Clarissa Ward | A Mayor Development

Summary

Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Episode: Clarissa Ward | A Mayor Development
Release Date: June 26, 2025
Host: Stephen Colbert
Guest: Clarissa Ward, CNN’s Chief International Correspondent

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Introduction

In this episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert engages in a comprehensive discussion with Clarissa Ward, CNN's Chief International Correspondent. The conversation delves into the recent political upheaval in New York City, the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel, and the broader implications for the Middle East and international relations.

New York City Mayoral Primary Upset

Timestamp: [07:40] – [08:25]

Stephen Colbert opens the discussion by highlighting a significant political event: Democratic Socialist Zoran Mamdani's unexpected victory in the New York City Democratic mayoral primary. Colbert emphasizes the historic nature of Mamdani’s potential mayoralty, noting, “Donnie Mamdani is now on track to become the city's first South Asian mayor, first Muslim mayor, and the youngest mayor in over a century” ([07:49]).

Key Points:

• Historic Victory: Mamdani’s win represents a seismic shift in New York City politics, challenging the Democratic establishment.
• Campaign Strategy: Unlike his opponent, former Governor Andrew Cuomo, who raised over $36 million, Mamdani's campaign was largely grassroots, relying on volunteer support and a positive message centered on policies like freezing rent and providing free childcare and transportation.
• Voter Demographics: Mamdani successfully mobilized minority groups and younger voters, securing a lead of over seven percentage points against Cuomo ([07:40]).

Notable Quote: Colbert reflects on the surprising nature of the outcome, stating, “Back in February, Mamdani was polling at 1%, and he was up against big money's favorite candidate,” highlighting the unexpected nature of the upset ([07:49]).

Iran-Israel Conflict and Ceasefire Dynamics

Timestamp: [17:37] – [31:55]

The conversation transitions to Clarissa Ward’s firsthand reporting on the ongoing conflict between Iran and Israel. Ward provides an in-depth analysis of the ceasefire's current state and its implications for both nations.

Key Points:

• Ceasefire Status: The ceasefire between Iran and Israel is currently holding, despite initial instability and external pressures, such as comments from President Trump urging peace over tragedy ([18:21]).
• Public Sentiment in Iran: Ward emphasizes that Iranian society is not monolithic. While many Iranians resent their regime and fear repression, they also harbor deep-seated patriotism and animosity towards Israel. This duality creates a complex societal landscape where fear of retribution stifles open dissent ([19:00]).
• Israeli Perspective: In Israel, there is overwhelming support for Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline stance against Iran. Israelis perceive the Iranian threat as existential, bolstering national unity and pride in military actions, such as the decimation of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps ([21:32]).
• Palestinian Views: Among Israeli Arabs, who make up about 20% of Israel’s population, there is significant dissent against the government’s actions. Ward recounts a tragic incident in Tamra, where an Iranian missile strike resulted in civilian casualties, underscoring the indiscriminate nature of warfare and its impact on innocent lives ([23:16]).

Notable Quotes:

• Clarissa Ward on Iranian society: “They are deeply fearful. They're underground, their voices haven't been heard” ([19:29]).
• Ward on Israeli public opinion: “Israelis fundamentally believe that Iran's regime seeks to wipe Israel off the face of the earth” ([21:48]).

Impact on Middle Eastern Perceptions of the United States

Timestamp: [27:49] – [30:15]

Clarissa Ward discusses the broader regional implications of the U.S. military actions, particularly how they affect perceptions of America in the Middle East.

Key Points:

• Loss of Trust: The extensive military intervention, especially actions perceived as overreaches, has eroded faith in U.S. leadership and international institutions. The devastation in Gaza, characterized by severe humanitarian crises, has fueled animosity towards the U.S., particularly due to its support for Israeli military operations ([28:17]).
• Human Rights Concerns: Ward points out that the U.S. is viewed as hypocritical, citing its support for Israeli actions that contravene its professed human rights principles. This disconnect has led to increased resentment and skepticism about U.S. intentions in the region ([29:48]).
• Gaza's Humanitarian Crisis: The dire situation in Gaza, with reports of a looming man-made famine and rampant civilian suffering, underscores the tragic human cost of the conflict. The potential for a ceasefire offers a glimmer of hope for alleviating these conditions and securing the release of hostages ([30:15]).

