Podcast Summary: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert – Episode Featuring Journalist Jacob Soboroff

Episode Information

• Title: The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
• Host: Stephen Colbert (CBS)
• Guest: Jacob Soboroff, NBC News Correspondent and Author
• Release Date: February 3, 2025
• Episode Focus: Discussion on Soboroff's bestselling book Separated, and the accompanying documentary by Errol Morris, which delves into the tragic family separation policies at the U.S. southern border.

Introduction and Background

In this episode, Stephen Colbert welcomes back Jacob Soboroff, an esteemed NBC News correspondent, renowned for his investigative reporting and his bestselling book, Separated. The conversation centers around the documentary adaptation of Soboroff's work, directed by Academy Award-winning filmmaker Errol Morris, which scrutinizes the U.S. government's family separation policy at the southern border.

Jacob Soboroff’s Experience and Reporting

Jacob Soboroff begins by sharing personal insights into his reporting from Los Angeles during the devastating wildfires that razed his childhood home. At [02:40], Colbert acknowledges Soboroff's experience:

Stephen Colbert: "You live in Los Angeles and covering the Los Angeles wildfires, which unfortunately burned down your childhood home."

Soboroff responds with empathy, discussing the emotional toll on his family and the broader community:

Jacob Soboroff: "I think that it's going to be a long time to recover from this and we're gonna need all the help that we can get."

Exploring Separated and the Documentary

The discussion shifts to Soboroff’s book and the documentary. Colbert praises Errol Morris’s unique filmmaking style, particularly his ability to delve into the subjects' souls through direct eye contact:

Stephen Colbert: "Errol Morris ... is one of the greatest filmmakers of all time. He’s looking right into their eyes when he's interviewing them."

Soboroff highlights the documentary's focus on individuals like Jonathan White from the Office of Refugee Resettlement, who reveal the intent behind the policies:

Jacob Soboroff: "The film paints a picture of the chilling crime perpetuated by the Trump administration in the past, and it warns that can happen again in the future."

Colbert emphasizes the deliberate nature of the family separation policy under Trump, contrasting it with previous administrations:

Stephen Colbert: "Trump uniquely did it on purpose, and he did it to hurt the kids."

Historical Context of U.S. Immigration Policies

The conversation provides a historical overview of U.S. immigration enforcement, tracing policies from the Reagan administration to Barack Obama:

Stephen Colbert: "Bill Clinton built the first wave of border walls... George W. Bush exponentially increased the size of the Border Patrol... Barack Obama deported more people than any president in the history of the United States."

Soboroff questions the absence of honest dialogue on immigration reform:

Jacob Soboroff: "Why will no one actually address our immigration policy in an honest way?"

Colbert responds by critiquing the bipartisan reliance on deterrence strategies, arguing their ineffectiveness:

Stephen Colbert: "Deterrence doesn't work. If it worked, people would stop coming to this country."

Current Immigration Policies and Future Concerns

Addressing current policies, Colbert warns of a potential resurgence of aggressive immigration enforcement:

Stephen Colbert: "Mass deportation is family separation by another name... there is nothing to stop them."

Soboroff references recent ProPublica reports on family separation under the Biden administration, to which Colbert clarifies the distinction:

Stephen Colbert: "Family separation has happened in the U.S. immigration enforcement system for a very long time... But Trump uniquely did it on purpose."

The dialogue underscores the urgent need for comprehensive immigration reform to prevent future atrocities:

Stephen Colbert: "It is time for a new approach."

Call to Action and Conclusion

Towards the end of the episode, Colbert lauds Soboroff and the documentary for their courageous work in exposing governmental malpractices:

Stephen Colbert: "Safety spoke out in this film about whether or not this could happen again. He's a hero in my book, Jim."

Jim, presumably a co-host or assistant, adds:

Jim: "There have to be laws to constrain them. So the other architect of family separation is the United States Congress, which has failed."

Colbert and Soboroff conclude with a sober reminder of the stakes involved and the necessity for legislative action to safeguard families from such separations in the future.

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• [02:07] Stephen Colbert: "And usually I say, we're brothers. Wow. And then they look at me and then I walk away."
• [08:00] Jacob Soboroff: "Jonathan White is a career official who's still in the government today."
• [10:05] Stephen Colbert: "Trump uniquely did it on purpose, and he did it to hurt the kids."
• [12:00] Stephen Colbert: "Family separation has happened in the U.S. immigration enforcement system for a very long time..."
• [13:50] Stephen Colbert: "Nothing to stop them. Thank you."

Conclusion

This episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert offers a profound exploration of the harrowing impacts of U.S. immigration policies on families, particularly through the lens of Jacob Soboroff's investigative work. Colbert and Soboroff engage in a compelling dialogue that not only recounts past and present policies but also serves as a clarion call for meaningful immigration reform to prevent the recurrence of such human rights violations. The inclusion of expert insights and emotional narratives makes this episode a must-listen for those seeking to understand the complexities and human costs of immigration enforcement in America.