'The New Yorker' Editor David Remnick

Summary

---

The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert

Guest: David Remnick, Editor of The New Yorker

Date: September 20, 2025

---

Episode Overview

On this episode, Stephen Colbert sits down with David Remnick, Pulitzer Prize-winning journalist and Editor of The New Yorker, for a wide-ranging and profoundly relevant conversation about the state of free speech, media suppression, and the fragility of democracy. With parallels drawn between Russia’s historic transformation and current events in the US, Remnick shares personal observations from his Moscow reporting days, reflects on contemporary American and global threats to press freedoms, and discusses The New Yorker’s latest satirical cover—a sharp commentary on media control.

---

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Suppression of Free Speech (04:48–09:03)

• Colbert opens with praise for The New Yorker, describing it as “the greatest magazine of all time” and notes Remnick's stature in American media.

• Colbert challenges Remnick on a pressing, real-world issue:
  “I’m just curious...what was your first reaction when you heard that...Jimmy had been pulled off the air?” (04:53)

• Remnick draws on Russian and Soviet history:

  • Remembers witnessing first-hand the arrival of free speech (“glasnost”) in Moscow during Gorbachev’s era, emphasizing how profound and precious those changes felt after centuries of censorship.
  • “It was oxygen. And to see what's happening in our country today… to see this treated so cavalierly and so cynically and shut down...is, to me, a horrific tragedy.” (06:57)

• Colbert follows up with a question about media crackdowns under Putin:

  • Remnick illustrates the parallel by recounting Putin’s early moves to silence critical entertainment, such as the puppet show "Kukli":
    “They went after him and he hated it. And suddenly that shut down, that was brought to heel, and then the entire network was shut down…now we've reached the point...if there is in fact a Russian free press, their home base is...all abroad.” (08:01-08:48)

---

2. Fragility and Restoration of Free Press (09:03–10:02)

• Colbert asks if countries have regained press freedom after losing it:
  • Remnick responds with cautious optimism, referencing Eastern European countries (e.g. the Czech Republic) that reclaimed democracy after communist censorship.
  • “We have to remember...how incredibly precious free expression is, how rare it is...and how fragile it is.” (09:25)
  • Warns that U.S. government actions manipulating or stifling the press are alarming:
    “They haven't reached publishing houses quite yet, but you know, stay tuned.” (09:52)

---

3. The New Yorker’s Satirical Cover & Media Control (10:02–11:02)

• Colbert spotlights the latest cover of The New Yorker:

  • Describes it as “a tiny hand in a big suit holding a TV remote.”

• Remnick explains the artwork:

  • Credits Barry Blitt, likening him to Thomas Nast.
  • The cover’s remote control buttons: “mute, pause, stop, stifle, silence, shun, sack, banish…”
  • “It’s funny, funny ha ha, but it’s also very real. This is what’s going on.” (10:51)

---

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• On the loss of free speech:

  “It was oxygen. And to see what's happening in our country today… to see this treated so cavalierly and so cynically and shut down...is, to me, a horrific tragedy.”
  —David Remnick, 06:57

• On press freedom under Putin:

  “They went after him and he hated it. And suddenly that shut down, that was brought to heel, and then the entire network was shut down.”
  —David Remnick, 08:13

• On the rarity of free expression:

  “We have to remember...how incredibly precious free expression is, how rare it is throughout the world and how fragile it is.”
  —David Remnick, 09:25

• On Trump, media, and satire:

  “It captures in one image Trump's peculiar obsession with the media, particularly television.… And it’s funny, funny ha ha, but it’s also very real. This is what’s going on.”
  —David Remnick, 10:38–10:51

• Wry closing exchange:

  Colbert: “Well, David…”
  Remnick: “It’s good that I came out for the comedy portion.”
  Colbert: “Exactly. It’s been a cheerful conversation.”
  Remnick: “I like to bring a little life into every talk.”
  (11:02–11:15)

