>> RIGHT THERE IN THE HUDSON RIVER...
>> YEAH, THAT WAS AWESOME.
>> ...NOT FAR FROM THE "INTREPID," A HUMPBACK WHALE
BURST OUT OF THE WATER.
>> WE COULDN'T REALLY BELIEVE IT, BECAUSE WE DIDN'T REALLY
EXPECT TO SEE A WHALE IN THE MIDDLE OF THE HUDSON.
♪ ♪ ♪ ( TO TUNE OF "NEW YORK, NEW
YORK" ) >> Announcer: IT'S "A LATE SHOW
WITH STEPHEN COLBERT."
TONIGHT: VACCINATION ANTICIPATION.
PLUS, STEPHEN WELCOMES RACHEL MADDOW AND MEGAN THEE
STALLION.
FEATURING JON BATISTE AND STAY HOMIN'.
AND NOW, LIVE ON TAPE FROM THE ED SULLIVAN THEATER OFFICE
BUILDING IN NEW YORK CITY, IT'S STEPHEN COLBERT!
>> Stephen: HEY!
SORRY.
SOMEONE'S DRAWING MY ATTENTION OVER HERE.
EVIE'S HERE TONIGHT.
THANK YOU FOR BEING HERE, LOVE.
WELCOME TO "A LATE SHOW."
I AM YOUR HOST, STEPHEN COLBERT.
WELL, THE THING THAT KEEPS HAPPENING IS STILL HAPPENING,
BUT NOW... MUCH MORE.
EVERY DAY, THE U.S. HITS A NEW TERRIBLE MILESTONE IN THE
PANDEMIC, AND IN THE PRESIDENT.
BUT LET'S START WITH THE PANDEMIC.
WE SHOULD ALL BRACE OURSELVES, BECAUSE THE POST-THANKSGIVING
CORONAVIRUS SURGE IS JUST STARTING.
NO SURPRISE.
WE ALL SAW THE PICTURES.
EVEN BEFORE THE PARADE, THAT BOSS BABY WAS NOT STAYING SIX
FEET AWAY FROM ANYONE.
BUT THERE'S HOPE ON THE WAY.
I'LL GIVE YOU THE DETAILS IN TONIGHT'S EDITION OF:
"CATCH A THIRD WAVE: ENDLESS BUMMER."
>> MY COUSIN IS THE MUCINEX MAN!
>> GET OUT OF HERE!
RIGHT NOW, THE PFIZER VACCINE IS BEING ADMINISTERED IN THE U.K.,
AND WE'RE LEARNING WHAT TO EXPECT.
HEALTH AUTHORITIES IN THE U.K.
SAY THAT PEOPLE WITH SEVERE ALLERGIES SHOULD NOT RECEIVE THE
VACCINE.
OOH, I HOPE THIS MEANS THE VACCINE IS A PEANUT BUTTER
COOKIE!
ALSO, IN STATESIDE VACCINE TRIALS, PARTICIPANTS WARN OF
INTENSE SYMPTOMS AFTER THE SECOND SHOT, SAYING "I DEVELOPED
A LOW-GRADE FEVER AND HAD CHILLS."
AND I BELIEVE WE HAVE SOME FOOTAGE OF THAT MAN AFTER HIS
INOCULATION: ♪ I GOT CHILLS
THEY'RE MULTIPLYING ♪ >> Stephen: HOPE HE'S OKAY.
DO WE HAVE ANY IDEA OF WHAT HE LOOKS LIKE NOW?
OH, GOOD LORD.
I JUST PRAY HE DOESN'T DEVELOP SATURDAY NIGHT FEVER.
YOU KNOW WHO REALLY NEEDS A VACCINE?
EVERYBODY.
BUT ESPECIALLY THE CRUISE INDUSTRY.
THEY'RE ONE OF THE FIRST INDUSTRIES TO BE COMPLETELY
SHUT DOWN BY CORONAVIRUS.
BUT NOW, ROYAL CARIBBEAN IS BACK.
THEY'VE LAUNCHED A SOCIALLY- DISTANCED, ULTRA-SANITIZED
EXPERIENCE THEY'RE CALLING THE "COVID-SECURE" CRUISE.
THAT IS GREAT NEWS!
NOW THE ONLY DISEASE YOU CAN GET ON A CRUISE IS ALL THE OTHER
ONES.
PLUS, IF THERE'S ONE THING THAT'S NEVER BACKFIRED, IT'S
BRAGGING ABOUT HOW SAFE YOUR GIANT CRUISE SHIP IS.
JUST ASK THE DIRECTOR OF MARKETING FOR ROYAL CARIBBEAN:
>> "I'M THE KING OF GOOD IDEAS!" WHOA!
WHOA-HO-HO!
>> Stephen: HE'S REALLY EXCITED, REALLY EXCITED.
SOME OF THE SHIP'S COVID PRECAUTIONS INCLUDE SAILING AT
HALF CAPACITY WITH MANDATORY MASKS "AT ALL TIMES," MINGLING
DISCOURAGED, AND NO STOPS.
SO YOU'RE ON A BIG SHIP, BUT IT DOESN'T DOCK ANYWHERE, AND YOU
CAN'T SEE ANYONE.
PERFECT VACATION IF YOU'VE BEEN CUPID UP IN QUARANTINE FOR LAST
NIGHT MONTHS AND THOUGHT, "I LOVE MY APARTMENT BUT I WISH IT
WAS SMALLER AND GAVE ME MOTION SICKNESS."
THE CRUISE SET SAIL THIS WEEK, AND EVERYTHING WAS GOING GREAT,
UNTIL PASSENGERS WOKE UP TO THIS ANNOUNCEMENT FROM THE CAPTAIN:
>> FOR NOW, THIS IS THE INFORMATION THAT I HAVE TO SHARE
WITH YOU.
A GUEST WAS FEELING WELL-- UNWELL, AND TESTED POSITIVE FOR
COVID-19.
>> Stephen: OOH!
NOT SO COVID-SECURE AFTER ALL!
THAT IS THE WORST ANNOUNCEMENT YOU CAN HEAR ON A CRUISE SHIP,
AFTER, "THE HYPNOTIST WILL BE STOPPING BY YOUR TABLES IN JUST
A MOMENT."
( LAUGHTER ) NO ONE COULD HAVE SEEN THIS
COMING, EXCEPT EVERYONE, BECAUSE JUST THREE WEEKS AGO, THE FIRST
CRUISE TO LAUNCH SINCE THE PANDEMIC WAS FORCED TO RETURN TO
ITS HOME PORT AFTER PASSENGERS TESTED POSITIVE FOR COVID-19.
