed up.
27:19Yeah, I caught a lot of that town hall.
27:21It was great.
27:21It really was great.
27:22What do you think you're learning, and what do you think they're learning by having you
27:27going to someplace that some might perceive as hostile territory?
27:30Well, first of all, how much support there is and how much energy there is, and the fact
27:34that there is a powerful American majority for change and for the things we believe in.
27:40Because right now, you've got this administration that's created the illusion that their positions
27:45are supported by most Americans, and it's just not true.
27:49Most Americans agree that we should be taxing the wealthy more, not giving giant tax cuts
27:55to billions.
28:00Most Americans think it is nuts that we're being told we can't have nice things like rural
28:06hospitals and good roads and fully funded public schools at the same time that you've
28:12got billionaires paying a lower tax rate than the nurses in those hospitals and the workers
28:17who work on those roads and the teachers who teach in those schools.
28:20Most Americans agree with us that the government should be doing more and not less to make sure
28:25that you can get health care and that you can afford it, and that means expanding Medicaid
28:28and expanding the Affordable Care Act, not tearing it down.
28:30Most Americans think this war is a terrible idea, and it turns out that's not just true in
28:36New York.
28:36That's true across the country.
28:38You went to war.
28:39You served in Afghanistan, and I'm just curious, as someone who served in combat, when you see
28:47this war in Iran, what do you wish our president had understood this time about sending our troops
28:56into a war in the Middle East?
28:57I just remember the feeling of being on that plane, going into Afghanistan, praying that
29:04the people who sent me there knew what they were doing.
29:07And now you've got a war, a shooting war, where Americans have lost their lives, and everyone
29:12is feeling some kind of impact, because mortgage rates are higher and gas is more expensive.
29:16And it feels like the president's just making this up as he goes along.
29:21The gravest responsibility that a president can have is to commit troops to go into war.
29:28And yet he's doing it with no regard for their well-being, with no regard for what's going
29:33to happen, with no plan for what happens next.
29:35And if there's one thing we've learned just in my lifetime, it is that you don't go into
29:40a war in the Middle East if you don't know what you're doing, unless you have no alternative.
29:45We have to take a quick break.
29:47We're right back with more Pete Buttigieg.
29:49Everybody stick around.
29:56Very important.
29:57Very important.
29:57Hey, everybody.
29:58We're back with Secretary Pete Buttigieg.
30:00I want to go back to your freshman year at Harvard.
30:07We've got an old clip here.
30:09It's you at Harvard in 2001 asking a panel if 9-11 will change the way Americans view their
30:16role in the world.
30:17Are we likely to see now, for the average American, a greater respect for international
30:22institutions, a better sensitivity for international affairs, an understanding of the way everything
30:27is connected, or can we expect to go international just long enough for our international war effort
30:33and then just pull right back in to where the U.S. is what we worry about and the rest
30:38of the world
30:38is just that?
30:42A fantastic question.
30:45A great question for anyone, let alone a freshman who eventually got into Harvard at age 13.
30:5425 years later, how do you view America's role in the world?
31:02Diminished, sadly.
31:03I mean, you know, when I was a student, it was just understood that the U.S. was the leading
31:11nation in the world.
31:12Not just the biggest, not just the richest, not just the most powerful, but the country that people look to.
31:19Because of our values, as well as because of our strength.
31:21And now, under Donald Trump, there are, by some measures, more people around the world who trust China to do
31:30the right thing than the United States.
31:32That should bother every patriotic American.
31:36Because the reality is, when people do not trust the United States, that affects us.
31:41You don't have to be a foreign policy buff to be concerned about that or to be affected by that.
31:47That affects everything from our security as a country to the prices we pay at the store.
31:52And it will take a generation to establish the credibility and the trust that the U.S. had, it almost
32:01seemed, by right,
32:02back when I was a student showing up for freshman year.
32:06Well, Mr. Secretary, thank you so much for being here.
32:08Thanks for having me on.
32:09Good luck on the decision.
32:13Secretary Pete Buttigieg, everybody.
