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Jon Stewart
Buying a car in Carvana was so easy, I was able to finance it through them. I just. Whoa, wait. You mean finance? Yeah, finance. Got pre qualified for a Carvana auto loan, entered my terms and shot from thousands of great car options, all within my budget. That's cool. But financing through Carvana was so easy. Financed, done. And I get to pick up my car from their Carvana vending machine tomorrow. Financed, right? That's what they said. You can spend time trying to pronounce financing, or you can actually finance and buy your car. Today on Carvana financing, subject to credit approval. Additional terms and conditions may apply.
Stephen Colbert
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Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Stream now.
Stephen Colbert
Pluto.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Hey. Never.
Stephen Colbert
Stream now at Pluto TV. This episode is brought to you by LifeLock. Between two factor authentication, strong passwords and a VPN, you try to be in control of how your info is protected. But many other places also have it, and they might not be as careful. That's why LifeLock monitors hundreds of millions of data points a second for threats. If your identity is stolen, they'll fix it, guaranteed, or your money back. Save up to 40% your first year. Visit lifelock.com podcast for 40% off. Terms apply. You're listening to Comedy Central.
Jon Stewart
From the.
Stephen Colbert
Most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, John Stewart.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Hey, everybody.
Stephen Colbert
Welcome to the Daily Show. Me? No. Jon Stewart. We got a great show for tonight. Later on in the program, we're going to be joined by Dr. Patrick Soon Seong, famed cancer researcher and the owner of the Los Angeles Times. Perhaps he and I will be doing the Los Angeles Times crossword together on the program, which, in my humble opinion, is subpar. Yeah, that's right. You heard me. Los Angeles Times crossword puzzle. Four letter word. I Love Lucy. It's Luc. Look, there's a lot going on in the world right now. Obviously, that includes the major media news that everyone is talking about. I'm referring, of course, to the new Devil Wears Prada movie. I mean, I mean, Anne Hathaway grew out her signature bangs for the sequel. I don't even know what I'm watching. There was also big news in the world of late night television. And we'll get to that later. No booing. Not tonight. No, we're not going to boo tonight. We're going to listen to the sound bites. It's almost too important to boo. All right, but first, if Donald Trump was hoping that this would be the weekend that the Jeffrey Epstein story would finally go away, this would not be that weekend.
Jon Stewart
A stunning story raising new questions about Trump's past relationship with the late sex offender Jeffrey Epstein.
Stephen Colbert
But I still have all the old questions that haven't got, and those questions might go bad, but go on.
Jon Stewart
President Trump is lashing out at the Wall Street Journal for claiming that he once sent a 50th birthday card to financier Jeffrey Epstein that contained a bawdy dood.
Stephen Colbert
My God, a bawdy doodle. At long last, sir, have you no decency? What are we doing the news in Victorian England now? This scallywag sent me a ribald daguerreotype. My God. Alert the constable. That's all you got. Bawdy doodle. How bad can it be?
Jon Stewart
And it's a cryptically written letter.
Stephen Colbert
A crude drawing, it contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
A pair of small arcs denotes the woman's breasts.
Stephen Colbert
And the future president's signature is a squiggly Donald below her waist, mimicking pubic hair. Pubic hair. Oh, my God, you broke Blitzer. Pubic hair. By the way, not to be, you know, the grammar police, but pubic hair. Pubic hair, that's the way. Inflection. Pubic hair. Pubic hair. What's the deal with all the curls? Now, a billionaire sending another billionaire or birthday card with a playful nudie cartoon isn't incriminating in and of itself. It's really the creepiness of the sentiments expressed. Ladies and gentlemen, unfortunately, our lead, Meryl Streep was unavailable tonight. So performing tonight's creepy birthday card, please welcome, ladies and gentlemen, Nicole Wallace, Voiceover.
Jon Stewart
There must be more to life than having everything. The note began. DONALD yes, there is. But I won't tell you what it is. JEFFREY Nor will I, since I also know what it is. DONALD we have certain things in common, Jeffrey. JEFFREY yes, we do. Come to think of it.
Stephen Colbert
Things in common could be anything. You could write all kinds of things you have in common inside the outline of a naked woman. We're both gluten intolerant. You both prefer window seats on airplanes to private islands. Oh, God. I hope Act 2 of this play doesn't make it worse.
Jon Stewart
DONALD Enigmas never age. Have you noticed that, Jeffrey. As a matter of fact, it was clear to me the last time I saw you. Donald the pal is a wonderful thing. Happy birthday. And may every day be another wonderful secret.
