Sen. Bernie Sanders | Anniversary Grifts

Summary

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The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Sen. Bernie Sanders | Anniversary Grifts

Date: January 21, 2026
Guest: Senator Bernie Sanders (Vermont)

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Overview

This episode brings Senator Bernie Sanders back to “The Late Show Pod Show” for his 19th appearance, as Stephen and Bernie tackle the chaotic one-year anniversary of Donald Trump's second term. The conversation is a sharp, often satirical exploration of the Trump administration’s actions — from international turmoil to domestic authoritarian tactics. The pair delve into the meaning of oligarchy, the fate of democracy, American foreign policy (with humorous detours into Greenland and Venezuela), and the state of resistance against authoritarianism.

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Key Topics & Insights

1. Trump’s First Anniversary: “A Thousand Years” (01:05 - 13:18)

• Satirical Monologue Recap:

  • Stephen Colbert, in his signature acerbic style, lists Trump's outlandish actions during his second term, blending real fears with surreal riffing (e.g., renaming the Gulf of Mexico and building a golden ballroom at the White House).
  • He highlights the exhaustion caused by constant political spectacle:

    “It’s probably the whole point. Today’s maniacal criminality distracts us from yesterday’s maniac crimes.” — Stephen Colbert (03:02)

• Tedium & Anxiety under Trump:

  • Bernie and Stephen commiserate over the feeling of perpetual fatigue and anxiety provoked by nonstop news:

    “Is it bored when your testicles snap up against your pelvis while your heart beats like a tweaked-out woodpecker?” — Stephen Colbert (05:11)

2. Trump’s Greenland Gambit & European Relations (06:39 - 13:18)

• Escalating International Absurdity:

  • Trump threatens military action against allied NATO countries for not ceding Greenland, with Stephen skewering the logic and trade implications (e.g., “first they came for my paperboard…”).
  • The EU considers a “trade bazooka” in retaliation, and European leaders (notably Macron) publicly rebuke Trump’s aggression.

    Macron: “We do believe that we need more growth, we need more stability in this world, but we do prefer respect to bullies, we do prefer science to plotism, and we do prefer rule of law to brutality.” (09:34)

• Analogies and Humor:

  • Colbert lampoons the situation with riffs on European markets and bizarre T. rex metaphors (from Gavin Newsom), adding levity to international peril.

    “He’s a T. Rex. You mate with him or he devours you. One or the other.” — Gavin Newsom, as quoted by Colbert (11:56)

3. Bernie Sanders: Defining Oligarchy & Authoritarianism (14:02 - 18:42)

• Bernie’s Tour of America’s Mood:

  • Sanders describes the widespread, bipartisan anxiety about authoritarian rule and the resilience of American democratic values:

    “The people of the United States of America do not want to live under an authoritarian society. They do not want to live under an oligarchic society… all of our people, not just the billionaires, should be doing well.” — Bernie Sanders (14:34)

• Oligarchy Defined:

  • Bernie explains how power is concentrated among a handful of ultra-wealthy individuals who control the economy, media, and political system:

    “You got the top 1% owning more wealth than the bottom 93%... One man, Mr. Musk, one man owning more wealth than the bottom 52% of American households.” — Bernie Sanders (15:35)

• The Authoritarian-Oligarchy Nexus:

  • The rich seek to avoid taxes, disregard democracy and wield unchecked influence, he argues. Sanders ties Trump’s admiration for authoritarian rulers (like MBS of Saudi Arabia) to the broader threat:

    “You add all of that stuff up, it is where oligarchy marries authoritarianism.” — Bernie Sanders (17:36)
    “And by the way, we ain’t going to let it happen.” — Bernie Sanders (18:38)

4. Greenland, Denmark, and Trump’s True Intentions (18:42 - 22:44)

• On “Annexing” Greenland:

  • Stephen jokes about acquiring Denmark’s socialized healthcare, which Bernie supports in theory but doubts is Trump’s real motivation.

