The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Stephen celebrates NASA’s successful lunar orbit, puzzles over Marjorie Taylor Greene’s speech to New York’s Young Republicans, and looks at the bizarre circumstances surrounding a coup attempt in Germany. Artist, actor, author and activist Common joins Stephen to talk about his decision to try acting after finding success in music, and the special feeling audiences take away from his new play. Stick around for more with Common and catch him on Broadway in, “Between Riverside and Crazy,” opening December 19th at the Hayes Theater.

Kumail Nanjiani has several “Lord of the Rings” action figures, but his collection pales in comparison to our host’s. Check out his show, “Welcome to Chippendales,” streaming now on Hulu, based on the wild true story of murder, money, and bad behavior in the male stripper empire.

Meanwhile… A man’s wedding proposal on a boat in Florida goes sideways, Stephen Colbert tries the unholy combination of Pepsi and milk, Uber is set to unleash self-driving cars on the streets of Las Vegas, and Stephen questions the logic of adding mayonnaise to eggnog this holiday season.

Four-time Grand Slam tennis champion Naomi Osaka drops by for a fascinating interview covering some of her favorite things to do in New York, how she handles the mental health challenges that come with being a famous athlete, the joys of being able to go out in public without being recognized, and the reason she wrote her new book for children, “The Way Champs Play,” which is on sale now.

Brittney Griner was transferred to American custody today in exchange for a Russian known as the “Death Merchant,” and Stephen supports striking New York Times workers by launching an alternative to Wordle. Can you guess the five letter word Stephen is thinking of? Tweet your guess with the hashtag #colbertdle and follow http://www.twitter.com/colbertlateshow where the answer will be revealed tomorrow! And Alicia Keys sits down to catch up with Stephen about life, music and family, and shares a story about her son Egypt’s recent performance debut in front of 17,000 people in Manheim, Germany.

With Raphael Warnock’s win in Georgia, Democrats have secured a 51-49 majority in the Senate. In San Francisco, Elon Musk is making Twitter employees sleep at the office, and in Germany authorities rounded up dozens of people suspected of plotting to overthrow the government. The Queen of Christmas sits down for a super-sized holiday edition of The Colbert Questionert. Find out whether Mariah Carey tops her tree with an angel or a star, what her favorite sandwich is, and more. Tune in to her new special, “Mariah Carey: Merry Christmas To All,” airing on CBS and Paramount+ on Tuesday, December 20th at 8pm ET.

Voters went to the polls in Georgia today to decide whether Sen. Raphael Warnock or Herschel Walker will be their next Senator, and the family of a fallen Capitol Police officer refused to shake hands with Sen. McConnell and Rep. McCarthy at a White House ceremony. And Stephen Colbert partnered with the USO for a trip to the top of the world to meet the heroic women and men of the newest branch of America’s military, the Space Force. Listen to Stephen’s conversation with the highest ranking member of the Space Force, Chief Master Sgt. Roger A. Towberman, then gets a behind-the-scenes tour of Thule Air Base, including secret areas we can’t show on camera, and a chilling demonstration of how the Space Force will respond if an enemy nation launches intercontinental ballistic missiles at the United States. Next, Stephen thanks The USO and the service members at Thule Air Base by doing what he does best: drinking alcohol and telling jokes. Then country music star and Navy vet Sturgill Simpson shows up to perform some new lyrics for the Space Force anthem! At the conclusion of Stephen’s trip to Thule Air Base with The USO, he answers candid questions from the brave men and women of America’s Space Force. Special thanks to The USO, Sturgill Simpson and all the members of the Space Force for inviting Stephen Colbert on this unforgettable journey!

The first couple of late night made a glamorous entrance at President Biden’s first state dinner at the White House, and in completely unrelated news, the President later asked the DNC to move Stephen’s home state to the front of the line for the next primary season. John David Washington joins Stephen to discuss his starring role on Broadway in the August Wilson play, “The Piano Lesson,” and the pride he takes in delivering his lines the way they were originally written. Stick around for more with John David Washington, and catch his play while you can at the Ethel Barrymore Theater through January 29th.

Comedian and author Rob Delaney joins Stephen for a soul-baring discussion of his family’s journey through grief following the loss of his toddler son. Read more about Rob’s journey in his new book, “A Heart That Works,” available now.

Meanwhile… Merriam-Webster chose ‘gaslighting’ as their top world of the year, the folks at Hidden Valley Ranch have created this holiday season’s most sought-after gift, a 26 year-old cat just made the Guinness Book of World Records, and an ancient Siberian virus has been unfrozen and revived.

The fabulous Gabrielle Union returns to The Late Show to discuss her new film, “The Inspection,” and the challenge of playing a mother whose unkind words create tremendous torment for her gay son. “The Inspection” is in theaters everywhere now.