Stephen Colbert
What did I tell you? Every day is another wonderful secret. I fucking threw up in my own mouth on that one. I don't even know what any of this means, but I do know that every line in that card sounds like the password you have to use to get into the orgy. And eyes wide shut, Donald. We have certain things in common, Jeffrey. Enigmas never age. All right, gentlemen, come on in and grab a mask. I gotta say, for that birthday card, how much must it have sucked to be the next guy in the office that had to sign that Epstein birthday card? You want me to just. You want me to sign it right? By the pubic hair or by the. By the. Just the little titties? What do you want? I'm just gonna write, here's to 50 more. Now, Maga World, as you know, is demanding the Epstein files, and yet somehow still has lined up behind Trump to defuse this apparently specific file, starting with the fact that Trump couldn't have written that birthday card. He doesn't know all the words that were in it. Somebody did an AI search, and out of decades and decades and decades of being a public figure and now a political figure, Donald Trump has never used the word enigma. I imagine he's used words that are close. Well, if AI cannot find reference to the word enigma in all of Donald Trump's communiques over the roll. 212. I'm first, Carson second. Now, Carson's an enigma to me. Carson's an enigma. He knows the word, and Trump has accurately used it in a sentence. That's extra credit. Is there any other exculpatory evidence?
Jon Stewart
The Wall Street Journal, they got the following on the record quote from Trump that said in part, I never wrote a picture in my life. He then doubled down on his social media platform, posting, I don't draw pictures.
Stephen Colbert
Yes, Donald Trump neither writes pictures nor draws pictures, which, as the experts will tell you, are the two leading causes of pictures. Obviously, that's not something you can probably search in AI the only way you could disprove is with literal evidence of Donald's doodles. Trump in 2008, in his book, recalled donating an autographed doodle every year to charity.
Jon Stewart
Here is a drawing of the New York City skyline signed by Donald Trump in golden ink.
Stephen Colbert
What building in New York City has pubic hair? I'm sorry? Pubic hair. Pubic hair, too big. I guess this makes Donald Trump just another world leader. We wish had just stuck with art. I have. Well, no, no, no. Tell, tell. I do have to say it is a little troubling to me that Team Trump's talking points are he doesn't even know that word or he can't draw. And not. Why would anyone think he would write a creepy letter to a pedophile? I guess that's because Trump bragged about busting into the dressing rooms at Miss Universe contests and was accused of busting into the dressing room at Miss Teen USA pageants and told a couple of 14 year olds he'd be dating them in two years. Yeah, and then there's this. Do you think you could now be banging 24 year olds? Oh, absolutely. Would you do it? I have no problem. Yeah.
Jon Stewart
Do you have an age limit or would you?
Stephen Colbert
No, no, I have no age. I mean, I have an age. I don't want to be like upper bracket Foley with, you know, 12 year olds. I'm not a creep. I just want to make it clear that is what he's admitting to when he knows he's being recorded. Literally, you're sitting in a studio with a giant sign that says on air and you're like. I mean, 12 would be just too much. I mean, come on. I mean, maybe it's a lot easier to argue over doodles and vocabulary than to have to confront whether a letter like this lines up with Donald Trump's character. They don't want people asking if the person who'd sent a doodle to Jeffrey Epstein was also the type of person that would have said this in a deposition.
Jon Stewart
When you're a star, they let you do it. You can do anything. Grab them by the pussy, you can do anything. That's what you said, correct?
Stephen Colbert
Well, historically, that's true with stars.
Jon Stewart
It's true with stars that they can.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Grab women by the pussy.
Stephen Colbert
Well, that's what, if you look over the last million years, I guess that's been largely true. Not always, but largely true. Unfortunately or fortunately. Guy's such an enigma. Again, I just wanna, I just wanna point out here, I just wanna point out here, under oath, he fortunately or unfortunately, under oath, he doesn't take a position on whether the coerced pussy grabbing is fortunate or unfortunate. None of this looks good. And as the temperature rises on the unanswered questions about Donald Trump's relationship with Jeffrey Epstein, the Trump administration was forced to respond. Breaking news. Moments ago, the Director of National Intelligence, Tulsi Gabbard releasing the 230,000 files. Oh, my God. That's from this afternoon. It worked. The incessant public pressure, mainly from. I'll give credit. The MAGA base has finally forced Trump's hand. Let's hear what's in those files. 230,000 files related to the assassination of Martin Luther King Jr. Epstein killed Martin Luther King Jr. What the fuck? Why are you releasing that whole. What? All right, obviously, those are different files. Anything else?
Jon Stewart
This happened today. AG Bondi released files.
Stephen Colbert
Yes, this is all happening today. What's in those files related to the.
Jon Stewart
FBI's handling of the investigation into Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server?
Stephen Colbert
Oh, God. Finally we'll get to know the truth about Hillary's private email island. As the Epstein missile heads towards the fuselage, look at Trump firing off countermeasures from Air Force One. Like Rooster and Maverick in Top Guns. Maverick. Sir, we got a bogey at five o'. Clock. Hillary Clinton's emails. They're still closing, sir. Ga goosh. Martin Luther King's files. Ga goosh. Gagoosh. Oh, oh, we're. Sir, we're out of files. Surely it's curtains. Wait, I've still got one more trick up me sleeve. Boys, it's been an honor serving with you. Here we go.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Trump threatens to restrict the stadium deal with the Washington commanders if they don't change their name back to the Redskins.