Notable Quotes:

• Ward on regional distrust: “And that has eroded their faith in international institutions, in international humanitarian law, and in any notion that the US is some kind of a guiding light or a beacon of human rights” ([28:17]).
• On Gaza’s dire situation: “We are approaching a man-made famine” ([30:21]).

Ongoing Hunger and Humanitarian Issues in Gaza

Timestamp: [30:15] – [31:55]

The discussion turns to the severe humanitarian crisis in Gaza, with Clarissa Ward providing harrowing firsthand accounts of the conditions faced by civilians.

Key Points:

• Imminent Famine: The UN warns that Gaza is on the brink of a man-made famine, exacerbated by blockades and ongoing military actions that restrict access to essential resources.
• Civilian Suffering: Ward describes the extreme hardships, including children resorting to putting sand in their mouths and families undertaking perilous journeys to secure food from aid distributions.
• Hope for Ceasefire: There is cautious optimism that the current ceasefire may open the door to longer-term peace negotiations, which could address not only the hostilities but also the humanitarian needs of Gazans and the safe return of hostages ([30:15]).

Notable Quotes:

• Ward on the crisis in Gaza: “We crossed the Rubicon here. And that's not my opinion. That is a statement of fact based on everything I am seeing every single day” ([30:21]).
• On potential ceasefire: “Maybe now there is a space to have a ceasefire in Gaza to get those hostages home” ([31:55]).

Conclusion

The episode concludes with Stephen Colbert thanking Clarissa Ward for her insightful reporting and emphasizing the gravity of the situations discussed. The conversation underscores the complex interplay between local politics in New York City and international conflicts that have far-reaching implications for global relations and humanitarian conditions.

Final Remarks: Colbert encapsulates the discussion by highlighting the unprecedented nature of the U.S. military actions and their profound impact on Middle Eastern views of America. The hope for a lasting ceasefire in Gaza remains a critical focal point, promising potential relief from the humanitarian disaster and a step towards more stable regional relations.

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Notable Quotes Recap:

• Stephen Colbert: “Back in February, Mamdani was polling at 1%, and he was up against big money's favorite candidate” ([07:49]).
• Clarissa Ward: “Israelis fundamentally believe that Iran's regime seeks to wipe Israel off the face of the earth” ([21:48]).
• Clarissa Ward: “We are approaching a man-made famine” ([30:21]).

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This episode provides listeners with a deep dive into significant political shifts and international conflicts, offering expert analysis from one of the foremost correspondents in global journalism.

Transcript

[Stephen Colbert]

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[Clarissa Ward]

It's a hard nut smooth.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly. I mean, even out of the shell, it's still a nut.

[Clarissa Ward]

We can't disparage the nuts.

[Stephen Colbert]

You. I'm not disparaging the nut. I'm describing the nut.

[Clarissa Ward]

Don't disparage any flavors.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm not. I am celebrating the pistachio right now. I'm on board. I love pistachios. I love. I love crushed pistachio. Like a pistachio crusted trout. Oh, unbelievable. Instead of a trout amandine, a trout pistachio. Fantastic. Enough butter? Who cares? Very good. And I love pistachio ice cream.

[Clarissa Ward]

Have you had the sea salt and vinegar? Wonderful pistachio.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's delicious.

[Clarissa Ward]

I get them.

[Stephen Colbert]

I didn't even know I get them.

[Clarissa Ward]

Before the softball games.

[Stephen Colbert]

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[Clarissa Ward]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

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[Clarissa Ward]

That was a wonderful.

[Stephen Colbert]

I wonder what more there is to learn. We just told them so much. We just told them so much about pistachios. But evidently, there's a whole other world. There's an unexplored vista. They got a bunch of flavors.

[Clarissa Ward]

They got dill pickle, jalapeno lime, as we learned, smoky barbecue. There's a lot of different flavors.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. And I would not disparage any of them.

[Clarissa Ward]

No, no, no.

[Stephen Colbert]

Bring it on.

[Clarissa Ward]

Nothing bad to say.

[Stephen Colbert]

Nut me, nut. Nut me with nut meat.

[Clarissa Ward]

We're nut.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, we got nothing but nut. Nutty, nutty, nutty, nutty. Talk about, talk about, talk about, talk about, talk about nutty. Good.

