Sen. Bernie Sanders | Yap Quest

Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Episode: Sen. Bernie Sanders | Yap Quest
Release Date: May 16, 2025
Host: Stephen Colbert
Guest: Senator Bernie Sanders
Duration: Approximately 38 minutes

---

Introduction

In this episode of The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert, host Stephen Colbert welcomes back Senator Bernie Sanders, the senior senator from Vermont and two-time presidential candidate. The conversation delves deep into the pressing issues facing American society, including income inequality, campaign finance reform, healthcare, and the influence of oligarchs in politics.

---

Trump’s Visit and Military Critique

Timestamp: 01:25 - 09:44

Colbert opens with a satirical monologue about former President Donald Trump's activities overseas, particularly his visit to Qatar where he addressed American troops. He humorously critiques Trump's song choices and fashion sense, mocking his remarks on military technology and stealth fighter jets.

Notable Quote:

“I hurt myself to see if I still feel I did Johnny. Johnny Cash Trump. There you go.” (01:25)

Colbert humorously questions Trump's approach to military aesthetics:

“If our pilots have to fly an ugly plane, I'd rather, frankly, I'd rather lose the whole war.” (04:15)

He also lampoons Trump's planned military parade on his birthday, highlighting the absurdity of combining celebration with military might.

---

Republican Budget Cuts and Healthcare

Timestamp: 09:44 - 18:18

The discussion shifts to Republican proposals aimed at financing tax cuts for billionaires by cutting Medicaid and other essential programs. Colbert mocks the potential negative outcomes of such cuts, including the loss of healthcare coverage for millions and the reduction of nutritional assistance for children.

Notable Quote:

“If this bill is passed, experts estimate that in the next 10 years, 8.6 million fewer Americans will have health care coverage.” (10:21)

Colbert uses sarcasm to emphasize the dire consequences:

“No health care. Ask your doctor about rubbing some dirt on it. Side effects include getting dirty and death.” (10:24)

He also criticizes GOP Senator Josh Hawley for opposing the bill, highlighting the internal conflicts within the Republican Party.

---

Media and Authoritarianism Concerns

Timestamp: 18:32 - 34:46

Colbert transitions to discuss the erosion of democratic norms, focusing on President Trump's legal actions against various media outlets. He underscores the dangers of a president suing the press for unfavorable coverage, portraying it as a step towards authoritarianism.

Notable Quote:

“He's the first president in history to sue the media because he doesn't like what they are saying about him.” (32:39)

Senator Sanders echoes these concerns, emphasizing the threat to free press and democratic institutions:

“He is already receiving settlements from ABC and Meta, and now he's suing CBS for $20 billion.” (33:56)

The conversation highlights the importance of a robust and independent media in safeguarding democracy.

---

Income and Wealth Inequality

Timestamp: 15:03 - 23:51

Senator Sanders passionately addresses the growing income and wealth inequality in the United States. He contrasts the vast fortunes of billionaires with the struggles of ordinary Americans living paycheck to paycheck.

Notable Quote:

“We're living in a moment of more income and wealth inequality than we've ever had in the history of this country.” (16:57)

Sanders criticizes the corrupt campaign finance system fueled by Citizens United, arguing that it enables billionaires to wield disproportionate influence over government policies.

“A government of the billionaires, by the billionaires, and for the billionaires.” (16:57)

He advocates for systemic changes to restore economic fairness and ensure that government serves the needs of the many, not the few.

---

Healthcare and Education Reforms

Timestamp: 26:14 - 35:15

The conversation delves into specific policy areas, with Sanders highlighting the catastrophic cuts to the National Institutes of Health (NIH) funding under the Trump administration, which resulted in a 31% reduction in cancer research.

Notable Quote:

“Cancer is such a terrible disease that's impacted probably every family one way or another in America.” (26:51)

Sanders calls for Congress to restore this crucial funding, emphasizing its importance for advancing medical research and saving lives.

He also discusses the exorbitant costs of higher education in the U.S., advocating for free public colleges and universities to alleviate student debt and make education accessible to all.

“Public colleges and universities are free. We could do it.” (23:51)

---

Oligarchy and Campaign Finance Reform

Timestamp: 27:44 - 34:46

Sanders expands on the concept of oligarchy, explaining how concentrated financial and political power among the elite undermines democracy. He cites the influence of figures like Elon Musk, whose vast wealth allows them to manipulate the political landscape.

