Stephen Colbert and Samantha Bee advise GOP senators to save themselves, subpoena Trump's secrets
"It's Day 2 of Donald Trump's Senate impeachment trial," Stephen Colbert said on Wednesday's Late Show, and "once again, the lead manager of the case today was Adam Schiff. It was gratifying to see someone taking the constitutional responsibility of their office seriously. He laid out the case against the president clearly, passionately, cogently, and, I believe, courageously. Because whether or not President Trump is removed from office, history will not forgive those who look the other way at his abuses or forget those who stepped into the breach at this moment of crisis." He looked at Wednesday's top trending topics on Twitter, sighing: "We're doomed."
"Schiff stood there today in front of his audience, discussing the president's corruption and incompetence using graphics, audio and video of witnesses, even clips of Trump incriminating himself," Colbert said. "Hey Schiff, you're treading on my turf! If I find out you've got a house band, I'm suing."
Senate Republicans, meanwhile, blocked every Democratic request to subpoena new witnesses and documents, Colbert noted, and he had some advice: "Aren't you the least bit curious about all the crazy s--t Trump did? You don't even have to do anything about it, just vote to find out what it was! Everybody wants to find out their boss' secrets. Take it from me, you don't want to learn it from a Ronan Farrow article."
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.
"One non-witness' non-testimony will be especially fascinating to not hear," Samantha Bee said on Full Frontal: Lev Parnas. She ran through some of his recent evidentiary dump, and one document in particular: "If it were any more of a smoking gun, Don Jr. would be holding it over a dead elephant."
But Bee also explained why "Republicans are setting themselves up for trouble by not hearing the evidence" against Trump now. "Every time Trump proclaims his innocence, another piece of evidence pops up to poke a hole in his story," she said. "Look, guys, we know you're going to acquit Trump, but do you really think that will be the end? You think there won't be any more accomplices who snitch on Trump to protect themselves? Or any more journalists who dig up proof of his guilt? Even if Trump is re-elected, this Ukraine story will haunt him until the blessed day when he's forcibly plunged out of the White House." There's some borderline NSFW language. 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.
-
Earth's mini-moon was the moon all along
Under the radar More lunar rocks are likely floating in space
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: February 4, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Sudoku medium: February 4, 2025
The Week's daily medium sudoku puzzle
By The Week Staff 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
-
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