BUT ROYAL CARIBBEAN WENT AHEAD WITH THEIR CRUISE ANYWAY.
I GUESS THEY WERE JUST FOLLOWING THE ADVICE OF THAT FAMOUS
INSPIRATIONAL POSTER: "IF AT FIRST YOU DON'T SUCCEED,
TRY CRAMMING 2,000 PEOPLE ONTO A DIFFERENT FLOATING HOT ZONE WITH
UNLIMITED ROOM-TEMPERATURE SHRIMP."
JANUARY 20 CANNOT COME FAST ENOUGH, WHEN AMERICA WILL USHER
IN A GLORIOUS NEW ERA OF BASIC COMPETENCE.
YESTERDAY, PRESIDENT-ELECT JOE BIDEN UNVEILED MORE MEMBERS OF
HIS "KNOWING HOW TO DO THINGS" TASK FORCE, STARTING WITH NAMING
DR. VIVEK MURTHY AS HIS NOMINEE FOR SURGEON GENERAL.
HE'LL BE REPLACING THE OUTGOING SURGEON GENERAL, A TONGUE
DEPRESSOR WITH GOOGLY EYES.
BUT JOE DID STUMBLE JUST A LITTLE IN PRONOUNCING BOTH THE
TITLE AND NAME OF HIS NOMINEE FOR HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES,
XAVIER BECERRA.
>> FOR SECRETARY OF HEALTH AND EDUCATION, I NOMINATE XAVIER
BACCARIA.
>> Stephen: CLOSE.
( LAUGHTER ) DAMN CLOSE!
IT'S HEALTH AND HUMAN SERVICES.
"HEALTH AND EDUCATION" IS THE NAME OF THE HIGH SCHOOL CLASS
WHERE YOU TEACH XAVIER TO WEAR CONDOMS SO HE DOESN'T GET
BACCAREEA.
( LAUGHTER ) BIDEN ALSO NOMINATED FORMER IOWA
GOVERNOR TOM VILSACK TO REPRISE HIS OBAMA ADMINISTRATION ROLE AS
U.S. AGRICULTURE SECRETARY.
NOW, IT'S BEEN SEVERAL YEARS SINCE HE HAS HAD THE JOB.
HOPEFULLY HE STILL REMEMBERS HOW CORN WORKS.
VILSACK ATTACK!
BIDEN ALSO SET THE BAR FOR "BEST NAME IN HIS ADMINISTRATION" BY
NOMINATING OHIO REPRESENTATIVE MARCIA FUDGE AS HIS HOUSING AND
URBAN DEVELOPMENT SECRETARY.
FUDGE.
THAT IS WONDERFUL-- THOUGH SHE HAS BEEN DOGGED BY ALLEGATIONS
THAT SHE STEERED VALUABLE GOVERNMENT CATERING CONTRACTS TO
HER NEPHEW, E.L.
AND IT ALSO LOOKS LIKE BIDEN MIGHT DO A SOLID FOR HIS FORMER
PRIMARY MOMENT AND MAN WHO SET THE PHOTO SHOP FILTER TO "ALL,"
PETE BUTTIGEIG.
BECAUSE, APPARENTLY, OLD BOOTY-BOOTS IS BEING LINED UP AS
BIDEN'S U.S. AMBASSADOR TO CHINA.
WAIT A MINUTE.
PETE BUTTIEGEG SPEAKS EIGHT LANGUAGES: ENGLISH, NORWEGIAN,
SPANISH, FRENCH, ITALIAN, MALTESE, ARABIC, AND DARI.
BUT NOT MANDARIN.
YOU'RE SENDING HIM TO THE ONLY PLACE ON THE PLANET WHERE HE
DOESN'T SPEAK THE LANGUAGE.
THAT'S NOT AN AMBASSADORSHIP.
THAT'S THE PLOT OF "EMILY IN PARIS!"
DESPITE BIDEN'S APPOINTMENTS, OUR CURRENT PRESIDENT CONTINUES
TO DENY REALITY.
AND I'LL GIVE YOU THE LATEST IN THE LAMENESS OF HIS SAMENESS IN
TONIGHT'S: ( TO TUNE OF "ROW ROW ROW YOUR
BOAT" ) >> ♪ SCREW, SCREW, SCREW YOUR
VOTE!
IGNORE COVID-19.
♪ I NEED THERAPY!
THERAPY!
♪ YOU ALL ARE BUT A DREAM! ♪ >> THE ROAD FROM THE WHITE
HOUSE.
>> Stephen: THE PRESIDENT'S LEGAL LOSING STREAK CONTINUES.
YESTERDAY, THE NEVADA SUPREME COURT REJECTED HIS CAMPAIGN'S
APPEAL TO OVERTURN BIDEN'S WIN, AND THE SUPREME COURT REJECTED
PENNSYLVANIA REPUBLICANS' ATTEMPT TO BLOCK BIDEN'S
VICTORY.
THIS PRESIDENT HASN'T FACED THIS MUCH REJECTION SINCE EVERY TIME
HE HAS TRIED TO HOLD MELANIA'S HAND.
( LAUGHTER ) SO, HE'S GETTING MORE DESPERATE.
THIS AFTERNOON, IN AN ATTEMPT TO PROVE... SOMETHING, THE
PRESIDENT TWEETED, "AT 10:00 P.M. ON ELECTION EVENING,
WE WERE AT 97% WIN WITH THE SO-CALLED 'BOOKIES'."
FIRST OF ALL, THAT'S NOT TRUE.
SECOND OF ALL, SHUT UP.
( LAUGHTER ) THIRD, IT WOULDN'T MATTER IF
"THE BOOKIES" HAD GIVEN YOU ODDS AT 10:00 PM.
BOOKIES DON'T DECIDE WHO'S PRESIDENT.
IT'S THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, NOT THE ELECTORAL COCKFIGHT.
HERE'S SOMETHING: WHITE HOUSE AIDES ARE NOW SPECULATING THAT
THE PRESIDENT IS PLOTTING TO GIVE OUT MASS PARDONS.
NOT REALLY THE BEHAVIOR YOU EXPECT TO SEE FROM SOMEONE WHO'S
GOING TO BE AROUND FOR ANOTHER FOUR YEARS.
