Bill Clinton talks Bernie Sanders, tells Colbert he didn't ask Donald Trump to run for president


In 2012, President Obama dubbed Bill Clinton the Secretary of Explaining Stuff, Stephen Colbert reminded Clinton on Tuesday's Late Show, and so he asked the former president to explain three things. First up was why Sen. Bernie Sanders is doing so well in the race against Clinton's wife, Hillary Clinton. "There are a lot of people all over the world who are really hacked off, that they think the system is rigged against them and the rich get all the gains," Clinton said, and they see Republicans doing well by rewarding candidates who run to the right so Democrats think "they will be even more effective if they move further to the left."
The other two questions were about Donald Trump, starting with why Clinton thinks Trump is doing so well on the Republican side. "Because he's a master brander, and he's the most interesting character out there," Clinton said. "It may have a short half-life, his campaign — I can't tell yet — but he's a master brander and there is a macho appeal to saying: I'm just sick of nothing happening, I make stuff happen, vote for me." The last question was about the rumor that Clinton called Trump and asked him to run, which would be "pretty smart, man," Colbert joked. Clinton said no, adding: "I get credit for doing a lot of things I didn't do." Watch the interview below. Peter Weber
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
Violent videos of Charlie Kirk’s death are renewing debate over online censorship
Talking Points Social media ‘promises unfiltered access, but without guarantees of truth and without protection from harm’
-
What led to Poland invoking NATO’s Article 4 and where could it lead?
TODAY'S BIG QUESTION After a Russian drone blitz, Warsaw’s rare move to invoke the important NATO statute has potentially moved Europe closer to continent-wide warfare
-
Africa could become the next frontier for space programs
The Explainer China and the US are both working on space applications for Africa
-
House posts lewd Epstein note attributed to Trump
Speed Read The estate of Jeffrey Epstein turned over the infamous 2003 birthday note from President Donald Trump
-
Supreme Court allows 'roving' race-tied ICE raids
Speed Read The court paused a federal judge's order barring agents from detaining suspected undocumented immigrants in LA based on race
-
South Korea to fetch workers detained in Georgia raid
Speed Read More than 300 South Korean workers detained in an immigration raid at a Hyundai plant will be released
-
DC sues Trump to end Guard 'occupation'
Speed Read D.C. Attorney General Brian Schwalb argues that the unsolicited military presence violates the law
-
RFK Jr. faces bipartisan heat in Senate hearing
Speed Read The health secretary defended his leadership amid CDC turmoil and deflected questions about the restricted availability of vaccines
-
White House defends boat strike as legal doubts mount
Speed Read Experts say there was no legal justification for killing 11 alleged drug-traffickers
-
Epstein accusers urge full file release, hint at own list
speed read A rally was organized by Reps. Ro Khanna and Thomas Massie, who are hoping to force a vote on their Epstein Files Transparency Act
-
Court hands Harvard a win in Trump funding battle
Speed Read The Trump administration was ordered to restore Harvard's $2 billion in research grants