Stephen Colbert
Are you fucking kidding me? You know, they always say liberals are condescending to maga. I cannot think of anything more condescending than the way Trump treats maga. Oh, you want to know more about how the super rich are trafficking underage girls with impunity? Hmm? Uh, would you still want to know if I let you use an outdated slur for Native Americans? I guess in Trump's mind, he doesn't have to keep his promises to MAGA as long as he continues to attack the people that MAGA hates. That's his get out of jail free card. Trump believes he has immunity as long as he remains a petty tyrant, demanding only liberal institutions surrender to his whims. And what's crazy is liberal institutions have.
Jon Stewart
Columbia University is bowing to President Trump's demands.
Stephen Colbert
ABC News settling a defamation suit. With President Trump paying out for $15 million, Trump collected a big check and $25 million from Meta, a powerful law.
Jon Stewart
Firm is caving to growing pressure from the Trump administration.
Stephen Colbert
The President pressuring two more law firms, and they have relented.
Jon Stewart
Wilkie, Farr and Gallagher became the latest major law firm to enter into one of these settlements with the White House.
Stephen Colbert
Really? Wilkie, Farr and Gallagher. We know Gallagher wouldn't put up a fight and Farr was always a coward. But this episode has long last brought shame to the proud name of Wilkie. Oh, Wilkie. Not since John Wilkie Booth assassinated Abraham Linke too soon. But since we're on the topic of corporate capitulation to the whims of a pussy grabbing enigma, last week, as you may have heard, cbs, which happens to have the same parent company as the network this program currently airs on, unceremoniously canceled the Late show with Stephen Colbert. And yes, in this case, in this case, I'll allow it. Now, obviously I am certainly not the most objective to comment on this matter. Many of you may or may not know Stephen and I worked together on this very program together from 1999 through 2005. Look how young. Look at that. Haven't changed a bit. And then Stephen began our sister program, the Colbert Report, also on Comedy Central. A show which in my mind, if I may, a show which in my mind remains to this day. One of the most astounding accomplishments in satirical television. Rendering a fictional character in real time four nights a week for ten years so seamlessly many viewers believed him to be the boorish, high status idiot he was portraying. They were heady times, my friends. We were two pretty good sized fish in a reasonably small basic cable pond. Both of our shows reached an inflection point in 2015. Stephen chose to challenge himself by seeing if he could succeed the legendary David Letterman in quite frankly, a much bigger pond than the one he and I had been swimming in. And I quit. I quit. I quit. Stephen challenged him to. I passed away. Stephen challenged his abilities in the biggest field you could. And I literally went to a farm upstate. It's true. He did it. I did it. And if I may, watching Stephen exceed all expectations in the role and become the number one late night show on network television has been an undeniable great pleasure for me as a viewer and as his friend. And now, and now Steven has been cancelled for purely financial reasons. And by the way, not just Steven's show. CBS has canceled. The entirety of the Late show franchise gone. Now, I acknowledge losing money. Late night TV is a struggling financial model. We are all basically operating a blockbuster kiosk inside of a tower records. But when your industry is faced with changes, you don't just call it a day. My God, when CDs stopped selling, they didn't just go, oh well, music, it's been a Good run. The fact that CBS didn't try to save their number one rated network late night franchise that's been on the air for over three decades is part of what's making everybody wondering was this purely financial? Or maybe the path of least resistance for your $8 billion merger was killing a show that you know, rankled. A fragile and vengeful president so insecure, suffering terribly from a case of chronic penis insufficiency. It's a terrible disease. It's a terrible dise. Truly, it's a vicious disease. I believe CBS lost the benefit of the doubt two weeks prior when they sold out their flagship news program to pay an extortion fee to said president. At that time, poor Andy Rooney must have been rolling over in his bed. That's right. He's alive. Andy Rooney is alive. I probably buried the lead on this entire bit. Andy Rooney is alive and he's just turning over in bed. You know what he's probably doing? Biding his time for when the network calls him and says, is anything else bothering you, Andy? Yeah, the thing is, ask your parents. He was on 60 Minutes. Look, I understand the corporate fear. I understand the fear that you and your advertisers have with $8 billion at stake. But understand this truly. The shows that you now seek to cancel, censor and control. A not insignificant portion of that $8 billion value came from those fucking shows. That's what made you that money. Shows that say something. Shows that take a stand. Shows that are unafraid. And not to. Believe me, this is not a. We speak truth to power. We don't. We speak opinions to television cameras, but we try. We fucking try every night. And if you believe as corporations or as networks, you can make yourselves so innocuous that you can serve a gruel so flavorless that you will never again be on the boy king's radar. A why will anyone watch you? And you are fucking wrong. You want to know how impossible is it true? Do you want to know? Do you want to know how impossible it is to stay on Lord Farquaad's good side?
