Speed Reads
Late Night Antics
Stephen Colbert isn't cool with Medicare-funded sex-change operations
Colbert Report
On Tuesday night's Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert noted that Medicare beneficiaries can now appeal to have the federal health care program cover their sex-change surgery. The Stephen Colbert character, at least, wasn't pleased. Among the reasons: Paying for old people to switch genders "violates the tacit agreement we've reached with the transgender community," Colbert said: We are "totally cool" with it "as long as you are hot." Another one: "After a certain age, who can really tell men and women apart?" Colbert had a cheaper solution — and if I were his future grandkids, I'd save this clip for when Colbert himself reaches retirement age. --Peter Weber