    “In the midst of all the craziness, the idea that you would have a president of the United States say ‘Norway, you didn’t give me the Nobel Prize, I have to invade Greenland’… it really is… like a narcissistic four-year-old spoiled brat.” — Bernie Sanders (20:19)

• What’s Driving the Greenland Move?

  • Potential access to rare minerals is cited, with Bernie noting possible oligarch investments following Trump’s interest.
  • Sanders suggests Congress has means to block imperialistic moves, but political will is uncertain.

5. Venezuela, Foreign Policy, and American Hypocrisy (23:14 - 27:11)

• After Maduro’s Capture:

  • Sanders decries the lack of clarity on Venezuela’s leadership and the likely involvement of U.S. oil interests:

    “Certainly the oil companies, some of them at least, are excited about the opportunity to enjoy rampant imperialism.” — Bernie Sanders (24:09)

• Dangers of "Might Makes Right":

  • Bernie draws parallels between U.S. and Russian aggression, warning that disregarding international norms sets a precedent for global chaos:

    “How do you criticize a Putin?... It unleashes international anarchy. Might makes right.” — Bernie Sanders (24:52)
    “It’s really a descent into barbarism that I could do anything I want… and invade any country that I want because I am powerful.” — Bernie Sanders (25:36)

6. Domestic Authoritarianism: ICE, Minnesota, and the “Big Lie” (27:11 - 31:19)

• Federal Troops in Minnesota:

  • Discussing the ICE shooting of Renee Goode and Trump’s crackdown on dissent, Sanders compares the climate to January 6th and warns of intimidation tactics designed to stifle resistance.

• The "Big Lie" and the War on Truth:

  • Sanders underscores the authoritarian trend of flipping narratives, branding victims as domestic terrorists, and undermining foundational democratic rights:

    “These differences have gotta be based on a foundation of truth and not constant lies. And that is what the Trump people…” — Bernie Sanders (29:44)

• Basic Rights at Stake:

  • Colbert presses the danger of setting aside constitutional rights at the government’s whim:

    “If rights can be set aside because the government tells you to do so, then they’re not rights… That’s just rule by force.” — Stephen Colbert (30:54)

• Is Dissent Bipartisan?

  • Bernie observes some Republicans are recognizing the danger, especially as public backlash grows.

7. Democratic Socialism, Grassroots Politics, and Hope (31:50 - 33:39)

• Celebrating Milestones:

  • Bernie is moved by swearing in the first Democratic socialist mayor of a major city, highlighting the growing popularity and grassroots energy behind the movement.

• Why Is Democratic Socialism Rising?

  • Successes are attributed to massive volunteer mobilization and the willingness to take on both party establishments.

    “What excited me was a strong grassroots movement took on the establishment and won. They did it in New York City. We could do it in every state in this country.” — Bernie Sanders (33:25)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Quote | Speaker | |-----------|-------|---------| | 03:02 | “Today’s maniacal criminality distracts us from yesterday’s maniac crimes.” | Stephen Colbert | | 05:11 | “Is it bored when your testicles snap up against your pelvis…? Is that bored?” | Stephen Colbert | | 09:34 | “We do prefer respect to bullies, we do prefer science to plotism, and we do prefer rule of law to brutality.” | Emmanuel Macron (quoted by Colbert) | | 14:34 | “The people… do not want to live under an authoritarian society. They do not want to live under an oligarchic society.” | Bernie Sanders | | 15:35 | “The top 1% owning more wealth than the bottom 93%... One man, Mr. Musk… owning more wealth than the bottom 52%…” | Bernie Sanders | | 17:36 | “It is where oligarchy marries authoritarianism.” | Bernie Sanders | | 18:38 | “By the way, we ain’t going to let it happen.” | Bernie Sanders | | 20:19 | “Like a narcissistic 4-year-old spoiled brat, you know? ‘Yeah, I’m gonna yell and scream cause I didn’t get my extra cup of ice cream.’” | Bernie Sanders | | 24:52 | “It unleashes international anarchy. Might makes right.” | Bernie Sanders | | 25:36 | “It’s really a descent into barbarism that I could do anything I want… invade any country… because I am powerful.” | Bernie Sanders | | 29:44 | “These differences have gotta be based on a foundation of truth and not constant lies.” | Bernie Sanders | | 30:54 | “If rights can be set aside because the government tells you to do so, then they’re not rights.” | Stephen Colbert | | 33:25 | “A strong grassroots movement took on the establishment and won.” | Bernie Sanders |