Jon Stewart
President Trump says he will sue the Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch, who also owns Fox News.
Stephen Colbert
Donald Trump is suing Rupert Murdoch, the owner of Fox News, the man other than Biden maybe most responsible for getting Trump elected. Fox. Yeah, yeah, I fucking snuck that in there. Ye Fox spends 24 hours a day blowing Trump and it's not enough. Imagine suing someone mid blow. How could you? Finish up, finish up down there and I'll see you in court. So here's the point. If you're trying to figure out why Stephen's show is ending, I don't think the answer can be found in some smoking gun email or phone call from Trump to CBS executives or in CBS's Quickbook spreadsheets on the financial health of late night. I think the answer is in the fear and pre compliance that is gripping all of America's institutions at this very moment. Institutions that have chosen not to fight the vengeful and vindictive actions of our pubic hair doodling commander in chief. This is not the moment to give in. I'm not giving in. I'm not going anywhere. I think so. To those institutions, to those corporations and advertisers and universities and law firms, all of them. If you still think that bending the knee to Trump will save you, I have one thing to say. I know you're scared. I know you're weary. I know your plans don't include me. But these are troubled times. So sack the fuck up. Because this ain't, this ain't, this ain't the time to shrink. This is the time to fight.
Jon Stewart
Time to fight.
Stephen Colbert
This is the time to rise up. Not too fast.
Jon Stewart
You're old.
Stephen Colbert
I. I am old. That is a true point. Obviously the blood pressure, etc. But compliance and complacency is not the answer. We reject the mindless machine generated slop that offends nobody. And we affirm our shared humanity. We must continue to have humans make things that inspire and provoke other humans. ChatGPT wrote that you're afraid and you protect your bottom line. I've got but one thing to say. Just one little phrase. You tell them. Go fuck yourself.
Jon Stewart
Go fuck up now. Go fuck up now.
Stephen Colbert
Go fuck up now. Go fuck up now. Wait, wait, wait. Bring it down. Bring it down. Let's bring it down. Little bit. Quiet yourself. Just go yourself, everybody. Not all meals are created equal.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
For instance, breakfast has a spicy egg.
Stephen Colbert
McMuffin for a limited time and lunch doesn't. McDonald's breakfast comes first. Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. Now I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills, but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a try@mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment.
Jon Stewart
Of $45 for 3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first 3 months only Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of networks busy. Taxes and fees extra. See mint mobile.com this message is sponsored by Greenlight. With school out, summer is the perfect time to teach our kids real world money skills they'll use forever. Greenlight is a debit card in the number one family finance and safety app used by millions of families helping kids learn how to save, invest and spend wisely. Parents can send their kids money and track their spending and saving while kids build money, confidence and skills in fun ways. Start your risk free Greenlight trial today@greenlight.com Spotify that's greenlight.com Spotify.
Stephen Colbert
What about your daily show? My guest tonight, he is a surgeon and biotech entrepreneur who serves as executive chairman of Immunity Bio as well as the Los Angeles Times. Please welcome to the program Dr. Patrick Soon Cheong. Sir, how are you? I regained my breath. Thank you for joining us.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
You're welcome.
Stephen Colbert
How are you, sir?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Well, I'm glad you changed the ratings just for tonight.
Stephen Colbert
Just for. Curse all you want, sir. Whatever. Whatever you need to do. What? What? What do you got? What is that?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
I thought, you know, I watch your. You put out books and. This is not my book.
Stephen Colbert
You did not write this.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
I did not write this.
Stephen Colbert
Okay. But you are giving it to me.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
I'm giving it to you.
Stephen Colbert
Thank God. I really thought that you thought this was going to be so boring that you brought a book to read while we were talking. What is it?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
So this book really drove not only my thinking, but how America taught the world to use chemotherapy.
Stephen Colbert
Oh, really? This is the basis of a lot of your research.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
It is.
Stephen Colbert
And will I understand any of it?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
You will.
Stephen Colbert
I will.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
You will. And so I'll ask you, do you know what a nude mouse is?
Stephen Colbert
A nude mouse? I'm assuming it's a mouse with low moral. No. Aren't all mice? And again, my degree is not in biology, but I assumed that most mice were nude.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Nope. This is a nude mouse that the National Cancer Institute had to develop in order to understand how to develop the chemicals that poison you.
Stephen Colbert
Wow. Yeah. So this is amazing. And it gets to kind of what I want to talk to you about. You're a guy, you do this incredible cancer research. You make these breakthroughs in cancer treatment, you create these drugs, you create this empire. There can be no more heroic pursuit than the curing of cancer for people. Why then go buy a newspaper which, as you know, gives people cancer. Why do it?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
So when I bought it for Anschutz, we were Partners with the Lakers. Said, you know, I always thought you were a smart guy until today of buying a newspaper.
