The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Anderson Cooper | Bad Sport
Date: October 16, 2025
Guest: Anderson Cooper
Host: Stephen Colbert

Episode Overview

This episode presents a sharp and timely mix of Stephen Colbert’s signature satirical monologue and a deeply personal and insightful conversation with Anderson Cooper. They explore recent political news, the state of press freedom, the complexities of war reporting, and Anderson Cooper’s ongoing work addressing grief in his podcast, All There Is. Cooper offers reflections both professional (on reporting and journalistic ethics) and personal (on loss, empathy, and the nature of grief), making for a layered and intimate discussion.

Key Topics & Highlights

1. Satirical Political Monologue and Current Events

Timestamps: 01:03–12:32

• Donald Trump’s McDonald’s Habits:
  Colbert opens with a comedic monologue lampooning Trump’s fast-food preferences, referencing anecdotes from RNC Chair Joe Gruters about Trump mixing menu items on Air Force One.

  "After nine months, it feels like we're about to give birth to an unvaccinated porcupine." — Stephen Colbert (01:16)

• World Cup and Boston:
  Jests made about Trump’s apparent threats to move World Cup matches away from Boston, highlighting the absurdity of the President attempting control over FIFA’s decisions.
• Young Republicans Group Message Leak:
  Discussion of Politico’s exposé on offensive messages from GOP youth leaders. Colbert delivers pointed commentary on their lackluster apologies and the tendency to excuse harmful behavior.

  "No, folks, no, it's true. When I was in Cub scouts...me and my troop invaded Poland. It did not go well." — Stephen Colbert (06:26)

• Government Shutdown and Congressional Inaction:
  Colbert satirizes Congressional delays and Speaker Mike Johnson’s refusal to swear in new Rep. Adelita Grijalva, tying it to broader issues of legislative dysfunction and the possible suppression of the Epstein files.
• Pentagon Restrictions on the Press:
  Recent attempts by the Department of Defense, under Pete Hegseth, to impose strict controls on journalists get particular attention. Major media outlets, including CNN and Fox News, refused to sign new restrictive agreements.

2. Interview: Anderson Cooper on Press Freedom

Timestamps: 13:58–18:12

On New Pentagon Rules for Journalists

• CNN and Fox News Both Refuse Compliance:

  "So, no, of course, CNN is not going along with it, nor is Fox News, Pete Hegseth's former employer, which is lovely." — Anderson Cooper (14:56)

• Reporting “Lies” and Government Transparency:
  Cooper fiercely defends the role of the press, debunking the idea that reporters at the Pentagon behave recklessly, calling such claims “a lie."

  "It is important that you have people asking questions...many forms of patriotism, and telling the truth is one of them." — Anderson Cooper (15:13)

• Discussing the Consequences of Restricted Press:
  Emphasizes the press’s role in exposing government misinformation, referencing the Vietnam War and false casualty counts.

  "The American people deserve to know things...spoon feeding you the information... is an incredibly dangerous thing." — Anderson Cooper (17:02)

• Colbert’s Observations on Workarounds:
  Jokes about how barring journalists from the Pentagon just means they’ll meet sources elsewhere.

  "You can still just talk to these guys at a Starbucks, right?" — Stephen Colbert (17:37)

3. Reporting in Conflict Zones & Perspective on War

Timestamps: 18:43–23:08

• Ceasefire in Israel and Gaza:
  Cooper provides context on the current ceasefire, hostages and prisoners, U.S. military involvement, and the fragility of the peace process.

  "What President Trump accomplished is remarkable and deserves credit for it. Absolutely. This is phase one of a ceasefire." — Anderson Cooper (19:18)

• On-the-Ground Reporting:
  Cooper recounts his start in war reporting and the importance of “soft eyes” to retain empathy and perspective.

  "No matter how many times you’ve done this...you can’t compare one tragedy to another." — Anderson Cooper (21:52)

• Empathy and Bearing Witness:

  "If you are jaded or you think, oh, I’m this experienced person... you have no business doing that job." — Anderson Cooper (22:43) Colbert asks Cooper to clarify “soft eyes,” leading to a moving reflection on not succumbing to emotional numbness.

4. Grief, Healing, and Anderson’s Podcast

Timestamps: 23:08–29:31

• About All There Is and Its Expansion:
  Cooper is launching an expanded, year-long season of his podcast and a new interactive streaming show to further conversations on grief.

  "Grief can feel so lonely...the things I’ve learned that help are talking about it and listening to the experiences of others." — Anderson Cooper (24:36)

• Personal Impact and Sharing Stories:
  Cooper shares how connecting with listeners about grief has changed and, in his words, saved his life.

  "It’s only now in the last two years, by feeling this grief...that I’ve been able to feel joy." — Anderson Cooper (27:30)

• The Gift and Burden of Empathy:
  Stephen asks Cooper how he copes with the emotional toll. Cooper describes both exhaustion and profound meaning in his work, referencing his own family’s losses.
• Coping Mechanisms & Lightness:
  To close, Colbert asks about how Cooper decompresses, prompting a revealing or humorous exchange about watching the ultra-violent series Gomorrah.

  "It's this incredibly ultra violent crazy show about the Italian mob. It's so good though, I find it diverting." — Anderson Cooper (29:15)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Press Freedom:

  "Telling the truth is one of them [forms of patriotism]." — Anderson Cooper (15:17)

• On Reporting from War Zones:

  "You have to see things, I think, with soft eyes every time." — Anderson Cooper (22:09)

• On Grief and Joy:

  "By not allowing myself to feel the pain of it, I also didn’t allow myself to feel joy…because you can’t have one without the other." — Anderson Cooper (27:23)

• On Continuing Relationships with Lost Loved Ones:

  "The good news is you can still have a relationship with somebody who's died. And I have a relationship with my dad that's extraordinary." — Anderson Cooper (28:24)

Key Segments & Timestamps

| Segment | Timestamps | |----------------------------------------|----------------| | Monologue and news jokes | 01:03–12:32 | | Pentagon/Press Freedom with Cooper | 13:58–18:12 | | Israel-Gaza Ceasefire | 18:43–20:31 | | Anderson's War Reporting Perspective | 20:31–23:08 | | Conversation on Grief/Podcast | 23:08–29:31 |

Tone & Style

The episode embodies Colbert's witty, incisive satire and Anderson Cooper’s thoughtful, earnest storytelling. Moments of levity (fast-food jokes, press freedom quips) are balanced with profound personal revelations about witnessing tragedy and navigating grief.

Summary for Non-Listeners

This episode is a deft blend of political humor and substantive discussion, shifting seamlessly from riffing on current events to a raw, genuine conversation about journalism, empathy, and confronting loss. Colbert’s probing questions and Cooper’s openness create a moving, worthwhile listen that explores both the existential and everyday challenges of working in media and living through personal tragedy. The honest talk on grief and the strategies for coping—and even finding new joy—provide an especially resonant takeaway.