Jake Tapper | Jerk Of All Trades

Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert: Jake Tapper | Jerk Of All Trades

Release Date: March 6, 2025
Host: Stephen Colbert
Guest: Jake Tapper, Journalist and CNN Anchor
Podcast Platform: CBS

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Introduction

In this engaging episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert welcomes CNN’s Jake Tapper back to the show. The conversation spans a variety of topics, including recent economic policies, the intricacies of media coverage, and personal anecdotes about backyard chickens.

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Discussion on Economic Tariffs and Trump's Trade Policies

The episode opens with a humorous exchange about selling cars to Carvana, setting a lighthearted tone before delving into more serious topics. Stephen Colbert transitions into discussing President Donald Trump's recent address to Congress, focusing on the 25% tariffs imposed on Canada and Mexico.

Key Points:

• Tariffs' Impact: Colbert humorously likens tariffs to trading Dunkaroos for an apple, emphasizing their negative economic implications. He highlights how these tariffs are expected to raise prices on everyday items like Mexican tequila and avocados, culminating in increased costs for guacamole ingredients.

• Economic Consequences: The tariffs are portrayed as a gamble that could potentially disrupt various industries, notably the auto sector. Colbert cites an example from Fox Business where a Dodge Ram's price surged from $80,000 to $100,000, suggesting that such hikes could lead to a collapse in the auto industry and broader economic instability.

• Government Response: Colbert references Howard Lutnick, Trump's Commerce Secretary, who attempted to reassure the public by claiming that negotiations with Canada and Mexico were ongoing. However, Colbert points out the lack of genuine commitment to pausing the tariffs, as evidenced by Trump's subsequent actions.

Notable Quotes:

• Stephen Colbert [02:10]: "Tariffs are what economists describe as bad. When he first proposed them, the Wall Street Journal said he was starting the dumbest trade war in history."
• Jake Tapper [19:12]: "I think he actually believes in tariffs, long term, major economic policy."

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The Rise of Chicken Rental Services Amidst Economic Strain

Transitioning from tariffs, the conversation shifts to the emerging trend of chicken rentals, a response to rising egg prices due to agricultural disruptions caused by tariffs and disease outbreaks.

Key Points:

• Economic Adaptation: Colbert and Tapper discuss how skyrocketing egg prices, estimated to increase by 41% in 2025, have led to innovative solutions like renting chickens to produce eggs at home. This trend is presented as both a creative and humorous adaptation to economic pressures.

• Consumer Experience: They explore the practicality and challenges of chicken rental services, highlighting the costs versus the benefits. Colbert jokes about the logistics of renting chickens, including the maintenance and potential nuisances like cockroaches and coyotes.

• Government and Agricultural Policies: The discussion touches on how government measures, such as slaughtering millions of chickens due to bird flu, have inadvertently pushed consumers towards managing their own poultry production.

Notable Quotes:

• Stephen Colbert [09:06]: "I think the silver lining in all of this is how do we in our backyards... maybe I could get a chicken in my backyard."
• Stephen Colbert [10:40]: "One chicken rental company is called simply Rent the Chicken, although I prefer their competitor, Henterprise."

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In-Depth Conversation on Media Coverage and Political Reporting

The heart of the episode features a candid discussion between Colbert and Tapper about the fast-paced nature of news coverage, especially under the current administration's policies and actions.

Key Points:

• Media Prioritization: Tapper emphasizes the importance of focusing on significant policy changes rather than chasing every tweet from the President. He advocates for contextual reporting to provide meaningful insights into governmental shifts.

• Trump's Administration Efficiency: Tapper contrasts the current administration's preparedness and organized approach with the previous one, noting that Trump's team had been planning for their roles long before taking office.

• Impact on Foreign Policy: The conversation highlights the administration's stance on international relations, particularly regarding Ukraine and Russia. Tapper asserts that Trump genuinely believes in his policies, referencing his admiration for historical figures like William McKinley and his firm positions on foreign conflicts.

Notable Quotes:

• Jake Tapper [16:02]: "They're much more organized. They know where the levers of power are."
• Stephen Colbert [17:15]: "As a journalist, how do you prioritize what you're going to talk about?"

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Light-hearted Banter and Personal Anecdotes

Interspersed with serious discussions, Colbert and Tapper engage in humorous exchanges about personal lives, including pet ownership and fictional anecdotes about backyard chickens.

