Stephen Colbert has some fun with the Fox News folks who think Mueller's Flynn memo is good news for Trump


Late Tuesday, Special Counsel Robert Mueller filed a sentencing memo for former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn, and significant parts of it were redacted. On Wednesday, The Late Show was inspired by Mueller's understatement to debut a new line of Mueller Christmas cards.
In his memo, Mueller noted Flynn's "substantial" help in the Russian collusion investigation and recommended little or no jail time. "My my!" said Stephen Colbert. "He must have given them something really good — if by really good you mean really bad." He speculated on what types of "firsthand" information and documents about the Trump team's contacts with Russian government officials Flynn might have handed over, perhaps including "a note from Trump to Putin: 'Will you collude with me? Check one: Yes or no.'"
"Of course, not everyone thinks Flynn's sentencing recommendation looks damning," Colbert said, playing clips of Rep. Mark Meadows (R-N.C.) telling Fox News he thinks the memo is "good news for President Trump" and Fox & Friends host Steve Doocy making a similar argument, getting pushback from co-host Brian Kilmeade. "What does Doocy think is under all those black bars? Just nipples?" Colbert asked. And Rudy Giuliani's "SPECIAL WHATEVER" reaction? "I think Giuliani has entered his mean-girl phase," Colbert said. He went on to mock Giuliani, Trump's 74-year-old cybersecurity adviser, for mistaking a hyperlink he inadvertently created for an invasion of his Twitter feed.
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.
"Now I'm not saying Flynn flipped on Trump, but today he and Mueller bought matching Christmas pajamas," Jimmy Fallon joked on The Tonight Show. "Last week we learned about Michael Cohen flipping on Trump, now it's Michael Flynn, today Trump was like, 'That's it, deport everyone named Michael.'" He also had some jokes about the memo's heavy redaction — "Trump was like, 'Did he try to highlight using a Sharpie, because I do that all the time. It doesn't work.'" — and some quips about Roger Stone. Watch below. Peter Weber
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.
-
Road trip: New England’s maple syrup season
Feature New England is serving up maple syrup in delicious and unexpected ways
By The Week US Published
-
Music Reviews: Mdou Moctar, Panda Bear, and Tate McRae
Feature “Tears of Injustice,” “Sinister Grift,” and “So Close to What”
By The Week US Published
-
What's at stake in the Mahmoud Khalil deportation fight?
Talking Points Vague accusations and First Amendment concerns
By Joel Mathis, The Week US Published
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
By Peter Weber, 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