Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Extended) | Signing Off

Summary

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Episode: Sen. Elizabeth Warren (Extended) | Signing Off
Date: November 21, 2025
Guest: Senator Elizabeth Warren

---

Episode Overview

This episode features an extended interview with Senator Elizabeth Warren, focusing on the high-stakes release of the Epstein files, accountability for the powerful, banking oversight issues, political threats and violence, the recent government shutdown, and the significance of affordability in American politics. True to form, Colbert brings wit and sharp commentary, while Warren provides policy insights and urgent calls for activism.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Release of the Epstein Files and Government Transparency

• Main Theme: Trump signed a bill pressing the DOJ to release files related to Jeffrey Epstein within 30 days, prompting public and political scrutiny about transparency.

• Colbert’s Take: Skeptical about whether the files will be fully released, and highlights the risk of redaction and tampering.

• Warren’s Insight:

  • Acknowledges the likelihood of redaction.
  • Stresses sustained public pressure is crucial to ensure maximum transparency.
  • Frames the release as a fundamental question of whether the "tiny little group at the top" have a different set of rules than everyone else.

  “The reason The Epstein files are being released is because of you. If people across this country had not continued to push, push, push, raise hell, hold signs, talk about it, not get distracted, then they would not come out.”
  – Senator Elizabeth Warren (20:46)

  • Flags the challenge of missing information: “You’re going to have to now start doing the comparisons. So wait, why is this thing numbered page 123 9?... There’s going to be a lot of cross-hatching.” (19:40)

• Banking Records:

  • Warren emphasizes the need to “follow the money,” especially Epstein’s relationship with JPMorgan Chase, which provided him with extensive banking services even after his criminal convictions.
  • Calls for Jamie Dimon (JP Morgan CEO) and others to testify under oath.

  “I am. You know I am. So JPMorgan Chase is Jeffrey Epstein’s bank... They did more than a billion dollars in transactions for Jeffrey Epstein.”
  – Senator Elizabeth Warren (22:20)

2. Accountability for the Powerful and the Role of Public Pressure

• Warren ties the Epstein case into broader patterns of elite impunity and the necessity for public activism.
• Colbert and Warren agree that only continued vigilance will expose wrongdoing and drive reform.
• Warren:

  “Are we going to be a country where there’s one set of rules for this tiny little group at the top ... and a completely different set of rules for everyone else? The Epstein files is fundamentally about that.”
  (21:22)

3. Political Threats, Military Oaths & Trump’s Rhetoric

• Background: Congressional veterans released a video urging military and intelligence professionals to refuse unlawful orders.

• Trump reacts strongly, calling the video “seditious” and sharing posts advocating death penalties for those responsible.

• Warren strongly defends the veterans, underscores the importance of rejecting intimidation, and calls for a bipartisan stand against incitement and threats.

  “This is a time to call on these Republicans who have been surgically altered and have no spines, to say that when Donald Trump is encouraging violence like this... it is time for everyone in Congress to stand up and say, no, that is enough.”
  – Senator Elizabeth Warren (27:10)

4. Government Shutdown and Health Care

• The recent, lengthy government shutdown ended when eight Senate Democrats crossed the aisle; Warren was not approached.

• Warren emphasizes the healthcare stakes: millions were threatened with loss of coverage or catastrophic premium hikes.

• Shares the story of a Floridian mother with malignant melanoma, forced to consider abandoning treatment due to insurance costs.

  “The United States of America is the richest country in the history of the world. It is time for us to make good on the statement that health care is a basic human right.”
  (29:48)

5. Affordability as the Defining Political Issue

• Politics Beyond New York: Warren and Colbert discuss how rising costs of living—groceries, housing, utilities, healthcare—are the real unifying political concern nationwide.

• Warren argues Democrats must champion affordability, directly countering Trump’s broken promises and tariff policies.

• Notes recent Democratic electoral victories focused on affordability, including Michelle Wu (Boston Mayor) and utility commissioners in Georgia.