Key Points:

• Pet Stories: Colbert shares a fabricated story about having chickens to manage his backyard, leading to humorous disbelief from Tapper. This segment serves to humanize the hosts and add levity to the conversation.

• Shared History: The hosts reminisce about their longstanding professional relationship, joking about past interactions and mutual perceptions.

Notable Quotes:

• Stephen Colbert [22:06]: "Just a quick reminder. The reason eggs are expensive is because farmers have had to send millions of chickens with bird flu to a farm upstate where they were killed."
• Jake Tapper [21:26]: "So since I last saw you, we now have three dogs and a cat. My wife will not stop buying pets."

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Feature on Jake Tapper’s New Show: United States of Scandal

Towards the end of the episode, Tapper discusses his new show, United States of Scandal, providing insights into upcoming topics and personal reflections on past political scandals.

Key Points:

• Show Overview: United States of Scandal aims to revisit and analyze historical political scandals, offering new perspectives and firsthand accounts from those involved.

• Notable Episodes: Tapper mentions episodes covering figures like Lance Armstrong and Enron, as well as personal stories related to the AB Scandal involving Congressman Ozzie Myers.

• Ethics in Politics: The discussion delves into the ethical dilemmas faced by politicians regarding campaign contributions and the pressure to accept donations, highlighting Tapper's commitment to exploring these issues in depth.

Notable Quotes:

• Jake Tapper [28:25]: "Look, we tried to widen the aperture of the lens for this season. Last time, we did a lot of politics, scandals, and this time we're doing scandals from society."
• Stephen Colbert [29:06]: "He knows that, too."

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Conclusion

Stephen Colbert wraps up the episode by promoting Tapper's new show and encouraging listeners to engage with The Late Show Pod Show on YouTube for additional content. The episode successfully blends humor with insightful discussions on current economic policies, media strategies, and political ethics, providing listeners with a comprehensive overview of the topics at hand.

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Note: This summary excludes advertisements and non-content sections to focus solely on the substantive discussions between Stephen Colbert and Jake Tapper.

Transcript

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, sure thing. Hey, you sold that car yet?

[Jake Tapper]

Yeah, sold it to Carvana.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

Oh, I thought you were selling to that guy.

[Jake Tapper]

The guy who wanted to pay me in foreign currency, no interest over 36 months. Yeah, no. Carvana gave me an offer in minutes, picked it up and paid me on the spot. It was so convenient.

[Stephen Colbert]

Just like that?

[Jake Tapper]

Yeah. No hassle? None.

[Unnamed Speaker 1]

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[Jake Tapper]

Welcome.

[Stephen Colbert]

One and all in here, out there, all around the world to the Late Show. I'm your host, Stephen Colbert. I am. Thank you.

[Jake Tapper]

I really.

[Stephen Colbert]

I think I might have to latch onto your energy like a lamprey for tonight's show because I'm just. We're a little tired around here. Stayed up late last night for a live show following Donald Trump's address to Congress, which set the record for the longest address to a joint session of Congress ever felt longer. The President devoted much of the speech to defending the 25% tariffs he imposed on Canada and Mexico. Now, I don't want to get too much into the weeds here, but tariffs are what economists describe as bad. When he first proposed them, the Wall Street Journal said he was starting the dumbest trade war in history. Yes, it's clear. The worst trade since third grade when Timmy traded his Dunkaroos for an apple. Smooth move, nerd. The New York Times says Trump's trade war could be his biggest economic gamble. But who better to gamble with our economy than a guy who somehow bankrupted his own casin? Obviously, it was multiple casinos. The gamble here. The gamble here is that these tariffs could really mess up the economy. Among other things, the new tariffs are likely to raise the market prices of Mexican tequila. Now they're going to have to change the lyrics.

[Jake Tapper]

Hit it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Water. We had a long debate about how much of that song we should play. I think that was about right. Tariffs could also raise the prices for avocados, tomatoes, bell peppers, jalapenos and limes. But that's all the ingredients in guacamole. Now, if Americans want a green dip, they're going to have to settle for pert. Plus, your tongue is going to be bouncing and behaving. We're already seeing the effects of the tariffs. The CEO of Target announced that we should expect to see price increases in the next couple of days, which is why they've had to update their slogan from expect more, pay less to pay more. Shut up. The hardest hit sector is most likely going to be the auto industry. Even Fox Business reported this from a car lot in Pennsylvania.