Notable Quote:

“These are not nice guys. They really are not. They are extremely greedy people and they want it all.” (17:04)

He urges for collective action and grassroots organizing to counteract the oligarchic tendencies, encouraging ordinary Americans to run for office and advocate for policies that prioritize working families over the wealthy elite.

“Our job is to organize people in every way, to stand up politically in workplaces, in universities, on the streets, to demand that we have a government which represents all of us and not just a few.” (28:26)

---

Youth and the Resurgence of Socialism

Timestamp: 34:46 - 35:15

Addressing the appeal of socialism among young people, Sanders attributes it to widespread disillusionment with economic inequality and the unattainability of the traditional American Dream.

Notable Quote:

“Young people are looking out there and they're saying, why, with all of this technology, with all of this wealth, why are we not doing better for ordinary Americans than we are?” (35:15)

He emphasizes the Democratic Party's need to reconnect with the working class and present a compelling vision for the future to harness the growing support for progressive policies.

---

Closing Remarks

Senator Sanders concludes by reiterating the necessity of systemic reforms to dismantle the oligarchic structures dominating American politics. He calls for increased civic engagement, policy advocacy, and the election of representatives who genuinely serve the public interest.

Notable Quote:

“Do you think young people get excited about folks like you or AOC or New York City mayor hopeful Jamaal Bowman who are self-described Democratic socialists because they believe in a fairer, more equitable society?” (35:15)

Colbert thanks Sanders for his insights, and the episode wraps up with promotional segments for upcoming shows and advertisements.

---

Key Takeaways

• Economic Inequality: Sanders highlights the unprecedented levels of income and wealth disparity in the U.S., advocating for policies that address these imbalances.

• Campaign Finance Reform: Emphasizes the corrupting influence of unlimited campaign contributions from billionaires, calling for systemic changes to ensure a fairer political process.

• Healthcare and Education: Urges for the restoration of critical funding for medical research and the implementation of free public higher education to alleviate student debt burdens.

• Threat to Democracy: Discusses the dangers posed by authoritarian tendencies, particularly through the lens of a president suing the media, and the broader implications for democratic institutions.

• Youth Engagement and Socialism: Attributes the rising interest in socialism among young Americans to frustration with existing economic structures and a desire for a more equitable society.

• Grassroots Organizing: Calls for increased civic participation and the election of representatives focused on the needs of working families rather than the interests of the wealthy elite.

---

This episode serves as a comprehensive exploration of the critical challenges facing the United States, offering Senator Bernie Sanders' perspective on the urgent need for political and economic reforms to foster a more just and equitable society.

Transcript

[Advertiser]

There's a smarter way to spend and earn while you do it. Meet Klarna, your everyday smarter spending partner. Break up purchases into four interest free payments or pay in full. The choice is yours. Whether you're using the Klarna card, earning cash back in the app, or comparing prices at your favorite stores, Klarna is here to help. Seamless, flexible, interest free. Look for Klarna at checkout or learn [e-mail] see Resident Loans Made or arranged pursuant to a California Finance Law License NMLS number 1353190 Klarna balance account required. Klarna may get a commission. Limitations, terms and conditions apply. Want to pull off the season's freshest trends? You just need the right shoes. That's where designer shoe warehouse comes in. Loving wide leg jeans. Pair them with sleek low profile sneakers. Obsessed with the sheer trend. Try it with mesh flats. Feeling boho comfy sandals. Nail the whole free spirited thing. Find on trend shoes from the brands you love like Birkenstock, Nike, Adidas and more at dsw.

[Stephen Colbert]

Welcome one and all to the Late show. I'm your host, Stephen Colbert, but my friends call me Consuela.

[Advertiser]

Hey.