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Timestamps for Main Segments

• Trump's One-Year Anniversary & Satirical Recap: 01:05–11:15
• EU Relations / Greenland & Global Politics: 11:15–14:02
• Bernie Sanders Interview Part 1 (Authoritarianism & Oligarchy): 14:02–18:42
• Bernie Sanders Interview Part 2 (Greenland, Denmark, Wealth): 18:42–22:44
• Foreign Policy (Venezuela) & International Norms: 23:14–27:11
• Domestic Authoritarian Moves and the Big Lie: 27:11–31:19
• Democratic Socialism, Political Hope: 31:50–33:39

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Tone & Style

The episode’s language is sharp, sardonic, and passionate, blending Colbert's biting satire with Sanders’ earnest urgency. Both maintain a sense of grave humor throughout, making for an engaging yet dire warning about the stakes for American democracy.

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Bottom Line

This episode is an incisive, often darkly comic examination of Trump's second-term chaos — covering dictatorial overreach, oligarchic dominance, American hypocrisy in foreign policy, and the urgent necessity for democratic grassroots resistance. Sanders and Colbert blend laughter with outrage, creating a memorable discussion that’s equal parts sobering and stirring.

Transcript

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[Bernie Sanders]

Hey, Sal. Hank. What's going on? We haven't worked a case in years. I just bought my car at Carvana and it was so easy.

[Stephen Colbert]

Too easy. Think something's up? You tell me.

[Bernie Sanders]

They got thousands of options, found a great car at a great price. Uh huh. And it got delivered the next day. It sounds like Carvana just makes it easy to buy your car, Hank. Yeah, you're right. Case closed.

[Blue Apron Narrator]

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[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, Very kind. Welcome, welcome one and all to the Late Show. I'm your host, Stephen Colbert. Ladies and gentlemen, I don't, I probably don't have to tell you. Check your calendars. It's January 20th, which means Donald Trump has been in office for exactly 1 1,000 years. During that time, he has monopolized our attention every second of every minute of every hour of every day. Which is sad, because today we're not focusing on the real meaning of January 20th. It's penguin awareness Day. Are you aware of penguins? Then you've done your part. A lot has happened in a short time. This year alone. Trump renamed the Gulf of Mexico the Gulf of America, held a giant military parade on his birthday, said he wants Canada to be our 51st state, signed an executive order ending birthright citizenship, tore down the east wing of the White House to build a ballroom. Cover the remaining parts of the White House in golden geaws, forced Paramount to make Russia, made himself the chair of the Kennedy center board, then renamed it the Trump Kennedy center and personally pocketed over $1.4 billion. And guess what? You didn't remember most of that stuff because every single day, there's some new Trump horror dominating the headlines. Case in point, Trump invaded Venezuela a couple of weeks ago, seized their leader and brought him to Brooklyn. And absolutely nobody's talking about it. Not even me. That's weird. And it's probably really, it's probably the whole point. Today's maniacal criminality distracts us from yesterday's maniac crimes. Which reminds me, where are the Epstein files? Nothing yet.

[Stephen Colbert (as Trump impression)]

Really?

[Stephen Colbert]

It's the law. You signed it. Just checking. The point is, the last year has been exhausting. And not just for us. That's why Trump's always falling asleep. Trump celebrated his one year anniversary today, this afternoon, with a totally planned surprise appearance in the White House press room. Now, obviously, the President is a very busy man, so he can only speak for two hours. Reviews are already in. Time magazine raves Trump touts accomplishments and grudges rambling speech to White House press. The New Republic says Trump, 79, kicks off press conference by reading aloud to himself. The Express UK Opines Trump health. Fear soared during bizarre press briefing. Time for a medical review. And Stephen Colbert says, these are the mad ramblings of a syphilitic brain. But here's the thing. Don't take my accurate word for it. Let's go to the tape. Trump began the press conference steadily and sleepily, holding up pictures of immigrants with criminal records.