[Jake Tapper]

This dodge Ram truck, $80,000 instantly became $100,000.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. At that price, Americans won't be able to buy a Dodge Ram. They're going to have to settle for the next best utility vehicle on the market. Abandoned pickup. Abandoned pickup. Wow. How'd that get so far into the. How did it get so far into the woods? Those high prices are going to have a cascading effect because if no one buys cars by next Christmas, we will see a complete collapse of our giant bow industry. Naturally speaking, this is no surprise, people are getting a little nervous. So yesterday, Trump sent his commerce secretary, Howard Lutnick, to Fox News, and he assured viewers that the deal was on the way.

[Howard Lutnick]

Both the Mexicans and the Canadians were on the phone with me all day today trying to show that they'll do better. And the President's listening, cuz, you know, he's very, very fair and very reasonable. So I think he's gonna work something out with them. It's not gonna be a pause. None of that pause stuff.

[Stephen Colbert]

None of that pause stuff. That thing where you pause for even a second and all those thoughts come into your head and then. And they're telling you you're a dumb guy, that you don't know what you're doing. Just like your dad always said when he'd wake you up and scream, you're a putz, Howard. You're a stain on the Lut nickname. You're the reason with Uncle Morty, we're not doing that pause stuff. No pause. No pause. No pause. Don't you. No pause. So naturally, this afternoon, we learned that Trump has paused the Canada and Mexico auto tariffs. What I mean is, we're doing the pause stuff. I love to pause. We're all about the pause. I'm part of a group of men who love to pause. I am in menopause. There's two of us. It's a perimenopause. Trump also slapped an additional 10% on Chinese goods. In response, Beijing announced a 15% tariff on chicken, wheat and corn and a 10% tariff on US beef products like beef, pork and sorghum. No America is going to be neck deep in a pile of armed sorghum. Is that good? Is that bad? There's no way to norghum. I don't know what sorghum is. These tariffs are tough to ignore. Norgham, thank you very much. These tariffs are going to hit agricultural states pretty hard. But Trump tried to reassure rural voters with this post. To the great farmers of the United States, get ready to start making a lot of agricultural products to be sold inside. Tariffs will go on external products on April 2nd. Have fun, have fun, have fun. Those farmers need foreign countries to buy our crops because Americans can't possibly jam any more corn into our high fructol. America is already at DEFCON corn. Yesterday, Chinese officials warned that they're prepared for for any type of war with the US in response to Trump's tariffs, with a spokesman adding, I want to reiterate that the Chinese people have never feared evil or ghosts, nor, nor should they fear evil or ghosts. Both are fantastic CBS shows for the whole family. Cbs America's number one place for shows that Chinese officials are not afraid of. Trump also talked about the rising price of groceries last night. And you'll never guess whose fault it is. We inherited from the last administration an economic catastrophe and an inflation nightmare. Joe Biden, especially let the price of eggs get out of control. What what I do, folks. I'm just another federal worker out of a job. Jill says, I need a hobby, folks. I'm starting a podcast, going to review Highway Diners with the Rizzler. It's called. It's called Scranton Scrambled like and subscribe. Jack, what was I talking about? Marco, Marco, Marco, where you at? Eggs have hit new record highs. The USDA estimates that egg prices will increase by 41% in 2025. But Trump does have a team on the egg crisis led by agricultural secretary Brook Rollins, seen here swearing into the cult meeting where father will announce which bride gets to join him on the comet. Rollins went on a Fox News with a brilliant idea for Americans looking for cheaper eggs.

[Brook Rollins]

I think the silver lining in all of this is how do we in our backyards. We've got chickens too in our backyard. How do we solve for something like this? And people are sort of looking around thinking, wow, well, maybe I could get a chicken in my backyard. And it's awesome.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, it's awesome. It's just awesome. And it's so easy to do. And if you can't afford a chicken, you can just grow your own. First, you'll need an egg. Damn. Just a quick reminder. The reason eggs are expensive is because farmers have had to send millions of chickens with bird flu to a farm upstate where they were killed. And now the government is suggesting we fix the problem by bringing chickens into our homes. Just like how during COVID the CDC told us to wipe down our groceries with live bats. Live. Then you lice all the bad. Obviously. Of course, even if you do want your own backyard chicken, buying is a commitment, and that's sparking a chicken rental trend. This is absolutely true. You can rent a chicken once you get the keys. You just have to figure out which one in the lot is yours. Come on, come on.