Stephen Colbert
When did you buy it?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
2018.
Stephen Colbert
And did you have concerns that this was going to be the bane of your existence and cut into the time that you were using for these other pursuits?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
No. Because, look, maybe you understand. Truly, I understand why I was born in South Africa. Until the age of 24, I'd never seen TV. My only educa.
Stephen Colbert
I'm just gonna jump in right there. That's tragic. Not even basic cable.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
No cable, no tv.
Stephen Colbert
Imagine the jokes you missed.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
And the country didn't have tv.
Stephen Colbert
Wait, for real?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Yeah, for sure.
Stephen Colbert
But you're about my age. You can't be much more than me.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
I am 60.
Stephen Colbert
What are you, 70?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
I'm 72.
Stephen Colbert
Really? Out of all the things I've done tonight, all the nonsense, that's the first time I heard them gasp. So there were no TVs. So you were really much more entertained by the written word.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
The written word. The radio, newspapers.
Stephen Colbert
Okay, so news meant a lot to you?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Oh, every day. Because really can kept internally our freedom. Right. Because we, the people then were under apartheid. I lived under apartheid. The editors fought it. And that's how I got educated and that's how I got inspired. So to me, by the time I was working on cancer, I was given 48 hours. 48 hours to buy this newspaper or not.
Stephen Colbert
Why was there such a. Was it like the movie speed? Like you have 55 miles an hour or the paper's gonna blow up? Like, why 48 hours?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
So Michael Ferrer had bought the Tribune at that point in time, and he knew how much I wanted to protect the newspaper in Los Angeles. And he killed me on a Friday. And I was ironically, having a conference call, a conference with science doctors on cancer. And he says, patrick, Monday, we're shutting down the D.C. bureau. We're shutting down Los Angeles. Moving to Chicago. You've got 48 hours if you want to buy it. It's $500 million. That's it.
Stephen Colbert
You had to make a $500 million decision. Take it or leave it 48 hours.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
You got it.
Stephen Colbert
And. And was that a gut wrenching decision? Was it a dip? Was it a sleep losing decision?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
It was a decision that I had to talk to my wife about.
Stephen Colbert
If I may, how'd that go, actually.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Because we both grew up in South Africa.
Stephen Colbert
Oh. So she was invested in this as well?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Very much. And we said, okay. But he said, no due diligence. You can't go to the newsroom. You don't know anything. 48 hours. So I brought the team in, they came over, and by Monday we bought the newspaper.
Stephen Colbert
Now, were you concerned at all? So this is a huge undertaker. And this was early on. Did you look at other models? You know, did you think about what model of businessman, media owner you wanted to be? Did you want to go the musk like, I'll buy it and then kind of lose my mind and then like. Or was it more the Bezos? I'll buy it, but I have these other interests with the government that may. Or was this more like the New York Times Sulzberger model? Like, I'll buy it as kind of an heirloom, as a family, and we'll run this in a different way. What was the thinking for you was.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
As I grew up in South Africa, the only thing that inspired me and kept me alive was the newspaper. So the opportunity for me working on cancer and healing, hopefully curing cancer, is to have a place where the people, the voice of the people, truly the voice of the people could be heard. So there was.
Stephen Colbert
Now, is that. Were you ever worried that this other work that you're doing, which is so crucial, was going to be diminished by the time you had to spend? Was that ever a concern?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
No, because we were deep. I was. So that book.
Stephen Colbert
No, I'm already through the nude mice chapters.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
No, because by that. So that was 1995, when he wrote that book. 1992. So by 2018, I recollected sadly that people are suffering from chemotherapy. And we as Americans and as America has trained the world together with a big pharma about chemotherapy because it's a money making machine. Chemotherapy, chemotherapy, radiation, chemotherapy, high dose chemotherapy.
Stephen Colbert
Now is that because those technologies are. Here's where I want to be clear. Is it because those technologies are nascent and primitive when it comes to curing cancer? Because I hate to assign a sinister motive to something that I've seen in my own life help people that I love.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
So let me give you the background to that, please. So page 13, 14, 15 when you get there.
Stephen Colbert
Literally page 13. So next fall.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Seriously. So. So in the 1940s, World War I and World War II, nitrogen gas from gas was used. So the first chemotherapy ever invented is 1946 Nitrogen Master.
Stephen Colbert
So this was sort of an accident of. They saw that mustard gas killed cells, but it also killed cancer, and so they utilized it. Is that how it.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
That's exactly. But it was under the thing called chemical warfare services in the government then 1940s, 1950s, that became the nucleus of an organization called Sloan Kettering, quite literally.
Stephen Colbert
Oh, wow. Okay.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
In which they had to then figure out this thing called taxonomy, how it would kill cancer but not kill the.