Elon Musk’s new rules for Twitter have allowed Covid misinformation back on the platform, as well as previously-banned users like Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene. Elsewhere in the GOP, MyPillow CEO Mike Lindell is throwing his hat in the ring for chairman of the Republican National Committee. And John Krasinski stops by for a three-part interview that kicks off with a chat about his young children who are just starting to watch the series that made him a star, “The Office.” Stick around for the rematch of the century when Stephen challenges John to an epic arm-wrestling match, and check out the new season of his Prime Video series, “Jack Ryan,” premiering December 21st.

The founder of the Oath Keepers and several associates were convicted on charges related to planning the Jan 6th insurrection, and the Respect For Marriage Act passed the Senate with bipartisan support. And Secretary of the Treasury Janet Yellen makes her first visit to The Late Show to talk with Stephen about the pandemic’s effect on the economy and whether or not the U.S. is headed for a recession.

The U.S. advanced in the World Cup tournament today with a win against Iran, China’s government used Twitter bots to suppress information about protests against Covid lockdowns, and Britain’s royals are prepping a trip across the pond. And in this podcast exclusive extended interview, Sally Field’s return to The Late Show kicks off with a look back at the 1960s when she was busy acting, not dropping acid. Sally also describes the delicate family dynamics on display in her latest film, where she plays the mother who finds out her son is gay. “Spoiler Alert” is in select theaters this Friday and nationwide December 9th.

The former president claims he didn’t recognize a known white supremacist who tagged along when Kanye West visited Mar-a-Lago, and Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker still claims his Texas home as his primary residence. And Don Lemon shares the advice he got from friends like Gayle King and Bryant Gumble upon his move from nighttime to mornings on CNN. Catch the new show, “CNN This Morning,” airing weekdays on CNN.

Elizabeth Debicki, who finds herself in the spotlight as fans and critics applaud her work as Princess Diana in “The Crown,” shares one of the secrets to her successful career. The latest season of “The Crown” is streaming now on Netflix.

Meanwhile… Belgium is having trouble getting rid of all the cocaine authorities have seized this year, and Twitter CEO Elon Musk’s net worth has dropped by at least $100 billion this year.

Actor Paul Dano stars as the father in Steven Spielberg’s semi-autobiographical film, “The Fabelmans,” which is in theaters now. Stick around for when Paul teaches Stephen one of his favorite relaxation techniques.

Beloved Food Network star Ina Garten returned to The Late Show to discuss her highly-anticipated new cookbook, "Go-To Dinners: A Barefoot Contessa Cookbook," which is available everywhere now. In this podcast exclusive extended cut, Ina and Stephen trade treasured childhood memories about their mothers' cooking and favorite dishes. Happy Thanksgiving from The Late Show Pod Show! The Late Show will be back on Monday with all new episodes.

Stephen enlists the team at “NCIS: Los Angeles” to help solve the mystery of who sells the best knitting supplies in all of Cleveland. The answer: Fine Points on Larchmere Blvd, the latest recipient of the #ColbertSmallBizBump. Stop by today or visit them on the web at https://finepoints.com. One of our all-time favorite guests, Jake Gyllenhaal, returns with an update on his sourdough starter and a sneak peek at his new animated film, “Strange Worlds,” which is in theaters now. He also has almost finished work on another exciting project: a reboot of the 1989 classic, “Roadhouse,” and he would be thrilled if Stephen Colbert would agree to make a cameo appearance.

Rainbow-wearing fans have been refused entry to the World Cup games in Qatar, and the state of New York needs to figure out what to do with a massive stockpile of unsold marijuana. Next up, a beloved Thanksgiving Late Show tradition: Stephen Colbert makes the nice folks at the Butterball Turkey Talk-Line regret inviting him to take calls on Thanksgiving. And if you don't know her favorite sandwich, or what she thinks happens when we die, do you really know Cate Blanchett? Find out in this edition of The Colbert Questionert, and check out Cate's latest film, "TÁR," which is in theaters now.

Stephen learns about Jack Smith, the special prosecutor who may bring an indictment against the former president. Elsewhere, FIFA’s decision to hold the World Cup in Qatar has proven to be a disaster. And Daniel Craig urges folks to watch his new film twice in order to experience the satisfaction of seeing all of the hidden easter eggs pay off by the end. Check out the film, “Glass Onion: A Knives Out Mystery,” in theaters for one week only starting this Wednesday, and premiering on Netflix on December 23rd.

Phil Keoghan, the Emmy-winning host of “The Amazing Race,” and multi-platinum Country music superstar Dierks Bentley share the secret to how they won the first ever celebrity pickleball tournament, #PICKLED, which raised money for Comic Relief and is available to stream on Paramount+.