[Clarissa Ward]

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[Stephen Colbert]

Welcome one and all in here, out there, all around the world, to the Late Show. I'm your host, Stephen Colbert. Ladies and gentlemen. Oh, my goodness. This is an historic week here in New York City. And not just because in the last three days, this city broke the Guinness record for most swamp ass. Yesterday, everybody, everybody, everybody got a talcum powder at home. Good. Yesterday. Here's why. Yesterday, in a stunning upset, Democratic Socialist Zoran Mamdani won the Democratic mayoral primary. That's extraordinary. That's extraordinary. Mom. Donnie Mamdani is now on track to become the city's first South Asian mayor, first Muslim mayor, and the youngest mayor in over a century. Unless. Youngest mayor. Youngest mayor. Unless, of course, you count the star of the hit 90s show, Teen Giuliani. This city stinks. And so does homework. Is that merlot? Mmm. I've never tried this before. Ooh, my cousin is really hot. Oh, God. That joke is based on a true story. Google it. Now, to put this victory into perspective, back in February, Mamdani was polling at 1%, and he was up against big money's favorite candidate, former New York governor And guy at the diner who hasn't blinked in an hour. Andrew Cuomo. Between. Between his. They're not booing, they're just going. Cuomo. Between his campaign and his billionaire backed super PACs, Cuomo raised over $36 million, while Mamdani relied largely on volunteers and a relentlessly positive campaign based on issues that affect everyday New Yorkers, like freezing the rent, no cost childcare, and free buses. Sounds pretty good. Sounds pretty good. And I, for one, cannot wait to get my free bus. I'm gonna paint mine like the Scooby Doo Mystery Machine and then fight ghost crime, according to experts. With this message, Mamdani generated excitement among minority groups and electrified younger voters, while older voters still run on diesel, it turns out. So this is one of the biggest surprises. This election wasn't close. As of right now, Mamdani is ahead of Cuomo by over seven points. Do you know seven points? Do you know how hard it is in New York City to be that far away from another person? Take a look at this map. Mamdani won decisively in Manhattan, Brooklyn, in Queens, while Andrew Cuomo won Staten island, the Bronx, and the secret sixth borough of Groper's Island. And it's not. And no, it's not. It's not what it sounds like. It was named after Emanuel Groper, colonial farmer who enjoyed touching his employees. Last night. Last night, Mom Donny gave his victory speech, and you could feel the mom citement.

[Clarissa Ward]

My friends, we have done it.

[Stephen Colbert]

I will be your Democratic nominee for the mayor of New York City. In the words of Nelson Mandela, it always seems impossible until it is done. Inspiring words. And it's what I tell myself every time I fold a fitted sheet. And then at a certain point, I say screw it and crumple it into a ball. Even though the race isn't technically over, thanks to ranked choice voting in New York, Cuomo conceded tonight was not our night.

[Clarissa Ward]

Tonight was Assemblyman Mandani's night, and he.

[Stephen Colbert]

Put together a great campaign and he touched young people. Oh, oh, oh. That can't be easier for Cuomo to admit because touching young people, kind of his brand. Allegedly. Other candidates were quick to celebrate Cuomo's defeat, like Comptroller Brad Lander, who had some choice words for the Governor, Andrew Cuomo. Andrew Cuomo is in the past. He is not the present or future of New York City. Good riddance. Whoa, whoa, Ms. Mr. Comptroller. You know the rules, sir. That's a quarter in the comptroller swear jar, okay? This is the city's Pension fund. Now, this may be a local race, but Mamdani's primary win is being seen as a seismic moment for the left and a stunning upset against the Democratic Party establishment by younger, more progressive Democrats like Mamdani, about whom Senator Bernie Sanders said he ran a strong grassroots campaign around progressive agenda. They go together. You cannot run a grassroots campaign unless you excite people. You cannot excite people unless you have something to say. Whether the current Democratic leadership is prepared to learn that lesson or not, I have no idea. Probably not. They're probably more willing to go down with the Titanic than to move in a new direction. And the new. Listen, my friends. Come on. Listen up. Come on. Here's the deal. Here's the deal. The new Democratic Party will not go down with the Titanic. The new Democratic Party must be like Rose, and there's only room for her on that door. Even though. Even though she loved Jack very much because of how hot things got there in the car, where her hand goes up on the glass at the end until he fo. It got so steamy in there. They weren't just making love. They were making soup. Long walk to soup. Soup. Mamdani now heads to the general election against current mayor Eric Adams, seen here modeling his magic eye blazer. Adams has already announced that he's running as an independent in November, and yesterday, he released another video on his key issue. Rats.