  “While Donald Trump is trying to put gold leaf on everything that he touches, American families have had just about enough of this. And Democrats are going to get in there and fight for affordability for the American people. I love it.”
  – Senator Elizabeth Warren (33:47)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On DJT and Transparency:

  “He asked them to force him to do what he could already do... He does have something of a history of hiding things, lying about things, misrepresenting, using every loophole.”
  – Warren (19:37)

• On Veteran Lawmakers Speaking Out:

  “Can we just say good on them for standing up and pointing us out. ... Donald Trump thinks he can intimidate them. ... It is powerfully important that we push back. And I don't just mean Democrats.”
  – Warren (26:51)

• On the Meaning of Public Accountability:

  “We gotta have their backs. Donald Trump thinks he can intimidate them. And I gotta say, I think he picked the wrong set of people to try to intimidate.”
  – Warren (27:00)

• On the Cost of Living:

  “Democrats are focused and our focus is on what the American people are telling us that they most want, and that is a government on their side, not on the side of a handful of billionaires on their side.”
  – Warren (33:12)

---

Timestamps for Key Segments

| Timestamp | Content/Topic | |------------|------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 17:23 | Senator Elizabeth Warren joins the show | | 18:09 | Warren discusses Bailey, her dog, and media consolidation | | 18:52 | Epstein files—Colbert & Warren on redaction and transparency | | 20:46 | Warren on public pressure and why files are released | | 22:20 | JPMorgan Chase’s role; Warren on banking accountability | | 26:01 | Trump’s threats, military duty, veterans’ video | | 28:06 | Recent government shutdown and health care implications | | 30:45 | Affordability as the premier issue, and examples from recent elections |

---

Signature Colbert Moments

• Humor on Redaction:
  “By the time Trump’s people are finished with their El Marcos, the release could be a single black page with the words Bill Clinton.” (07:16)

• On Trump’s Media Evasiveness:
  “He signed it off camera and he'll sign anything on camera. Executive orders, sneakers, lady parts, wall parts, a toddler...” (05:07)

• Comic Relief:
  “Secretary Duffy released this video yesterday pining for the old days of air travel. Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away.” (12:02)

---

Conclusion

This episode is a punchy, insightful, and urgent discussion about high-level government accountability, the dangers of unchecked power, the necessity of public civic pressure, and the critical importance of affordability and health care. Warren is clear, fiery, and focused; Colbert keeps things moving with his trademark wit. Listeners come away with a strong grasp of the high stakes in the coming months, especially regarding the Epstein file release, banking investigations, and the direction of American democracy.

Transcript

[Stephen Colbert]

Hey, everybody. Stephen Colbert here about to read the copy for our sponsor. This is from our friends at Wonderful Pistachios. And I was the wonderful pistachio spokesman for years. Yeah, I have a real close association with nut meat. Okay. You know what they say when they reach for a snack? Don't hold back. And that's exactly the approach with Wonderful Pistachios. The don't hold back snack. These little wonders are so tasty, it feels like getting away with something. But surprise. Each serving has 6 grams of protein and 0 grams of regret. That's right. No guilt. Just glory, glory in our nuts. Whether it's a satisfying crack of in shell pistachios, and that's capitalized in shell, or the smooth, instant gratification of no shells. No judgment. That's just it. Just eat. No judgment. I take issue with one thing. It's instant gratification. It's super tasty smooth.

[Sidekick/Co-host]

It's a hard nut smooth.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly. I mean, even out of the shell, it's still a nut.

[Sidekick/Co-host]

We can't disparage the nuts.

[Stephen Colbert]

You. I'm not disparaging the nut. I'm describing the nut.

[Sidekick/Co-host]

Don't disparage any flavors.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm not. I am celebrating the pistachio right now. I'm on board. I love pistachios. I love. I love crushed pistachio. Like a pistachio crusted trout. Oh, unbelievable. Instead of a trout amandine, a trout pistachio. Fantastic. Enough butter? Who cares?

