Stephen Colbert wonders if Trump is getting tired of losing on the shutdown fight
"It's now Day 34 of the government shutdown, which we've entitled, 'No Country Cuz Old Men,'" Stephen Colbert said on Thursday's Late Show, "and it doesn't look like it's going to end anytime soon" after the Senate rejected two rival bills to reopen the government. "But even though both bills lost, the biggest loser here is the president, because the Democratic bill got more votes than [President] Trump's," Colbert said. "The Democrats won the losing! This is a two-day losing streak for Donald Trump," he added, noting that on Wednesday night "he finally tweeted a white flag" in his State of the Union fight with House Speaker Nancy Pelosi (D-N.Y.).
"Pelosi dominated him," Colbert said. "We finally got what we were promised in 2016: A woman declaring victory over Donald Trump." Trump may be a big loser here, but he isn't the only loser, he added, noting some of the "dire" consequences of 800,000 federal workers not getting paid, including a terrifying statement from the air traffic controllers' union. "That is dangerous," he deadpanned. "You don't want burned-out air traffic controllers waiting tables! You could end up with onion rings instead of fries."
Not everyone seems all that worried about the plight of the unpaid federal workers, though, Colbert said, showing Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross shrugging in confusion. "Fun fact: He's worth $2.9 billion," he said. "That's one point for you, atheists." And Colbert only got a tiny bit of joy out of Jared Kushner eating a little slice of humble pie on the shutdown, even if it was served by Trump. 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.
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