The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert
Episode: Sen. Chris Murphy | Esca-Hater
Date: September 25, 2025
Guest: Senator Chris Murphy (Connecticut)
Overview
In this episode, Stephen Colbert welcomes Senator Chris Murphy from Connecticut for a candid and wide-ranging discussion focusing on the latest tragic shooting at an ICE facility in Dallas, American gun control policy, U.S. political turbulence around free speech, Trump's sudden support for Ukraine, and the looming threat of a government shutdown. The conversation reflects the host's signature blend of sharp wit and sincere inquiry, as well as Senator Murphy’s passionate advocacy and straight talk on pressing current events.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Gun Violence and the Dallas ICE Facility Shooting
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Colbert opens by acknowledging Murphy’s tireless advocacy for gun control, immediately addressing the news of a shooting at a Dallas ICE facility.
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Sen. Murphy emphasizes the personal and communal trauma stemming from gun violence, linking his reaction to his experience with Sandy Hook.
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He highlights the nation's repeated failure to enact simple reforms and the politicization of tragedy, stressing the need for unity and moral leadership.
“What really goes through my mind first is the families in Sandy Hook, Connecticut... The trauma that ripples through a family and a community when you lose a loved one... It just sickens me that we have a president who instead of trying to stand up and say wherever the violence comes from, it's unacceptable, is politicizing this moment.”
— Sen. Chris Murphy [17:43]
American Political Climate and Free Speech
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Colbert and Murphy discuss the return of Jimmy Kimmel to late night after his apparent cancellation, and Murphy’s viral warning on the systematic destruction of free speech.
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Colbert jokes about being "gone" per Murphy’s video, leading to playful banter about Murphy’s slightly premature obituary for Colbert’s TV career.
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Murphy acknowledges the gravity and real peril faced by outspoken voices in media and politics.
“What he is trying to do is send a signal to everybody else... that there will be a price to pay for speaking up. Sometimes that price will be that you lose your job... Other people will actually go to jail over engaging in free speech.”
— Sen. Chris Murphy [22:14] -
Murphy points to the public’s response—boycotting over Kimmel’s cancellation—as evidence that collective action can still influence corporate and political power.
Trump’s Ukraine Flip-Flop & Nobel Aspirations
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Colbert moves to foreign policy, highlighting Trump’s surprising new expression of support for Ukrainian territorial sovereignty.
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Murphy expresses skepticism about Trump’s consistency, noting a lack of substantive action behind his words.
“Every day on Ukraine and tariffs, he's just rolling the dice... Despite what he said at the UN yesterday, the actions don't match his words... The only way that Ukraine is going to win... is for the United States to make a bipartisan commitment.”
— Sen. Chris Murphy [19:58]
Threats Against Media Outlets & Legal Realities
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Colbert jokes about Trump threatening to sue ABC over Kimmel’s return, asking Murphy, a “kind of lawyer,” about the legal merits.
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Murphy bluntly dismisses any actionable claim, but warns that a politicized judiciary could make even baseless cases dangerous.
“Of course there's no actionable claim here... The problem here is that as the judiciary is populated with Trump appointed judges who don't care about the law... whether or not there's an actual actionable claim might not matter.”
— Sen. Chris Murphy [25:36]
The Looming Government Shutdown
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Colbert notes the recurring “government shutdown season,” with upcoming deadlines.
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Murphy outlines the sticking points: Republican brinkmanship and the threat of steep premium increases for millions on the ACA.
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He underscores Democrats’ bottom lines: avoid harming ordinary Americans and defending democratic governance from further erosion.
“[The] Republican Party wants to destroy government. And one of the quickest ways to do that is to precipitate these crises... We just want premiums to not go up by 75% in the Affordable Care Act.”
— Sen. Chris Murphy [27:13]
Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments
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On Sandy Hook and Gun Violence:
“Those parents, you know, were my age at the time, are now friends of mine. And I know how your life is fundamentally changed.”
— Sen. Chris Murphy [17:43] -
On Political Violence and Leadership:
“It just shouldn't matter whether the radicalization comes from the right or the left... This president... is politicizing this moment.”
— Sen. Chris Murphy [17:43] -
On Systematic Silencing in Media:
“There will be a price to pay for speaking up... In the wake of that cancellation of the Jimmy Kimmel show, this country decided to stand up... We still have power, commercial power and political power.”
— Sen. Chris Murphy [22:14] -
On Trump's Ukraine Position:
“Despite what he said at the UN yesterday, the actions don't match his words.”
— Sen. Chris Murphy [19:58] -
On Judicial Threats to Democracy:
“When the Department of Justice is turned into a witch hunt operation... whether or not there's an actual actionable claim might not matter.”
— Sen. Chris Murphy [25:36]
Timestamps for Key Segments
- Gun violence and ICE facility shooting: [17:18–19:10]
- Trump’s Ukraine comments and Nobel campaign: [19:30–21:00]
- Free speech, Kimmel’s cancellation, and media threats: [21:00–23:15]
- Legal realities of Trump’s ABC lawsuit threats: [25:07–26:41]
- Government shutdown and health care stakes: [26:41–28:34]
Tone & Style
The tone throughout is classic Colbert: incisive, quick-witted, and sardonic, yet marked by genuine frustration with the current political and social climate. Murphy is direct, sometimes passionate, and occasionally self-deprecating, but focused sharply on the seriousness of each subject at hand. Playful moments (“I’m right here”—Colbert on his own ‘cancellation’) are balanced by earnest appeals for action and reform.
Summary
This episode delivers a sharp, fast-paced, and sometimes sobering examination of American social and political dysfunction. Colbert’s banter keeps the mood light, even amid grave topics, while Senator Chris Murphy functions as both advocate and alarm-bell, warning about rising violence, democratic backsliding, and the real-world consequences of unchecked political gamesmanship. The episode serves as both a snapshot and a call to arms for civic engagement.