The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Guest: Senator Mark Kelly
Date: September 27, 2025

Episode Overview

Stephen Colbert hosts Senator Mark Kelly—former Navy aviator, astronaut, and current senior U.S. Senator from Arizona—for a candid conversation on the current state of American democracy, political division, health care, political violence, and even a lighthearted exploration of UFOs. This episode is marked by the Senator’s honest reflections on constitutional norms, bipartisan tension, and personal tragedy, all seasoned with characteristic Late Show wit.

Major Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Erosion of Constitutional Norms (02:30–06:31)

• Colbert asks about the President’s public targeting of political enemies, specifically via the Justice Department.

• Kelly condemns the norm-breaking behavior:

  “It's to all of the Constitution. Presidents don't get to pick and choose.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (03:07)

• On unprecedented behavior:

  “We've never had a president that has spent his time thinking about how he's going to use the Department of Justice to go after political enemies.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (03:20)

• Colbert highlights Republican rationalizations:

  “[One Republican] said, hey, it's all out in the open. It's not nefarious. He's saying it out in the open. It can't be bad.”
  — Stephen Colbert, (03:46)

• Kelly rebuts, stressing the danger:

  “It's really bad. And I think it's fair to say it's shameful that we currently have a president that at every opportunity seems to look for ways to further divide us as a nation.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (03:56)

• Importance of the DOJ’s independence:

  “When you put people in those jobs that serve a person and not the Constitution, that's where we start to get into trouble.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (04:28)

2. Bipartisan Relationships and Private Concerns (04:43–06:26)

• Colbert probes if Republicans privately express concern.

• Sen. Kelly confirms:

  “They do. And I've had many conversations with my Republican colleagues about this president, how he conducts himself. I wish every day I show up in Washington and I wish today is the day that somebody's going to grow a spine and do something publicly.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (05:10)

• On the hope things will just pass:

  “We just got to get through these three and a half years ... But that's not the right answer because the amount of damage that can be done in that period of time is significant.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (05:43)

• Colbert notes the tendency for presidents to retain power:

  “Presidents rarely give back power that was achieved by the previous president.”
  — Stephen Colbert, (06:26)

3. Looming Government Shutdown & Health Care Crisis (06:31–08:57)

• Colbert discusses the potential shutdown and asks for clarity on the main conflict.

• Kelly makes it clear:

  “This is a fight over the cost of your health care. That's all this is about. The president says no. He says he would prefer a government shutdown.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (07:10)

• On Democrats' demands:

  “There are some premium help that we could provide to the American people. That's what we are asking for. And the President said, no, I took away that help to those premiums when I passed that legislation.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (07:58)

• Stakes for vulnerable communities:

  “Does your rural hospital stay open or not? ... Or does somebody's grandmother get pushed to the curb when she was in the nursing home?”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (08:31)

4. The Cost of Political Violence (08:57–12:59)

• Colbert brings up the personal impact of violence—Gabby Giffords, Kelly’s wife, and the recent tragedy involving Charlie Kirk.

• Sen. Kelly shares a deeply personal response:

  “I got a call … Gabby's been shot. ... She'd been shot in the head. And later that day ... through the media they pronounced her dead. ... About 10 days ago, I went right back to that day thinking about Erica Kirk, Charlie Kirk's wife.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (09:35)

• On the right to disagree:

  “I didn't agree with Charlie Kirk on much, but ... he had freedom of speech rights. And I would, you know, I would go to war to defend that.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (10:46)

• The corrosive effects of social media:

  “If we're trying to make this better ... put down their phone, don't look at social media. It just makes this worse.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (11:34)

• Comparison to 2011:

  “In 2011, it existed, but it wasn't what it is today … The hatred didn't really show up on places like Twitter and Facebook and TikTok and Instagram.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (12:01)

• Worries about polarization:

  “When you reinforce those biases, you separate us further as a Nation… I’m not so sure if we go too far, we're not going to be able to get back from it.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (12:18)

5. UFOs & Congressional Investigations (12:59–14:30)

• Colbert revisits a previous discussion on UFOs, following recent government videos and testimony.

• Lighthearted banter:

  “They hit it with a Hellfire missile. It bounced off like a BB off a battleship and just kept on going.”
  — Stephen Colbert, (13:48)

  “Bigger missile we need against the alien ships.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, joking, (14:00)

• Colbert presses for evidence:

  “So there are alien ships is what you’re saying.”
  — Stephen Colbert, (14:04)

  “The first thing they said was, ‘Take me to your leader.’”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (14:16)

6. Political Outlook & Future Plans (14:33–15:19)

• Colbert asks about Kelly’s political future, noting his 2028 re-election aligns with the presidential cycle.

  “What I'm going to do right now is make sure Jon Ossoff gets reelected in Georgia. … That's the first order of business.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (14:53)

  “I'm focused on 2026. We've got a lot of opportunities … North Carolina, Ohio, Maine.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (15:06)

Notable Quotes

• On dangerous presidential precedent:

  “When you put people in those jobs that serve a person and not the Constitution, that's where we start to get into trouble.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (04:28)

• On political courage:

  “I wish today is the day that somebody's going to grow a spine and do something publicly.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (05:15)

• On political violence:

  “Nobody deserves this. … He had every right to be there to debate people about the issues, issues that he cared about.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (10:22)

• On social media’s divisiveness:

  “If folks can just put down the social media, try to disconnect and try to have, like, real conversations with real people over these issues, we'd get to a much better place.”
  — Sen. Mark Kelly, (12:42)

Key Timestamps

• 02:10 – Introduction of Senator Mark Kelly
• 02:30–06:31 – Discussion on the abuse of presidential power and constitutional norms
• 06:31–08:57 – Government shutdown and health care stakes
• 08:57–12:59 – Political violence, personal impact, and the role of social media
• 12:59–14:30 – UFO investigations and congressional curiosity
• 14:33–15:19 – Kelly’s political future and 2028 plans

Tone & Style

The conversation mixes Colbert’s signature humor and satire with Senator Kelly’s forthrightness and at times, vulnerability. While heavy topics are discussed—abuse of political power, violence, and national division—the show manages to integrate levity, especially when turning briefly to UFOs and campaign intrigue.

This episode is a must-listen for anyone wanting an unfiltered look at the present and possible future of American democracy—delivered with intelligence, candor, and wit.