Stephen Colbert discovers that Trump is literally 'at war with Reality' in the Russia investigation

(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/The Late Show With Stephen Colbert)

last updated 7 June 2017

Stephen Colbert kicked off Tuesday's Late Show with some congratulations for new parents George and Amal Clooney, then turned to the "slightly less important news" about Russian hackers trying to penetrate voter roll databases days before November's election, according to a leaked NSA memo that was all but confirmed by a U.S. senator. "This is how democracy ends, with a fake email sent to the ancient cat lady manning the polling station at your high school gym," Colbert said. "So, who really knows who won Nov. 8 now — I mean, other than Vladimir Putin. Now I'm a little rusty on my Constitution, but I guess that means: new election?" Colbert's audience liked the idea, though constitutional scholars probably won't.

We know the NSA document is not "fake news" because the leaker was immediately arrested, Colbert said. "The leaker's name, and this is true: Reality Winner. So it's official: The Trump administration is at war with Reality." She was apparently caught because the document she leaked was creased, and the NSA tracked down the printer she used based on nearly invisible dots. "Wow, you can trace any document based on the printer," Colbert marveled. "It's like NCIS meets Dilbert."

So the evidence that Russia tampered in the U.S. election is getting pretty strong, but at least one person isn't buying it (mostly): Russian President Vladimir Putin. Colbert played part of Putin's interview with Megyn Kelly, where Putin says maybe U.S. intelligence killed JFK, so they could also have framed Russia. "Nice try, Vlad, but I will not stand by while you try to confuse the American people with bulls—t conspiracy theories," Colbert said, wagging his finger. "That is Donald Trump's job." He ended by explaining how Reince Priebus keeps his job. Watch 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.