[Clarissa Ward]

When there's something strange with four rodents running around in your neighborhood, who you going to call?

[Stephen Colbert]

The rats are. I'm sorry. When there's something strange with four rodents running around in your neighborhood, the lyrics have got to at least try to fit the song. When there are rats that you see and you see the rats, the rats in your house, and you think, hey, I don't like them. Those rats are really big. Hey, Macarena. What else? Oh, staying here. Staying here in the Big Apple. It's New York Pride Week. This is the time of year this, my friends, this is the time of year when we celebrate the LGBTQ community. And also when my kids tell me to stop saying slay the house down, boots. Yass, mama. This year marks the 55th anniversary of the first Pride march, which was held in June of 1970. I was only six years old at the time, but I do remember seeing pictures and thinking, wow, those pretty ladies sure are tall. In the 1970s, gay activism was on the rise, and gay culture was more visible. Who can forget when Richard Nixon said, I am not a twink? Pride. Pride is both a celebration and a protest. And in the last few years, pride marches have become really big business, raking in millions of dollars for their host cities. And when corporations heard all those cha chings, they jumped in with McDonald's parade floats and Marvel branded merch and even advertising tie ins. Like in 2022 when Burger King introduced a Pride Whopper with two equal buns, either two top buns or two bottom buns. But ever since Donald Trump started viciously attacking the LGBTQ community, those same companies have now gone silent. Corporate sponsors are now pulling back their pride support because as one corporate insider said, they never know if day to day they'll be wow. Not knowing if you'll be targeted must be so hard for those companies. I can't imagine how difficult it must have been for them to come out to their parents as companies. Some corporations, some corporations, hey, I'm a company. Some corporations are trying to fly under Trump's radar with toned down pride merch, a fashion trend some are calling cowardcore. Some of these pride shy products can be found at Target, like this oatmeal colored hoodie with nothing about pride on it except the drawstrings that read out loud and proud. That is so subtle that you're less likely to think the person is gay than you are to assume that they are oatmeal. Target's also selling this pride tank top, which has a teensy little rainbow right there. Wow, that seems weird. But, you know, it's actually quite useful if you're still trying to figure it out, you know? Hmm. What do I think here? Gay, not gay, not gay. Gay not gay. Bye. I don't know. Figure it out later. I'll figure it out later. Doesn't matter. Whatever. Whatever I say, I say, if you're gonna be this nervous about supporting the LGBTQ community, why not just sell a plain black T shirt? No rainbows, no fun slogans, just someone at the factory whispers the word lesbian into it. We got a great show for you, Ton, coming up. Larissa, Warren.

[Clarissa Ward]

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[Stephen Colbert]

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[Clarissa Ward]

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[Stephen Colbert]

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[Clarissa Ward]

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[Stephen Colbert]

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[Clarissa Ward]

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[Clarissa Ward]

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[Clarissa Ward]

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[Stephen Colbert]

Get to DSW asap. It's all or nothing, people. Shop the DSW semi annual sale today. Welcome back, everybody. Folks, my first guest tonight has reported from conflict zones for over two decades and is currently CNN's chief international correspondent. Please welcome back to the Late Show, Clarissa Ward. Clarissa, thanks so much. Thanks so much. I know it must be late where you are. What time is it where you are?

[Clarissa Ward]

It is 1:12 in the morning.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay.

[Clarissa Ward]

And I haven't slept for 13 days, but I forgive you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. Thank you. You're CNN's chief international correspondent. In the past we've been lucky enough to talk to you from places like Afghanistan and Ukraine. Where are you tonight?

[Clarissa Ward]

Tonight I am in the lovely Amman, Jordan, and I have just left Tel Aviv, Israel this morning because the flights were very limited, the airspace just opening up today. So we are on our way back home through Jordan.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, let's talk about the airspace opening back up again. As you said, you were just in Israel yesterday. What is the current state of the ceasefire with Iran? Do we know?

[Clarissa Ward]

It's holding. It's holding. It got off to a very wobbly start. There was some back and forth. Then we heard President Trump had some choice words for both parties, but particularly for the Israelis. And since then it has been quiet. And it's remarkable to see how quickly life goes back to normal. Israel announcing that it's opening schools, it's opening airports, workplaces. The beach was humming. I saw boats for the first time. The Iranians also out on the streets going to rallies. There was some kind of a classical music concert. And so, yeah, very quickly, people getting back to their lives.