[Sidekick/Co-host]

Very good.

[Stephen Colbert]

And I love pistachio ice cream.

[Sidekick/Co-host]

Have you had the sea salt and vinegar? Wonderful pistachio. It's delicious. I get them.

[Stephen Colbert]

I didn't even know I get them.

[Sidekick/Co-host]

Before the softball games.

[Stephen Colbert]

But that's. You see, it's been a while since I've been the spokesman for wonderful pistachios. I didn't realize we'd achieved new pistachio technology.

[Sidekick/Co-host]

Yeah. Yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. Wonderful pistachios has every snack style covered. Right now. There's an obsession with jalapeno lime. There is an obsession session. It's almost a disorder. It's spicy, it's zesty. It's basically a flavor roller coaster in a nut. Snacking on the go. Grab a bag of no shells. Feeling contemplative and want to work for it a little. So earning it, they're saying if you want to earn your nut, crack open those in shell beauties. Either way, it's snacking like a champ. So the next time hunger strikes, don't hold back. Unless it's a hunger strike. And Then it's important that you do. Because whatever you're doing that for, I'm sure it's a worthwhile cause. Snack like you mean it with wonderful pistachios. Visit wonderfulpistachios.com to learn more.

[Sidekick/Co-host]

That was a wonderful.

[Stephen Colbert]

I wonder what more there is to learn. We just told them so much. We just told them so much about pistachios. But evidently there's a whole other world. There's an unexplored vista.

[Sidekick/Co-host]

They got a bunch of flavors. They got dill pickle, jalapeno lime, as we learned, smoky barbecue. There's a lot of different flavors.

[Stephen Colbert]

Wow. And I would not disparage any of them.

[Sidekick/Co-host]

No, no, no.

[Stephen Colbert]

Bring it on.

[Sidekick/Co-host]

Nothing bad to say.

[Stephen Colbert]

Nut me, nut. Nut me with nut meat. We're nut. No, we got nothing but nut. Nutty, nutty, nutty, nutty. Talk about, talk about, talk about, talk about nutty. Good.

[Lemonade Pet Insurance Spokesperson]

If you're an experienced pet owner, you already know that having a pet is 25% belly rubs, 25% yelling drop it. And 50% groaning at the bill from every pet visit. Which is why Lemonade pet insurance is tailor made for your pet and can save you up to 90% on vet bills. It can help cover checkups, emergencies, diagnostics, basically all the stuff that makes your bank account get nervous. Claims are filed super easily through the Lemonade app and half get settled instantly. Get a'@lemonade.com pet and they'll help cover the vet bill for whatever your pet swallowed after you yelled drop it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Welcome, friends and neighbors, citizens of all sizes, to the Late show. I'm your host, Stephen Colbert. Folks, Ladies and gentlemen, hold on. Are the Epstein files out yet? No? Okay, how about now? Are they all right?

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

Just checking.

[Stephen Colbert]

