Stephen Colbert is as shellshocked about Donald Trump's upset victory as many of his viewers. "What's it, four years?" he asked on Wednesday's live Late Show. "We've got four very interesting years in front of us." Things were palpably rough on the streets of New York City during the day, he said. "There's no way around it — this is what it feels like when America's made great again. I was wondering, and I was really hoping it would feel better because this sucks."
Colbert noted the protests on the streets of several major cities, and stood up for First Amendment rights: "Don't stop speaking up, don't stop speaking your mind, don't ever be cowed by what happens in the next four years. But do keep in mind that for eight years, a lot of people wouldn't accept that Barack Obama was president of the United States — for instance, Donald Trump. But like it or not — for the record, not — we have to accept that Donald Trump will be the 45th president of the United States."
Lots of parents woke up Wednesday unsure how to explain the election results to their kids. "I don't know what you should tell them," Colbert said. "Tell them what you should always tell kids: Work hard, be kind, care about other people, don't be selfish, don't grab them where they don't wanna be grabbed, and they'll make the world a better place than Donald Trump can.... And if your child asks the ultimate question, Why do bad things happen to good people? You finally have the answer: the Electoral College."
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He also discussed the Electoral College with his ceiling deity. "You know, I'm a man of some faith, but when bad things happen like this — and this does feel bad — I have to ask, 'How could God let this happen?'" he asked, and "God" appeared and was shocked that Trump won. After checking Google, He noted that Clinton won more votes. But Trump won the Electoral College, Colbert noted. "Oh, that again? I'm omniscient and even I don't know how the hell that works," "God" replied. "I guess I shouldn't be that surprised white men came out on top again, considering how everyone assumes I look." Watch below. Peter Weber
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