[Stephen Colbert (as Trump impression)]

Boy, these are rough characters.

[Bernie Sanders]

Hmm?

[Stephen Colbert (as Trump impression)]

Many murders. Many, many murders. People that murdered. You're not getting bored with this, right?

[Bernie Sanders]

Bored?

[Stephen Colbert]

Am I bored?

[Bernie Sanders]

Bored?

[Stephen Colbert]

Is it bored when your testicles snap up against your pelvis while your heart beats like a tweaked out woodpecker and you're worried for your grandchildren that have an even been born yet? Is that bored?

[Bernie Sanders]

Then?

[Stephen Colbert]

No. No, I'm not bored. Follow up question. Is it still technically sundowning if it happens at 2 o' clock in the afternoon? I'm asking for an entire world. Now, when Trump wasn't silently holding up his immigrant Pokemon cards, he tried to tout his many accomplishments, including sending the National Guard to D.C. look how beautiful D.C. is now.

[Stephen Colbert (as Trump impression)]

You can walk right from here to a restaurant right through the center of town. You can be with your child, with your loved one, with your lover. Your lover's not going to be killed anymore so he can act like a real lover.

[Stephen Colbert]

I mean. I mean, your lover's not going to be killed. And remember, there must be 50 ways to kill your lover. Hit her with a pan stand. Come up with a ploy. Roy, you could murder Francine. Jean, you could run over with a bus. Gus, just smother your lover. Danny Glover.

[Bernie Sanders]

Just.

[Stephen Colbert]

The point is. And just look at that guy.

[Bernie Sanders]

Just.

[Stephen Colbert]

Point is, I'm still crazy after all these years. Anyway, that happened. That happened.

[Stephen Colbert (as Trump impression)]

Look at that.

[Stephen Colbert]

I don't know.

[Bernie Sanders]

I don't.

[Stephen Colbert]

Anyway. Anyway, that happened today and we'll forget it tomorrow because Trump's focused on conquering Greenland now. And he hasn't ruled out using the military for that. In fact, this weekend he threatened tariffs against any NATO allies who sent a few dozen troops there, including Denmark, Norway, Sweden, France, Germany, the United Kingdom, the Netherlands and Finland. We can't go after Finland. They're a major trading partner. We import a billion dollars a year of finished paper and paperboard, articles of pulp, paper and board. And you know the old saying, first they came from my paper board and I said nothing, then they came from my paper and board and I was like, how is that different? I don't know. Is that not paperboard? Unlike all of his previous tariff threats, Europe did not cave this time. Over the weekend, the eu. When did we let the Europeans in? I gotta check the passports before these people leave.

[Bernie Sanders]

Now.

[Stephen Colbert]

Over the weekend, the EU held emergency meetings to counter the tariffs. One idea they had is to unleash what they call the trade bazooka, which allows the EU to curb or cease imports of goods, put restrictions on foreign investments, and could even block some of America's access to EU markets. No, but I love European markets. They sell mulled wine that you can sip while you walk around. Then as you're leaving, you're like, well, we gotta buy a puppet. And then you're stuck on a nine hour flight to JFK with a hand carved marionette in your lap. You're like, you're German. Jeff Dunham. No, it's worth a reminder that Americans are the ones paying for all of Trump's tariffs. So our country's threat to Europe, Evidently our country's threat to Europe is give us Greenland or I swear to God, we're going to punch ourselves in the ball so hard. Now somebody moving a piano over there. You guys moving some heavy furniture? Several European leaders reached out to Trump to try to talk some sense into him, including Norwegian Prime Minister Johannes Gar Sture, seen here asking his doctor if Cialis is right for him. And I trust I'm mispronouncing that correctly. Sture sent Trump a secure text message suggesting some de escalation over the conflict over Greenland. The President responded. Dear Jonas, considering your country decided not to give me the Nobel Peace Prize for having stopped eight wars, plus I no longer feel an obligation to think purely of peace. He didn't get the Nobel Peace Prize, so now he's going to ruin peace. Same way he didn't get an Emmy for his reality show. So he ruined reality. All of the. Just give him the prize. Just give him the thing. It just isn't worth it. Just give him whatever he wants. All of this tension is going to make things awkward tomorrow when Trump speaks to the World Economic Forum over in Davos. The forum kicked off yesterday, and European leaders are already taking swipes at Trump. Here's French President Emmanuel Macron, who was sporting a new accessory because of an eye condition. We do believe that we need more growth, we need more stability in this world, but we do prefer respect to bullies, we do prefer science to plotism, and we do prefer rule of law to brutality. Cool shades, bro. Macron's clearly ready to stand his ground as he's France's answer to Dirty Harry. Filthy Henri. Go ahead, punk, make my bidet. A pita. Peterpong el otillo. Or he could be promoting his new international crime procedural, csi. Ooh la la. Beware Mr. Trump. If you take green land, france may start world war three.