You'll let me know. Stop me in mid sentence if anything happens over there because I'm a little excited because yesterday, after months of Trump fighting tooth and cankle to hold back the Republican Party from doing the right thing, he just went ahead and gave up and signed the bill to release the Epstein files. Yeah, One day you're going to have a very complicated conversation with your grandchildren about why you just cheered. This is such a difficult moment for Trump. We don't know if he actually signed the bill himself. He might have just used his mechanical signature machine, the auto pube. Because even though Trump told Republicans to all vote for this, he was clearly furious that they did. He signed the bill after the White House issued a so called photo lid which shut down any on camera opportunities. He signed it off camera and he'll sign anything on camera. Executive orders, sneakers, lady parts, wall parts, a toddler. Trump is avoiding cameras. That's like the Pillsbury Doughboy avoiding nudity. That's right. This little freak loves the cool breeze on his smooth part. More proof that these files are making Trump soil his ample briefs. Well, last night, he went online to shift blame to Democrats with a full Unabomber length manifesto. There it is. Imagine if you got that as a text. I do not have to read all of that, bro. I do not have the time. I'm just going to hit you with a ha ha. Now, somewhere, somewhere in that Apple terms and conditions length screed, Trump tried to claim credit for the thing he desperately fought to stop. As everybody knows, I asked speaker of the House Mike Johnson and Senate Majority Leader John Thune to pass this bill. Because of this request, the votes were almost unanimous in favor of passage. Right. You know, so in a way, he won. It reminds me of Julius Caesar's famous last words. Great job, Brute. So. Trump signed the bill. It is now law. The Epstein files must be released. Specifically, the justice department now has 30 days to publish whatever information it has, meaning the deadline is December 19th. So it's going to be a very special Jake Gyllenhaal's birthday. And I wouldn't have made that reference, Jake, if you ever invited me to your party. So soon, we're going to see every document that Epstein files. And if you believe that Donald Trump has an East Wing he'd like to sell you, because the Justice Department is going to look through the documents first. And what information they may include and how redacted the documents may be remains to be seen or unseen. By the time Trump's people are finished with their El Marcos, the release could be a single black page with the words Bill Clinton. One thing I don't use a lot to change, one thing we know will definitely be redacted is anything that, quote, would jeopardize an active federal investigation. Well, there's a coinky dink. Cause just last week, Trump demanded the Justice Department open an investigation into Democrats who are mentioned in Epstein's emails. Attorney General Pam Bonney agreed to this demand less than four hours later. When. Which is strange because back in July, Bondi said they wouldn't be releasing any more information on the Jeffrey Epstein case and that the case is essentially now closed. So yesterday, Bondi was asked about that.

[Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy]

Madam Attorney General, the DOJ statement earlier this year saying that the files would not release mentioned the fact that the review of the documents and the evidence did not suggest that any additional investigation of third parties was released warranted. What changed since then that you launched this investigation?

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

Information that has come for information. There's information that new information, additional information, smooth.

[Stephen Colbert]

Information. Information has come to information we have had. We have had have information. New information was additional to the added information that was new to have been informed at us of the information. Help me.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

Cut my m.

[Stephen Colbert]

You know why they're all rattled? Because the wolf of accountability is lapping at their door with its hungry tongue. He's already gone past the House of Representatives, past the Senate, and the DOJ is the third little piggy, and he's going to huff and puff and find out who blew Bubba down. You can see. You can see just how rattled they are on camera. Check out Kash Patel's face while Bondi is drowning in flap sweat. He's either terrified or the edible just kicked in. But no matter how much information, no matter how much information Bondi tries to convince has got information, folks aren't going to stand for them not forking over the goods. Trump is facing growing suspicion, even from his MAGA base, because according to GOP insiders, the Epstein conspiracies have reached moon landing status. You know what this means? Stanley Kubrick directed the Epstein files.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

Oh, yeah.

[Stephen Colbert]

Oh, yeah. Hey, if you were planning on flying over the holidays, I would say maybe don't, because experts warn that flying is about to become even more miserable. More miserable, of course, what Spirit Airlines calls first class. But good news. We just got some new travel advice from Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, seen here explaining how he would eat one really long noodle. Duffy. Secretary Duffy released this video yesterday pining for the old days of air travel. Come fly with me, let's fly, let's fly away.

[Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy]

Air travel is a miracle of American ingenuity. We built airports to launch a golden age of travel across the skies. Flying was a bastion of civility. But today.

[Stephen Colbert]

I know that looks bad. That last shot there looks bad. But the pastor was only using his feet because the flight attendant had told him to stop using his penis.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Video.

[Commercial Announcer]

Joke.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

It's a joke.

[Stephen Colbert]

You're making jokes. Happy Thanksgiving. It's a joke. The video continued and got more extreme. I'm allowed to go, but manners don't.

[Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy]

Stop at the gate.