IF YOUR 90-YEAR-OLD GRANDPA TAKES A TRIP TO ITALY, SKYDIVES,
AND HAS A THREESOME, HE'S NOT CROSSING ITEMS OFF HIS "LIVE
FOREVER" LIST.
I DON'T KNOW WHO IS HAVING A THREE-SOME WITH A 90-YEAR-OLD
BUT GOOD FOR YOU, GRANDPA.
REPORTEDLY, THE PRESIDENT WANTS TO HAND OUT PARDONS EVEN TO
PEOPLE NOT ASKING FOR THEM.
WHEN YOU ARE A LAME DUCK, THEY LET YOU DO IT.
ACCORDING TO ONE AIDE, HE'S THREATENED TO PARDON "EVERY
PERSON WHO EVER TALKED TO ME," INCLUDING NOTORIOUS CRIME BOSS,
JIMMY THE GRIMACE.
BUT THE OFFERS HAVE NOT ALWAYS BEEN WELCOME.
YOU SEE, ONE POTENTIAL PARDONEE EXPLAINED THAT THE OFFER FELT
AWKWARD BECAUSE THE ADVISER DIDN'T BELIEVE THEY HAD
COMMITTED ANY CRIMES.
OH, THEY DON'T BELIEVE THEY'VE COMMITTED ANY CRIMES, BUT JUST
WAIT UNTIL THE PRESIDENT'S MEMOIR, "IT WAS ALL GREG'S
IDEA!" THE FACT THAT YOU ACCEPTED A
PARDON JUST MAKES YOU LOOK GUILTY.
ONE PERSON WHO WAS THREATENED WITH CLEMENCY SAID THEY BELIEVED
BEING ON THE LIST COULD HURT THEIR PUBLIC PERSONA.
OH, DON'T WORRY.
IF YOU WORKED FOR THIS ADMINISTRATION, YOU'RE GOING TO
WANT TO KEEP YOUR PERSONA HIDDEN FROM THE PUBLIC.
BUT THE NEWS ISN'T ALL PANDEMICS AND POLITICS.
THERE'S SOME FUN NEWS.
BECAUSE YESTERDAY, JUST A FEW BLOCKS FROM WHERE I SIT, A
HUMPBACK WHALE WAS SPOTTED IN THE HUDSON RIVER.
NO ONE KNOWS EXACTLY WHY THE WHALE CAME TO THE BIG APPLE, BUT
MARINE SCIENTISTS SAY THAT THE MOST PLAUSIBLE REASON IS THAT HE
WANTS TO MAKE IT ON BROADWAY.
WE HAVE CELL PHONE FOOTAGE OF THE WHALE IN THE HUDSON.
THE MOB'S, OBVIOUSLY, GOING TO HAVE TO UPDATE THEIR THREATS.
>> "WHAT THE HELL IS THIS?" >> "IT MEANS LUCA BRAZI FROLICS
WITH THE HUMPBACKS!" >> Stephen: THE WHALE EVEN PAID
A VISIT TO THE STATUE OF LIBERTY.
ISN'T THAT BEAUTIFUL?
AND IT DIDN'T STOP THERE.
IT HIT ALL THE TOURIST SPOTS, THE EMPIRE STATE BUILDING.
IT WENT ON A CARRIAGE RIDE IN CENTRAL PARK, AND EVEN VISITED A
COUPLE OF OLD PALS.
SPEAKING OF UNLIKELY VISITORS, ALIENS ARE EVIDENTIALLY REAL.
ACCORDING TO THE FORMER ISRAELI SPACE SECURITY CHIEF,
EXTRATERRESTRIALS EXIST, AND THEY ARE ALREADY HERE.
THAT'S AMAZING!
IN FACT, WE HAVE FOOTAGE OF ISRAELI SCIENTISTS MAKING
CONTACT.
♪ ♪ ♪ WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU
TONIGHT.
MY GUESTS ARE RACHEL MADDOW AND MEGAN THEE STALLION.
AND EVIE IS HERE.
STICK AROUND.
♪ ♪ ♪ >> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY,
WELCOME BACK TO "A LATE SHOW."
I'M REALLY EXCITED TO CHECK IN WITH JON BATISTE TONIGHT.
JON, HELLO.
>> Jon: WHAT'S HAPPENING, STEPHEN.
>> Stephen: WHAT'S HAPPENING IS YOU HAVE TO LET ME KNOW WHEN
THERE ARE BIG EVENTS GOING ON WITH JON BATISTE.
I HAD TO FIND OUT ABOUT THIS ONLINE.
LOOK WHAT IS COMING OUT DECEMBER 17, NEXT THURSDAY.
IT IS AVAILABLE FOR PREORDER NOW.
IT IS THE DISNEY PIXAR SOUL BY JON BATISTE.
IT'S WON TWO ALBUMS THAT ARE COME, OUT WITH THAT MOVIE.
WHAT-- WHAT CAN WE SCPOCT THIS, JON?
WHAT'S GOING ON.
>> Jon: OH, MY GOODNESS.
THERE IS SO MUCH MUSIC IN THE FILM.
TRENT,, AT CUSS AS WELL AS MYSELF.
I'M SO GLAD IT'S COMING OUT.
IT WILL UPLIFT PEOPLE WHEN THEY SEE IT.
>> Stephen: THIS MUSIC FROM AND INSPIRED BY WILL THE FILM,
AND I UNDERSTAND YOU DID THE COMPOSITIONS AND THE
ARRANGEMENTS OF ALL THE SONGS ON THIS ALBUM.
>> Jon: YES, I HAD A BAND IT'S OLDEST PERSON IN THE BAND IS ROY
HAINES, WHO WAS A GUEST ON OUR SHOW.
HE WAS 95 WHEN WE RECORDED THIS RECORD.
>> Stephen: WAS HE THE ONE PLAYING THE DEEP BASS?
>> Jon: HE WAS PLAYING THE DRUMS.
IT WAS-- HE PLAYED THE DRUMS WITH JOE.
AND HE WAS THERE-- HE WAS 92 AT THE TIME.
HE WAS ON OUR SHOW.
>> Stephen: YOU WERE ALSO A CULTURAL CONSULTANT ON THE FILM.
WHAT DID THAT JOB ENTAIL?
>> Jon: JUST TALKING ABOUT THE WAY THAT MUSICIANS LIVE IN THE
WORLD AND THE WAY THAT WE PLAY TOGETHER, SO IT CAN FEEL VERY
AUTHENTIC WHEN YOU WATCH IT AND NOT SEEM LIKE-- YOU KNOW, WHEN
YOU SEE MUSIC IN FILM SOMETIMES, IT DOESN'T FEEL REAL.
