Late night hosts survey how the GOP is handling Marjorie Taylor Greene, QAnon, and 'Jewish space lasers'


Republicans are at loggerheads over how to respond to a newly elected Georgia congresswoman's recent history of beyond-the-pale commentary, and for people new to the controversy, The Late Show said Wednesday, "the catchiest way to recite Marjorie Taylor Greene's conspiracy theories is through music."
Yes, "Washington is in the grips of what some are calling the 'GOP's civil war,"' Stephen Colbert elaborated at The Late Show. "It's like the first Civil War, but this time both sides use the Confederate flag." This battle pits "traditional Republicans" like Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell against Greene's "QAnon conspiracy wing," he said. "House Democrats are preparing to vote tomorrow on whether to strip Greene of her committee assignments" due to her conspiracies, one of which really burns. "Come on!" Colbert said. "If there were a 'secret Jewish space laser,' would Mel Gibson still be?"
House Republicans decided Wednesday they won't take action against Greene, but McConnell and other Senate Republicans are distancing themselves, calling her "nutty," "an embarrassment," and a "kook," Colbert said. And "one Republican has found a creative way to duck the controversy, Alabama Sen. Tommy Tuberville," who said "the weather" keeps him from knowing the news. Colbert pivoted to former President Donald Trump's impeachment case and Newsmax's embarrassing MyPillow guy episode.
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.
"I gotta ask, does MyPillow actually work?" Seth Meyers asked at Late Night, showing CEO Mike Lindell yelling at Newsmax. "Because this guy looks like he hasn't slept in a year."
"Trump is gone, but that doesn't mean we can just forget about the crimes he committed, the calamities he unleashed, and the forces he exposed, because those forces are at the very heart of modern Republican Party and will be going forward," Meyers said, pointing to Greene. "And yet GOP leaders in the House have refused to sanction her," and "others have brushed the controversy aside, for example Lindsey Graham," who wants to know if she really believes in Jewish space lasers before passing judgment.
"Graham is now the latest Republican to try to rationalize the words and tweets of QA-nut congresswoman Margarine Taylor Greene, specifically when it comes to her thoughts on Jewish space lasers," Jimmy Kimmel said on Kimmel Live. "Maybe she meant to say Jewish losers are starting the forest fires in California? Anyways, we're putting her in charge of children's education, just to be safe." Peter Weber
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.
-
How China is battling the chikungunya virus
Under The Radar Thousands of cases of the debilitating disease have been found in the country
-
Deep thoughts: AI shows its math chops
Feature Google's Gemini is the first AI system to win gold at the International Mathematical Olympiad
-
Book reviews: 'Face With Tears of Joy: A Natural History of Emoji' and 'Blood Harmony: The Everly Brothers Story'
Feature The surprising history of emojis and the brother duo who changed pop music
-
Charlamagne Tha God irks Trump with Epstein talk
Speed Read The radio host said the Jeffrey Epstein scandal could help 'traditional conservatives' take back the Republican Party
-
CBS cancels Colbert's 'Late Show'
Speed Read 'The Late Show with Stephen Colbert' is ending next year
-
A long weekend in Zürich
The Week Recommends The vibrant Swiss city is far more than just a banking hub
-
Shakespeare not an absent spouse, study proposes
speed read A letter fragment suggests that the Shakespeares lived together all along, says scholar Matthew Steggle
-
New Mexico to investigate death of Gene Hackman, wife
speed read The Oscar-winning actor and his wife Betsy Arakawa were found dead in their home with no signs of foul play
-
Giant schnauzer wins top prize at Westminster show
Speed Read Monty won best in show at the 149th Westminster Kennel Club dog show
-
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
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation