CBS’s Stephen Colbert sat down for a softball interview with Vice President Kamala Harris on Wednesday for an interview where the duo lamented pro-life laws and the toughest question was Colbert wondering if the administration was not sufficiently radical on the environment. Colbert would also use Wednesday’s edition of The Late Show to label Ronald Reagan a crack dealer.
During his opening monologue, Colbert was discussing the Russians taking down a U.S. drone over the Black Sea and the GOP’s reaction, “Now, some Republicans were mad and they thought Biden didn't go far enough. Like Lindsey Graham.”
He then played a clip of Graham asking, “Well, we should hold him accountable and say that if you ever get another U.S. asset flying in international waters, your airplane will be shot down. What would Ronald Reagan do right now?”
Colbert responded by going full conspiracy theorist, “Well, that's easy. He would take Russia down by funneling crack into their neighborhoods. Educate yourself to that reality. Educate yourself to that reality.”
Later, during the interview with Harris, Colbert fretted that the Administration is backsliding on the environment, “And I know that's been our priority—that has been a priority for the administration. How do you square that with the president having said there will be no new drilling licenses issued on public land and then approving the Willow oil project in Alaska? People are saying that's breaking a campaign promise. What's the calculus there?”
After Harris gave a long-winded answer about “putting America back on the map” and electric buses, an unsatisfied Colbert tried again, “Was there any discussion in the White House about when the blowback would be for approving the Willow oil project? Because people have gotten quite upset about it. I think there's protesters outside right now.”
Harris responded with a typical incoherent Harris-ism, “Well, I think that the concerns are based on what we should all be concerned about. The solutions have to be and include what we are doing in terms of going forward in terms of investments.”
Further along in the interview, Colbert lamented the rise of pro-life laws after Dobbs, “There are so many laws being passed around the United States right now that have to do with reproductive rights. Were you-- are you surprised at all about the raft of laws that were quickly drafted after Roe v. Wade was overturned?”
Harris didn’t directly answer the question, but did appreciate the opportunity to bash pro-lifers, “I think it's the height of irresponsibility and in fact, in many cases, inhumane.”
After decrying the lack of exceptions for rape or incest in many of these laws, Harris claimed that “one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling her what to do with our body”
If you believe that it is murder then you do have to abandon those beliefs, but Colbert didn’t press her on that which is slightly ironic because while Colbert was conducting this softball interview, on Tuesday, he mocked Fox’s Brian Kilmeade for doing a “literal softball interview” with Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis.
These segments were sponsored by Dove.
Here is a transcript for the March 15 show:
CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
3/15/2023
11:40 PM ET
STEPHEN COLBERT: Now, some Republicans were mad and they thought Biden didn't go far enough. Like Lindsey Graham.
LINDSEY GRAHAM: Well, we should hold him accountable and say that if you ever get another U.S. asset flying in international waters, your airplane will be shot down. What would Ronald Reagan do right now?
COLBERT: Well, that's easy. He would take Russia down by funneling crack into their neighborhoods. Educate yourself to that reality. Educate yourself to that reality.
…
12:08 AM
COLBERT: Okay, well, if that's the case—
KAMALA HARRIS: And that’s one example. Yeah.
COLBERT: And I know that's been our priority—that has been a priority for the administration. How do you square that with the president having said there will be no new drilling licenses issued on public land and then approving the Willow oil project in Alaska? People are saying that's breaking a campaign promise. What's the calculus there?
HARRIS: Well, I understand the concerns that have been made, but here’s the thing: when you look at what our administration has done, it’s historic in terms of an investment in a clean energy economy. We are putting America back on the map globally, recognizing that we must live up to our role in terms of our ability to invest in the future, create jobs, and reduce greenhouse gas emissions.
And, again, traveling the world, they are watching what we are doing as an example and as a challenge to nations around the world and what can be done to address this issue. I would say that we have been quite bold in terms of the advances that we are making thus far, but have more to do.
But look for example what we're doing around electric vehicles. We have just passed legislation that means that people will get rebates, not only if you buy a new electric vehicle, but more importantly rebates on used electric vehicles. We are investing in the manufacturing of electric buses, electric school buses. We are partnering with the apprenticeship programs: IBW and others who are training our workforce to do some of the most advanced work that can be done, so there’s a lot of good work happening.
COLBERT: Was there any discussion in the White House about when the blowback would be for approving the Willow oil project? Because people have gotten quite upset about it. I think there's protesters outside right now.
HARRIS: Well, I think that the concerns are based on what we should all be concerned about. The solutions have to be and include what we are doing in terms of going forward in terms of investments.
…
12:16 AM
COLBERT: Now as a former D.A. and a former attorney general in the state of California, you have a lot of experience with the courts—
HARRIS: Yeah.
COLBERT: -- and the effect of the courts have over legislative bodies as well and laws that are passed. There are so many laws being passed around the United States right now that have to do with reproductive rights. Were you-- are you surprised at all about the raft of laws that were quickly drafted after Roe v. Wade was overturned?
HARRIS: I think it's the height of irresponsibility and in fact, in many cases, inhumane. What has been happening in states around our country who are passing laws that would criminalize health care providers, literally provide for jail time for doctors and nurses who provide reproductive health care, that would punish women for simply seeking the kind of care that they choose that they need.
We are looking at a situation where, and again, as a former prosecutor, there’d be no exception for rape or incest. I mean, let's speak clearly about what this means.
After a person has gone through a most vicious violation of their body, then the government will tell them and after that you also will not have autonomy and be able to make decisions about your body as it relates to the decision you make next.
After having survived such a violative act. It is-- and let's be clear on this issue, one does not have to abandon their faith or deeply held beliefs to agree the government should not be telling her what to do with our body.