SO I WANTED TO GIVE THEM THE REAL VIBES, YOU KNOW.
>> Stephen: JON BATISTE, EVERYBODY.
THE ALGUM BUM IS "SOUL" GO GET IT.
THANKS, JON.
MY FIRST GUEST IS AN AUTHOR AND EMMY-WINNING JOURNALIST WHO
HOSTS "THE RACHEL MADDOW SHOW."
HER LATEST BOOK IS CALLED "BAG MAN."
PLEASE WELCOME TO "A LATE SHOW," RACHEL MADDOW.
RACHEL GOOD TO SEE YOU AGAIN.
>> STEPHEN, IT IS GREAT TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU FOR HAVING ME.
>> Stephen: IT IS ALWAYS A BIT OF A VACATION FOR ME TO HAVE YOU
ON THE SHOW BECAUSE YOU'RE SUCH A CHAMPION TALKER THAT I CAN SIT
BACK AND JUST WATCH YOU TAKE APART THE STORIES OF THE DAY.
IT'S REALLY DELIGHTFUL.
BEFORE I GET STARTED, I WANT TO TALK TO YOU-- A FEW WEEKS AGO
YOU GAVE A POWERFUL BROADCAST FROM YOUR HOME ABOUT HOW YOUR
PARTNER, SUSAN, HAD CONTRACTED COVID.
FIRST OF ALL, HOW IS SHE DOING?
IS SHE ALL RIGHT?
>> SHE IS OKAY.
SHE GOT-- SHE HAD A, YOU KNOW, REAL CASE OF IT.
AND LIKE A LOT OF PEOPLE WHO HAD SYMPTOMATIC CASES, SHE'S GOT
KIND OF THE LONG TAIL OF THE SYMPTOMS, WHICH IS TRUE FOR
ALMOST EVERYBODY I KNOW THAT HAS HAD IT.
SHE'S GOT THE FATIGUE AND THE HEADABES AND COUGH LINGERING.
BUT SHE IS OUT OF WOODS IN TERMS OF US BEING SCARED THAT SHE
COULD TAKE A DOWNTURN.
SHE'S GOING TO BE FINE.
IT'S BEEN A BEAR TO DEAL WITH.
IT WAS THE SCARIEST THING I'VE EVER BEEN THROUGH IN MY LIFE,
BUT SHE'S GOING TO BE OKAY.
>> Stephen: HOW HAS THAT CHANGED YOUR COVERAGE OF COVID
NOW THAT IT'S BEEN IN YOUR OWN HOME WITH-- WITH YOUR DEAREST
ONE?
>> IT'S AN INTERESTING QUESTION.
I MEAN, I THINK...
I MEAN, IF I'M HONEST ABOUT IT, THIS PROBABLY SOUNDS A LITTLE
BIT ACADEMIC, BUT THE REACTION TO ME TALKING ABOUT THAT ON THE
AIR, TO ME SAYING, "LISTEN, I TAKE THIS AS SERIOUSLY AS
ANYBODY, BUT I JUST REALIZED THAT I WASN'T THAT SCARED ABOUT
GETTING IT MYSELF, BUT SEEING SUSAN SUFFERING WITH IT, IS THE
SCARIEST THING IN MY LIFE, AND I WOULD NOW DO ANYTHING TO PREVENT
THAT SORT OF RISK TO HER."
ME PUTTING IT OUT THERE, THE WAY PEOPLE RESPONDED TO THAT MADE ME
SORT OF REALIZE THAT I THINK WE NEED TO PAY CLOSER ATTENTION TO
WHAT MOTIVATES PEOPLE AND THEIR BEHAVIOR AROUND RISK.
IT'S-- YOU KNOW, IT'S ONE THING TO JUST SAY, "DON'T DO IT.
THAT'S DANGEROUS.
DON'T DO IT.
THAT'S POTENTIALLY GOING TO GET YOU INTO TROUBLE.
NO, NO, NO, NO, NO."
IT'S ANOTHER THING TO UNDERSTAND THAT PEOPLE TAKE RISKS FOR A
REASON.
IT'S HUMAN NATURE.
IT DOESN'T MAKE YOU A BAD PERSON.
BUT FOR ME IT WAS REVEALATORY THAT I CARE A LOT MORE ABOUT MY
PARTNER AND HER SAFETY THAN I DO ABOUT MYSELF.
I DON'T KNOW WHAT THAT SAYS ABOUT ME PSYCHOLOGICALLY, BUT I
REALIZED THAT WAS THE MOTIVATIONAL TRIP FOR ME.
AND IT MADE ME REALIZE WE HAVE TO SOR OF THINK ABOUT WHAT
MOVES PEOPLE MORE THAN WE ALREADY HAVE BEEN, ESPECIALLY
NOW THAT WE'RE GOING TO HAVE THIS VACCINE.
WE'RE GOING TO HAVE TO THINK ABOUT WHAT WILL MOTIVATE PEOPLE
TO DO THE RIGHT THING AROUND THE VACCINATION PROGRAM.
>> Stephen: LET'S TALK A LITTLE BIT ABOUT THE
ADMINISTRATION OF OUR PUBLIC HEALTH AND, EVENTUALLY, THE
ADMINISTRATION OF THE ROLLED OUT OF THE VACCINE.
YOU INTERVIEW TOP HEALTH EXPERTS AND IMMUNOLOGISTS AND
EPIDEMIOLOGISTS.
HAVE YOU ALREADY SEEN ANY CHANGE IN THE LEADERSHIP OF THE MEDICAL
COMMUNITY, NOW THAT THEY KNOW THERE'S GOING TO BE AN
ADMINISTRATION COMING IN THAT TAKES THIS A LITTLE MORE
SERIOUSLY?
>> YEAH.
I-- I HAVE.
AND-- I MEAN, YOU EVEN SEE IT C.E.O. C.D.C.
THE C.D.C. IS THE INTERNATIONAL GOLD STANDARD DISEASE-PREVENTION
AGENCY IN THE WORLD.
AND THEY JUST GOT ABSOLUTELY BATTERIED UNDER TRUMP.
AND IT RESULTED IN THEM DOING A LOT OF DUMB STUFF.
AND SINCE THE ELECTION, EVEN WITH TRUMP STILL THERE, YOU'VE
SEEN THEM START TO ASSERT THEMSELVES AND SORT OF SPEAK
MORE PLAINLY.