[Stephen Colbert]

Donald Trump. Donald Trump is still out of the country. Build the wall. And he's visiting America's closest petro monarchies. While he's over there, he spoke to American troops at an Air force base in Qatar and walked out to his favorite jam. It is, it is hard. It is hard to imagine a song less danceable. I hurt myself to see if I still feel I did Johnny. Johnny Cash Trump. There you go. At a business roundtable, he was talking about upgrading military technology and he gave his frank opinion of America's stealth fighter jets. I'm not a huge believer in stealth because stealth is basically a lot of it's designed into shape. So you're going to design an ugly plane for stealth reasons? Did the commander in chief just call the B2 bomber fugly? Who cares what it looks like? They designed it so the enemy wouldn't be able to look at it. Look, look, I'll tell you, if our pilots have to fly an uggo plane, I'd rather, frankly, I'd rather lose the whole war. And don't get me, do not get me started on camo uniforms. I if you're in the jungle, you're gonna want a little pop of color. Otherwise, otherwise, you know, green jacket, green trees. It's a little matchy matchy, if you know what I mean. Soon, why not just wear a jean jacket and jeans. So Trump's gonna leave his autocratic buddies behind, but he's gonna bring a taste of dictatorship back home when he does. Cause he's throwing a big military parade on his Birthday featuring. Featuring 6600 SOL, 150 vehicles and 50 helicopters. He wants overwhelming force because this is more important than D Day. It is his B day. His birthday. It also happens to be the 250th anniversary of the founding of the US Army. So to honor the troops, soldiers will be housed in a former government warehouse where they will receive one hot meal a day and have been told. Bring your sleeping bags. It's my birthday slumber party. Okay, fellas, let's play. Never have I. Never have I ever served in the military. Okay, everyone in your sleeping bags. I'm going to go eat your hot meal. And before you ask, yes, there will be costumes. Service members will be wearing period uniforms from the Revolutionary War to the present. Yes, it will be June in one of the most humid cities in America, and they'll be dressing them in wool pants. It'll go down as the battle of swamp ass. Republicans are trying to give Trump a gift before his big birthday parade. A budget that would cut Medicaid to finance tax cuts for billionaires. If this bill is passed, experts estimate that in the next 10 years, 8.6 million fewer Americans will have health care coverage. I, for one, look forward to the pharmaceutical ads. No health care. Ask your doctor about rubbing some dirt on it. Side effects include getting dirty and death. There's also going to be cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program. Or. Republicans have proposed limiting nutrition aid to only US Citizens and green card holders. Or counterpoint. Hear me out. What if we keep giving food to all the hungry children? And to make up for that, Republicans can eat a. How about that? You know what? You know what? You know what? In fact, let's be generous. They can eat a bag of. Trump repeatedly promised he would never do this. Repeatedly. Don't touch Social Security. Don't touch Medicare. Medicare. Just leave them alone. We will not cut Social Security, Medicare, or Medicaid benefits. I'm not going to touch Social Security, Medicare, Medicaid. I'm not going to touch Medicaid. Instead, I. I'm going to stab it with an icicle. And when the ice melts, no fingerprints. Good luck solving that one. Elsbeth. This is so obviously terrible, no matter how you look at it. As Democratic Senator Brian Schatz put it, it's like this was designed in a lab to piss off the Maximum number of people. Yes, it's true. Republicans actually made this bill in the same lab where they designed onesies with buttons. You know their slogan, onesies with buttons. It's 3am Want to solve a screaming Rubik's cube? Even some. Why? You know about that? You know about that one. Even some Republicans are having second thoughts, like Missouri senator and business school butthead Josh Hawley. In an op ed, Hawley wrote that GOP leadership quote, wants Republicans to build our big beautiful bill around slashing health insurance for the working poor. But that argument is both morally wrong and politically suicidal. It's so bad, I'm told we have footage of Josh Hawley trying to distance himself from this bill. Look at him go. And it's not just Medicaid. The administration is also coming after science. Take Trump's pick for surgeon general and woman who has Rachael Ray locked in her basement, Casey Means. Means is a self described wellness influencer who has advocated for raw milk and questions vaccines. And now we're learning that she's credited psychedelic mushrooms with helping her find love. Yes, she couldn't find anybody before ingesting psilocybin, but now she's very happily engaged to a wolf head made of prismatic crystals. Many people, many people are skeptical that tripping balls is the right way to find a life partner. Although ingesting psychotropic fungus could be a great way to meet a fun guy. Show cancer, Jimmy. Hold on. Jim, Jim, Jim. Is this the graphic that we planned here? Well, no. Then where did this come from? We'll look into it. Means explained. I hiked alone and talked to the trees, letting them know I was ready for partnership and asking them if they could help. She even hooked up with a couple of them. And now she's got Dutch Elm disease. Speaking. Fine. Dutch elm disease. Don't get into the Dutch Elm disease joke every day. Speaking of drug use and cabinet positions, RFK Jr was on Capitol Hill yesterday to testify before Congress about the measles outbreak in West Texas. And a congressman asked the anti vaxx crusader this simple question. You've previously said you vaccinated your children. If you had a child today, would you vaccinate that child for measles?

