CBS’s Stephen Colbert’s interview with former Speaker Nancy Pelosi was derailed late Tuesday night and early Wednesday morning on night two of the Democratic National Convention in Chicago by anti-Israel hecklers. The Late Show host struggled as he sought to control the unruly behavior, but also tried to appease them by noting Pelosi’s answers were “unsatisfying to some people” as he did not realize his and Pelosi’s desire for a two-state solution is not what the hecklers really want.
Colbert began with a typical softball that had nothing to do with Israel, “Now, last night, last night you were there when President Biden told the country, ‘America, I gave my best to you.’ You've known this man for 50 years. How emotional of a moment was that for you?”
After Pelosi gave her ode to Biden, Colbert asked what she thought of people claiming she was the one that led the charge to dump Biden. Pelosi did everything she could to not answer the question, and that’s when the disruptions began, “Let's say this, what's really important about what happened [Shouting] is what comes next, what comes next. What comes next is we're going to elect Kamala Harris president of the United States. [Shouting] It's going to be a great, great election. [Shouting].”
Colbert then went to commercial, “There is—for the people at home who can't tell, there's a protest going on in the audience. Hold on, young lady, I can hear you… When we come back, I'll ask the next question I had on that subject, if you will listen, okay.”
Mid interview with Nancy Pelosi, at 12:56 AM ET live @colbertlateshow from Chicago interrupted by anti-Israel protesters. #Colbert pic.twitter.com/FfRRnfKpHT
— Brent Baker 🇺🇦 🇮🇱 (@BrentHBaker) August 21, 2024
After said break, Colbert began, “There was a political protester here…If the goal is the peaceful and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians, what role does the United States play?”
After giving a long rambling answer that touched on Biden’s career and John F. Kennedy’s inaugural address, Pelosi gave the standard liberal, ceasefire, two-state solution answer that did not appease the shouters:
Israel was attacked by a terrorist organization. We want the hostages freed. But we don't want children killed in Gaza and so we have to come up with a solution. And right now, right now we just got word earlier today that Israel had agreed to the ceasefire agreement. We're hoping that Hamas will too. But it takes me to the point of saying to you, war has no role in a civilized society. This is not—we have to learn more about trust and peace [shouting]. In learning about each other rather than [sound cut] [shouting] conflict resolved by war.
Colbert noted, “Well, as you can see from the continuing protest out here, that answer is unsatisfying to some people. Because they believe that the United States.”
He then turned to the crowd, “Hold on one second. Would you like to respond to what they are saying? Hold on, will you listen to her response if she--? [sound cut] Will you listen to her response?”
Pelosi repeated the typical Democratic line on the need for a two-state solution.
Later, Pelosi’s successor, Hakeem Jefferies, joined the show, and Colbert tried again, “Now, we had some protesters earlier this evening when Speaker Pelosi was out here, who, despite the horrors of the attack on October 7th, and the remaining hostages that are in the hands of Hamas, believe that the United States shouldn't be selling arms to Israel right now. given the number of civilian deaths in Gaza over the last 11 months. How would a Speaker Jeffries advise a President Harris about that situation?”
Jefferies, too, repeated the party line as he praised Biden and Harris’s current policies. Switching topics, Colbert wondered, “You served as the House manager overseeing the first impeachment of Donald Trump. Watching that party now, completely enthrall of Donald Trump, are you surprised after all of that, after the disaster of the end of his presidency and the horrors of January 6th, that he has such complete control?”
Jefferies claimed he was not before using the opportunity to hype the Obamas, “No, because, as President Obama said today, and wasn't President Obama and Michelle Obama on fire?”
Colbert was also in love, “I didn't have any jokes. I was just watching.”
Here is a transcript for the August 20 show:
CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
8/21/2024
12:53 AM ET
STEPHEN COLBERT: Now, last night, last night you were there when President Biden told the country "America, I gave my best to you." You've known this man for 50 years. How emotional of a moment was that for you?
NANCY PELOSI: Well, it was very emotional, as it is now, when you're asking about it. Because he truly did. This is a man who has been such a consequential... Such a consequential president of the United States. But his leadership and service did not begin then. Over decades. But as president probably one of the most, to use the word again, consequential presidents of the modern era. He always had a brilliant vision. He knew why he was engaged in public service, a vision about making the future better. Based on values of concern for people, strategic in his thinking, knowledgeable about the issues and a heart full of love for the American people. This is truly a great man.
…
PELOSI: Wouldn't that be your next question?
COLBERT: If I were allowed to ask it.
