The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

The real head of DOGE has been revealed and it’s not Elon Musk, President Trump is wresting control of the press pool away from the White House Correspondents Association, and the U.S. may soon offer green cards to anyone able to afford a five million dollar fee. Restaurateur and Food Network star Guy Fieri details the work done by his Guy Fieri Foundation, which provides meals to first responders when disasters, such as the recent wildfires in and around Los Angeles, strike. Season six of Guy’s show, “Tournament Of Champions,” premieres this Sunday on Food Network.

Some federal employees wrote “very rude” replies to the DOGE email that demanded they list five accomplishments, the White House declined to explain why President Trump has a huge bruise on his right hand, and beloved American restaurant chain Hooters is preparing to file for bankruptcy. If you don’t know her favorite action film, or which animal she finds the scariest, do you really know “Hollywood Squares” host Drew Barrymore? Get to know Drew on a deeper level when she takes The Colbert Questionert!

Government employees received a weird, aggressive email from Elon Musk over the weekend while the DOGE head was trying his hand at comedy on stage at CPAC. Today, an AI-generated video went viral depicting President Trump licking Elon Musk’s toes. Also, Stephen pleads his viewers to adopt Norbert, the dog Sam Waterston calls, “the world’s bestest dog.” Find adoption info for Norbert and other adorable adoptable pups at http://animalleague.org/rescuedogrescue. Actor Woody Harrelson shares a story about attending his first Grateful Dead concert and sitting somewhere he shouldn’t have. His new film “Last Breath” is in theaters this Friday.

Actor Alan Ritchson raves about the cross-generational fanbase for his show "Reacher," where viewers enjoy watching his character take out bad guys in elaborately choreographed fight scenes. And actress Tamara Tunie tells Stephen what to expect from her glass ceiling-breaking new show, "Beyond The Gates," which is the first daytime drama to feature a Black family in the central roles. It also happens to be the first new network soap opera in over 25 years! Watch "Beyond The Gates" when it premieres Monday on CBS.

Meanwhile... Stephen shares some good news from a seal rescue in Connecticut, and checks in on two developments from New York City’s underground. Also, a woman saved the life of an opossum who ate an entire cake, men in New York City are enhancing their genitals with filler, and beloved actor Mark Hamill didn't miss a beat after his pants fell down while presenting at an awards show.

Monica Lewinsky talks to Stephen Colbert about how the world has changed since she was in the center of a massive news story in the late 1990s, and why she thinks Taylor Swift would be the ideal podcast guest. Monica's podcast, "Reclaiming," is available wherever you get your podcasts.

President Trump’s royal decree banning congestion pricing in New York City didn’t go over too well with Gov. Kathy Hochul, Elon Musk has set his sights on America’s gold depository at Fort Knox, and California is set to recognize Sasquatch as the state’s official cryptid. America’s favorite weatherman takes a stand against Stephen Colbert in the long-simmering battle over whether it’s appropriate to serve shrimp with their tails intact.

The government is scrambling to rehire federal workers fired from crucial jobs managing nuclear weapons and disease control, the White House insists Elon Musk is not the person running DOGE, and President Trump is spouting Russian propaganda as he seeks a deal with Vladimir Putin to end the war in Ukraine. Acting legend Robert De Niro talks about why he decided to do a limited television series for the first time, and gives a preview of what happens to America in “Zero Day,” which is streaming now on Netflix.

Federally-indicted New York City Mayor Eric Adams opened his city’s prison system to ICE agents as part of a reported quid pro quo agreement with President Trump, who will allegedly help Adams avoid prison in exchange for cooperation on the president’s agenda. Oscar-winner George Clooney talks about legendary CBS journalist Edward R. Murrow, who was the most trusted person in television news during the 1950s when he stood up to powerful figures like Sen. Joseph McCarthy. Watch his portrayal of Murrow on Broadway in “Good Night, and Good Luck” in previews beginning March 12th and opening April 3rd at the Winter Garden Theater.

Stephen employs a metaphor to explain President Trump’s tyrannical behavior over the past week, MapQuest is resisting the president’s order to rename the Gulf of Mexico, and we have a preview of the entertainment Trump has planned as he takes control of an esteemed American cultural institution. Stephen asks his Strike Force Five podcast-mate to dive deeper into a story that was mentioned on the pod, involving a mysterious woman who showed up in a family picture drawn by his son Hudson. Watch “Last Week Tonight” airing Sundays on HBO.