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Louder.

[Stephen Colbert]

It was louder in rehearsal. Let's keep going. Yeah, someday I gotta go there. One chicken rental company is called simply Rent the Chicken, although I prefer their competitor, Henterprise. So what is happening? Tell us, chicken rental lady. Provide two or four hens all the feed you need. Books, tutorials, phone support. Hello, hello, hello, Chicken. Chicken hotline. Yeah, no, no, I've got plenty of eggs at this point. Which hole do the nuggets come out? I keep squeezing. I keep squeezing. God, he looks angry. But renting a chicken is a steal. Over the course of a contract, four hens provide about 48 dozen eggs, which at current grocery prices would cost roughly $480. But you can rent these chickens for just $795. Now that's that, my friends, is good business. Sure, you're down 300 bucks, but on the plus side, chickens die easily, poop everywhere, and attract coyotes to your swing set. We're going to be fine. Everything is going to be fine, everybody. Other chicken rental companies, because somehow there are multiple, offer a rent to own option. Oh, I can hear. I can hear the millennials complaining about it already. By the time my parents were 25, they already owned a two bedroom rooster and I'm renting a chicken. Which hole do the nuggets come out of? If you're wondering if leasing poultry is right for you, just listen to the owner of Rent the Chicken. It's turnkey with what we're doing here. Hello, chicken hotline. It's me again. It doesn't like where I put the.

[Jake Tapper]

Key.

[Stephen Colbert]

And it hates when I turn it. We got a great show for you tonight coming up. Jake Taffer.

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[Stephen Colbert]

Ladies and gentlemen, my guest tonight is a journalist and author who anchors the lead and co anchor State of the Union on cnn. Please welcome back to the Late show, my old buddy Jake Tapper. Nice to see you.

[Jake Tapper]

It's great to be here. You haven't had me here since 2023.

[Stephen Colbert]

I know. I've been so mad at you. What did I do? I can't remember. I was so furious. Now we've known each other. We were just talking backstage. We have now known each other right around now. Cause it was. What's Iowa? Iowa's in February. Is that when they were.

[Jake Tapper]

It was January 19th. Was the Iowa caucus in 2004.

[Stephen Colbert]

We met the day before the Iowa caucus, I think. Yeah. 21 years ago.

[Jake Tapper]

Crazy.

[Stephen Colbert]

You have not changed at all.

[Jake Tapper]

You're the same. Except you're an anchor now.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly. You're a reporter. I'm a host. I'm not an anchor. Oh, you're an anchor. I'm a host.

[Jake Tapper]

Okay.

[Stephen Colbert]

But you have. You have respectability. I wish for none. Enough old home week with us. Let's talk about the past and the future. Yeah, you Reported on the first Trump administration.

[Jake Tapper]

I did.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. I remember it. Well done, sir.

[Jake Tapper]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

What's the difference to you between the first six weeks of that administration and the first six weeks of this administration?

[Jake Tapper]

Oh, they're much more organized. They know where the levers of power are.

[Stephen Colbert]

You mean like, he put in a team that can.

[Jake Tapper]

Oh, yeah, they know what they're doing. I remember last time, he didn't think he was going to win. And remember that Chris Christie had done, like, a transition plan, and then Jared Kushner had thrown it all out, and they were just kind of scrambling. This team has been planning for this for four years, so they know what they're doing. I mean, the Doge stuff, the Elon Musk stuff, everything has been planned and prepared for.

[Stephen Colbert]

The breakneck speed of the news coming out of the White House and all around Washington, D.C. and through the federal government, it's a little dizzying. It can be a little bit confusing. I'm sure that's all part of the plan. I mean, what we used to say four years ago, or, jeez, sorry, eight years ago now, was, let's be careful that we only swing at the pitch because a lot's gonna be thrown over. Only swing at the ball. Cause a lot's gonna be coming over the plate. Now, they all seem like balls, but there are, like, 10 of them coming across the plate every day. As a journalist, I mean, I only have to decide the thing that I know I can make jokes about. As a journalist, how do you prioritize what you're going to talk about? If any one of them would have been headline news for a week?