PELOSI: Let's say this, what's really important about what happened [Shouting] is what comes next, what comes next. What comes next is we're going to elect Kamala Harris president of the United States. [Shouting] It's going to be a great, great election. [Shouting]
COLBERT: [Shouting] There is—for the people at home who can't tell, there's a protest going on in the audience. Hold on, young lady, I can hear you. There’s a protest going on right now. We’re at the commercial break but the subject is on Israel and Palestine and if you have a seat, we have to go to the commercial break. When we come back, I'll ask the next question I had on that subject, if you will listen, okay. Hold on, Madam Secretary—Madam Speaker. We'll be right back with more of Speaker Nancy Pelosi
…
COLBERT: Let's talk about another aspect of power, the U.S. using its power overseas, as I said earlier. There was a political protester here and there’s a, you know, a political convention in town and you're a politician and protests are natural.
PELOSI: Yes.
COLBERT: People are protesting, even within the Democratic Party, there’s dissension over what is the proper use of American power, especially our projected power overseas, firm and soft power. If the goal is the peaceful and prosperous future for both Israelis and Palestinians, what role does the United States play?
PELOSI: Well, let me just say this was a role that President Biden played very well for years he was chair of the Foreign Affairs Committee. He was a senator, long time, vice president and president. So, his experience globally has been huge. If I could tell a story. Before you were born, again, when I was in school, I went to the inauguration of John F. Kennedy and in the speech he made this incredible inaugural address, he said to the citizens of America, ask “not what your country can do for you, but what you can do for your country.” You probably read that in the history books. It was my youth, you probably read it in a history book. The very next sentence that he says in the speech is "To the countries of the world, ask not what America can do for you but what we can do working together for the freedom of mankind."
And that is our mission. And that is what—
COLBERT: But you understand—
PELOSI: That is what Joe Biden was all about. So yes, we have had a commitment to Israel. It's been in our security interests to do so. Israel was attacked by a terrorist organization. We want the hostages freed. But we don't want children killed in Gaza and so we have to come up with a solution. And right now, right now we just got word earlier today that Israel had agreed to the ceasefire agreement. We're hoping that Hamas will too. But it takes me to the point of saying to you, war has no role in a civilized society. This is not—we have to learn more about trust and peace[shouting]. In learning about each other rather than [sound cut] [shouting] conflict resolved by war.
COLBERT: Well, as you can see from the continuing protest out here, that answer is unsatisfying to some people.
PELOSI: Yeah, but let me—
COLBERT: Because they believe that the United States. Hold on one second. Would you like to respond to what they are saying? Hold on, will you listen to her response if she--? [sound cut] Will you listen to her response?
PELOSI: They’re screaming, I can’t hear them, but to those have them—
COLBERT: They've said that the United States should not have any role in supplying Israel arms to kill people of Gaza, now, that's what they are saying.
PELOSI: Israel has a right to defend itself.
COLBERT: Agreed. And the hostages should be returned.
PELOSI: And the hostages should be returned, but the other part of it is, that has been so major for all of us for many years is that there must be a two-state solution. You cannot have peace unless you have a two-state solution. Israel, a secure Jewish democratic state, in the region. And, the Palestinians having their own secure country there as well. Unless you have a two-state solution, you will not have a resolution of this and that is a time of opposition. [shouting]
COLBERT: Please, don’t interrupt my guest.
…
COLBERT: Now, we had some protesters earlier this evening when Speaker Pelosi was out here, who, despite the horrors of the attack on October 7th, and the remaining hostages that are in the hands of Hamas, believe that the United States shouldn't be selling arms to Israel right now. given the number of civilian deaths in Gaza over the last 11 months. How would a Speaker Jeffries advise a President Harris about that situation?
HAKEEM JEFFRIES: Well, I think that what President Biden is doing right now, with Kamala Harris is doing as part of the Biden-Harris administration, to do everything possible to try to achieve a ceasefire agreement to bring the hostages home, to surge humanitarian assistance to Palestinian civilians who are in harm's way through no fault of their own, surge that aid immediately and continuously, and define the path toward a just and lasting peace, a safe and secure Israel, and the Palestinian people being able to experience the dignity and self-determination that they deserve.
COLBERT: Are you hopeful of that? You served as the House manager overseeing the first impeachment of Donald Trump. Watching that party now, completely enthrall of Donald Trump, are you surprised after all of that, after the disaster of the end of his presidency and the horrors of January 6th, that he has such complete control?
JEFFRIES: No, because as President Obama said today, and wasn't President Obama and Michelle Obama on fire?
COLBERT: I didn't have any jokes. I was just watching.
JEFFRIES: But, President Obama made the point that it's turned into a cult of personality. And as a result, the Republicans have just fallen in line behind Donald Trump, bending the knee, doesn't matter how irresponsible or reckless or out of control his behavior is, which is why the stakes are so high. But, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are running a campaign that is joyful, that is hopeful, that is forward-looking, and wants to bring the American people, in all of our diverse glory, together.