---

Timestamps of Key Segments

• 04:31 – Introduction of David Remnick
• 05:22 – Remnick’s reflections on Soviet glasnost and present US media climate
• 07:17 – Putin’s media crackdown parallels
• 09:11 – Discussion of the fragility—and restoration—of free press
• 10:02 – Unveiling and explanation of Barry Blitt's New Yorker cover
• 11:02 – Closing banter

---

Tone & Style

The conversation—thoughtful, historically grounded, and at times darkly humorous—balances Remnick’s gravitas with Colbert’s sardonic wit. Listeners hear both the urgency of Remnick’s warnings about press freedom and the wry acknowledgment, delivered through satire, that these issues are also part of America’s unfolding cultural drama.

---

Additional Note

• David Remnick’s documentary, “The New Yorker at 100,” premieres on Netflix December 5th.

---

This episode is essential listening for anyone interested in media, democracy, or the global state of free speech—an urgent, clear-eyed conversation that’s both sobering and laced with flashes of satire.

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.

[David Remnick]

I love.

[Stephen Colbert]

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 em.

[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.

[Sidekick/Co-host]

We're nut.

[Stephen Colbert]

No, we got nothing but nut. Nutty, nutty, nutty, nutty. Talk about, talk about, talk about, talk about, talk about nutty. Good.

[IXL or Lululemon Advertiser]

The first few weeks of school are in the books. Now it's time to keep that momentum going. IXL helps kids stay confident and ahead of the curve. Teachers move fast, but IXL keeps your child right on track, building skills at the same pace they're learning in school. IXL is an award winning online learning platform that helps kids truly understand what they're learning, whether they're brushing up on math or diving into social studies. It covers math, language arts, science and social studies from Pre K through 12th grade. With content that's engaging, personalized, and yes, actually fun. It's the perfect tool to keep learning going without making it feel like school. If your child is struggling, this is the smartest investment you can make. A single hour of tutoring costs, more than a month of IXL make an impact on your child's learning. Get IXL now and listeners of this podcast can get an exclusive 20% off IXL membership when they sign up today at ixcellearning.com audio visit ixcelearning.com audio to get the most effective learning program out there at the best price. It's the Late Show Poncho with Stephen Colbert.

[Stephen Colbert]

My next guest tonight is a Pulitzer Prize winning expert on Russia and the editor of the New Yorker magazine. Please welcome to the Late Show. David Remnick. Good to see you again.

[David Remnick]

Great to see you.

[Stephen Colbert]

New Yorker. It has been called the greatest magazine of all time.

[David Remnick]

And you're a New Yorker writer now.

[Stephen Colbert]

I'm a New Yorker writer now. And you know, it's also got a significant online presence. And you are the editor of New Yorker, a major media Figure. And I'm just curious, you know, you're familiar with how free speech can be stifled around the world. And I'm curious, what was your first reaction when you heard that? Based upon what Jimmy had said on Monday night and what Brendan Carr said yesterday, to hear that Jimmy had been pulled off the air, what was your first reaction?

[David Remnick]

Well, the Brendan Carr line seemed like something out of goodfellas. It really did. It was really ominous. We can do this the hard way or the easy way. And I have to tell you from my own particular experience, I am no longer a kid reporter, but when I was. I was living in Moscow in my late 20s, into my early 30s, and things were getting better and better in the world in many different ways, not least in the Soviet Union. Free speech was arriving for the first time. After 1,000 years of czars and seven decades of the Communist Party and the Bolsheviks, Mikhail Gorbachev decided to modernize the country. And in order to modernize the country and to breathe new air into it, what was the first thing he did was begin with something called glasnost, the free expression. You started to see newspaper articles about the invasion of Afghanistan, about alcoholism in society, about corruption in government. And this was incredibly meaningful and valuable in the. What seemed to be the beginning of the modernization for the first time in the Soviet Union, it was exhilarating. People took to this like fish take to the sea. It was oxygen. And to see what's happening in our country today, in my country, and one of the things that I prize most about it and love most and make my living at, and it is so dear to all of us, I think, to see this treated so cavalierly and so cynically and shut down, to watch us move backwards and to see it happening elsewhere in the world, too, each in their own way, is, to me, a horrific tragedy.