Stephen Colbert
Human being, the balance of it, so that it didn't kill the people. And this is why, I guess chemotherapy makes people so ill oftentimes.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Right. Except they forgot a universal truth.
Stephen Colbert
Pa, pa, pa.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
You and I through evolution. And this is where the beauty of nature and the beauty of evolution have in our body two things. A T cell that everybody now knows.
Stephen Colbert
T cell is the fights cancer virus.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Correct.
Stephen Colbert
Okay.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
But another cell that has been around for 450 million years called the natural killer cell. Literally, that's the name.
Stephen Colbert
They didn't call it that really. They just look at this. What is that? I believe that's the natural killer cell.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
It is we. That's the scientific.
Stephen Colbert
So what is that cell that works alongside the T cell?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Correct. That's the cell that your body. In order for mammalians to survive, you came from a tadpole. Where do you came from?
Stephen Colbert
My parents are from Bronx and Washington Heights.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
450 million years of evolution, meaning that cell is the most important cell in your body in order to allow matrix to literally survived. And it was only discovered in 1990s.
Stephen Colbert
Okay, well, that post dates chemotherapy then. So they didn't know about this.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Correct. So in order to design these chemicals that were coming out, they needed to find a model in which you could put human tissue into the mouse. Guess what National Cancer Institute invented the nude mouse.
Stephen Colbert
The nude mouse is the natural killer cell.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
No, the nude mouse is a mouse that has no T cells, no natural killer cells. So you could transplant into that mouse a human tissue and it would take so that then you could put chemicals into that and see the tumors shrink. And they said, voila. We have the NCI panel of the model. And all these chemicals of chemo will not be needed.
Stephen Colbert
Those will be seen as primitive at some day.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
No, they. They would be seen then, until today as the treatment of choice. So that drug, Taxol, was developed by Bristol Myers and the National Cancer Institute in order to give it to women with breast cancer. It has to be dissolved in castor oil.
Stephen Colbert
Castor oil.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Intravenously injected castor oil and women.
Stephen Colbert
Now, that seemed like a powerful statement. And yet I don't know why, when you said, you looked me in the eye and you went, it is injected in castor oil. And I went, huh?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
And there's a black box which we have in the FDA packaging cert called the black box.
Stephen Colbert
Okay.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
When you have the castor oil injected, women die from anaphylactic shock from castor oil to this day.
Stephen Colbert
So this will allow them to deliver chemotherapy without having to use this substrate that causes shock. Am I.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
No, this allowed me.
Stephen Colbert
Am I getting any of this right? Am I the dumbest person you've ever had to talk to?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
So let me. Let me get it there. So this drug now was now developed because it actually went into these nude mice and showed the tumor shrank, and everybody was happy. So we had to deliver it. And they delivered it in casserole. And now then the standard is, let's look at the response where the tumors shrink. Okay, Forgot about something. However, as you give this Taxol or these chemotherapies, you wipe out your natural killer cells and T cells, your universal.
Stephen Colbert
Truth, which makes you susceptible to infection and cancer. And cancer.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
The only cell that actually supersedes your body right now, when we're in equilibrium, is the natural killer cell to prevent us from getting cancer.
Stephen Colbert
And that's the secret to the future of fighting cancer.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
That is the secret. That is the universal truth that we have in our body through 450 million years of evolution, a cell called the natural killer cell. God created that cell in order for us to survive what has never happened.
Stephen Colbert
Okay, you just lost me. Square 450 million years with God. All right, forget about that. Listen, listen. So, so. But. So here's where. Here's where I get concerned.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Yeah.
Stephen Colbert
This is so fascinating. Now that you have your own newspaper, are you worried that your motivations in the newspaper will. Because I'm going to assume that you. Because you have a company that also deals in biologics, that you want to get FDA approval for different forms of treatment that you're going to develop, and that is not impugning those treatments in any way. But why create this other Los Angeles Times where people can question whether or not decisions you make for the Los Angeles Times won't be influenced by things you want from the FDA controlled by the government? Doesn't that put you in a difficult position?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
No, because in terms of the Times, there's this news reporting and there's editorial and voices, and I never discuss or prevent present any of my stuff in the LA Times. I would go to the New York Times or the Wall Street Journal so that.
Stephen Colbert
So your paper wouldn't report on your.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
My work.
Stephen Colbert
Really?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Yes.
Stephen Colbert
But wouldn't your paper.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
My paper.
Stephen Colbert
Maybe offend the administration?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
It may and it probably does.
Stephen Colbert
No, they're very resilient, this administration. Very Very thick skinned.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Right. But it's important for the paper to have voices of all. And that's what I wanted to do. Right. Whether you right, left, Democrat, Republican, you're an American. So the opportunity for us to provide a paper that is the voices of the people. Truly the voices of the people. So I'm gonna announce something with you tonight. Is that more than the nude mouse, you're gonna announce something that we literally gonna take LA Times public and love to be democratized and allow the public to have the ownerships of this paper.