“Yellowjackets” star Melanie Lynskey delights Stephen Colbert with stories about growing up in New Zealand and working with Peter Jackson when she was only 15. Watch season three of “Yellowjackets,” premiering February 14th on Paramount+ with Showtime.

Back by popular demand (and Stephen Colbert's personal request from last night's Pod Show Intro), it's David Alan Grier! This interview from December 2021 features lots of Tony Talk and overall fashion wisdom from national treasure David Alan Grier, and as an extra bonus in this Pod Show exclusive extended cut, D.A.G. and S.T.C. talk about their reactions to watching Peter Jackson's "Beatles: Get Back" documentary after their interview wrapped.

Stephen Colbert caps off a wonderful week of exclusive podcasts with this preamble to the EXTENDED cut of Will Ferrell's latest appearance. Hear all the bits you missed from these two funny guys that didn't air on TV - only on The Late Show Pod Show! Then watch Will's latest film, “You’re Cordially Invited,” available now on Prime Video.

After catching up with his podcast producer and comparing garden-prep notes, Stephen Colbert expresses his passion for poetry and gratitude for The Late Show audience in this exclusive introduction to his latest interview with bestselling author Kwame Alexander. Stay tuned to hear the accomplished writer perform a romantic poem by Nikki Giovanni with a little help from Louis Cato and The Late Show Band. Kwame Alexander's new book, "How Sweet The Sound: A Soundtrack For America," is available now.

Stephen jumps on The Pod Show yet again to talk Broadway ahead of these two stars of the stage and screen! First up: Emmy, GRAMMY and Tony Award-winning theater legend Audra McDonald is the first Black woman to play the lead role in “Gypsy” on Broadway, where her performance as Mama Rose is said to have the impact of a whirling cyclone. Next, Betty Gilpin tells Stephen about training for her role in the new series, “American Primeval,” and what the significance of her Broadway debut in 'OH, MARY!' means for her family in this extended interview with the acclaimed actor.

Whenever The Late Show is taking a break, Stephen Colbert graces The Pod Show with exclusive introductions to specially curated podcasts with the help of pod-producer Becca. Tonight, Stephen raves about Diane Morgan and her character 'Philomena Cunk' ahead of this extended edit of their conversation about character work, terrible jobs they've both had, and her new series, "Cunk on Life," which is streaming now on Netflix.

Stephen Colbert is back on the podcast this week with exclusive introductions to Pod Show classics, starting with folk music icon Joan Baez! Check out this extended interview from April 2023 when Joan told Stephen about bumping into Tennessee lawmaker Justin Jones in the airport, what her favorite protest song is, her days as a friend and traveling companion to Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr., and the unique way she’s been making art since she was bored in grade school. Her book of upside down drawings “Am I Pretty When I Fly?” is available now.

Celibacy, Swamping, Loud Looking, No-Habiting: Stephen Colbert examines all the latest trends in modern dating in his long-running segment, "Romansplaining." Next, the wonderful Evie McGee Colbert joins her husband Stephen to help pick out the perfect Valentine’s Day card.

Meanwhile… A stuffed animals store is selling sexy adults-only products for Valentine’s Day, scientists have determined weekend mornings to be the happiest time of day, a woman got through TSA with dessert in her purse, Maine is declaring an official state amphibian, there's an exciting new flavor of ramen noodle, the rats in NYC are growing smarter, a woman sent farting videos to her boyfriend's ex, and reptile experts are learning more about how Florida crocodiles spend their days.

Emmy-winning television host, director and stand-up comedian W. Kamau Bell talks about President Trump’s efforts to dismantle DEI and the unfortunate fact that many Americans only learn about Black history during one month out of the year. Tickets for his “Who’s With Me?” stand-up comedy tour are available now on his website: wkamaubell.com

Stephen consults psychic zoo animals to learn whether the Chiefs or Eagles will win on Super Bowl Sunday, DOGE is gutting the National Weather Service, and Google reneged on a pledge not to use AI to create weapons. If you don’t know his favorite smell, or what he thinks happens when we die, do you really know rock ‘n roll legend Elton John? The new documentary, "Elton John: Never Too Late," is streaming now on Disney+.