YOU'VE STARTED TO SEE C.D.C.
OFFICIALS MAKE PUBLIC-FACING STATEMENTS AND DO BRIEFINGS FOR
REPORTERS IN A WAY THAT THAT HAD ALL BEEN SUBSUMED UNDER THE
WHITE HOUSE AND THEIR, LIKE, QUACK CONTROL THEY HAD THERE.
NOW WE'RE GETTING VERY CLEAR GUIDANCE FROM THE C.D.C.: YOU
SHOULD WEAR A MASK ANY TIME YOU ARE ANYWHERE OTHER THAN HOME,
ANY INDOOR SETTING THAT YOU'RE IN, OTHER THAN YOUR OWN HOUSE,
YOU YOU SHOULD WEAR A MASK.
YES, THAT'S TRUE.
YOU COULD HAVE SAID THAT MONTHS AGO.
BUT AT LEAST YOU'RE SAYING IT NOW.
SEEING IT FROM THE C.D.C.
BUT ALSO THERE ARE ALSO ALL THESE VERY SERIOUS EXPERTS
COMING IN AND ADVISING BIDEN.
THEY'RE DOING LOTS OF PUBLIC-FACING DISCUSSIONS,
SPEAKING WITH ONE VOICE, ALL VERY CONSISTENT.
AND THAT JUST FEELS LIKE A SEA CHANGE FROM THE CLOWN SHOW STUFF
THAT TRUMP WAS DOING AT THE WHITE HOUSE.
IT FEELS BETTER ALREADY.
>> Stephen: NOW THAT WE KNOW-- 2020 HAS BEEN A SINGULAR YEAR.
THERE'S BEEN NO YEAR LIKE THIS IN MY LIFE-- AT LEAST NOT IN MY
ADULT SORT OF CONSCIOUS LIFE.
I KNOW THERE WERE TERRIBLE YEARS IN THE 1960, WHEN I WAS A CHILD.
BUT THERE'S BEEN NOTHING LIKE THIS YEAR.
BUT THERE'S BEEN NOTHING LIKE THE LAST FOUR YEARS, EITHER.
AND AS SOMEONE WHO CONSUMES AN ENORMOUS AMOUNT OF NEWS IN ORDER
TO CURATE IT AND DISTILL IT FOR YOUR AUDIENCE, TO TRY TO GIVE
IT-- AS I SAID YOU'RE MASTER OF PARTS ON THE LAWN.
THESE ARE THE PARTS OF THE STORY, LET ME PUT IT TOGETHER
AND SHOW YOU HOW THE ENGINE WORKS.
YOU HAVE CONSUME A LOT OF THE POISON OF WHAT THIS PRESENT
ADMINISTRATION IS TRYING TO SELL TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE AND THE
WORLD.
HOW DO YOU THINK THAT HAS AFFECTED THE WAY YOU APPROACH
REPORTING THE NEWS?
>> AHH...
>> Stephen: THAT'S GOING TO HOPEFULLY GO BACK TO A DIFFERENT
SORT OF SOURCE OF NEWS NUTRIENT AFTER THIS.
NOW THAT IT'S COMING TO AN END TO SOME DEGREE, DO YOU HAVE ANY
PERSPECTIVE ON WHAT IT'S DONE?
>> ARE YOU ASKING BASICALLY DID THIS BREAK ME?
( LAUGHTER ).
>> Stephen: NO, BUT DID IT IN SOME WAY CHANGE YOUR CHEMICAL
COMPOSITION?
>> IT MIGHT HAVE CHANGED WHAT I AM ABLE TO DIGEST AND HOW.
I MEAN, I-- I FEEL LIKE THIS WAS-- I MEAN, THIS IS A GREAT
TIME TO BE IN THE NEWS BUSINESS BECAUSE WE'VE NEVER BEEN MORE
VITAL, JUST TO LEARN THESE BASIC RULES AGAIN THAT IF WE DIDN'T
KNOW THEM BEFORE, YOU KNOW, DON'T LISTEN TO WHAT THEY'RE
SAYING.
JUST WATCH WHAT THEY'RE DOING.
DON'T-- DON'T TAKE AT FACE VALUE SOMETHING YOU GET FROM A
GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL BECAUSE A GOVERNMENT OFFICIAL IS SAYING
IT.
THOSE RULES BECAME VERY EASY TO REMEMBER ALL OF A SUDDEN AGAIN
IN THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION, WHICH IS GOOD.
BUT THEY'RE GOOD RULES FOR US FOR ALL TIME.
I JUST FEEL LIKE, TO A CERTAIN EXTENT, LIKE TRAINING TO DO THIS
WORK MEANS YOU, LIKE, LEARN THE RULES OF THE ROAD, AND YOU LEARN
HOW TO OPERATE SAFELY, AND YOU, LIKE, BUILD UP YOUR SKILLS.
YOU KNOW, YOU TAKE LESSONS.
YOU LEARN FROM THE BEST.
IT'S LIKE GETTING A COMMERCIAL DRIVER'S LICENSE.
LIKE I'M GOING TO BE A BIG-RIG DRIVER.
I'M GOING TO BE OUT TO AMERICA'S HIGHWAYS.
I'M GOING TO CONVEY MYSELF DOWN THE HIGHWAY IN A WAY THAT IS
SAFE FOR MY FELLOW TRAVELERS.
AND THEN YOU ENTER INTO THIS ADMINISTRATION AND INSTEAD OF
GETTING YOUR BIG RIG AND ON THE HIGHWAY, IT TURNS OUT THERE ARE
BUMPER CARS.
AND ALL YOU'RE GOING TO DO ALL DAY IS SMASH INTO EACH OTHER AND
TRY TO HURT EACH OTHER, AND THAT'S YOUR DRIVING.
AND THAT'S YOUR JOB NOW.
>> Stephen: AND THE GUY IN THE BIGGEST BUMPER CAR IS SAYING
NOBODY ELSE IS OBEYING THE RULES, AND THE RULES ARE,
WHEREVER I DRIVE IS FINE.
>> AND I PUT DYNAMITE CHARGES IN MY BUMPER AND WHEN I HIT YOU,
YOU MIGHT DIE.
IT'S BEEN WEIRD, AND I THINK HAS UNWIRED A LOT OF US IN THE
BUSINESS IN A WAY.
I'M REALLY LOOKING FORWARD TO BIDEN BEING BORING.