[Stephen Colbert]

That's right. Manners don't stop at the gate. Things aren't what they used to be. Some would call it the golden age of travel. Let's bring civility and manners back. Okay, how about this? We'll bring back civility and manners when the airlines bring back fine dining with gourmet chefs, champagne and sky lobster. Nowadays, you're lucky to get a pack of crumbled biscoffs. Thanks, but I'll eat in Tampa. Secretary Duffy, who is officially in charge of the bad travel, thinks it's all your fault. Ask yourself, are you helping a pregnant woman put her bag in the overhead bin? That is so important. This will all be better if you just help more pregnant ladies with their bags. And if you can't tell who's pregnant, just start making guesses. Hey, pregnant lady. The pregnant lady. You. You look pregnant to me. Baby, are you sure Pee on this stick. What? Trying to make air travel better here. Hey, Duffy told me. Oh, even non Epstein, things are looking bad for Trump out there. A new poll found that 76% of voters say the White House is doing more harm than good on the economy. Even worse for him. Even worse for him. That's a Fox News poll. Jeez. Jeez. Usually Fox News polls are like, is the president too sexy? And the choices are Yum Zaddy's home and Immigrant ate my hamster. How we doing? How are we doing? Can we say goodbye? Say goodbye. Can I say goodnight? Can I go to commercial? Oh, we got. Is that long enough? A lot of the economic pain is caused by Trump's tariffs which are jacking up prices for this Christmas. If you're decorating the yard, you can forget one of those big inflatable Santas. Shoppers are reporting that five years ago, I would say an inflatable decoration cost like $40. Now they're 1, 2, $300. And that's too bad. This year kids won't be able to enjoy the tradition of waking up on Christmas morning to the sight of deflated Rudolph. Mommy. Mommy, Mommy. Is he dead? Yes. Yes. Toys may also. Toys may also be hard to come by because thanks to tariffs, toy makers are bracing for empty shelves this Christmas. So get ready for the year's hottest toy shelf on the shelf. We got a great show for you tonight.

[Commercial Announcer]

Coming up, Senator Elizabeth Warren.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hey, Ryan Reynolds here wishing you a very happy half off holiday because right now Mint Mobile is offering you the gift of 50% off unlimited. To be clear, that's half price, not half the service. And Mint is still free premium unlimited wireless for a great price. So that means a half day.

[Stephen Colbert]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Give it a [e-mail] switch.

[Stephen Colbert]

Upfront payment of $45 for a 3.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

Month plan, equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first 3 months only. Speed slow.

[Stephen Colbert]

After 35 gigabytes of networks busy.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

Taxes and fees extra.

[Stephen Colbert]

See mint mobile.com come to DSW for.

[DSW Spokesperson]

The shoes, Stay for the fun. Because let's be honest, if shoe shopping isn't fun, are you even doing it right? So go ahead, try something new. Try something different. Good different. Try something that feels like you. You know, the real you. And then definitely brag about it later. Because at dsw, you've got unlimited freedom to play. Find the shoes that get you at prices that get your budget at DSW stores [e-mail] let us surprise you.

[Stephen Colbert]

Ladies and gentlemen. My guest tonight is an author, an academic, a former president, and has served as a U.S. senator since 2013. Please welcome back to the Late Show Senator Elizabeth Warren. Madame. There you go.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

Wow, these guys are fired up.

[Stephen Colbert]

Nice to see you again. Early. Happy Thanksgiving.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

Thank you. Happy Thanksgiving, dear.

[Stephen Colbert]

And a belated Happy Halloween. Because before we do anything, I want to get into this great honor you gave me or brother Bailey gave me. Bailey, your dog for Halloween, dressed up as me with my little. What an honor. Thank you so much.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

So look, I just have to tell you. So Bailey helps hand out candy.

[Stephen Colbert]

Okay. Awesome.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

At Halloween. And when we'd open the door to the trick or treaters, a lot of them didn't know for sure if it was Bailey or if it was Stephen Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

Right?

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

You get it?

[Stephen Colbert]

Yes. Yes. There you go.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

Uh huh.