[Bernie Sanders]

Some.

[Stephen Colbert]

Trump's not the only. Really think about it. Call me. Cbs. Trump's not the only American leader traveling to Davos. Who is? California governor and pigeon waiting for you to drop that French fry, Gavin Newsom. Newsom had a warning for European leaders capitulating to Trump's bullying. Europeans think this is diplomacy, and this will ultimately what this is diplomacy with Donald Trump. He's a T. Rex. You mate with him or he devours you. One or the other.

[Bernie Sanders]

What?

[Stephen Colbert]

He's a T. Rex. You mate with him or he devours you. I must have missed that scene in Jurassic Park.

[Bernie Sanders]

Park.

[Stephen Colbert]

But is this true? I'm told we have a clip. What is that? We got a great show for you tonight. My guest is Senator Bernie Sanders. Stick around. Ladies and gentlemen, I am happy to say my guest tonight is the senior senator from the great state of Vermont and. A famed wearer of Mittens. Please welcome back to the Late Show. Steve, Senator Bernie Sanders.

[Bernie Sanders]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, Senator, as you can see in here, I'm not the only one excited to have you on. I do always enjoy talking to you. This is your 19th appearance on the Late show with Stephen Colbert. We've only got four months left of the show. Could be the last one that you're on. Let's make it count. Senator, President Trump, it's been a year since he took office for his second term. Do you also feel like it's been a millennium?

[Bernie Sanders]

It is. You know, I laugh because every day, I and my staff, you know, just one thing or another. And, you know, on a serious note, we are living in an unprecedented, extremely dangerous moment in American history. But what I want to say, because I know there's so much anxiety all over this country. This is what I believe from the bottom of my heart. I have been through the fighting oligarchy tours. We've been now to 24 states. We've spoken to over 300,000 people. And Stephen, I got to tell you, whether people are Democrats, progressives, independents, conservatives, the people of the United States of America do not want to live under an authoritarian society. They do not want to live under an oligarchic society. And they understand that in the richest nation in the history of the world, all of our people, not just the billionaires, should be doing well.

[Stephen Colbert]

As long as I got you here, Senator. As long as I got you here. I think we all understand when we say what an authoritarian society is, it's abuse of authority, really, for people's own personal gain. When we say oligarchic society, when we say oligarchy, just define for everybody what you mean by that.

[Bernie Sanders]

Okay? And they go together. Actually, an oligarchy is a nation where a small number of incredibly wealthy people control the economy, control media. We have some experience with that right here on cbs. And they control the political system. So you add it all together and today we have more income and wealth inequality than we've ever had in the history of America. So you got the top 1% owning more wealth than the bottom 93%. One man, Mr. Musk, one man owning more wealth than the bottom 52% of American households. All right? And then you have a political system, all right? These guys not only want to control the economy, they want to control the political system. So you have a corrupt political system as a result of this disastrous Citizens United Supreme Court decision, so that billionaires like Mr. Musk can spend $270 million to elect Trump. There are Democratic billionaires also putting money into the political process. And ordinary people, they say, hey, I got one vote. I can't spend millions of dollars to elect a candidate. So you add ownership of media, which is becoming more and more concentrated. Right wing people buying media, owning social media. Mr. Musk owns X. Zuckerberg owns Facebook and Instagram. Right. Better. Right. Ellison now owns Paramount and cbs. You add all of those things up, what you end up with is a really small number of people with incredible wealth and incredible power, Stephen. That is what oligarchy is about.