32:14We'll be right back with Andy Serkis.
32:31Welcome back, everybody.
32:36Folks, my next guest tonight is an actor and director you know as a gorilla,
32:42a chimpanzee, a demented hobbit, and occasionally a human being.
32:46Please welcome back to The Late Show, Andy Serkis.
32:50We'll be right back to The Late Show, Andy Serkis.
33:08Wow.
33:09You still got it.
33:10As agile as ever.
33:12Good to see you again.
33:13Oh, it's so nice to see you.
33:15Listen, we know you as an actor who can portray anyone and, if need be, anything.
33:22But you're also a director.
33:23You're about to start filming, shooting The Hunt for Golem down in New Zealand, which I'm
33:28very excited about.
33:31You're directing yourself in the title role of Golem, and I'm just curious, you're a great
33:40actor.
33:40What does Andy Serkis' director make of Andy Serkis' actor?
33:45Well, you know, funny enough, we were doing some camera tests not so long ago with Golem
33:50and Smeagol, and they went back to their trailer, and it was very difficult because I had to
33:54knock on the trailer.
33:55I was like, Golem, Smeagol, hello, hello, and there was no answer.
33:59And then Golem comes up to the door and he says,
34:01Oh, for God's sake, Serkis, what do you want?
34:05I said, please, can you just come back and do one more take?
34:07Smeagol then pops up from behind him and says,
34:09He doesn't want to do another one, precious.
34:12We've done it.
34:13We've given it all, precious.
34:16And then Golem turns around to me and says,
34:18Take me a proper direction of Peter f***ing Jackson.
34:22Wow.
34:23So it's an honest, frank exchange of ideas is what you're saying.
34:28Honesty is all you can...
34:29Here's the thing.
34:30Obviously, we all love that voice that you do or voices that you do.
34:33It sounds very painful.
34:36Like, you must be, like, just shredding your voice when you do that.
34:40It doesn't at all.
34:40I mean, I...
34:42Well, I heard you have a remedy for that.
34:45Yes.
34:45Which we made some for you.
34:47Can you tell me what it is and then we'll serve it?
34:48Well, it's...
34:49We've used it for years now, 25 years, you know, going back to the day.
34:53And it's called Golly Juice.
34:54And Golly Juice is basically honey, lemon, and ginger.
34:59But I've always felt it lacked a...
35:02And what did it lack?
35:04It lacked a little certain something, which, you know, I mean, there's plenty of things
35:09one could put in with honey, lemon, and ginger.
35:11Right.
35:11I'm just wondering...
35:12Just to keep it sterile.
35:13Nice.
35:13Cheers.
35:18That is the real deal.
35:20You know, I could use this because at least for the next few weeks, I've got a voice I do
35:25that is terrible, and I'll tell you what, Andy.
35:29It does absolutely...
35:31It ravages my larynx.
35:37Come to me, my precious.
35:38Oh, my God.
35:41Okay.
35:42You have just directed an animated version of George Orwell's Animal Farm.
35:47I have.
35:48Which is not only a famous story, but a famous cautionary tale, but abuse of power.
35:52And what made you want to tell this story?
35:54I mean, I read the book when I was about 12 going on the bus to school, the 273 bus
36:00to
36:00Ealing, where I went to school, and I just remember reading this incredible tale, this
36:05fairy tale, which obviously had dark themes underneath.
36:08I didn't fully understand what they were at the time, but I just knew it hit me in so
36:12many different ways, and it made me want to, eventually, when I would be in a position
36:17to, retell that tale.
36:20We have a clip here.
36:20Is there anything we need to know before we go?
36:22Okay.
36:23So a crucial thing is that the lead character in this, because in the book, it's a very
36:27objective tale, but we wanted to see it through the eyes of a young piglet who believes himself
36:31to be one of the animals at the beginning of the story, but then gets corrupted by Napoleon,
36:36who's played by, excuse me, by Seth Rogen brilliantly.