[Stephen Colbert]

This is one thing we know. CBS has extra extremely young viewers.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

Exactly. But you know, I do want to say about this. There's a reason we picked that costume. And that's because Bailey and I talked about this. And we don't think one corporation or one man named David Ellison should be able to buy up all the shows and buy up all the sports and buy up all the news and decide who watches what and who pays what. And I'm going to stay in that fight. So we're there.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you very much. Very nice. I have never met Mr. Ellison and I'm sure he's a fine fella. Get me sued, you're gonna get me sued.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

Exactly.

[Stephen Colbert]

All right. Okay. The big news of the week was the bill to release the Epstein files made it all the way to Trump's desk. He signed it. Now it's with very nervous Pam Bondi. The DOJ has 30 days to comply. You're a law. Last time I checked. Clearly stuff's gonna get redacted. We know when stuff gets redacted. You see the redacting. Is there any way to know if Stuff was taken out that we don't know was taken out. You know what I mean? Could just pages be missing and we'll never even know that there were black bars on it.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

Well, okay, so let's start with the fact that if Trump really wanted to release this stuff, he could release it this evening. I mean, this is.

[Stephen Colbert]

He could have released it four months ago.

[Commercial Announcer]

Exactly.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

But he's doing it right now.

[Stephen Colbert]

He asked them to force it him to do what he could already do.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

And he does have something of a history of hiding things, lying about things, misrepresenting, using every loophole. Just the facts speak for themselves. So you kind of have to approach it starting. That's going to be the starting place. Now all that really means is we can't just say when it gets to be December 19th. Well, okay, great, now we're going to get to see it all. Nope, it's whatever gets released. You're going to have to now start doing the comparisons. So wait, why is this thing numbered page 123 9? The Justice Department lawyers who have been fired or who have left the Department of Justice who say, whoa, I looked at that back when. And there were these other pieces, the cross references.

[Stephen Colbert]

Are there a lot of lawyers who worked on this who were let go?

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

There are, yes. So there's going to be a lot of that. There's going to be a lot of cross hatching. And here's the point I want to make from that. The reason The Epstein files are being released is because of you.

[Stephen Colbert]

It's true.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

If people across this country had not continued to push, push, push, raise hell, hold signs, talk about it, not get distracted, then they would not come out. So the point is, even when the first blast comes out, you got to stay on it. And here's why I think is the reason for that. Because what's ultimately going on here is there's a fundamental question about how our country works. Are we going to be a country where there's one set of rules for this tiny little group at the top that protects each other, that lies for each other, that cossets each other, that has plenty of money and plenty of power and plenty of control and a completely different set of rules for everyone else? The Epstein files is fundamentally about that. And that's why we want to see every last piece of the Epstein file. All of it, same rules for everybody.

[Stephen Colbert]

And there's more. And that's not all, because beyond that, there's the banking records of Jeffrey Epstein. Okay, all right, so you're the ranking member of the Banking Committee. What questions do you have for the banks that manage Jeffrey Epstein's money? Because there's so many deposits and transfers that we don't know about.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

So I always say follow the money. And with Jeffrey Epstein, I really mean follow the money because here's the deal. JPMorgan Chase. Yes. Jamie Dimon, I'm looking at you. I am. You know I am. So JPMorgan Chase is Jeffrey Epstein's bank. A close personal relationship that spans years. I mean, ask yourself, shouldn't this be in the JPMorgan Chase advertisements? How long they served? How long they served Jeffrey Epstein long after his criminal conviction for sexual misconduct with underage girls. And here's the deal. They opened about 134 different accounts for Jeffrey Epstein over these years. They did more than a billion dollars in transactions for Jeffrey Epstein. Yeah, they had a $50 million line of credit. He literally could walk into the bank and get $50 million from JPMorgan Chase. So what I'd like to do over on the Banking Committee is, is I'd like to have Mr. Dimon and some of those other bankers come in and under oath testify about exactly what the financial trail is that kept Jeffrey Epstein afloat for so long.