[Bernie Sanders]

For measles.

[Stephen Colbert]

Probably.

[Bernie Sanders]

For measles?

[Stephen Colbert]

Probably. Probably. Measles is the most contagious virus known to man. In this century alone, the vaccine has prevented 60 million deaths. But sure, probably. And while we're at it, while we're at it, let's just change the warning labels on bleach to poison Only give your kids a little. Bobby Jr. Continued explaining why he doesn't want to give a straight answer. What I would say is my opinions.

[Bernie Sanders]

About vaccines are irrelevant.

[Stephen Colbert]

I don't think people should be taking advice, medical advice from me. I don't think so either. We're in complete agreement. So if you think that maybe stop giving it out and let us get our medical advice from trained professionals. Yes, someone qualified, like, I don't know, a lonely and unlicensed surgeon general wandering the forest, looking to hook up with a sycamore. Oh, there's an interesting story in state politics right now, ahead of this November's delicate election. A Virginia House candidate has come out as a swinger. Oh. Oh. That's why they call Virginia a swing state. Is that. Is that why it's purple? The candidate in question, Yvonne, and I hope I'm pronouncing this correctly, released a statement. Released a statement on Twitter revealing that she is married and ethically non monogamous. Which means that she and her husband consensually date other couples together. Which explains her campaign slogan. We saw you across the bar, and we like your vibe. Do we have this? I'm told we have the statement Rohrer released. Okay, that looks less like a statement and more like a sex manifesto. In it, Rohrer says, whether you're monogamous, ethically non monogamous, polyamorous, same sex, open, exploring, or still figuring it all out, you deserve respect, not ridicule. Unless you like ridicule, in which case, lick the floor, you sick little piggy. Oink, oink, bacon boy. You disgust me. I just want to be clear here, okay? I just want to speak from the heart here. Life is short, and everybody should get their joy, sexual or otherwise, wherever they can. Yvonne, you do you. Which is another option, by the way. But the thing is. The thing is. There you go. But the thing is, Rohrer's sex life had never been an issue in the campaign. No one had threatened to out her. She got ahead of the story and did it herself. Okay, so wait, she might just be one of those people who thinks everybody wants to hear about their thing. My economic plan will bring back jobs and revitalize our downtown. Speaking of which, are you into ethical non monogamy? I am. And my downtown is very revitalized. They're giving out all kinds of jobs down there. We got a great show for you tonight coming up.

[Advertiser]

Senator Bernie Sanders.

[Stephen Colbert]

If you don't know about flyer deals.

[Advertiser]

On Instacart, this message is for you. Flyer deals are like strolling through your.

[Bernie Sanders]

Favorite store looking for deals. But you're scrolling your phone and maybe you're in bed.

[Advertiser]

Because getting delivery doesn't mean you have to miss deals like you get at the store. Like the one creamer that doesn't make.

[Stephen Colbert]

Your stomach hurt or the pasta sauce.

[Bernie Sanders]

You can't not buy when it's on sale. So download the Instacart app, shop flyers.

[Advertiser]

And never miss a deal on one of your favorites. Plus, get delivery in as fast as 30 minutes.

[Stephen Colbert]

This memorial Day, turn up the heat with the Home Depot. Find the perfect grill and patio set to keep the cookouts coming all season long. Grill up a feast with the next grill, four burner gas grill, only $229. And complete your space with the stylish Glen Ridge Falls 7 piece dining set now on special buy for just $499 with free delivery. Take your Memorial Day cookout to the next level all summer long with the Home Depot. See homedepot.com delivery for more details. Folks, my guest tonight is the senior senator from the great state of Vermont and a two time presidential candidate. Please welcome back to THE Late Show Senator Bernie Sanders. Senator, it's good to see you again. There you go. Another Bernie rally. Another Bernie rally it.