President Trump showed no humanity when suggesting the U.S. should forcibly relocate every resident of Gaza, the CIA and FBI are purging their ranks at the behest of the Trump administration, and a fast food brand is bringing back a problematic mascot that probably should have stayed retired. Damon Wayans Jr. talks about the family dynamic on and off the set of his new sitcom, “Poppa’s House,” where he shares the screen with his father, Damon Wayans. “Poppa’s House” airs Monday nights at 8:30pm on CBS and you can watch Damon Wayans Jr. host the action-packed CBS game show, “Raid The Cage,” Wednesdays at 10pm.

China hit back at the U.S. with tariffs on technology, farm equipment and fashion products, Elon Musk is using a group of 18 to 24 year-old hackers for his unconstitutional government takeover, and rising prices have prompted Waffle House restaurants to enact a surcharge of 50 cents per egg. Stephen welcomes the former Administrator of USAID, Samantha Power, back to The Late Show to explain what the agency does and why the world, including the United States, will suffer from President Trump and Elon Musk’s efforts to dismantle it. Actor Miles Teller describes the surreal moments that led up to his family’s evacuation from their Pacific Palisades home, which was lost to the tragic fire that consumed much of that community. If you’d like to support recovery efforts in the Los Angeles area, visit colbertlateshow.com for a list of ways to get involved. Teller’s latest film, “The Gorge,” is available February 14 on AppleTV+.

Buckle up as Stephen Colbert goes through the laundry list of disastrous moves made over the weekend by President Trump, which included slapping tariffs on Mexico and Canada and giving Elon Musk access to the Treasury Department’s payments system. Award-winning actor Lin-Manuel Miranda offers a preview of how theatergoers can expect to feel after watching the Broadway play, “All In: Comedy About Love.” Catch the play on Broadway now at the Hudson Theatre.

Bestselling author and NBC News correspondent Jacob Soboroff compares the immigration enforcement policies of recent presidential administrations and points out that despite many similarities in deportation tactics, President Trump’s family separation policy was quite intentionally the cruelest in our country’s history. The new Errol Morris-directed documentary based on Jacob’s book, “Separated: Inside an American Tragedy,” is available now on demand.

Meanwhile... Velveeta has a new portable cheese offering, you can now plant Martha Stewart in your home rose garden, Stephen tries the new Oreo cookie promoted by singer Post Malone, a pharma company is making ketamine nasal spray to treat depression, a man starting oozing yellow gunk after eating too much butter, a suspected drug trafficker was arrested after his wife posted vacation photos online, and scientists have developed a pasta noodle too small to see with the naked eye.

When actor Brandon Scott Jones learned that his show "Ghosts" would be filming in Montreal, he came up with a genius strategy to immerse himself among the city's French-speaking residents and become fluent in the language. "Ghosts" airs Thursdays on CBS.

Trump’s MAGA goons want you to believe that what’s going on is normal, but it’s not. For example, our new head of Homeland Security cares more about her hair and makeup than protecting American citizens from being taken away by ICE agents. If you don’t know her favorite sandwich, or which animal frightens her the most, do you really know Hollywood legend Nicole Kidman?

It’s the Year of the Snake, RFK Jr.’s own family urged the Senate not to confirm him to Trump’s cabinet, and Sen. Bernie Sanders ripped the nominee for profiting off anti-vax conspiracy theories. In the second part of Stephen’s monologue, he looks at why the White House rescinded President Trump’s ill-conceived freeze of all federal grants, and an email sent to all federal workers which urged them to take a buyout and leave their jobs. Beloved actor Will Ferrell shares his motivation for wearing a Buddy costume out to an L.A Kings game, a move which immediately went viral and left fans scratching their heads. Watch his latest film, “You’re Cordially Invited,” available Thursday on Prime Video.

President Trump is pursuing an autocratic agenda by taking revenge on prosecutors who investigated him and blocking the CDC from coordinating with the World Health Organization, egg prices are soaring as bird flu continues to spread, and PETA would like to do away with the main character in America’s Groundhog Day ceremonies. Hollywood legend and huge comedy fan Drew Barrymore shares the inside scoop on how she convinced CBS to bring back her favorite game show. “Hollywood Squares” airs Wednesday nights at 8pm on CBS.