[Stephen Colbert]

I mean, I know that you've been looking for some consequence for banks since 2008. I have too. This would be a good one.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

You know, actually, damn it, it would. And here's why. I'm sick of the folks who are so rich and think they're so insulated that they don't have to follow the rules that everybody else follows. I'm done.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, we have to take a quick break. We'll be right back with more Elizabeth Warren, everybody. Thank you, buddy.

[Commercial Announcer]

Your perfect style is more than a fit, it's a feeling. When you step into Maurices, our stylists are dedicated to helping you find the perfect outfit. Shop store or maurices.com for new items arriving daily and holiday flash deals. Maurices. That styled feeling Waking up hot and sweaty. Poor sleep can impact your health. That's why the team at Perfectly Snug created the Smart Topper. It's like air conditioning for your bed. Perfectly Snug fits right on top of any mattress and uses active airflow to cool you down. Sensors and dual zone controls allow you and your partner to sleep at your perfect temperature every night. Control it with built in buttons or with the app Shop our biggest sales event of the year now and save up to $330. Just use code BLACK Friday FSAHSA payment options available, visit perfectlysnug.com.

[Stephen Colbert]

We're back with Massachusetts Senator Senator Elizabeth Warren. I want to ask you about another rule being broken right now. Yesterday, some of your colleagues in the House and the Senate put out a video. They're all veterans. Yep. And they said to serving members of both the armed forces and the intelligence community, hey, we've been where you are. We took the constitutional oath that you did. Keep in mind that we were told. And we're just reminding you you have an obligation not to obey an illegal order.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

Yup.

[Stephen Colbert]

Trump may be immune to prosecution. You are not. That's right. For your own protection, do not follow an illegal order. That's not a controversial thing. It is something that has taught members of the military that it is their responsibility to do. People have freaked out in Trump's orbit. Trump has put out texts or put out posts that said, this is seditious. The penalty for that is death. He's retweeted people saying they should be arrested and hanged. That's what George Washington would have done. What do you say your friend Chris Murphy said, hey, he's threatening to kill members of Congress. Now would be the time for somebody to take a side, is what he said. So what's your reaction to all of this?

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

So, look, first of all, Trump is wrong, as you rightly say. What the members of Congress who are standing up. And by the way, can we just say good on them for standing up and pointing us out. Naturally, for a listen for Jason. Right. Good for you guys. But here's the deal. We gotta have their backs. Donald Trump thinks he can intimidate them. And I gotta say, I think he picked the wrong set of people to try to intimidate. But it is powerfully important that we push back. And I don't just mean Democrats. This is a time to call on these Republicans who have been surgically altered and have no spines, to say that when Donald Trump is encouraging violence like this, when he's threatening violence like this, when he's calling out specific members of Congress with death threats, it is time for everyone in Congress to stand up and say, no, that is enough. We are not doing this and not going to put up with it anymore.

[Stephen Colbert]

Now, it's hard to believe it, but until just last week, there was a government shutdown. Yep. Right. Just the longest in the nation's history. It ended when eight of your Senate colleagues voted with the GOP to reopen the government. Were you approached to be one of these? And how did you. Well, I don't know? No, no. Okay. How did you hear about this?

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

I wasn't on anybody's list.

[Stephen Colbert]

When did you learn that this was happening?

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

So look, you saw it happening in inches. We actually had a really good proposal that we put together and offered to the Republicans and said, look, you guys are about to preside over tens of millions of Americans who are going to lose their health care and tens of millions more who are going to see their health insurance premiums double, in some cases triple, in some cases quadruple. So here's what we want to offer you guys. We open the government back up, give us at least a one year extension to try to fix this. I get it. Our health care system is broken, Steven. It's badly broken. I'm not here to defend our health care system, but what I am willing to defend it against is the Republicans coming in and saying they will take a broken system and just smash it so that millions of people who are counting on that system to get their health care lose it. You know, I was in Donald Trump's effectively his backyard down in Florida two weeks ago. I met a woman, she's married, she's got four, four kids. She's got a job, her husband has a job. And they've looked at their insurance and said the new price, we just literally can't afford it. We can't make mortgage and take care of our kids. So she's already planning how they're going to just drop having insurance. She has malignant melanoma. So what she's doing is also planning to drop all of the treatments after January 1st. The United States of America is the richest country in the history of the world. It is time for us to make good on the statement that health care is a basic human right. We need health care for everyone and we're staying in that fight all the way.