[Jake Tapper]

Right. So I think one of the things that hopefully people in the news media have learned is you don't like. Chasing every tweet isn't necessarily the best use of our time. He's doing things like he's making decisions and doing things. He's significantly changing what the federal government looks like, what US Foreign policy looks like. Those are the things to be focused on.

[Stephen Colbert]

Right, but there are so many of those. Yes, you don't focus on every tweet, but, yes, there might be 20 tweets, but there's also 20 other things where Elon Musk is running wild through the federal government with a chainsaw. Today it's usaid, tomorrow it's the treasury, then it's Social Security. All of those are significant, right?

[Jake Tapper]

Absolutely. Well, I mean, you just cover as many of them as you can and try to put it in context.

[Stephen Colbert]

I mean, with this kind of news, it seems like you'd have, you'd need some kind of 24 hour news channel.

[Jake Tapper]

It's a good idea. But there is, I mean on your point though, like, you know, so my show's on from five to seven and what happened in the previous hour or two is important and because also like I'm not doing one show. I mean I'm not on a channel that only does one new show a day. You know, the show that's on at 10am Might have a totally different focus than my show at 5pm because there is so much going on.

[Stephen Colbert]

Have you ever seen a pace this fast?

[Jake Tapper]

No.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, let's talk tariffs for a second here. People love tariffs.

[Jake Tapper]

I'm not sure that, I'm not sure that people are economists who love them.

[Stephen Colbert]

But yes, the two days leading up to the speech last night, the stocks fell about 1,300 points because Wall street was really nervous about these tariffs. Then Lutnick, is that his name?

[Jake Tapper]

Yes, Lutnick.

[Stephen Colbert]

Commerce says, ah, it's going to be fine, we're going to get a deal. Stocks go back up again. Wall Street Journal called this the dumbest trade war of all time. And then they had another editorial that said we might have short sold how dumb it was with our first editorial.

[Jake Tapper]

So can I say one thing about the tariffs? I don't think people who support Donald Trump or want to support Donald Trump but don't support tariffs like I suspect Howard Lutnick, but others, they want this to just to be a gambit. They want this to be just Donald Trump saying I'm doing these to ariffs until you change your behavior and then we'll reduce them. I don't actually think that's what he thinks. I think he actually believes in tariffs, long term, major economic policy. I mean if you look at things he said like he really admires the presidency of William McKinley.

[Stephen Colbert]

Right. The gilded Age.

[Jake Tapper]

Yeah. And he thinks that the tariffs are the reason for that. Now other people will say there was also the industrial revolution. There was also a huge immigration zero worker protections. Right. And that might have had a lot more to do with it. But he is convinced it was the tariffs and he is convinced that there is going to be fortress America that they're going to put in these tariffs and jobs are going to be built in the United States. And if I would not be looking to the people who say this is just on the short term, we're gonna get a deal. But I don't think that's true. That's not what he says and eight years or 10 years of covering him. I take him pretty seriously when he says things.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, it used to be take him seriously, but not literally. I think it's probably seriously and literally.

[Jake Tapper]

Yeah, I think you should take it seriously and literally. I think he means exactly what he says. I think he thinks the United States should build a Riviera on Gaza. I think he thinks that Ukraine started the war. I think he thinks that the United States should seize control of Panama and Greenland and make Canada the 51st state. I don't think these are. I don't. I'm not. I didn't say I supported it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Kind of sounds like that's what you said, Jake. I mean, I'm not gonna disagree with my audience. They're the most beautiful people in the. But I. I hear you. I understand completely.

[Jake Tapper]

That's what these aren't like. This isn't just meat for the base. This isn't just a distraction so he can do something else over here. Not paying attention? No, this is what he thinks.

[Stephen Colbert]

Have you bought your chicken coop yet?

[Jake Tapper]

So since I last saw you, we now have three dogs and a cat. My wife will not stop buying pets.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, chickens are so affectionate.

[Jake Tapper]

I'm amazed that we got the cat in there without there being a bloodbath. I'm worried about a chicken.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. When it comes to something.

[Jake Tapper]

Do you have chickens?