The Eagles and Chiefs are headed to the Super Bowl in a rematch of the 2023 contest, MAGA supporters like Mel Gibson are calling the president “daddy,” Trump ordered the firing of 18 independent inspectors general at government agencies, and creepy rich guy Bryan Johnson is tracking nighttime erection data for himself and his 19 year-old son. MSNBC host and bestselling author Chris Hayes examines the ways media and tech companies compete for our attention and extract value from the time we spend on their platforms. His latest book, “The Siren’s Call,” is available now.

We may finally learn the truth about three of America’s most mysterious assassinations, President Trump threatened the world’s financial leaders via video feed at Davos, Elon Musk thinks America should stop minting pennies, and acting legend John Lithgow just dropped a limited edition basketball shoe. Two-time Super Bowl champion and head coach of the Colorado Buffaloes Deion Sanders, who began crafting his winner-take-all persona in high school, takes Stephen through his evolution from a dominant NFL player to a major force in youth and college football. Watch him in “Coach Prime,” streaming now on Prime Video.

Meanwhile... Stephen tries a strange new type of candy, a Pakistani airline ran a tone-deaf advertisement in France, and it's been revealed that some rabbits eat their own teeth to boost their calcium levels. Next up, Stephen Colbert brings you all the latest tech updates in his future-forward segment, "Cyborgasm."

Morris Chestnut, the producer and star of the new CBS medical drama "Watson," explains how the series differs from past interpretations of the "Sherlock Holmes" stories, and gives a sneak peek at some of the medical mysteries they'll tackle on the show. "Watson" premieres this Sunday on CBS following the AFC Championship game.

An exciting new acronym is headed to the CBS network, Speaker Johnson created a subcommittee to re-investigate the Jan 6 insurrection, Republican congressmen are worried their sexual texts to Cassidy Hutchinson might be revealed, and the CBS affiliate in Milwaukee fired meteorologist Sam Kuffel after she posted on Instagram about Elon Musk's televised Nazi salute. Super Bowl champion Drew Brees, who spent 15 seasons with the New Orleans Saints, reveals the method behind the secret codes used by quarterbacks to call plays to their teammates on the field in this exclusive extended interview!

Republican leaders like Speaker Mike Johnson and Sen. Tommy Tuberville are avoiding questions about the pardoned January 6th insurrectionists, Bishop Marianne Budde got under Trump’s skin with her sermon at the National Cathedral, and more details are emerging about problematic alcohol abuse by Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth. The new co-anchor of “CBS Evening News,” John Dickerson, joins Stephen in this extended cut of their interview to discuss President Trump’s inauguration and the flurry of executive orders and pardons that followed.

On the first day of President Trump’s second term he pardoned the Jan 6 rioters, gutted America’s climate policies, raised the price of insulin and pulled out of the World Health Organization. Elsewhere, presidential advisor Elon Musk is doing damage control after making an apparent Nazi salute at Trump’s inauguration celebration. Academy Award-winning actor Michelle Yeoh, who has been a “Star Trek” fan since she was a kid, describes the devastating lethality and personal style of her character Philippa Georgiou in the new film, “Star Trek: Section 31,” which is available this Friday on Paramount+.

Stephen Colbert’s two-part monologue begins with a look at President Trump’s inaugural address, where he promised a new golden age of national success and pledged to plant the American flag on Mars. Then Stephen dives into the last-minute pardons issued by President Biden, America’s awkward 14 hours without TikTok, and rap legend Snoop Dogg’s decision to perform at a party celebrating President Trump’s inauguration. And 'Pod Save America' hosts Jon Favreau, Jon Lovett and Tommy Vietor sit down with Stephen Colbert to discuss President Trump’s inauguration and the executive orders he signed on his first day back in office.

Outgoing Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen does the math on President-elect Trump's proposed tariffs on foreign goods and says it adds up to higher costs for American consumers in this extended edit of her interview, taped Wednesday 1/15/2025.