[Stephen Colbert]

We have to take another break. We'll be right back with more Senator Elizabeth Warren. Everybody, It's Senator Elizabeth Warren. You campaigned for mayor lect Mom. Donnie.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

I did.

[Stephen Colbert]

And while, you know, while New York has its own issues and it has its own concerns and New York doesn't necessarily vote the way the rest of the country votes. His message of affordability. Yep. His message of the rights and the dignity of working people, I think is a very powerful one that, you know, it may open in New York, but like a Broadway show, it's gonna play very well in the national tour. Some people say this is only for New York. I disagree. I think he's identified something that. Yes, is in New York. With its diverse population. But everyone in America sees something in this for them.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

That's right.

[Stephen Colbert]

You know, this is on both sides of the aisle, by the way, the complaints are similar.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

Yeah, well, this is the whole point. Remember Donald Trump when he ran, kept saying over and over and over that he would lower costs for American families on day one. Those were his words on day one. So here we are now, 10 months later, and the cost of groceries is up, the cost of utilities is up, the cost of housing is up, and the Republicans are literally pushing the cost of health care through the stratosphere. So what are Democrats going to do? It's what we've already seen in this most recent election. Zoron ran with a real focus on making his city more affordable for working families. Michelle Wu ran on that one by 49 points, by the way, against a billionaire. Go, Michelle. But notice it's already jumped the river. Mikey Sherrill in New Jersey ran on affordability. The two public utility commissioners down in Georgia, first Democrats to win statewide in like 111 years, ran on affordability.

[Stephen Colbert]

So it's a long time. That is 11 to years.

[Senator Elizabeth Warren]

So we've got families across this country, people who are good, decent people who work hard, who do their best, who are trying to take care of themselves and the people they love as they watch costs go up and up and up. And they hear Donald Trump say affordability is a hoax. He'll worry about it next year. Trying to put off because he knows his tariff policies are driving up costs. Taking clean energy offline is driving up utility bills. And of course, what they've done to health care is driving up tariffs, driving up the cost of building a new home by thousands and thousands of dollars. So Democrats are focused and our focus is on what the American people are telling us that they most want, and that is a government on their side, not on the side of a handful of billionaires on their side. While Donald Trump says it is more important to build a ballroom than to bring down the price of groceries, more important to spend a billion dollars tarting up a jet plane for him to fly around in than it is to bring down the cost of utilities. While Donald Trump is trying to put gold leaf on everything that he touches, American families have had just about enough of this. And Democrats are going to get in there and fight for affordability for the American people. I love it.

[Stephen Colbert]

Senator, thank you so much for being here again. Charles, it's been a pleasure. Senator Elizabeth Warren, 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.

[Video Game Narrator]

As a raider scavenging a derelict world, you settle into an underground settlement. But now you must return to the surface where arc machines roam. If you're brave enough enough, who knows what you might find. Arc Raiders, a multiplayer extraction adventure video game. Buy now for PlayStation 5, Xbox Series X and S and PC rated T for teen.

[Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy]

Tulsa is my home now. Academy award nominee Sylvester Stallone stars in the Paramount plus original series Tulsa King. His distillery is a very interesting business. And we got into the enemy from Taylor Sheridan, co creator of Landman. What are you saying? I'm a rat? If you think you're going to take me out, it's going to be really difficult. Tulsa King. New season now streaming exclusively on Paramount plus.