Stephen Colbert is a little worried that Donald Trump hasn't called the Pentagon yet

On Thursday's Late Show, Stephen Colbert began his monologue by noting that "Trump's transition continues its transitioning." That's about all that anyone outside of Trump Tower is sure of at this point, Colbert said, "but I do know that his team has not yet called the Pentagon — possibly because he knows more than the generals, or maybe he's just never going to call them. Maybe he'll just launch a literal tweet war: '@Pentagon please bomb Syria #LyingNewYorkTimes' — it's funny 'cause it's true."
Colbert called the Pentagon to make sure its phones worked, and decided that maybe Trump's tweeted belief that climate change is a hoax perpetrated by China is a bigger threat to the world — as China apparently believes, clarifying this week that it did not in fact make up global warming. "Just hold on — things have gotten so bad now that China is telling us to care about the environment?" Colbert said. "Have you seen Beijing? No you haven't, because it's hidden behind their air."
Colbert ended on a little personal rant. "The Oxford English Dictionary has named its word of the year for 2016, and it's 'post-truth,'" he said. "And I am pre-enraged. First of all, 'post-truth' is not a word of the year, it's the two words of the year — hyphens are for the weak. Second, 'post-truth' is clearly just a ripoff of my 2006 word of the year, truthiness." Colbert was not impressed with how NBC News defined his word, and gave his own definition from 2005: "The belief in what you believe to be true rather than what the facts will support." Then he read the definition of post-truth: "Relating to or denoting circumstances in which objective facts are less influential in shaping public opinion than appeals to emotion and personal belief." Sound familiar? "Oh, I personally believe I'm getting ripped off," he said, but he handled it gracefully enough. Watch. Peter Weber
Subscribe to 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.
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
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.
-
North Korea (sort of) welcomes tourists again
Under the Radar 'Hermit kingdom' allows foreign visitors for the first time since 2020 – but only in limited areas
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Today's political cartoons - February 23, 2025
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - loser's game, unexpected consequences, and more
By The Week US Published
-
5 slow on the draw cartoons about Democrats' response to Trump
Cartoons Artists take on taking a stand, staying still as a statue, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published