36:39But this is, but he sees himself as an animal, and he lives in a stall with his horse friend,
36:44played by Woody Harrelson, and this is Gaten Matarazzo playing this young, innocent piglet.
36:49And Boxer, the great shire horse, who's got such a strong work ethic.
36:54And this is, and this is a story where, where you see their relationship.
36:58Yvonne?
37:00I got you a surprise, Boxer.
37:04It's extra milk.
37:05Oh.
37:08Aren't, aren't we supposed to, uh, share everything?
37:13There's no more supposed to's anymore.
37:16Besides, I milk them and you work hard, so here you go.
37:20Oh, I, I, I don't know, I don't, I mean, it gives me a weird feeling in my heart, like,
37:26uh, I, I, well,
37:27like I'm doing a terrible thing by drinking milk that isn't mine.
37:32I mean, I guess that's just me, I, I, I don't know, Boxer.
37:38Everything's just so different and new and, and confusing now.
37:44It's hard to know what to do.
37:45Well, you worry too much, Lucky.
37:47Remember what I always say.
37:50Just look up at the stars.
37:53They take all our worries away.
38:01Good old Boxer.
38:02Oh, Boxer.
38:03No spoilers.
38:05Oh.
38:07I, I found out recently, I actually found out from a mutual friend of ours who told us this,
38:13and we have some photos here to prove it.
38:14You have a very, um, you have a hobby or a pastime, an adventure that holds no charm for me.
38:22You climb mountains.
38:25Yeah.
38:25How did you, how did you become a mountaineer?
38:28What got you into this?
38:29I, I read, again, this was the 273 bus going to school.
38:32It was a very profound experience, that bus.
38:33Um, I read a book, I read a book about the first ascent of Everest, and it just completely
38:40encapsulated me and made me want to climb mountains.
38:42And then I just started doing some rock climbing, some local.
38:45Well, down in New Zealand, did you ever meet Edmund Hillary?
38:48Well, I did meet Edmund Hillary.
38:49He came down to set when we were filming, and we, we sat and had lunch with him.
38:53And, and, in actual fact, he, he signed his autobiography to Gollum, lots of love, Edmund.
38:58I mean, it was, I have to say, I have never been so starstruck in my life.
39:03So here, here you are at the Matterhorn.
39:05Did you ascend the Matterhorn?
39:06I did the solo ascent of the Matterhorn.
39:08No, thank you.
39:08Solo?
39:09Yeah.
39:10Oh, didn't have any friends?
39:12No.
39:12All right.
39:13Where are you here?
39:14I'm on the very summit of the Matterhorn.
39:16That's the very summit of the Matterhorn?
39:17Yeah, it is.
39:17What's the view like, Andy?
39:19It's quite, yeah, quite terrifying, and, uh, but quite wonderful.
39:23And you like the terror.
39:24I find it keeps you on edge, you know, it keeps you kind of sharp, and, uh.
39:28Yeah, and where are we here?
39:29That's on a trek with my family, actually, to, uh, to Everest Base Camp.
39:33Uh-huh.
39:34Uh-huh.
39:35My wife, my wife once signed up, me and my boys, to go climbing in the Tetons.
39:40Have you ever climbed in the Tetons?
39:42No, no.
39:42They're very beautiful.
39:43Really?
39:43I did not care for it.
39:46Well, Andy, always lovely to see you.
39:49Can I just, before you go, um, I just want to give you a little gift from, from our little
39:53Animal Farm film, which I thought you might like.
39:56Ha, ha, ha, ha, ha, ha.
39:58Yeah, I'll put it on.
40:00You read what it says.
40:01Okay, it actually reads, make Animal Farm fictional again.
40:08Animal Farm is in theaters May 1st.
40:10Andy Serkis, everybody.
40:21Hey, that's it for The Late Show.
40:23Tune in tomorrow.
40:24My guests will be Senator Elizabeth Warren and Michael Stipe.
40:27Good night.
40:34Ah!
40:36Good night.
40:37Good night.
40:38Good night.
40:39Good night.
40:40Good night.
Comments