Meanwhile... Chuck E. Cheese restaurants are ditching the animatronic band, some Dunkin' locations ran out of donuts, a new product will help you pee at concerts without using the bathroom, Wendy's is offering burgers for a quarter, but there's a catch; TikTok users are migrating to a different Chinese-owned app, an NFL player filmed himself preparing to eat a squirrel, research suggests paper straws contain harmful chemicals, and WalMart introduced a shocking brand update.

Emmy-winning actor Jharrel Jerome was born and raised in The Bronx, so finding out that fellow Bronx native J.Lo would be his movie mom in "Unstoppable" was quite a thrill. The film is out now on Prime Video.

President Biden gave his farewell address to the nation and warned of the dangers of a tech-industrial oligarchy, President-elect Trump’s official portrait seems intended to scare people, and Americans might soon see new health warning labels on the packaging of their favorite foods. If you don’t know her favorite sandwich, or which animal she thinks is the scariest, do you really know Kate Winslet? Watch her latest film, “Lee,” streaming now.

Mrs. Obama has declined to attend Donald Trump’s inauguration, where Speaker Johnson pledged to fly flags at full mast. Elsewhere in Washington, the Coca-Cola company gifted Trump a special commemorative bottle, and two of his cabinet nominees faced scrutiny in Congressional confirmation hearings. To promote the second season of “Severance,” actor Adam Scott and his cast-mates worked a three hour shift inside a glass cubicle set up in Grand Central Terminal, as New York commuters gawked and snapped photos. “Severance” premieres this Friday on AppleTV+.

The Village People are set to perform at one of Donald Trump’s inaugural balls, special prosecutor Jack Smith says Trump could have been convicted for insurrection, Democratic Senators grilled Secretary of Defense nominee Pete Hegseth about his problematic behavior, and the bathrooms at Starbucks are now for paying customers only. In his new memoir, “In Gad We Trust,” actor Josh Gad shares some of the surreal experiences he had after moving to Los Angeles to pursue a career in Hollywood. Josh’s new memoir, “In Gad We Trust,” is available now.

Americans have donated over $50M to help Los Angeles residents recover from the devastating wildfires, President-elect Donald Trump wants to acquire Greenland without paying for it, President Biden bestowed Pope Francis with America’s highest honor, and Stephen checks in on the tennis action at the Australian Open. Next up, MSNBC national security expert Jeremy Bash joins Stephen to discuss the implications of the U.S. government’s looming ban on Tiktok. And before beloved actor David Schwimmer got famous as part of the cast of “Friends,” he went to college at Northwestern alongside Stephen Colbert, and the two performed improv together in a group called No Fun Mud Piranhas. Watch “Goosebumps: The Vanishing” now on Disney+.

95-year-old Oscar-nominated actor June Squibb ignored her director's advice and insisted on doing her own stunts while filming the new action comedy, "Thelma," which is streaming now on Hulu.

Meanwhile... Someone is leaving plates of peeled bananas on a random street in the U.K., the Girl Scouts are retiring two flavors of their namesake cookies, and Stephen looks into Gen Z's obsession with pickles and pickle-flavored products. Next up, Stephen Colbert examines all the latest updates from the world of science in everyone's favorite science-focused segment.

Legendary actress Isabella Rossellini joins Stephen to talk about her role as a nun in the new film, “Conclave,” and the delicious experiences she shared with costars like Stanley Tucci while shooting the film in Rome. “Conclave” is in theaters and streaming now.

Newly minted great-grandfather Joe Biden says he could have won the 2024 election, all of America’s living former presidents assembled in Washington at the funeral for President Carter, slapping tariffs on Denmark could backfire for the U.S., and Mark Zuckerberg explained why he’s eliminating fact-checking on Meta’s social platforms. Actor and filmmaker Ben Stiller shows off some of his prized “Star Trek” memorabilia and apologizes to “Severance” fan Stephen Colbert for taking so long to make the second season of the hit series. “Severance” premieres next Friday on AppleTV+.

Visit https://linktr.ee/colbertlateshow for ways to help Los Angeles area residents deal with the impact of the terrible fires there, and the President-elect continues to threaten Greenland and Canada with annexation. Award-winning actor Alan Cumming, who is turning 60 this year, already knows about the surprise party his husband planned for him. Stick around for more with Alan Cumming and watch the third season of “The Traitors” on Peacock.