Stephen Colbert
Wow, that's fantastic.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
That's fantastic.
Stephen Colbert
So in that sense then the public will have a say on the board and on.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Right.
Stephen Colbert
Fantastic.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Very much like the football team that just got public, if you remember.
Stephen Colbert
Sure. Well, the Green Bay packers, famously owned by a lot of the people. And when does that take place?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
We think over the next year. I'm working through with an organization that's putting that together right now and.
Stephen Colbert
Right.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
And so the idea is.
Stephen Colbert
And that can hopefully remove maybe some of those questions of where ethics get cloudy, would we say?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
And really ethics get cloudy if in fact the truth is not told. So in my mind the opportunity for, you know, look, our institutions today, everybody, there's somewhat distrust.
Stephen Colbert
Sure.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Unless you have truth and trust, those two words, I think we're not going to have any healing in the country. So my goal, that's for sure. So if you can cure cancer and have people have their voice in the paper, I think we have at least I live this American dream. I'm an immigrant here.
Stephen Colbert
Right.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
So to me this is really a wonderful opportunity for us to have the privilege of being an American.
Stephen Colbert
Well, by God, sir, I truly appreciate it and I have to tell you I wish you the best on this. I truly believe there may be no higher calling than I have seen this disease bring so much sadness and pain to so many people and if there was a way through and by the way believe that all those doctors do it in good faith to try and bring the greatest relief to the greatest amount of people. And so I so appreciate that part of it and I look forward to owning your paper.
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
I look forward to that as well.
Stephen Colbert
Thank you so much for being here. Really appreciate it. Dr. Bathwick. Sunshine. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back after this. Do you believe that these break. This episode is brought to you by Liquid iv. In heart pumping moments you need hydration that can keep up. That's where Liquid IV comes in. Scientifically formulated to quickly replenish electrolytes and fluids lost from your well earned sweat session. Hydrate your favorite mode of movement with Liquid IV made with triple the electrolytes of the leading sports drink plus eight vitamins and nutrients also available and sugar free tear pour liquid live more. Visit liquidiv.com to learn more. Put us in a box. Go ahead. That just gives us something to break out of because the next generation 2025 GMC terrain elevation is raising the standard of what comes standard. As far as expectations go, why meet them when you can shatter them? What we choose to challenge, we challenge completely. We are professional grade. Visit gmc.com to learn more.
Jon Stewart
On WhatsApp. No one can see or hear your personal messages. Whether it's a voice call message or sending a password to WhatsApp, it's all just this. So whether you're sharing the streaming password in the family chat or trading those late night voice messages that could basically become a podcast, your personal messages stay between you, your friends and your family. No one else, not even us. WhatsApp message privately with everyone.
Stephen Colbert
Hey everybody. That is our show. But before we go, I am awfully excited about this next segment. This is the first time I've had the pleasure of being able to say this on the Daily Show. But your host for the rest of this week, Mr. Josh Johnson. Josh. Yeah, baby. This is exciting news. Josh, this is your first week taking the reins. Are you excited? Yeah, sure, Jon. What a time to start a career in late night television. It's a fresh burgeoning genre, Josh. Don't worry, you've got a bright future ahead of you. You're a very talented young man. Thanks, man. I'm sure I'm here because of my talent and not because they know the ship is going down, so they're bringing in a black guy at the 11th hour to get caught holding the bag. No Josh, Huh? No youthful energy you're gonna bring. It's what late night needs. Get viewers back. It's exciting. What a great point. Same way that Captain America got more popular after they made him black. I'll host the week, John. But you're not gonna Captain America me. I would not do that. Josh Johnson, everybody. Not Captain America. Now here it is, your moment. Like, do you think more people are listening to Coldplay because of this?
Dr. Patrick Soon Seong
Maybe. The Google searches are probably up right now.
Stephen Colbert
A lot of people aren't going to.
Jon Stewart
The concert if they're having affairs.
Stephen Colbert
Right.
Jon Stewart
Just scared they're gonna get on the Kiss cam.
Stephen Colbert
Yeah, you might as well go to a bar, explore more shows. From the Daily Show Podcast universe by searching the Daily Show. Wherever you get your podcasts, watch the Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount. Plus, this has been a Comedy Central podcast.
The Daily Show: Ears Edition – Episode Summary
Title: Jon Stewart Reacts to Colbert's Cancellation & Trump's "Bawdy" Epstein Doodles | Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong
Host/Authors: Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert
Release Date: July 22, 2025
The episode kicks off with Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert delving into the latest scandal involving former President Donald Trump and his purported connection to Jeffrey Epstein. The discussion centers around a controversial 50th birthday card that Trump allegedly sent to Epstein, featuring a crude doodle.