[Bernie Sanders]

Thank you.

[Stephen Colbert]

At a certain point, At a certain point. At a certain point, you're going to make me jealous. Senator, we haven't chatted and I can't believe this. We haven't chatted since the election. And I've been out here barking to a camera in a Bernie less world for the last three months. Where are we? Where are we? We're 120 days in approximately, something like that. We've got something like 520 days before the midterm elections, but who's counting? So given what's happened in the first 120 days, how do you see the urgency of the moment? Where are we? Where do we want to be?

[Bernie Sanders]

It is very urgent. We are living increasingly in an oligarchic form of society. You know, when Trump was inaugurated, I had, I got kind of pushed up into the front row there. So I had a bird's eye view of it. But standing right behind them were the three wealthiest guys in America, multibillionaires. And right behind them were another 13 billionaires who were nominated by Trump to head up major government agencies. So what you got is a, you know, Lincoln talked about a government of the people, by the people, for the people. What you got now is a government of the billionaires, by the billionaires and for the Billionaires. And Stephen, I will tell you, these are not nice guys. They really are not. They are extremely greedy people and they want it all. We're living in a moment of more income and wealth inequality than we've ever had in the history of this country.

[Stephen Colbert]

I believe you. Isn't it a strange argument that Trump makes that don't worry about what Elon Musk is gonna do cuz he's so rich he doesn't want any more money?

[Bernie Sanders]

No, that's really not. You might think that if somebody had three or $400 billion, that might be enough, you can get by on that. But these guys, there's a mentality out there, they really do want more. Greed is something that eats at them. You know, often Saudi Arabia now or Qatar, they want more and more. And what is really sad and pathetic is they're willing to step on anybody in order to get more. So right now, as you know, what we're dealing with in the Congress is a so called reconciliation bill which will give the billionaires and the 1% $600 billion in tax breaks. And you know how they're paying for this? They are paying for this by cutting Medicaid, literally cutting nutrition programs for hungry children and cutting education. I mean, it really is. You know, I don't know what the word is, but it is. There's no religion on earth where anyone would think this is moral behavior.

[Stephen Colbert]

We have to take a quick break.

[Advertiser]

More with Senator Bernie Sanders after this.

[Stephen Colbert]

We're back with Senator Bernie Sanders. I've asked just a couple of senators who come through, senators called the most collegial institution in the world. You guys talk like in the cloakrooms. That's the buzz on you guys over the years. What are you hearing behind closed doors? Are you hearing anything from all these senators, Republicans, who said repeatedly over the years, we're never gonna touch Medicaid? And I don't mean 10 years ago, I mean months ago.

[Bernie Sanders]

Look, this is what you got. And this gets to a very fundamental issue that we don't talk enough about. Why are the richest people becoming richer while 60% of our people live paycheck to paycheck and 800,000 people sleep out on the streets? Why does government not respond to the needs of ordinary Americans? And the answer is, as a result of Citizens United, we have a corrupt campaign finance system. So you asked me this question and let me give you be very frank, I'm an independent. Caucus with the Democrats. If you are a Republican right now and you announce, you know what, I went back in my district, I got a lot of people on Medicaid, a lot of kids who want to go to college. I am not going to support this terrible piece of legislation. You know what would happen to you the next day? Elon Musk would say, great, we're going to primary you. I've got unlimited amounts of money and we're going to beat you the next time you're up for election. If that's what you want to do, that's what the consequences of it will be.

[Stephen Colbert]

Do you think Josh Hawley is going to face that? Because he just wrote that editorial that said this is both morally terrible.

[Bernie Sanders]

I don't wanna mess up. But they are. They run a tight ship and you step over the line, they're gonna get you. I can tell you that. That I know seeing my Republican colleagues and what they go through. But on the Democratic side, this is what we've gotta deal with. I happen to believe that what is going on in Gaza right now is horrific. That we are seeing children right now, as we speak, starving to death. Massive malnutrition.

[Stephen Colbert]

Your fellow Vermonter Ben, of Ben and Jerry's was actually at one of the hearings, I believe you were at yesterday, and was dragged out when he was making that protest.

