Stephen Colbert finds 2 things to envy in Britain's shambolic, Brexit-torn government. One is Black Rod.

Stephen Colbert on Britain&#039;s Bexit snafu

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

last updated 12 September 2019

"As crazy as things have gotten in this country, it's nice to remember that Britain's government is in absolute shambles," Stephen Colbert said on Wednesday's Late Show. Yes, "the Brit has definitely hit the fan," thanks to British Prime Minister Boris Johnson and his reckless push to exit Britain from the European Union without a withdrawal agreement.

Johnson dialed up the chaos by suspending Parliament for five weeks, starting Tuesday, Colbert said. and "Parliament did not take that so well. In fact, they took their anger out on — and this is where things really get weird — a woman called Black Rod. By the way, if you're watching this at work, do not google 'black rod.' ... Why don't we get cool names like Black Rod for the people in our government? Instead of speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi could be 'Gaveloria, Empress of the Crimson Thunder.'"

Black Rod is the queen's representative in the House of Lords, but her job "in this case was to tell Parliament to go home — and here's how she was received," Colbert said. "It is not every day you get to see a roomful of adults loudly booing a blinged-out version of the Quaker Oats guy." At that point, in stepped "my favorite person in the entire world," Commons speaker John Bercow, he said, fondly imagining a brunch date with the outgoing speaker.

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Back in U.S. politics, President Trump "spent a good portion of the day solemnly remembering his poll numbers," which aren't great, Colbert said. "Things are so bad for Trump, a new poll has six Democrats leading him in Texas." The 10 top Democratic candidates are debating Thursday night, and they will be live — like, really live, he said, "because we just found out they will have no seven-second delay" and the candidates were warned not to swear onstage, Colbert said. He had a good idea which candidate that warning was for, and it wasn't Joe Biden and his "malarkeys." 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.