[Stephen Colbert]

And that goes together with authoritarianism as like the chocolate and peanut butter of terrible ideas.

[Bernie Sanders]

Now, why does it go together? Because these guys have a lot of money. Do you think they want to pay taxes? No. Trump gave them a trillion dollars in tax breaks. Do you think they give a damn about the impact of artificial intelligence and robotics on working people? They don't. Do you think they worry about climate change? No, they don't. So what they say, and many of them are pretty open about it, is, you know, democracy gets in the way. I am a multi billionaire. I have incredible wealth, incredible power. I own the society. Who the hell do you think you are to an election to tell me what to do? And some of these guys are pretty upfront about not believing in democracy. So you add all of that stuff up, it is where oligarchy marries authoritarianism. And interestingly enough, while Trump right now is at war with Europe because he doesn't like kind of democratic societies, who does he love? Who's this hero in the world? Who did he welcome into the White House with open arms? Mohammed bin Salman, the dictator of Saudi Arabia who murdered an American journalist. So these are the kinds of societies authoritarian. Saudi family is the wealthiest family in the world. That's what Trump sees, I think, and his friends as the future of America. And by the way, we ain't going to let it happen.

[Stephen Colbert]

We have to take a quick break. We'll be right back with more Senator Bernie Sanders, everybody. Hey, everybody. We're back with Senator Bernie Sanders. Let's talk about your moment. Let's talk about Europe. The President has threatened new tariffs against Europe unless they let him have Greenland. Would you be in favor of us getting Greenland as long as we also got Denmark socialized health care? The first time you came on this show over 10 years ago, you talked about like, Denmark's a great model for us. Maybe we could get infected with some of those ideas, right?

[Bernie Sanders]

I mean, Denmark, you know, provides free, high quality health care to their people, free college education, very strong childcare. Their workers make good wages. It is a very modern, progressive society. But between you and me, I don't think that that is what Trump's idea is.

[Stephen Colbert]

Go ahead. No, please.

[Bernie Sanders]

You know, in the midst of all of the craziness, the idea that you would have a president of the United States, say Norway, you didn't give me the Nobel Prize. I have to invade Greenland. You hurt my feelings. I mean.

[Stephen Colbert]

It'S sad. It makes you sad a little bit.

[Bernie Sanders]

And what it is, I mean, it really is, it's like a narcissistic 4 year old spoiled brat, you know? Yeah, I'm gonna yell and scream cuz I didn't get my extra cup of ice cream.

[Stephen Colbert]

So, you know, what do you think is really behind this? Why do you think Donald Trump really wants to do this because first he says it's security, but we've got military. I've been up to the military base up there. It's lovely, but it's gravel and it's. And we already have the right to put other military bases up there and we've got our ships all around there. And when he talk, he says, oh, what about rare earth and all that kind of stuff? We don't really know what's underneath that ice cap. And it's two miles of ice.

[Bernie Sanders]

We don't really know, interestingly enough.

[Stephen Colbert]

And I'm not trying to, I'll judge whether it's interesting. Let's go.

[Bernie Sanders]

And, you know, I don't know all that much about it, but there's some evidence once again that some of our oligarchic friends are investing, since Trump has started talking about Greenland, that some of these guys are investing money in what might be a mineral rich area. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

It would take a trillion dollars.

[Bernie Sanders]

Of investment, but these guys have a quadrillion dollars. You are talking about very rich people.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, I forgot about rich people. Can Trump be stopped if he wants to seize this yes. Country can the, like, how can Congress do something to stop him?

[Bernie Sanders]

I mean, there are a variety of.

[Stephen Colbert]

Things short of war with our allies.

[Bernie Sanders]

I mean, there are war powers resolutions, acts which would prevent him.

[Stephen Colbert]

Did that prevent him from going into Venezuela?