[Stephen Colbert]

When Putin took power, he consolidated his power around 99, and right after that started rolling up like media. How would you compare to what's happening now, to what Putin did at the time? Because there were three big, big networks in Russia.

[David Remnick]

What happened under Gorbachev and then eventually under Yeltsin? And there were lots of flaws to the beginning of democracy, or whatever it was called. But the most exhilarating thing, or one of them, was the sort of shoots of a free press. And there was real journalism on television and in newspapers and radio. It was exciting. It was productive. It was. The world was full of debate. Putin came to power on New Year's night, 1999, 2000. And you know who he went after first. This will sound a little familiar to you comedians. I didn't know that there was a television show called Kukli, which means puppets. And it was a satirical, comic, political puppet show. And there was a character on Putin, big rubbery nose and, you know, stern KGB eyes and the whole thing. And they went after him and he hated it. And suddenly that shut down, that was brought to heel, and then the entire network was shut down. And then, and then, and then, and now we've reached the point with the war in Ukraine, the invasion of Ukraine, that if there is in fact a Russian free press, their home base is in the Baltic states, in Holland and all abroad.

[Stephen Colbert]

Are there examples of countries that have been able to restore a free and independent press after having lost it?

[David Remnick]

Well, you know, you could say that there are nations, for example, in Eastern Europe that had been democratic or semi democratic, and then they came under communist rule and strict censorship and then regained it. Czech Republic, for example. But we have to remember, and I think we often forget, how incredibly precious free expression is, how rare it is throughout the world and how fragile it is. What we are seeing now is the government acting at the direction of the President of the United States to put pressure on, to manipulate, to silence and even to shut down institutions of the free word. They haven't reached publishing houses quite yet, but you know, stay tuned.

[Stephen Colbert]

Speaking of which, just a few hours ago, this new cover of the New Yorker came out. It's a tiny hand in a big suit holding a TV remote. What do you. What do you. What? Anything you.

[David Remnick]

Some guy who watches tv, I guess. Yes, I think.

[Stephen Colbert]

What would you like people to take from this?

[David Remnick]

So the artist is Barry Blitt, who is a kind of cartoonist genius, really. You know, kind of like Thomas Nast for our generation. And it captures in one image Trump's peculiar obsession with the media, particularly television, I'd have to say. And you know, the buttons say mute, pause, stop, stifle, silence, shun, sack, banish, and so on. And it's funny, funny ha ha, but it's also very real. This is what's going on.

[Stephen Colbert]

Well, David.

[David Remnick]

It'S good that I came out for the comedy portion.

[Stephen Colbert]

Exactly. It's been a cheerful conversation.

[David Remnick]

I like to bring a little life into every talk.

[Stephen Colbert]

Thank you so much for being here. Here's do documentary. The New Yorker at 100 will premiere on Netflix on December 5th. David Remnick, 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.

[Friend/Caller]

Hey, girl, this is a legging emergency. My favorite Lululemon leggings, The ones you got me years ago. I think they're lined. Maybe. Well, I just got back from my trip, and I think I left them at the B and B. Girl, I need to replace these. Could you send me the link to where you got them? I need a pair asap. Also, my birthday's coming up, so. Anyways, thanks, girl. Talk soon.

[Sidekick/Co-host]

Looking for your newest go tos?

[IXL or Lululemon Advertiser]

Lululemon what's New Gear?

[Stephen Colbert]

Drops on Tuesdays.

[IXL or Lululemon Advertiser]

Every Tuesday, head to lululemon.com to shop.

[Sidekick/Co-host]

What's new gear?

[David Remnick]

Now streaming on Paramount plus, someone is trying to frame us. Until our names are cleared, we're fugitives from Inter and Clyde with better snacks.

[Stephen Colbert]

Ncis Tony and Ziva.

[David Remnick]

Now streaming on Paramount Plus.