Meanwhile... A study on rats showed they love grooving to Michael Jackson and Lady Gaga, and there’s new information indicating that Daylight Saving Time is a disaster for our health. Also, a tattoo parlor in the U.K. will remove your Ye ink for free, and Sam’s Club has dropped the price of its hot dog + soda combo to $1.38.

He delivers a riveting portrayal of George Jones in the upcoming Showtime limited series, "George & Tammy," but actor Michael Shannon didn't know any of the country icon's music before signing on to the project. Check him out in "George & Tammy," premiering on December 4th on Showtime.

Rep. Kevin McCarthy is presumed to be the next Speaker of the House, where he may face frequent headaches from the likes of Marjorie Taylor Greene. McCarthy will take over from Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who today confirmed she will not seek reelection to party leadership. Michelle Williams describes the thrill of portraying Steven Spielberg’s mother in his new semi-autobiographical film, “The Fablemans,” which is in theaters now.

The former president’s campaign announcement was roundly panned as “boring” and “low energy,” and the changes at Twitter made it hard for users to verify what was going on yesterday after a Russian missile killed two people in Poland. Tig Notaro can’t say who she partnered with in Stephen Colbert’s celebrity pickleball tournament, but she can share what her doctor said when she notified him that she’d be competing despite having a fractured femur. Watch Tig and her mystery partner compete in “PICKLED,” airing Thursday, November 17th at 9/8c on CBS!

Election denying Republican Kari Lake lost her bid to become governor of Arizona, and the former president’s social media posts hint at his motivation for running again in 2024. Jon Stewart returns to The Late Show and gives his thoughtful take on the controversies surrounding Chappelle, Irving, and West, and the impact of antisemitic rhetoric. Check out the new season of his AppleTV+ show, “The Problem with Jon Stewart.”

Republicans continue to play the blame game after disappointing results in the midterms, and companies like Eli Lilly are furious with Twitter after jokes from parody accounts spooked investors. And Former First Lady Michelle Obama joins Stephen Colbert for a wide-ranging conversation that includes a peek into the Obama family's private life, her thoughts on the Jan 6th insurrection, and the message to young people contained in her new book, "The Light We Carry," which is available everywhere now.

Stephen welcomes one of his favorite authors, George Saunders, back to The Late Show to discuss his writing process and his latest book, “Liberation Day,” which is available everywhere now.

Meanwhile… The National Parks Service is asking visitors to please stop licking toads to get high, and due to high food prices many folks are planning a more modest Turkey Day this year.

Rose McIver, star of the hit comedy "Ghosts" on CBS, makes her first visit to The Late Show and tells Stephen about the menagerie of animals her parents rescued when she was a kid growing up in New Zealand. Catch Rose in "Ghosts" on Thursday nights at 8:30 on CBS!

The former president’s failure to boost GOP candidates in the midterms has former friends like Fox News and The Wall Street Journal calling him names, and the turmoil at Facebook continued this week as Meta leader Mark Zuckerberg announced the layoff of 11,000 workers. And Emily Blunt, star and executive producer of the new Prime Video series, “The English,” gets to celebrate Thanksgiving and Christmas with her sister Felicity and her husband, who just happens to be the one and only Stanley Tucci. Stick around to hear more about Emily’s show, “The English,” which is available now on Prime Video.

While the former president is taking heat for backing losing candidates in the midterms, he prefers to blame his wife. In Georgia, neither Senate candidate got 50% of the vote so Herschel Walker and Sen. Raphael Warnock will battle each other again in a runoff. And if you don’t know his favorite action movie, or what he thinks happens when we die, do you really know rock legend Bono? Find out in this edition of The Colbert Questionert.

Stephen goes LIVE to deliver up-to-the-minute election results and up-to-the-minute election denials, with help from The Late Show’s senior elections analyst Steve Clucknacki. CBS News Chief Political Analyst and anchor of “CBS News Prime Time with John Dickerson” joins Stephen LIVE to break down the early results of the 2022 midterm elections. Look for John each Monday through Thursday on the CBS News app as he anchors “CBS News Prime Time with John Dickerson.”

With races coming down to the wire, pollsters seem unable to predict the results of the midterm elections and candidates like Florida’s governor are making some wild statements in their final ads. Next up, the universe has spoken, and Chris Evans is People’s new Sexiest Man Alive! Stephen Colbert continues his proud tradition of announcing the Sexiest Man Alive on The Late Show, this time with help from former Sexiest Man, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson and John Oliver. And in this podcast exclusively-extended interview, John Oliver and Stephen take a look at John’s plan to get more sexy in time to grab the title of People’s Sexiest Man Alive in 2023 and chat about what it means for Oliver to vote in the midterm elections for the first time as a US citizen.

Former Secretary of Energy Ernest Moniz returns to The Late Show to help Stephen make sense of the nuclear threat posed by Russia as Vladimir Putin threatens to use "tactical nukes" on the battlefield in Ukraine.

