GOP Sen. Mike Lee's silly case against the Green New Deal inspired Stephen Colbert to savage Lee, Lee-style

(Image credit: Screenshot/YouTube/The Late Show)

last updated 28 March 2019

During a debate about the Green New Deal in the Senate on Tuesday, Sen. Mike Lee (R-Utah) "offered a novel solution to global warming" — babies — Stephen Colbert said skeptically on Wednesday's Late Show. "I like babies, I've made babies, some of my best friends were once babies. But getting married and making babies is a solution to all our problems at all times and in all places?" He tried the theory out in a hypothetical auto repair shop.

"Lee's justification for his baby theory made much more sense ... to no one," but "that baby picture wasn't Lee's only tool of taxpayer-funded prop comedy," Colbert said, showing some highlights of Lee's fanciful presentation.

It wasn't all bad, though. "Lee's speech was inspiring in one way," he said. Rep. "Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez tweeted about Lee: 'If that guy can be senator, you can do anything.' Damn! Maybe it's good that sea levels are rising, because Mike Lee's gonna need some water for that burn." Also, Colbert added, Lee's "very innovative use of visual aids from pop culture and science fiction" inspired him to try a similar style of persuasion ... to make a point about Lee. It is short, fairy brutal, and you can watch it 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.