[Stephen Colbert]

You've reported from Iran in the past and have contact with Iranian citizens who Iran's a bit of a black box to Americans. It's not quite the hermit kingdom that North Korea is, but we don't really know much about the average Iranians over there. What is the view from what you know of what the United States has done with Israel to the, to the Iranian on the street.

[Clarissa Ward]

So first of all, I think we have to like start out by saying that Iran is not a monolith. Right. So there are lots of different people with different opinions and voices, the voices that we really haven't heard from during this whole conflict that have been reaching out to me on my social media and saying, please listen to us, which I think, you know, it bears like reflecting on. Most of them are women. Most of them were supporters of the uprising against the Iranian regime, against the compulsory hijab. And they feel sort of trapped between the devil and a dark place in a sense because they hate the Iranian regime. They have, many of them been oppressed by it, imprisoned, they've lost their loved ones. But at the same time, Iranians tend to be very patriotic as well. And they don't have any love for Israel. They don't like what they see happening in Gaza. And so they're fearful of speaking out because they don't feel safe, they don't feel secure. And they're very worried in this particular moment, Stephen, that there's going to be retribution. Now that the hostilities have stopped, the regime has a chance to reconstitute, regroup. They're worried that there's going to be a witch hunt against people who will be accused of having collaborated with the Israelis or having supported the Israelis. And so they're deeply fearful. They're underground, their voices haven't been heard. At the same time, there are a lot of Iranians who support the current regime who feel outraged by what Israel has done and who view their nuclear program as being absolutely existentially essential for their self defense. And so it's important to try to like sit with the complexity of many differing viewpoints. And then you have the Iranians in diaspora, many of whom actually support Israel and what Israel has done. So it's not a black and white picture, but a lot of people reaching out to me are really afraid right now.

[Stephen Colbert]

From the beginning of this conflict with Iran, you've been talking with Israelis. What's their outlook on this conflict? Is again Israel's also not a monolith, but is it, is the population there generally supportive of this action?

[Clarissa Ward]

The Jewish Israeli population is overwhelmingly supportive of this. I mean, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has just had like the best two weeks possibly of his political career, but certainly since October 7th. And every Israeli who I spoke to, you know, we talk a lot in the media and in just in the international community about the ambiguity around Iran's nuclear program and were they really trying to build a bomb and how close were they? And that is not a conversation that is being had in Israel. Israelis fundamentally believe that Iran's regime seeks to wipe Israel off the face of the earth. They see this as an existential issue. They see this as a question of survival. And I think there was also a sense of pride for many Israelis looking at how this operation was carried out, the deep penetration with their intelligence, the fact that the entire leadership of the Iranian Revolutionary Guard Corps was effectively decapitated in a matter of days in a sort of stunning set of strikes that I don't think anyone had expected to happen, because, by the way, the Iranians and the Americans were supposed to meet that weekend in Oman to have a discussion about their nuclear program. So broad support in Israel. Absolutely. For this.

[Stephen Colbert]

What about for the Palestinians in Israel? This, you know, if they may not agree with the actions of the Israeli government, certainly not the actions against the Palestinians in Gaza and sort of the crushing conditions they're under right now, but if Israel gets nuked, they're subject to that as well. Is there any sense of how the Palestinians view this action?

[Clarissa Ward]

Well, if you're talking about the Israeli Arabs, which is like 20% of Israel's population, we definitely found they have a different viewpoint on this latest sort of round of hostilities. We went to a town called Tamra, which was actually hit by an Iranian ballistic missile. It killed a mother, two of her daughters, as well as a visiting relative. Only her youngest daughter survived because her bedroom was the actual shelter. And the people we spoke to on the ground there were like, listen, we don't support this. We have nothing to do with it. And yet we are bearing the brunt of. Of these ballistic missiles. And I think that kind of gives a nod to the complexity of this. I mean, war is a blunt instrument. It's never carried out in such a precise way, that everything is black and white and good and bad. It's murky, it's dark, it's ugly, and it's harrowing.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, as you said, there is, you know, before this moment, for 45 years now, there's been extraordinary tension between the United States after these attacks. Is there any sense, as you say, some sense of normality has returned to Iran, and yet the regime which survives is, if not responding militarily to this in a significant way, still has a political face to put on this. You say that. I understand that both sides, Israel and Iran, are claiming victory in some way.