[Stephen Colbert]

What?

[Jake Tapper]

Do you have chickens?

[Stephen Colbert]

I have a lot of chickens. I have a lot of chickens. I have a rolling. I have a chicken coop that's on rollers, and we moved around the backyard and it fertilizes the grass. And you let the chickens out and they eat the grubs that come out to eat the chicken poop. And then you move to the next thing and I don't know what to do. I mean, I can only make so much custard. I've got so many eggs shaped.

[Jake Tapper]

I don't know if that's real or not.

[Stephen Colbert]

I didn't.

[Jake Tapper]

Is that real?

[Stephen Colbert]

Why would I lie about having chicken?

[Jake Tapper]

It seems like something you really would have.

[Stephen Colbert]

I really. I really am lying to you.

[Jake Tapper]

Okay. I'm not the only one who believed it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, we have to take a quick break, but be right back with more Jake Tapper, everybody.

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[Stephen Colbert]

Hey, everybody. We're back with the host of the United states of scandal, Mr. Jake Tapper. Let's talk about the rough Oval Office meeting.

[Jake Tapper]

Oh, God. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

That was really interesting.

[Jake Tapper]

It was. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. Sometimes things like that can seem like a lot of flash. But as you said, you think he believes everything he's doing?

[Jake Tapper]

He thinks that Ukraine started the war. I'm not joking.

[Stephen Colbert]

When you ask the question, who is responsible for Russia invading Ukraine, his answer is Ukraine.

[Jake Tapper]

Specifically Zelensky, who is a dictator, according to him, when he's obviously not. But yes. Yes. And so again with the taking him literally and seriously. I mean, there are people who are thinking he's just doing this so he can get the best deal possible. And I do think he wants the war to end. And I do think that somebody has convinced him it would not be a good idea for Russia to just take all of Ukraine. But I don't think that he's just trying to get the best deal. And that's why he's slamming Zelensky and not saying anything negative to Putin. I think he actually. That's where his heart and his mind are.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah, but there's something kind of something beyond that, because it's not just that he thinks that Zelensky should make a deal because Zelensky or NATO made the wrong choice of making it look like Ukraine might get into NATO, and therefore Russia had no choice but to start killing people. He's tossed Europe out the window and closely embraced Vladimir Putin. If you look at that conversation they had, he and J.D. vance really seemed like they were advocating for Putin's position, not just trying to do what was best for Ukraine.

[Jake Tapper]

Correct.

[Stephen Colbert]

And so Here we are, six weeks after Biden leaves office, a mere six weeks. The entirety of the alliances of the last 80 years are on their head.

[Jake Tapper]

Right. And I will also observe. He campaigned on that.

[Stephen Colbert]

He said, this is what I will do.

[Jake Tapper]

He was anti Zelensky. He was pro Putin. This is not news to anybody. I don't know that anybody thought he was actually gonna go as Far as he did or has. As far as he's gone so far.

[Stephen Colbert]

Two huge news outlets were not allowed in that gaggle there for the Friday thing. One was Reuters and one was Associated Press. And the Associated Press, of course, was specific. Has been barred from both the Oval Office and Air Force One because they won't say Gulf of America. They say Gulf of Mexico. For obvious reasons. Well, for obvious reasons, Jake. For obvious reasons. Sorry, go ahead.

[Jake Tapper]

Just to add their explanation, the Associated Press is they have readers all over the world, and it is only called Gulf of America in America.

[Stephen Colbert]

Not even here. Not called that here. Not called that here either. Not here. It's not called that here. Not in the spot, I'll tell you that. Tell you that.

[Jake Tapper]

We'll see how people cover it when it comes to hurricane season.

[Stephen Colbert]

All right. Do you like the band? Do you like the song? You like the band?

[Jake Tapper]

Yeah, of course.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. Do you know the song up on Cripple Creek?

[Jake Tapper]

Of course.

[Stephen Colbert]

All right, let's sing the first verse together. When I get off of this mountain, you know where I want to go?

[Jake Tapper]

I'm just gonna be percussion.

[Stephen Colbert]

Straight down the Mississippi river to the Gulf of America.

[Jake Tapper]

Is that not the lyric?

[Stephen Colbert]

I don't think it is.