Meanwhile... Stephen celebrates a scientific breakthrough in the study of the clitoris, and takes issue with a holiday announcement from Mariah Carey.

If you don't know his favorite sandwich, or the one song he could listen to for the rest of his life, do you really know James Taylor? Find out what makes the music legend tick in this episode of The Colbert Questionert.

Hey youths! Want Stephen Colbert to follow you on TikTok? Here’s what to do: GO VOTE, then post a TikTok of yourself with your “I Voted” sticker and tag @colbertlateshow. Stephen welcomes legendary U2 frontman Bono for an exclusive extended interview that begins with a trip back in time to the 1970s when, as a high school student, Bono met the woman he would one day marry, and linked up with the men who would become his lifelong bandmates: Adam Clayton, Larry Mullen, Jr., and The Edge. Stick around as Bono and Stephen explore the stories in Bono’s new book, “Surrender: 40 Songs, One Story.”

Stories falsely claiming that America’s voting machines are connected to the internet are a top narrative on Twitter as the midterms approach, and the folks at Fox News appear outraged over a study that argued college students can relieve stress by petting a cat or dog. And Senator Elizabeth Warren lists several compelling reasons to vote in the upcoming midterm elections, warning that Democracy itself is at risk if Republicans win and follow through on their campaign promises.

Pennsylvania Senate candidate Dr. Oz thinks that state touches the Atlantic ocean, our friend Taylor Swift set a record on the Billboard Hot 100 chart, and Stephen King hilariously rejected Elon Musk’s plan to charge Twitter users for verification badges. And Matthew Perry speaks candidly about his struggle with addiction and tells Stephen how he reacted when he learned that his friend Chris Farley had passed away in 1997. Check out his book, “Friends, Lovers, and the Big Terrible Thing,” available everywhere now.

Use of hate speech spiked on Twitter following Elon Musk’s takeover, President Obama is setting hearts aflutter on the campaign trail, and Brazil’s presidential election is finally over. And EGOT winner Jennifer Hudson is used to appearing on television as an actress and a singer, but her new job as host of a daytime talk show is exposing her to all sorts of new production terms.

Pulitzer Prize-winning New York Times reporter and creator of The 1619 Project, Nikole Hannah-Jones, explains what the project is all about and gives Stephen her take on why 14 states have banned or attempted to ban teaching it in schools. Her new book, “The 1619 Project: A New Origin Story,” is available now.

Meanwhile… Fans of the McRib sandwich have less than a month to get their fix before it disappears again, the season finale of “Doctor Who” delivered a shocker by bringing back a fan-favorite actor, it turns out people prefer not to spend hours and hours commuting to the office, and Stephen Colbert shares a very special song about a king cobra that escaped a zoo in Sweden.

Stephen Colbert’s full extended interview with “The Rise of the Dragon” author George R.R. Martin includes fascinating insights about his process for writing complicated interwoven characters and histories, about the science fiction and mystery stories that inspired him as a young man, and about how climate change and the threat of nuclear war have dimmed his optimism about our future. “Game of Thrones” fans should stay tuned 'til the end for an update on Martin’s progress in finishing the book everyone is waiting for, “The Winds of Winter.”

After much thought and soul searching, Stephen Colbert finally banned Kanye West from The Late Show and canceled all of their planned collaborations. In other news, President Biden hit 118 mph drag racing a Corvette on “Jay Leno’s Garage.” Actor and director Kerry Washington tells Stephen why she’s been touring the country to encourage voters to make their voices heard in this year’s midterm elections. Stick around for another segment with Kerry Washington and check out her new series, “The School for Good and Evil,” streaming now on Netflix.

Dr. Oz took a pecuilar stance on abortion right during his debate against John Fetterman in Pennsylvania last night, and another woman has shared her story of a secret relationship with Herschel Walker. And one of our favorite guests, Aubrey Plaza, returns for a podcast exclusive extended interview to talk about her role in Season 2 of “The White Lotus,” which premieres this Sunday on HBO.

Former President Barack Obama dropped a video to encourage young people to vote, the U.K.’s new prime minister is the wealthiest person ever to hold that office, and Adidas finally did the right thing and ended their partnership with Kanye West. And acclaimed actor Eddie Redmayne stops by to chat about his role in the new film, “The Good Nurse,” and the many reasons why he is not cut out for medical work. Stick around for more with Eddie and check out the film, streaming now on Netflix.

Stephen learns the name of the U.K.’s new Prime Minister, looks at the latest lies from Georgia Senate candidate Herschel Walker, and shares video of Sen. Ted Cruz getting a rowdy New York welcome at Yankee Stadium. And Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg returns to The Late Show for a two-part interview with Stephen Colbert that begins with a discussion about why he’s so excited to deliver big checks to America’s towns and cities as they use federal funds to fix their roads, bridges and more.