[Clarissa Ward]

Both sides are claiming victory, absolutely. But for Iran, Look, I think we have to be clear. Iran has been weakened terribly by this. This is a devastating blow. And the decision to kind of put a stop to it or draw a line under it, that is not a decision that was made from a position of strength. It was made from a tactical position. Of like, we need to have a timeout right now or we're not going to survive. And we heard President Trump saying, you can choose right now, peace or tragedy. And so clearly Iran wants to kind of pump the brakes, right? And diplomacy can be a part of that. And now the US And Iran are supposed to sit down together next week, according to the latest reports.

[Stephen Colbert]

We have to take a quick break, Clarissa, but we'll be right back with more Clarissa Ord, everybody. Now streaming. When everything's on the line, real heroes rise to the occasion. TV's hottest show is Fire Country. We're firefighters. We're gonna find a way to get you out of here. We take the hits together.

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[Stephen Colbert]

We are back with CNN's Chief International Correspondent, live via satellite from Jordan. Clarissa Ward, you've done extensive reporting for the Middle east for years. Do you have a sense of how that region now views the United States? Because this is an unprecedented military action by the United States. While we've had tension with Iran for all these years, we've never bombed them.

[Clarissa Ward]

Right. I think there was a moment, you know, when Prime Minister Netanyahu and President Trump were kind of dangling this idea of regime change that is anathema to people in this region. They remember the invasion of Iraq. They remember the hundredth of thousands of people and the wave of terror and sectarianism and chaos that was unleashed as a result of that. So, absolutely, that's abhorrent for people to hear in this region. But honestly, Iran is not the big issue right now in this region with America. Gaza is what is tearing people apart, is what is fueling hatred. I cannot even tell you. Every day people come up to me, Stephen, and they say, are they not seeing what they're, what we're seeing? Are they not seeing this moonscape? Are they not seeing tens of thousands killed, children starved, the largest cohort of child amputees in the history of modern warfare? Are they not seeing this? And it has eroded their faith in international institutions, in international humanitarian law, and in any notion that the US Is some kind of a guiding light or a beacon of human rights. And that really is a far more animating issue to most people in the Middle east right now than this latest issue around of hostilities with Iran, I.

[Stephen Colbert]

Assume, not simply because the United States is not living up to its principles of human rights, but because we're overtly supporting the Israeli military and giving them the equipment they need to carry out this military action in Gaza.

[Clarissa Ward]

We're paying for the weapons and we're giving them cover. And that is something that people really in this region cannot get their head around, cannot forgive and cannot fathom.

[Stephen Colbert]

What is the latest on the ongoing hunger in Gaza?

[Clarissa Ward]

Well, the UN has been saying for some time now we are approaching a man made famine. We did a story on CNN the other day of a little boy in such frustration that he was putting fistfuls of sand into his mouth and screaming at the camera. We are talking about hundreds of people being mowed down, making the eight hour hike to try to get food from these aid distributions. We've crossed the Rubicon here. And that's not my opinion. That is a statement of fact based on everything I am seeing every single day. And the one hope that people have right now is that maybe now on the back of this, this ceasefire, maybe now that Prime Minister Netanyahu has kind of flexed his muscles to the more right wing members or the far right of his cabinet, maybe now there is a space to have a ceasefire in Gaza to get those hostages home. And by the way, the families of those hostages as well were out imploring Israel's leadership just yesterday, saying, please, please don't just make this a ceasefire for Israel and Iran. Include Gaza in it. And we heard President Trump today too, saying he's hopeful there's a chance and in the next few days, we'll see if there really will be some possibility of a ceasefire in Gaza.

[Stephen Colbert]

Clarissa, thanks so much for joining us. I hope you can get some sleep after being awake for 13 days now. CNN chief international correspondent Clarissa Ward, everybody. Thank you for listening to the Late Show Pod show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. If you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives. Now streaming. When everything's on the line, real heroes rise to the occasion. TV's hottest show is Fire Country. We're firefighters. We're gonna find a way to get you out of here. We take the hits together.

[Clarissa Ward]

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[Stephen Colbert]

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[Clarissa Ward]

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[Stephen Colbert]

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[Clarissa Ward]

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[Stephen Colbert]

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