Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel blanch at how close Trump and his lawyers got to stealing the election

Stephen Colbert began Tuesday's Late Show by noting that he won an Emmy on Sunday night, but the celebration was short-lived. "Winning this Emmy was a great way to take my mind off the fact that our democracy is in deep trouble," he said, pointing to revelations in the new Bob Woodward-Robert Costa book. "Peril is full of things you wish you didn't need to know, like that the chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff was worried the ex-president might launch a nuclear strike to distract from the election, that our democracy was saved by Dan Quayle, and that the former president's legal team laid out a six-step plan for Vice President Mike Pence to overturn the election."
"This blueprint for a fascist coup" was written by John Eastman, a "disgraced former law professor," Colbert said, describing "how Eastman's evil plan was supposed to work." Yeah, "that's not winning an election, that's grabbing power by a pussy — but when you're a Republican, they let you do it," he said. "Luckily, the former president's legal team did not count on one thing: some Republicans caring if the United States continues."
The Late Show's cold open focused on one particular comment Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) made when rejecting Trump's election-overturning efforts.
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.
Jimmy Kimmel also recapped some of the "bombshell allegations" in Peril on Kimmel Live, reading a mock version of Eastman's "six-step plan explaining how Mike Pence should overturn the results of the election."
"The real memo suggested that Pence use the element of surprise," Kimmel said. "They wanted him to just show up and, without warning, overturn the results of the election, which, I don't know — without asking permission? That seems impossible for Mike Pence. I mean look, Mike Pence is a guy who asks if it is okay to go to the bathroom when he's alone." Eastman argued that the vice president is "the ultimate arbiter" of the Electoral College tally, he added, so "he's basically arguing that the third base umpire can declare himself the winner of World Series."

The fight isn't over, Seth Meyers sighed on Late Night. "Trump sent a letter last week to Georgia Secretary of State Brad Raffensperger, asking him to consider decertifying the 2020 election. Dude, just give up. You know you don't have to be president to play golf, right?"
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.
-
September 16 editorial cartoons
Cartoons Tuesday's political cartoons include bad news for inflation, Brian Kilmeade's solution, and Kash Patel's dinner order
-
Fit for a king: must-visit palaces around the UK
The Week Recommends Our pick of the nation’s most magnificent residences for nobles and royals
-
Is Andy Burnham making a bid to replace Keir Starmer?
Today's Big Question Mayor of Manchester on manoeuvres but faces a number of obstacles before he can even run
-
Russia slams Kyiv, hits government building
Speed Read This was Moscow's largest aerial assault since launching its full-scale invasion in 2022
-
China's Xi hosts Modi, Putin, Kim in challenge to US
Speed Read Chinese President Xi Jinping hosted Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi, Russian President Vladimir Putin and other Asian leaders at an SCO summit
-
What is Tony Blair's plan for Gaza?
Today's Big Question Former PM has reportedly been putting together a post-war strategy 'for the past several months'
-
Russian strike on Kyiv kills 23, hits EU offices
Speed Read The strike was the second-largest since Russia invaded in 2022
-
UN votes to end Lebanon peacekeeping mission
Speed Read The Trump administration considers the UN's Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL) to be a 'waste of money'
-
Israeli double strike on Gaza hospital kills 20
Speed Read The dead include five journalists who worked for The Associated Press, Reuters and Al Jazeera
-
China is silently expanding its influence in American cities
Under the Radar New York City and San Francisco, among others, have reportedly been targeted
-
Kyiv marks independence as Russia downplays peace
Speed Read President Vladimir Putin has no plans to meet with Zelenskyy for peace talks pushed by President Donald Trump