[Bernie Sanders]

But why do you think more Democrats are not speaking up on that issue?

[Stephen Colbert]

Money.

[Bernie Sanders]

Yeah. Of course, if you speak up on that issue, you'll have super PACs like AIPAC going after you in the same way Elon Musk goes after Republicans. So what people have got to understand is right now, what the corrupt campaign finance system is about is that billionaires can put unlimited amounts of money. Why do you think Elon Musk has been the most powerful person in government? It has everything to do with $270 million he donated to make sure that Trump got elected. That is a corrupt system. And if we're ever gonna have a government of the people, we need to change it.

[Stephen Colbert]

In the meantime. And meantime. Cause that might take a little while to fix that system. And I don't. I mean this semi, not facetiously. Shouldn't the Democrats get their own billionaires to be threatening Democrats?

[Bernie Sanders]

No, I think the Democratic Party, the reason the Democratic Party has struggled, in my view, over the last many years, it has lost contact with the people it used to represent, which was the working class of this country. And I personally believe that if you have the guts to stand up to the oligarchs and you run a campaign representing the needs of working families, you can a get a lot of small donations and B, your program and your agenda will be strong enough to take on the big money interest. But we have to ask ourselves, you know, obviously we have got to fight Trump every day because he is the most dangerous president perhaps in American history. But we've got to do more than that. We have to have a vision, Stephen, of where we want this country to go. And we don't have that discussion. Why is it that we are the only major country on earth not to guarantee health care to all people? As a human right, why is it that we have more income and wealth inequality? One guy. I mean, as a nation, do we really think it's appropriate that one person, Mr. Musk, owns more wealth than the bottom 52% of households? Does that make sense to anybody in America? You know, so on. Kids want to go to college, they want to go to trade school. They get, you know, they leave school 50, $100,000 a day. Do the American people understand there are countries all over the world right now, today, that if you want a higher education, you don't have to go into debt? Public colleges and universities are free. We could do it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Does those countries understand that that's good for the country?

[Bernie Sanders]

Of course it is. We now desperately need more doctors, nurses, dentists. We need construction workers in order to deal with the infrastructure problems that we have. We don't have those workers. And we're telling you, you want to be a doctor and you're from a working class family, you may leave school $500,000 in debt when we desperately need doctors. How insane is that? So in my view, we got to rethink these things. Do we want to live in a nation in which the goal is for a handful of people to become super rich while 60% of the people live paycheck to paycheck? I think we could do better than that.

[Stephen Colbert]

We're gonna take another break right here, but don't go away.

[Bernie Sanders]

Now streaming.

[Stephen Colbert]

When everything's on the line, real heroes rise to the occasion.

[Bernie Sanders]

TV's hottest show is Fire Country.

[Stephen Colbert]

More firefighters.

[Bernie Sanders]

We're gonna find a way to get you out of here.

[Stephen Colbert]

We take the hitch together. We're on the same team.

[Bernie Sanders]

I'm right here with you no matter what.

[Advertiser]

I would never leave you hanging in the deep end.

[Stephen Colbert]

This place is a way of giving you new family.

[Bernie Sanders]

Fire Country. All episodes now streaming on Paramount.

[Advertiser]

Summer is coming right to your door with Target Circle360. Get all the season go tos at home with same day delivery. Snacks for the pool party delivered sun lotion and towels for a beach day Delivered pillows and lights to deck out the deck. That too delivered just when you want them summer your way quick and easy. Join now and get all the summer fun delivered right to your Home with Target Circle360 membership required. Subject to terms and conditions. Applies to orders over $35. This episode is brought to you by Stay Farm. Knowing you could be saving money for the things you really want is a great feeling. Talk to a State Farm agent today to learn how you can choose to bundle and save with the personal price plan. Like a good neighbor, State Farm is there. Prices are based on rating plans that vary by state. Coverage options are selected by the customer. Availability, amount of discounts, and savings and eligibility vary by state.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hey, everybody. We're back with Senator Bernie Sanders. You're a ranking member of the Committee on Health, Education, Labor. And in a report you put out this week, minority staff found Trump officials had cut $2.7 billion in National Institutes of Health funding in the first three months of 2025, which cut cancer research by 31%. This is stuff that already been allocated. Some people were literally in labs doing the research and were told, get out of here. Pencils down, get out. Don't cure cancer. What can Congress do to stop this? Because the midterms are still a long way away.

