The Late Show Pod Show With Stephen Colbert

Episode: Jimmy Kimmel | Abuse Of Powell
Air Date: January 13, 2026

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode of The Late Show Pod Show, hosted by Stephen Colbert, delivers the signature comedic and satirical late-night take on recent political developments involving Donald Trump’s attacks on Federal Reserve Chairman Jerome Powell. The episode addresses the dangerous politicization of America’s economic institutions, global power grabs, and lightens the mood with a whimsical segment about monkeys on the loose. The conversation transitions to a fun and revealing interview with late-night peer Jimmy Kimmel, who participates in the playful “Colbert Questionnaire.”

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Trump’s “Abuse of Powell” and Politicization of the Federal Reserve

• Trump's Power Grab Parodied:
  Colbert opens by sarcastically comparing Donald Trump to Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe, mocking the president’s attempt to seize influence over the Federal Reserve by targeting Jerome Powell for criminal investigation.
• Independence of the Fed:
  Trump’s ongoing demands for Powell to lower interest rates and the recent Justice Department criminal probe into Powell are lampooned as direct authoritarian encroachments:

  “Just a direct attack on our independent monetary system which props up the global economy.” (01:42)

• Powell’s “Hostage Video”:
  Colbert mocks the typically dry Powell’s public statement under duress, imagining what it would sound like if Powell were even more “spicy.”
• Expert Alarm:
  Colbert cites an open letter from former Fed chairs warning about Trump’s intimidation tactics:

  “Pressuring Powell with criminal charges is, ‘how monetary policy is made in emerging markets with weak institutions, with highly negative consequences for inflation and the functioning of their economies more broadly.’ The letter was signed by every living former Fed chair.” (03:29)

2. Trump's Global Role-Playing & Oil Industry Antics

• Declaring Himself President of Venezuela:
  Trump’s online antics—including dubbing himself “acting President of Venezuela” via Wikipedia—are skewered alongside a roll call of other outlandish assumed titles and awards.

  “On Wikipedia. In addition, Trump declared himself Miss Iowa in 1966, J.D. Power and Associates’ best mid sized sedan…” (05:08)

• Awkward Oil Exec Meeting:
  Trump’s attempt to coerce oil executives into pledging $100 billion for Venezuela is satirized, highlighting a bizarre exchange with Exxon’s CEO, and a comical moment with Marco Rubio’s note-passing:

  “Marco just gave me a note. Go back to Chevron. They want to discuss something. Go ahead. I’m going back to Chevron.” (07:37)

3. Comic Relief: The Monkey Emergency

• Monkeys on the Loose in St. Louis:
  Lightening the political heaviness, Colbert reports on loose vervet monkeys, poking fun at local authorities’ inability to nail down their number:

  “The number of monkeys is as many as four, but certainly more than one.” (10:32)

• Local Wisdom:
  A highlight from local advice on the situation:

  “Make sure your door’s locked, ’cause the monkeys are loose.” (11:41)

Interview Segment: The Colbert Questionnaire with Jimmy Kimmel

Start: ~[12:49]

Revealing Jimmy Kimmel’s Personality through Lighthearted Questions

• On Their Relationship:

  Colbert: "You're a dear friend. We've gone fishing together."
  Kimmel (deadpan): "We made love." (12:54)

• Best Sandwich

  Kimmel: “When I was in high school...fresh bread, cold roast beef, Italian dressing, lettuce and tomato inside...still, in my mind, the best sandwich I’ve ever had.” (13:50)

• First Concert

  Kimmel: “Sammy Davis Jr....We went and hung out in his dressing room afterwards. I was too polite to eat any [potato chips]...even though I wanted them very much.” (14:57)

• Scariest Animal

  Kimmel: “Mosquito...because we know they kill more people than sharks and bears and all that stuff. And they're also just so annoying.” (15:30)

• Apples or Oranges

  Kimmel: “I eat an apple every day.” (15:53)

• Autograph Sought as a Kid

  Kimmel: “I asked Steve Garvey, my favorite baseball player, for his autograph...on a keno ticket.”
  “My sister scribbled in crayon on it ‘I love you’ all over it...probably the maddest I ever was at anyone.” (16:19)

• What Happens When We Die

  Kimmel: “There’s just a positive energy field that you become part of. That’s what I think it is.” (16:51)

• Favorite Action Movie

  Kimmel: “That Batman movie that Christian Bale was in with the Joker...not a huge action movie guy, but I think I’d go with that one.” (17:19)

• Window or Aisle Seat

  Kimmel: “Window. I have narcolepsy...I’ll lean my face against that cool window and I am asleep in no time.” (17:49)

• Favorite Smell

  Kimmel: “Garlic and olive oil.” (18:00)

• Least Favorite Smell

  Kimmel: “When people leave their shirts in the dryer wet and then they wear them to work...that mildew smell.” (18:11)

• Earliest Memory

  Kimmel: “I found this little triangular rock...and I wished for a dog. Then we went to the mall and bought a dog that we named Fluffy." (18:50-19:26)

• Cats or Dogs

  Kimmel: “Dogs, for sure...We have a dog named Todd.” (19:33)

• One Song for Life

  Kimmel: "'Do You Believe in Love' by Huey Lewis and the News is my favorite song." (20:00)

• Number Stephen Is Thinking Of

  Kimmel tries to guess, jokes: “You know what I saw when I looked in your eyes? Betrayal.” (20:45)

• Describe the Rest of Your Life in Five Words

  Kimmel: “Fat, sleepy, lazy, slightly drunk.” (21:03)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the Powell Investigation:

  “If you would just excuse me...let’s liquidate all my holdings and move it into bronze weaponry and fertile goats.” – Colbert, (01:49)

• On Monkeys:

  “Lock up your daughters. Cause they're all going to fall in love with the monkeys. Girls love them bad boys. And ladies, there's as many as four, but certainly more than one.” – Colbert, (11:43)

• On Life After Death:

  Kimmel: “There’s just a positive energy field that you become part of. That’s what I think it is.” (16:51)

• On the Five-Word Life Summary:

  Kimmel: “Fat, sleepy, lazy, slightly drunk.” (21:03)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Opening Monologue - Abuse of Powell/Trump & Fed: 00:15 – 11:30
• Monkey Emergency Segment: 10:14 – 12:03
• Colbert Questionnaire with Jimmy Kimmel: 12:49 – 21:13

Tone and Structure

The episode maintains the signature Late Show style: sharply satirical, witty, and quick-moving, deftly blending political commentary with absurdity and warmth. The chemistry and inside-joking between Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel is friendly, mischievous, and revealing, offering listeners both laughs and glimpses of the personalities behind the late-night personas.

For the Listener

This episode is a must for fans of sharp political comedy and those who enjoy behind-the-scenes glimpses of major late-night hosts. Colbert's breakdown of the Powell/Trump saga is both biting and illuminating, while Kimmel's answers range from touching to hilarious. The banter between the two is as entertaining as their monologues—and the monkeys on the loose are just the cherry on top.