[Jake Tapper]

If I become president, we're gonna call it the Gulf of Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

On the old show, I called it the Gulf of America. My character called it the Gulf of America.

[Jake Tapper]

Is that true?

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah. Like 14 years ago, I called you. You made this up.

[Jake Tapper]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

On the go. He steals everything from me. Yes. I called to the Gulf of America when the oil spill was there, the Deepwater Horizon.

[Jake Tapper]

Do you think that he got the idea from you?

[Stephen Colbert]

He steals everything from me. Yeah. I've got a really good legal team getting together on this, too. Yeah, get them all together. All those guys from suits are working for me now.

[Jake Tapper]

Including the guy that didn't go to law school.

[Stephen Colbert]

Including the guy who didn't go to law school. We're gonna take another break here, but stick around for more. Jake Tapper, everybody. Hey, everybody. We're back with CNN's own Jake Tapper. Okay, second season of your show, united States of Scandal premieres this Sunday. In it, you dive into scandals from the past. What's your favorite new scandal or new old scandal? What are you most interested in talking about this time?

[Jake Tapper]

I was really interested in, I think, the first episode. Look, we tried to widen the aperture of the lens for this season. Last time, we did a lot of politics, scandals, and this time we're doing scandals from society. We do Lance Armstrong we do Enron. But one of the things that was really interesting was going back and looking at the AB scam, because when I was 10, my congressman, Ozzie Myers, got nabbed in the Abscan scandal.

[Stephen Colbert]

John Jenrett from South Carolina, he got nabbed, too, and his wife, Rita Jenrett.

[Jake Tapper]

And he posed for Playboy.

[Stephen Colbert]

And they said that they.

[Jake Tapper]

He knows that, too.

[Stephen Colbert]

And they had sex on the steps of the Capitol the first night he was sworn in.

[Jake Tapper]

Yeah. So he knows even more.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes, but it's a great scandal. Explain to the people what it was.

[Jake Tapper]

So the FBI got some guy who was not of Erro persuasion to pretend to be an Arab to bribe members of Congress, and everything was filmed. And they got members of Congress taking bribes in exchange for, like, stuff and.

[Stephen Colbert]

Cash in their pockets, kind of literally in their pants.

[Jake Tapper]

And there's video of it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Fantastic.

[Jake Tapper]

And Ozzie Myers, our congressman, went to prison. And it's so exciting to go back and talk to the players in the scandals and get the real skinny and get some perspective.

[Stephen Colbert]

We have a clip here. Who are we talking to in this clip?

[Jake Tapper]

This is Senator Larry Pressler, who's now retired, but he. When he was a congressman, he did not take. He was the only one that did not take the money.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's nice.

[Jake Tapper]

He did not take the money. So here he is, Jim. Freshman Republican Senator Larry Pressler of South Dakota was approached as part of Operation Abscam, but he has the rare distinction of turning those bribes down.

[Stephen Colbert]

50,000 is no problem. Putting that kind of money on. I don't care what you want to call it. You want to call it a campaign contribution, you want to call it.

[Jake Tapper]

I don't.

[Stephen Colbert]

You know, you can't make a commitment to do anything in these campaigns. Indeed.

[Jake Tapper]

I wouldn't feel intellectually honest doing that. Did you ever think to yourself, whew, I'm glad I didn't take the bait?

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

I have said, ooh once or twice. Politicians need money. That's the nature of the game. A United States Senator has got to raise money. And that's where the difficulty comes in.

[Jake Tapper]

Before the AB scam bribe was offered or after, were there times that you were offered money that you felt uncomfortable about it?

[Unnamed Speaker 2]

Well, I was constantly being offered campaign contributions, or people would say to me, you know, we can raise a lot of money if we get this bill through or stuff like that. It wouldn't be a direct offer, but it would be a suggestion that there was a lot of money out there to be had.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's a fascinating scandal. I'm just curious. You said that your congressman, Ozzie Myers, did you get a chance to interview him?

[Jake Tapper]

He was in prison again for stuffing ballot boxes. So it's rigged.

[Stephen Colbert]

Unavailable for comment for season three. Maybe.

[Jake Tapper]

I'm hoping. Good to see you. It's so good to see you, Steven.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thanks, everyone. Season two of United States of Scandal premieres this Sunday on cnn. Jake Tapper, 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.