Stephen Colbert recaps the Democratic debate, debuts a hilarious Bernie Sanders impersonation

Stephen Colbert tries out his Bernie Sanders impersonation — (Image credit: Late Show)

Tuesday night's Democratic debate was "different," Stephen Colbert said on Wednesday's Late Show. Unlike the Republican debates, "nothing really outrageous happened," he lamented. "There were no personal attacks, no salty language — except from the back wall, which for some reason kept repeating 'f CNN'" (the debate was cosponsored by Facebook). Colbert spent the next few minutes recapping the debate, anyways, and he trotted out some pretty dead-on impersonations.

The best was his first one: Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.). After playing a highlight reel of Sanders yelling out percentages, Colbert said, "I would not want to split a check with Bernie Sanders!" — then proceeded to hilariously imitate Sanders complaining over a brunch bill. His Hillary Clinton was a matronly figure telling Wall Street bankers they would have to go to bed without any cocaine if they didn't shape up. Jim Webb was represented by a lawn sign complaining about how little real estate it had, and Lincoln Chafee... well, his Lincoln Chafee was brutal. Martin O'Malley, for some reason, got left out of the recap, and honestly, he's probably fine with that. Watch Colbert in action below. Peter Weber

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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.