I MEAN, HE SORT OF PROMISED TO BE BORING --
>> Stephen: SO AM I.
I'VE NEVER BEEN MORE EXCITED BY VANILLA IN MY ENTIRE LIFE.
TWO SCOOPS, PLEASE.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR MEMBERS OF THE
CABINET THAT HE'S ANNOUNCED THAT EXCITE YOU MOST WITH THEIR...
BASE COMPETENCY?
>> WELL, I MEAN, ALL OF THEIR BORING BASE COMPETENCY IS ITSELF
LIKE THRILLING TO AN ALMOST ADULT- LEVEL DEGREE AT THIS
POINT.
LOOK AT YOU WITH ALL YOUR DEGREES AND EXPERIENCE AND YOUR
COOL-HEADED APPROACH TO MAINSTREAM PROBLEMS.
>> Stephen: TEAR ME OFF A PIECE OF THAT C.V
( LAUGHTER ) >> I'M LIKE, I AM-- I AM UNDONE
BY YOUR M.D., M.P.H., C.D.C.
DIRECTOR.
>> Stephen: SAYS HERE YOU'VE DONE SOME PRO BONO WORK.
>> I'VE READ ALL YOUR AMICUS BRIEFS.
YEAH, SO IT'S-- IT'S-- I GET THRILLED BY NEW THINGS, WHICH
IS-- YEAH, PEOPLE KNOWING WHAT THEY'RE DOING IS BACK.
>> Stephen: THE SCOTUS REJECTED A BID TO OVERTURN THE
PENNSYLVANIA RESULTS YESTERDAY.
AND WE ALSO PASSED SOMETHING CALLED SAFE HARBOR DAY, WHEN
ESSENTIALLY THE ELECTORS ARE LOCKED.
DO YOU THINK, FOR ALL INTENTS AND PURPOSES THERE ARE NO MORE
BALLS TO BE THROWN, AND AFTER THIS EVERYTHING IS JUST CHATTER.
>> YEAH, HMM...
I MEAN, ON EARTH ONE, THIS IS OVER.
>> Stephen: SURE.
>> BUT ON-- IN TRUMP LAND, THIS IS STILL A VERY REMUNERATIVE
THING.
HE'S STILL MAKING TONS OF MONEY DOING AND THIS MAKING SOME SORT
OF POLITICAL HAY THAT WE'RE NOT SURE WHAT HE'S GOING TIGER WOODS
IN THE FUTURE.
SAFE HARBOR DAY IS THE DAY BY WHICH BASICALLY ANY STATE THAT
CERTIFIES WHO IT'S SENDING TO THE ELECTORAL COLLEGE, CONGRESS
CAN'T MESS WITH THEM.
THEY HAVE TO ACCEPT ALL THOSE ELECTORS.
ALL 50 STATES AS OF TODAY HAVE CERTIFIED THEIR ELECTION
RESULTS.
THERE IS NO HISTORY IN THIS COUNTRY OF ANY COURT FOR ANY
REASON OVERTURNING A PROPERLY CERTIFIED ELECTION RESULT IN ANY
STAE, LET ALONE THE WHOLE BUNCH OF STATES YOU WOULD NEED TO HAVE
OVERTHROWN IN ORDER FOR TRUMP TO DO THIS ELECTION.
THEY'RE TRYING TO GET ANOTHER LAWSUITS UP TO THE SUPREME
COURT.
17 ATTORNEYS GENERAL FROM 17 RED STATES SIGNED ON TO THIS NEW
EFFORT BY THE TEXAS ATTORNEY GENERAL, WHO HIMSELF IS UNDER
INDICTMENT, TO GET THIS STUFF DONE.
I MEAN, I THINK THEY'LL DO THIS STUFF FOR AS LONG AS THEY CAN
CONTINUE TO GET PEOPLE TO SEND THEM MONEY TO DO IT.
AND FOR TRUMP, THAT MIGHT BE INFINITE.
I MEAN, HE MIGHT STILL BE RAISING MONEY FOR HIS PHANTOM
LEGAL CHALLENGES IN 2026.
BUT IN TERMS OF ACTUALLY OVERTURNING THE ELECTION,
THERE'S JUST ZERO-- ZERO POSSIBILITY.
IT'S DONE.
>> Stephen: RACHEL, WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK.
BUT STICK AROUND, EVERYBODY.
WHEN WE COME BACK, I WILL ASK RACHEL WHAT LOOSE ENDS AND
MYSTERIES ABOUT THE TRUMP ADMINISTRATION SHE HOPES WE FIND
OUT ONCE HE'S OUT OF OFFICE.
♪ ♪ ♪
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY.
WELCOME BACK.
WE'RE HERE WITH THE AUTHOR OF "BAG MAN," RACHEL MADDOW.
WELL, THAT SORT OF GRIFTING FOR HIS POSTPRESIDENTIAL CAREER IS
JUST ANOTHER FORM OF CORRUPTION.
THERE'S SOME DEBATE GOING ON AS TO WHETHER THERE SHOULD BE
INVESTIGATIONS INTO THE ADMINISTRATION AFTER HE LEAVES
OFFICE, WHETHER THAT'S THE BEST THING FOR THE COUNTRY.
WHETHER OR NOT THERE ARE INDICTMENTS OF ANYONE IN THE
ADMINISTRATION, OR THE PRESIDENT HIMSELF, OR HIS CHILDREN,
WOULDN'T IT BE NICE JUST TO KNOW, THOUGH?
WOULDN'T IT BE NICE-- WHAT ARE THE LOOSE ENDS YOU'D MOST LIKE
TO KNOW ABOUT?
>> OH, LIKE TRUMP MYSTERIES THAT NEVER GOT RUN DOWN?
>> Stephen: YES, YES.
>> OH, THERE IS SO MANY.
( LAUGHS ).
>> Stephen: THE TAXES, OF COURSE, IS ONE GOOD ONE.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: YOU'VE BEEN CHASING THAT DRAGON FOR A WHILE.
>> YES.
I WANT TO KNOW-- YOU KNOW, THERE'S A LOT OF FINANCIAL
THINGS ABOUT THE PRESIDENT THAT I WOULD LIKE TO KNOW, INCLUDING,
YOU KNOW, WHY HIS GOLF COURSES MAKE FINANCIAL SENSE WHEN ALL
THEY DO IS LOSE MONEY, BUT HE WAS ABLE TO PAY FOR THEM IN CASH
AND NOBODY KNOWS WHERE HE GOT THE CASH FROM TO PAY FOR THEM.
