Stephen Colbert grills Bob Woodward on what frightens him about Trump
Stephen Colbert interviewed Bob Woodward about his new book, Fear: Trump in the White House, on Monday's Late Show, and he began by asking: "Why do people talk to you?" Woodward laughed and explained that he has a couple of techniques, including patience, persistence, genuine interest, flattery, and silence. "It's a way of saying, 'You're important to this story, I take you seriously,'" he said. Reporters at the major national newspapers do great work, he said, but "they can't do the ninth interview with somebody before they publish."
Some of the people quoted in Fear deny saying the things attributed to them, Colbert told Woodward, mentioning Defense Secretary James Mattis, White House Chief of Staff John Kelly, and former Trump lawyer John Dowd. "These are people who are trying to survive and keep their job," Woodward said, explaining that the same officials have told reporters similar things off-the-record and he doesn't do off-the-record because he thinks it cheats the public. The Trump White House has shocked him more than any of the eight others he's covered, he added, because Trump fundamentally doesn't understand that national security is more than just the U.S. military. The fact that Trump is stubbornly wrong about everything from basic economics to national security isn't a partisan issue, he added. "We'd better wake up to what's really going on."
"What makes you afraid?" Colbert asked Woodward, and he said "not knowing" what's going on in the Oval Office or Trump's head. Colbert asked how we can know what's going on when Trump changes his mind daily, or maybe forgets what he thought yesterday. "That's part of the problem," Woodward conceded. Colbert suggested that the last line of the book, about Dowd wanting to call Trump "a f---ing liar," kind of "buried the lede." Woodward shrugged off Trump calling him a liar on Twitter, saying he feels comfortable the truth will ultimately win. Watch below. 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.
-
7 drinks for every winter need possible
The Week Recommends Including a variety of base spirits and a range of temperatures
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
'We have made it a crime for most refugees to want the American dream'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Was the Azerbaijan Airlines plane shot down?
Today's Big Question Multiple sources claim Russian anti-aircraft missile damaged passenger jet, leading to Christmas Day crash that killed at least 38
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK 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
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published