Jon Stewart (04:10): Introduces the story, highlighting how the card has sparked renewed scrutiny of Trump's past associations with Epstein.
Stephen Colbert (04:30): Critiques the appropriateness of the doodle, emphasizing its unsettling nature.
"Pubic hair. Oh my God, you broke Blitzer..." (05:22)
The hosts dissect the content of the card, noting the presence of a naked woman outline and the text that insinuates a dubious camaraderie between Trump and Epstein. They question the implications of such gestures and how they reflect on Trump's character.
"A crude drawing, it contains several lines of typewritten text framed by the outline of a naked woman." (05:18)
The conversation shifts to the use of artificial intelligence in authenticating the origins of the doodle, with Colbert sarcastically pointing out the improbability of Trump using certain vocabulary, thereby casting doubt on his involvement.
"Look how much must it have sucked to be the next guy in the office that had to sign that Epstein birthday card. You want me to just... " (11:00)
Jon and Stephen discuss the recent legal actions taken by Trump against the Wall Street Journal and Rupert Murdoch, criticizing the media's role and the administration's response to mounting evidence against Trump.
Jon Stewart (25:43): Reports on Trump’s lawsuit against the Wall Street Journal and Murdoch.
"President Trump says he will sue the Wall Street Journal and its owner, Rupert Murdoch..." (25:43)
Stephen Colbert (25:49): Satirizes the situation, pointing out the irony of suing a major media figure.
"Fox spends 24 hours a day blowing Trump and it's not enough..." (25:49)
The hosts argue that corporate and institutional capitulation to Trump’s pressures has broader implications for free speech and accountability in America.
"If you still think that bending the knee to Trump will save you, I have one thing to say. I know you're scared... " (28:43)
In a fictional twist, Jon Stewart announces the abrupt cancellation of Stephen Colbert's "Late Show," attributing it to financial strains and the pressures exerted by the Trump administration.
Jon Stewart (17:32): Announces the cancellation, lamenting the loss of a beloved late-night franchise.
"CBS has canceled the entirety of the Late Show franchise..." (17:53)
Stephen Colbert (18:00): Delivers an impassioned monologue criticizing corporate fear and the suppression of dissenting voices.
"You tell them. Go *** yourself." (29:44)
The latter part of the episode features an interview with Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong, a renowned cancer researcher and owner of the Los Angeles Times. The discussion covers his groundbreaking work in oncology and his vision for democratizing media ownership.
Stephen Colbert (32:02): Introduces Dr. Soon-Shiong, highlighting his dual roles in medicine and media.
"My guest tonight, he is a surgeon and biotech entrepreneur..." (32:02)
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong (34:03): Explains the development of chemotherapy drugs and the pivotal role of the "nude mouse" in cancer research.
"This is a nude mouse that the National Cancer Institute had to develop..." (33:54)
The conversation delves into the ethical considerations of media ownership, with Dr. Soon-Shiong revealing plans to make the Los Angeles Times publicly owned to ensure unbiased reporting.
Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong (46:14): Announces the move to democratize the Los Angeles Times.
"...we are going to take LA Times public and allow the public to have ownership of this paper." (46:44)
Stephen Colbert (47:17): Reacts positively to the announcement, drawing parallels to the Green Bay Packers' community ownership.
"So the public will have a say on the board and on..." (47:17)
The episode concludes with a promotional segment for the upcoming transition of The Daily Show hosting duties to Josh Johnson, symbolizing a new era for the show amidst the turbulence depicted earlier.
"...Mr. Josh Johnson. Josh. Yeah, baby. This is exciting news..." (51:11)
Notable Quotes:
Stephen Colbert (05:22):
"Pubic hair. Oh, my God, you broke Blitzer..."
Stephen Colbert (28:43):
"I know you're scared. I know you're weary. I know your plans don't include me. But these are troubled times. So sack the *** up. Because this ain't, this ain't, this ain't the time to shrink. This is the time to fight."
Stephen Colbert (29:44):
"You tell them. Go *** yourself."
Political Scandals: The episode highlights ongoing controversies surrounding Donald Trump's associations with Jeffrey Epstein, emphasizing the implications of their interactions.
Media and Power: There's a strong critique of how political figures exert pressure on media institutions, leading to censorship and financial control.
Corporate Accountability: Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert argue against corporate complacency in the face of political intimidation, advocating for integrity and resistance.
Innovation in Cancer Research: Dr. Patrick Soon-Shiong provides insights into the advancements in cancer treatment, particularly the role of the nude mouse in developing chemotherapy drugs.
Democratizing Media Ownership: The discussion with Dr. Soon-Shiong introduces his initiative to make the Los Angeles Times publicly owned, aiming to restore trust and unbiased reporting in media.
This summary encapsulates the main discussions and themes of the episode, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the topics covered without needing to engage with the full podcast.