[Bernie Sanders]

Well, we didn't pass it, as a matter of fact. Okay. I think, you know, I'm not a great fan of my Republican colleagues, but I think that for a variety of reasons, including self preservation, I think they're about 8% of the American people think invading Greenland is a good idea. So you don't want to campaign on that. And I think some of my Republican colleagues are understanding that this is just very, very crazy and not something that can be supported.

[Stephen Colbert]

Do you believe that they believe that NATO should be preserved? Because obviously we're already very close to having destroyed NATO. Just the threat itself of one NATO country threatening to invade another NATO country really sounds like the death of NATO to me.

[Bernie Sanders]

You know, I think, you know, understanding that we have had an alliance with European countries for, you know, well over 100 years, that we save the world from Nazism and fascism because of the United States and the UK And France and European countries. I think that's, that's a deep alliance and I don't think the American people want to give that up to go to bed with the guy in Saudi Arabia. So.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, we're going to take another little break here. We'll be right back with more Senator Bernie Sanders, everybody. Bernie Sanders, you were talking about Venezuela a little bit earlier. Obviously this interest in Greenland comes on the heels of having gone into Venezuela and snatching Maduro. Who's in charge now, as far as you know, Is it Delsey Rodriguez or is it some sort of shadowy group of people in the United States? Cuz we don't get a clear answer when reporters ask direct questions about that.

[Bernie Sanders]

Probably a shadow, shadowy group of people in the United States.

[Stephen Colbert]

Does that mean like, people, like, is it like JD Vance, is it Marco Rubio, is it the head of Chevron? Who is it?

[Bernie Sanders]

But I mean, certainly the oil companies, some of them at least are excited about the opportunity to enjoy rampant imperialism. And what bothered me most about what Trump did is not only that it was illegal and unconstitutional. If you for no pretext can invade and attack another country, the United States can no longer say to any other country on earth that you can't do that. All right, all of us, so many of us have condemned Putin's horrific invasion of Ukraine and just the hundreds of thousands of people that are suffering there. It was a barbaric act. How do you criticize a Putin? How do you criticize anybody who says, you know what, we have our reasons and we're going to attack another country and the United States can't say a word about it because that's what you did. So in other words, it unleashes international anarchy. Might makes right. You want to blow up a building, hey, you can do that. That's what scares me about this.

[Stephen Colbert]

Stephen Miller, who's deputy chief of Staff to the President and seems like a lovely fellow, he has said, he has said with a certain amount of spittle that, you know, might makes right is essentially, I'm paraphrasing here, but is the iron law of the world and we shouldn't pretend otherwise.

[Bernie Sanders]

That's horrible. I mean, it really is. I mean, it's really a descent into barbarism that I could do anything I want. I could kill anybody, I can steal anybody, I can invade any country that I want because I am powerful. You know, if you think back, you know, the world is messy and the politics are horrible, but for how many years were there war, terrible wars in Europe, right? Germany and France, they'd kill each other, butcher each other, year after year, decade after decade. And they finally got their act together after World War II. They said, maybe it's a better idea that we work together. So countries that have been long standing enemies actually got it together. And clearly, here we are in the year 2026, and you got war out there, people killing each other in Ukraine, in Gaza, everyplace else. What we want to do in a sane world is finally bring peace to this earth, invest in our children, invest in the needs of ordinary people, not continue to go to war. And what these guys are saying. These guys are saying, we are powerful. We got the bombs, we got the military, and we're gonna do anything we want. And that is a signal to every country on Earth they can do the same. And that is not the world that I want to leave my kids or grandchildren.

[Stephen Colbert]

We gotta take a break. Okay. We've had a good conversation here about Greenland, about Venezuela. Let's come back to the United States. The Pentagon is putting 1500 troops on standby for a potential deployment to Minnesota after an ICE agent killed unarmed, nonviolent mother of three, Renee Goode. You've said. You've said her death reminds you of January 6th.