>> Stephen: WHO DOES HE OH, $415 MILLION TO?
>> EXACTLY.
THERE IS ALSO THE SMALLER STUFF.
THE PRESIDENT IS "INDIVIDUAL 1" IN THE SOUTHERN DISTRICT OF NEW
YORK, WHERE HIS LAWYER, MICHAEL COHEN, ACTUALLY DID PRISON TIME
FOR THE CAMPAIGN FINANCE VIOLATIONS AROUND THAT WHOLE
HUSH MONEY PAYMENT THING.
THOSE PROSECUTORS DESCRIBED THE PRESIDENT AS HAVING BEEN THE
PERSON WHO DIRECTED THE COMMISSION OF THOSE FELONIES AND
WHO BENEFITTED FROM THEM.
>> Stephen: UNINDICTED COCONSPIR SOR.
>> LITERALLY, AN UNINDICTED CO
CONSPIRATOR.
I'M SEWER INTERESTED IN THE QUESTION AS TO WHETHER OR NOT IF
THOSE PROSECUTORS, IF THEY WANT TO, WHETHER THEY WILL BE ALLOWED
INDEPENDENTLY TO PURSUE THE PERSON WHO DIRECTED THE
COMMISSION OF THOSE FELONIES SINCE THEY ALREADY PUT SOMEBODY
ELSE IN PRISON FOR IT.
BUT THERE ARE ALL THESE OTHER MYSTERIES INSPECT.
WHY DID-- WHY DID THE TRUMP CAMPAIGN CHAIRMAN SHARE INTERNAL
POLLING DATA WITH A RUSSIAN INTELLIGENCE OFFICER?
I DON'T KNOW.
>> Stephen: COULD BE FOR ANY NUMBER OF REASONS.
>> WHO AMONG US HASN'T.
>> Stephen: IT'S A GREAT PICK-UP LINE.
SPEAK OF CORRUPTION, I WANT TO GET TO YOUR NEW BOOK, "BAG MAN:
THE WILD CRIMES, AUDACIOUS COVER-UP, AND SPECTACULAR
DOWNFALL OF A BRAZEN CROOK IN THE WHITE HOUSE."
AND IT'S NOT WHO YOU THINK, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN.
TELL THE PEOPLE WHO THIS IS ABOUT.
>> THIS IS ABOUT RICHARD NIXON'S VICE PRESIDENT, SPIRO AGNEW, WHO
WAS THE ONLY VICE PRESIDENT TO HAVE EVER BEEN RUN OUT OF OFFICE
ON A RAIL.
AND HE LITERALLY HAD TO RESIGN HIS OFFICE MINUTES BEFORE HE
PLED NO LO CONTENDRE, PLED NO CONTEST TO A CHARGE IN A
COURTROOM.
AND THE WHOLE SCHEME BY WHICH HE AVOIDED PRISON TIME AND WAS
ALLOWED TO RESIGN FOR HIS CRIMES, RATHER THAN FACE PRISON
TIME, AND THAT WAS TO KEEP HIM FROM BECOMING PRESIDENT.
IT'S SORT OF AN UNTOLD STORY BECAUSE IT WAS SO OVERSHADOWED
BY WATERGATE BUT I AM COMPLETELY OBSESSED WITH THIS STORY.
AND I THINK IT HAS LOTS OF TRAILING ENDS THAT BRING US
THROUGH TO TODAY.
>> Stephen: IT REMINDS YOU-- HIS STORY REMINDS YOU THAT THE
TERM "BAG MAN" LITERALLY COMES FROM BAGS OF MONEY.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: I ACTUALLY-- I ACTUALLY KNOW STORIES FROM
PEOPLE WHO DID CONSTRUCTION IN BALTIMORE IN THE 1960s AND
50s.
AND GOING IN TO GET YOUR PERMITTING, YOU HAD TO GET PAST
SPIRO AGNEW.
AND HE WOULD LITERALLY SAY, "WE'VE GOT A FEW PROBLEMS WITH
YOUR PLAN," AND HE WOULD LEAVE THE OFFICE, OPEN HIS DRAWERS,
WALK OUT, AND COME BACK IN AND HE WOULD SEE-- IF THERE WAS NO
CASH IN THE DRAWER, HE WOULD SAY, "WE STILL HAVE A FEW
PROBLEMS WITH YOUR PERMIT."
THERE'S A LEGACY OF SPIRO AGNEW'S CORRUPTION AND HIS
RELATIONSHIP WITH RICHARD NIXON THAT LASTS TO THIS DAY AND HAS
ACTUALLY INFLUENCED THE LAST FOUR YEARS OF THE INVESTIGATIONS
INTO THIS PRESIDENT.
IT'S FASCINATING.
EXPLAIN TO THE PEOPLE WHY HE ACTUALLY KIND OF PUTS OUR OWN
JUSTICE SYSTEM IN A BIND WHEN IT COMES TO THE PRESIDENT.
>> AGNEW IS THE LAST GUY BEFORE TRUMP WHERE THERE'S PROSECUTORS
INVESTIGATING CRIME.
THEY IDENTIFY THE PERP, THE GUY'S IN THE WHITE HOUSE.
AND THEY HAVE TO FIGURE OUT WHAT TO DO ABOUT IT.
AND IN AGNEW'S CASE, THEY HAD TO DECIDE AT THE JUSTICE DEPARTMENT
WHETHER OR NOT HE COULD BE INDICTED.
AND HIS LAWYERS ARGUED THAT HE COULDN'T BE INDICTED.
HE COULD ONLY BE IMPEACHED.
AGNEW ACTUALLY WENT TO THE SPEAKER OF THE HOUSE AT THE TIME
AND ASKED TO BE IMPECHED.
PLEASE INVESTIGATE ME AND IMPEACH ME.
HE THOUGHT THAT WOULD BE A GREAT IDEA.
HE THOUGHT THAT WOULD PUT OFF THE PROSPECT OF BEING INDICTED.
BUT NIXON WHO HAS A COMPLETELY OTHER SCANDAL-- WATERGATE IS A
TOTAL OTHER THING FOR WHICH HE THINKS HE'S GOING TO LOSE
OFFICE-- HE DOESN'T WANT THE WHEELS OF IMP PECHMENT TO START
AROUND AGNEW BECAUSE THEY THINK IT WILL TURN AROUND AND IMPEACH
HIM.