[Bernie Sanders]

All right, I mean, look, cancer is such a terrible disease that's impacted probably every family one way or another in America. But it's not only cancer, it's Alzheimer's, it's diabetes. And we have, through the National Institute of Health, some of the best researchers in the world. It's kind of the gold standard for basic scientific research. The idea that they would go in there with a chainsaw and arbitrarily throw people out of their jobs who are doing important research makes zero sense to me and to the American people. And I would hope and expect that Congress will do everything it can to restore that funding.

[Stephen Colbert]

In February. On February, you embarked on a Fighting Oligarchy tour with Representative Alexandria Ocasio Cortez, and you spoke to over a quarter of a million people over 12 states.

[Bernie Sanders]

States.

[Stephen Colbert]

And it feels like, as you say, we are in, like, a classic oligarchy with the richest man in the world cutting hundreds of thousands of federal jobs.

[Bernie Sanders]

Programs and grants and going after the poor. I mean, think about the obscenity of the richest guy in the world cutting programs for hungry children. How disgusting is that?

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes, if oligarchy. My question is, if you actually have achieved like an oligarchy. Oligarchy is financial and political power in the hands of very few who then use that financial and political power to increase their grip on financial and political power. That is a nefarious feedback loop. How do you break an oligarchy?

[Bernie Sanders]

You described the issue exactly. And if you look at our political system and you look at the economy, fewer and fewer people not only have more wealth, but control the economy. And fewer and fewer billionaires control both political parties. That's the reality. The only way that I know and what Alexandria and I are trying to do, is you go all over this country trying to instill in people a sense that in our country, you've got to stand up right now, you've got to organize, you got to act in an unprecedented way, because this is an unprecedented moment. They think that if you sit back and do nothing, they will take it all. They will take the power, they will take the wealth. Artificial intelligence is coming. You know what they did to federal workers, to thousands of people out on the street. That's their mentality. And they will do that in the private sector. So our job is to organize people in every way, to stand up politically in workplaces, in universities, on the streets, to demand that we have a government which represents all of us and not just a few. And that means. And one of the things we're doing right now, Stephen, we are urging people to start running for office, from the school board to Congress, on an agenda that speaks to the needs of working families.

[Advertiser]

More with Senator Bernie Sanders after this.

[Stephen Colbert]

A couple weeks back, Illinois Governor Pritzker made a little waves when he said that, yes, there are democracy. Yes, we have to organize. Yes, we have to electorally and run for office and get our people elected. But also, we cannot wait. We have to have mass protests, mobilization and disruption. Is that what it's going to take? Because again, there's 520 more days. We've got five more of what we just went through before even we get to cast a single vote.

[Bernie Sanders]

Look, we have got to use. The answer is yes. And we have got to use all of the tools that we can in Congress and out on the streets. The truth of the matter is, I don't care if you are a conservative Republican or a progressive, as I am, you do not believe. I mean, you just stop and think about it. Think about the men and women who fought and died against Hitler, fought and died against fascism, fought and died to defend American democracy. And I think the vast majority of the American people, regardless of the ideology, are not and cannot and must not sit back and allow us to move into an authoritarian type society where people get picked up off the streets and put in detention centers. Really, in the United States of America, where the Constitution is undermined, where you have a president suing the media. Maybe Trump will sue you. Mike didn't like the questions you asked me. Intimidating.

[Stephen Colbert]

Hold on one second. Let's edit that part out, please. But I know that you. I want to talk about the press, okay? Because one of the things you say that the Amer, the vast number of the American people don't want this to become an autocracy with people being swept off the street and that sort of thing. That's if they know about it. You have to actually have a press that is telling you what's going on and even speaking. And the problem has become, the problem has become is that even stating the truth about this administration ends up sounding biased because it's really hard to find something that isn't negative or anti democratic about what they're doing. So case in point, you and eight other senators wrote a letter to my ultimate boss, the chair of Paramount, warning of the dangers of having CBS settle a lawsuit that Trump has brought against CBS News.

[Bernie Sanders]

As you now we're gonna get you fired. You know what, this might be his last show, you know.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes, that's where that graphic came from. What effect would settling something like that have?

