Trevor Noah and Stephen Colbert wonder if Bloomberg can beat his own history with women, stop-and-frisk
"The Democratic primaries are off and running," and after the Nevada caucuses, "the next actual primary is my home state of South Carolina," Stephen Colbert said on Thursday's Late Show. "Assuming they don't secede between now and then, South Carolina is holding their primary on Saturday, Feb. 29 — that's leap day, a day that only exists once every four years, just like the South Carolina Democratic Party. The South Carolina electorate is a whole new ballgame for the Dems," because it's not blindingly white like Iowa and New Hampshire.
Joe Biden "is currently leading among black voters, with 27 percent," followed by "former New York Mayor Michael Bloomberg, with 22 percent," Colbert said. "Now that sounds surprising, but Bloomberg has been out there in the African American community, shaking hands and frisking babies." He's also "been accused in several lawsuits of creating an uncomfortable workplace environment for women, but he won't release women who sued him from their nondisclosure agreements," he added. "Oh good, yet another New York billionaire with a questionable history with women. Next we're going to find out about his sons, Merrick and Bloom Jr." There's a photo. It's disturbing.
Yes, "the real threat to Bloomberg's campaign is his past," Trevor Noah said at The Daily Show. "While Bloomberg is out there trying to win the black vote in 2020, he's on tape in 2015 talking about black people like they're crime piñatas. ... Getting caught on tape encouraging police to arrest black people is definitely going to hurt you with black voters. It's the same way you would lose white voters if a tape came out of you saying that pets aren't the same as babies."
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.
Bloomberg is trying to explain away his stop-and-frisk comments, but in real life "he encouraged his police department to treat black people like they were all criminals," Noah said. "As much as he tries to move forward and get out of this, reporters won't let this story go. They keep hassling him at events, questioning him about his motives, just trying to find any little thing that he's done wrong. It must so frustrating for him. And to that, I say: Mike Bloomberg, welcome to the world of stop-and-frisk."
Noah also compared Bloomberg to Tyrion Lannister in an elaborate 2020 campaign–Game of Thrones analogy.
Noah also compared Trump to too much GoT, and warned Democrats against ideological purity, between scenes. 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.
-
Swiss bliss: Chenot Palace Weggis takes wellness to the next level
The Blend Heath retreat on Switzerland's Lake Lucerne offers a mid-winter reset
By Felix Bischof Published
-
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
-
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