The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode Summary: Jodie Foster | New Countries For Old Man

Date: January 7, 2026
Guest: Jodie Foster
Host: Stephen Colbert

Overview

This episode blends Stephen Colbert’s signature satirical take on current political events with a warm, wide-ranging interview with legendary actress and director Jodie Foster. The main themes include recent absurdities in American politics, the impact of celebrity and media, as well as an engaging conversation about Foster's prolific career, her experiences working in French film, and pivotal moments with acting icons.

Key Discussion Points

Monologue: Satire on Trump and Global Affairs

(01:06 – 13:06)

• Reflections on January 6th & Donald Trump’s Legacy
  Colbert humorously re-frames January 6th, noting both its gravity and the ongoing attempts at revisionism by Trump:

  “Today is January 6th, a dark day in our nation's history and a permanent state legacy of Donald Trump. Because it is Eric Trump’s birthday. You can't wash that out. Also, there was the failed coup.” (01:08)

• The Maduro Invasion Poll
  Satirizes both public ignorance and poll results:

  “Only one in three Americans supports the US ousting Maduro, while two thirds of Americans think Maduro is the name of a new weight loss drug.” (02:30)

• Trump’s “Day of Love” and Foreign Policy
  Mocks Trump’s desire to invade various countries:

  “It’s pretty wild to live under a Pokemon President whose foreign policy is ‘gotta catch em all.’” (05:11)

• On US Intentions in Greenland
  Draws out the absurdity in the administration’s stance:

  “If you’re worried about a war over a bunch of rocks and ice against one of our NATO allies, you will not be comforted by the words of Stephen Miller...” (06:24)

• Kennedy Center Honors Ratings
  Playful ribbing about Trump’s underwhelming success as a host:

  “If it weren’t beneath me, I’d call him no talent low rated Donald Trump.” (08:23)

• Robert F. Kennedy Jr. & Vaccine Policies
  Critiques new stances on childhood vaccinations with trademark sarcasm:

  “Now kids will have to build up their immune systems the old fashioned way by licking everything in the Chuck E. Cheese ball pit.” (11:23)

• McRib Lawsuit
  Laughs about food authenticity lawsuits:

  “Our core sample found 0 T. Rex DNA... McDonald’s new slogan: at least it’s not anus.” (12:50)

Interview: Jodie Foster

(14:18 – 26:14)

Jodie Foster’s Career and New Film

• Introduction and Warm Welcome

  “You are our national treasure. However, all the late night people need you in order to tell them all the silliness of what’s what.” – Jodie Foster (14:51)

• On Iconic Costuming (Contact & Hats)
  Colbert teases Foster about her character’s distinctive hat in ‘Contact’ and how that reflects her “whatever” approach to clothing:

  “That tells you a little something about my personality... When it comes to clothes, I’m kind of like, yeah, whatever, I’ll wear it.” – Jodie Foster (15:36)

• Working with Carl Sagan
  Discusses Sagan’s original screenplay and its transformation:

  “He wrote the screenplay for Contact. It was terrible. So he said, now what am I gonna do? I guess I’ll just write a book.” – Jodie Foster (16:09)

The New Film: ‘A Private Life’

• On Making a French-Language Film
  Explains the plot and her character’s journey:

  “It’s about a psychiatrist who’s an expat living in Paris... She’s told one of her patients commits suicide. She doesn’t believe it, so she goes off to investigate, and she decides it’s been a murder.” – Jodie Foster (17:52)
  “She’s really sort of investigating herself.” – Jodie Foster (18:17)

• Acting in French vs. English

  “I feel like I have a different personality in French. She has a much higher voice... and is a little vulnerable. That’s kind of how it works.” – Jodie Foster (19:45)

Memories of Paris and Learning French

• First Trips to Paris and Early Language Learning

  “My mom gave me these little tapes... she made me order for her. Made me do everything actually, while I was there.” – Jodie Foster (21:23)

  Hilarious story about eating only ham sandwiches as a child in Paris and suffering the consequences:

  “I would only eat ham sandwiches. That was it. The whole trip... And I threw up at the end the last day. All over, just ham sandwich.” – Jodie Foster (21:39)

Reflection on ‘Taxi Driver’ at 50

• Recollecting Cannes and Doing the Press

  “So I did all of the press for Taxi Driver. In French. It was just you? It was just me.” – Jodie Foster (24:39)

• On Working with Robert De Niro

  “He was Travis Bickle at the time... he would just run these lines with me. And then he took the time on the third day to really start and make me understand what improvisation was. I will forever be grateful.” – Jodie Foster (25:00 – 25:44)

  “I think the only reason that I’m an actor now is that Robert De Niro made me understand that it was deeper than what I had already been doing.” – Jodie Foster (25:40)

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On Trump’s Invasion Justification:

  “I am he as you are he as you are me. And we are all altogether. I am the walrus. Goo do the coup.” – Stephen Colbert (03:40)

• Jodie Foster on acting in French:

  “I feel like I have a different personality in French. She’s frustrated all the time and filled with anxiety and is a little vulnerable.” (19:56)

• On Parisian Work Culture:

  “They smoke more and it's perfectly legal. They drink wine at lunch. They have very delicious food...it’s only an eight hour day.” – Jodie Foster (20:40)

• Childhood in Paris Story:

  “I would only eat ham sandwiches... and I threw up at the end the last day. All over, just ham sandwich.” (21:39)

• On Robert De Niro and Improv:

  “He took the time on the third day to really start and make me understand what improvisation was. I will forever be grateful.” – Jodie Foster (25:44)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:06 Satirical monologue on Trump, January 6, and foreign relations
• 13:06 Close of monologue, Jodie Foster segment intro
• 14:37 Jodie Foster joins the show
• 16:02 Discussion about Carl Sagan and ‘Contact’
• 17:52 Foster explains her new French film
• 19:45 Foster on acting in French
• 20:40 Comparisons between French and American film crews
• 21:10 Childhood stories of learning French and early Paris trips
• 23:37 Taxi Driver at 50, and doing press in French
• 24:56 Working with Robert De Niro and discovering improvisation
• 26:14 End of interview

Conclusion

This episode is a quintessential Late Show experience, mixing biting political satire with substantive, often funny, celebrity conversation. Jodie Foster brings warmth and humility as she revisits key moments of her career and shares fresh insights from her latest French film. Whether riffing on American absurdity or probing the nuances of acting across languages, both Colbert and Foster keep the energy playful, self-aware, and sharp.