[Bernie Sanders]

What do you mean by that in this sense? First of all, what ICE is doing under Trump, under Trump? This is Trump's directive. They have invaded the city of Minneapolis. Their goal is to intimidate every person in this country that if you stand up, you are in trouble because the military is coming, all right? And I gotta tell you, this is repellent to the vast majority of the American people. Now, in terms of. Authoritarianism, also, it's all of the things that I mentioned, but it is also propagating the big lie. So you say black and it's white. You say white and it's black. So for January 6th, we had a radical group of insurrectionists trying to destroy democracy and undermine a free election. Right? That's what they did. Trump turns that around and says, these were peaceful demonstrators. And now you have a woman, a mother of three, sitting in a automobile, shot in the head by an ICE agent, and the Trump people label her a domestic terrorist. So it is the big lie that we hear over and over again, which is part of authoritarianism. What I believe you believe, I think the vast majority of the American people believe is, look, in a democracy, we're gonna have differences of opinion. You know what? That's a good thing. But these differences have gotta be based on a foundation of truth and not constant lies. And that is what the Trump people.

[Stephen Colbert]

Do and a basic sense of the dignity of human life.

[Bernie Sanders]

Right?

[Stephen Colbert]

What gets me when I look at some of the response when Kristi Noem had on her podium when she was talking about this, says one of ours all of yours was what it said on her podium. I don't even know. I don't know sure how to parse that. Meaning one of ours, all of yours. That's the federal government saying that the people of America who may be protesting or not are the enemies of the federal government. Stephen Miller said local state officials have to stand down and surrender to the federal government. I don't even know how you would do that. So that is essentially saying set aside all the rights of the people.

[Bernie Sanders]

Constitutional.

[Stephen Colbert]

Free assembly of the United States. Yeah, free assembly, freedom of speech, redress of grievances, or for that matter, keep and bear arms, which is the Second Amendment. All of those things. And if rights can be set aside because the government tells you to do so, then they're not rights.

[Bernie Sanders]

That's right.

[Stephen Colbert]

Then there were privileges that comes that are just given occasionally by a government that does not derive its power from the consent of the governed. That's just rule by force. That's the threat of violence from our own federal government. That seems transparent. What's happening right now? Do your colleagues on the other side of the aisle perceive that danger domestically as opposed to internationally, as we talked about before?

[Bernie Sanders]

Well, again, this is where the issue is extraordinarily partisan. Independent. I caucus with the Democrats. I think overwhelmingly Democrats do. And there are more and more Republicans who understand that as well. Not only because they see the blatant unconstitutionality of what is going on, but they are understanding that the American people are sick and tired of that. And the good.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay, this is a red letter day for you. Here you are administering the oath of office to Meoram. Dani and I just. You, you've been fighting. You've been carrying the banner of Democratic socialists for a long time. What was that like to swear in the first Democratic socialist mayor of a major city?

[Bernie Sanders]

It was enormously gratifying.

[Stephen Colbert]

In a recent poll, in a recent Gallup poll, 66% of Democrats had a favorable view of Democratic socialism, up significantly over the last year. Why do you think that is?

[Bernie Sanders]

Well, let me tell you why I love Mamdani. When he started his campaign, it's not only he's really obviously smart, incredibly energetic, really good with people, really good politician. Cute. Cute. All right. He started at 1% in the polls. 1%. He was taking on the Democratic establishment, Republican establishment, president of the United States and all the oligarchs who threatened to spend zillions of dollars and defeat him. He took them all on and he won. And he won. He won not just because he is good. Which he is, but because he had 90,000 volunteers in New York City knocking on doors. So what excited me, and I think he's going to be a great mayor and I look forward to working with him. But what excited me was a strong grassroots movement took on the establishment and won. They did it in New York City. We could do it in every state in this country.

[Stephen Colbert]

Bernie, thank you so much for being here.

[Bernie Sanders]

My pleasure.

[Stephen Colbert]

Senator Sanders. I mean, Senator Bernie Sanders, 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.

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[Bernie Sanders]

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[Stephen Colbert (as Trump impression)]

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[Stephen Colbert]

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[Bernie Sanders]

Huzzah.

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[Bernie Sanders]

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[Bernie Sanders]

You're welcome.