[Bernie Sanders]

Does everybody know what this issue is about? You got a President of the United States for the first time in history sues media because he doesn't like what they are saying about him. Very sensitive guy. Meanwhile he attacks everybody in the most vicious ways. When media does something he doesn't like, he sues them. What does it mean? He's already received a settlement from abc, from Meta. He's going after the Des Moines Register because he didn't like a poll that they did. I know. And now what's very big is he suing CBS because he did not like a 60 minute show. An interview with Kamala Harris. How insane is that? Now you ask me what the impact is if he gets away with that. What do you think 60 Minutes and other shows all over the country are going to be thinking about? Oh, can we have that guest on the show? Maybe not. Maybe he or she is going to say something that Trump doesn't like. Let's not do it. Oh, here's a story. Now we really can't quite go with that story cuz we don't want to get sued. He's suing CBS for $20 billion. All right.

[Stephen Colbert]

So your point, that's a lot of money. They barely pay me that much.

[Bernie Sanders]

But, you know, he's not going to get 20 billion. But to exceed, to concede that you did something wrong on a CB, it happens to be 60 minutes might be the best investigative show, you know, in television. And the producer, as you know, resigned. But to give in to Trump is to allow him now to say, I gotcha, all right? And anybody speaks up against me, you're in trouble. But he's going after universities. I mean, all of this is going after law firms who've represented clients that he didn't like. This is what authoritarianism is about.

[Stephen Colbert]

You recently suggested, you recently suggested that if Democrats don't change, if they don't find a national message that speaks to the majority of this country, people will start running as independents.

[Bernie Sanders]

Yes.

[Stephen Colbert]

Why do you think young people get excited about folks like you or AOC or New York City mayor hopeful Zorhan Mamdani who are self described, self described Democratic socialists? Why is socialism cool again, Bernie?

[Bernie Sanders]

I think people are looking at this country today and they're seeing incredible greed and they're seeing that in the richest country in the history of the world, so few have so much and so many have so little. There is, you know, Steve and I get around the country. I was just, you know, I can go on and on. I was just on the. Did a virtual program zoom with some workers in nursing homes. They're working 80 hours a week taking care of their patients. You got people working crazy hours for horribly low wages. People can't afford housing. When I was a kid, the American dream was, you are at some point going to be able to own your own house. Young people today no longer believe that that is possible. In fact, many of the young people have a lower standard of living than their parents. So I think the young people are looking out there and they're saying, why, with all of this technology, with all of this wealth, why are we not doing better for ordinary Americans than we are? And what the Democrats are lacking now is a vision for the future. And that gets back to a corrupt campaign finance system, the unwillingness to take on the greed of big money interest. And that is, I think, what young people perceive.

[Stephen Colbert]

Senator, thank you so much for being here. Okay, giving us the time. Senator Bernie Sanders, everybody. Thank you for listening to the Late Show Pod show with Stephen Colbert. Just one more thing. And if you want to see more of me, come to The Late Show YouTube channel for more clips and exclusives.

[Advertiser]

We interrupt this program to bring you an important wayfair message. Wayfair's got style tips for every home. This is Nicole Byer helping you make those rooms flyer. Today's style tip when it comes to making a statement, treat bold patterns like neutrals. Go wild like an untamed animal. Print area rug under a rustic farmhouse table. From wayfair.com Ooh. Fierce. This has been your Wayfarer style tip to keep those interiors superior.

[Bernie Sanders]

Wayfair.

[Advertiser]

Every style, every home.

[Bernie Sanders]

Now streaming.

[Stephen Colbert]

When everything's on the line, real heroes rise to the occasion.

[Bernie Sanders]

TV's hottest show is Fire Country.

[Stephen Colbert]

We're firefighters.

[Bernie Sanders]

We're gonna find a way to get you out of here.

[Stephen Colbert]

We take the hints together. We're on the same team.

[Bernie Sanders]

I'm right here with you. No matter what.

[Advertiser]

I would never leave you hanging in the deep end.

[Stephen Colbert]

This place is a way of giving.

[Bernie Sanders]

You new family Fire Country. All episodes now streaming on Paramount.

[Stephen Colbert]

Plus.