HE SAID I WANT YOU TO LOOK INTO THIS, AND WHAT I WANT YOU TO
FIND IS THAT AGNEW DEFINITELY CAN BE INDICTED, SO HE DOESN'T
GET IMPEACHED.
BUT I CAN'T BE INDICTED AT ALL.
COULD YOU DECIDE THAT, PLEASE.
AND BECAUSE OF THAT SORT OF DIFFERENCE OF INTEREST BETWEEN
NIXON AND AGNEW, AND BECAUSE OF THE FACT THAT THEY HATED EACH
OTHER AND WERE BOTH TRYING TO THROW EACH OTHER UNDER THE BUS
AT THAT TIME, AND THEY WERE BOTH FELONS, WE ENDED UP UP WITH THIS
JUSTICE DEPARTMENT POLICY THAT SAYS PRESIDENTS CAN'T BE
INDICTED.
>> Stephen: THAT'S JUST A MEMO FROM MITCHELL'S OFFICE, RIGHT?
THE CONTINUAL AT THE TIME.
>> A MEMO FROM THE OFFICE OF LEGAL COUNSEL AT THE TIME THAT
THE AGNEW THING IS GETTING FORCED INTO THE COURTS.
AND IT'S BASICALLY A FAVOR TO NIXON AND IT'S A MESS, AND
THERE'S NO SIGN AT ALL-- WE TALKED TO PEOPLE INVOLVED WITH
THAT.
THERE'S NO INDICATION THEY MEANT THAT TO BE A CONTROLLING "GET
OUT OF JAIL FREE" CARD FOR EVERY PRESIDENT WHO CAME AFTER.
BUT IT TURNED INTO ONE.
AND THAT'S WHAT DONALD TRUMP HAS BEEN BENEFITING FROM.
THAT'S WHY MUELLER DIDN'T LAY OUT ANY CRIMES TRUMP MIGHT HAVE
COMMITTED.
THAT'S WHY HE WAS "INDIVIDUAL 1" AND AN UNINDICTED COCONSPIRATOR
INSTEAD OF INDICTED IN A HUSH MONEY.
TRUMP ORS THAT HE'S NOT IN PRISON OR UNDER INDICTMENT TO
SPIRO AGNEW.
>> Stephen: THE BOOK IS "BAG MAN.
IT'S AVAILABLE NOW.
SHE IS RACHEL MADDOW.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH RAPPER MEGAN THEE STALLION.
RACHEL, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
♪ ♪ ♪ >> Stephen: WELCOME BACK,
EVERYBODY.
MY NEXT GUEST IS A RAPPER YOU KNOW FROM HER CHART-TOPPING HITS
"SAVAGE," "BODY," AND "HOT GIRL SUMMER."
PLEASE WELCOME MEGAN THEE STALLION!
HEY, MEGHAN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANKS FOR HAVING ME.
>> Stephen: THIS IS A HUGE, HUGE YEAR FOR YOU.
YOU HAVE NAMED-- HERE WE GO-- HOLD ON-- ONE OF "TIME'S" 100
MOST INFLUENTIAL PEOPLE.
THAT'S A HELL OF A COVER RIGHT THERE.
"G.Q.'S" RAPPER OF THE YEAR.
AND YOU ARE THE FIRST WOMAN WITH THREE STREAMING NUMBER-ONE SONGS
IN ONE YEAR.
PLUS NOMINATED FOR FOUR GRAMMYS.
ARE YOU TAKING A MOMENT TO ENJOY THIS?
>> ( SIGHS )
YOU KNOW WHAT?
I DON'T THINK IT REALLY STILL HASN'T EVEN HIT ME YET.
EVERY TIME SOMEBODY TELLS ME SOMETHING, GUESS WHAT YOU?
GUESS WHAT YOU HAVE?
I'M LIKE WHO?
ME?
THANK YOU.
WHEN I TALK TO MY GRANDMA SHE MAKES ME FEEL LIKE, "YOU'RE
DOING A GOOD JOB."
MY GRANDMA SAID I'M DOING GOOD SO I MUST BE DOING SOMETHING
RIGHT.
>> Stephen: YOUR ALBUM YOU RELEASED IS CALLED "GOOD NEWS,"
RELEASED LAST MONTH.
"GOOD NEWS" HAS BEEN IN SHORT SUPPLY THIS YEAR.
WHY DID YOU WANT TO NAME IT "GOOD NEWS"?
>> BECAUSE I FELT LIKE EVERY TIME I GOT ON THE INTERNET OR
ANYTHING I SAW ON TV, IT WAS JUST BAD NEWS LEFT AND RIGHT.
LIKE 2020 HAS BEEN SUCH AN EMOTIONAL ROLLER COASTER.
I WAS LIKE, YOU KNOW, WHAT?
I WANT TO GET ONLINE ON MY PHONE AND SEE GOOD NEWS IS TRENDING.
GOOD NEWS IS NUMBER ONE.
GOOD NEWS IS EVERYWHERE.
AND IT'S COMING FROM MEGAN THEE STALLION.
I FELT LIKE THAT WOULD BE A GREAT NAME FOR SOME AGREEMENT
MUSIC.
>> Stephen: AT THE BEGINNING OF THE QUARANTINE, YOU HAVE BEEN
HUGE FOR PEOPLE DURING QUARANTINE.
PEOPLE LOVE DANCING ALONG TO YOUR MUSIC, ESPECIALLY ON
TIKTOK.
OF COURSE, "SAVAGE" WAS A WORLD-WIDE PHENOMENON.
IN APRIL YOU REMIXED IT WITH BEYONCE.
>> YES.
>> Stephen: YOU'RE BOTH FROM HOUSTON.
I KNOW THAT YOU'RE A FAN.
DID YOU EVER IMAGINE THAT YOU WOULD HAVE HER ON SPEED DIAL?
>> OH, MY GOD, NO.
I REMEMBER THE FIRST TIME I EVER SAW DESTINY'S CHILD IN CONCERT,
AT THE AT THE RODEO, AND IT WAS JUST AMAZING.
AND I REMEMBER BEING A LITTLE KID LIKE, "WOW!
I WANT TO DO THIS ONE DAY" AND JUST BEING FROM HOUSTON, YOU
HAVE TO KNOW WHAT BEYONCE JUST MEANS TO US.
SHE'S-- SO BEING ABLE TO JUST SPEAK TO BEYONCE NOW, I'M LIKE,
GIRL.
PAT ON THE BACK.
THIS IS GREAT.
>> Stephen: NOW, YOU'VE ALSO BECOME FRIENDS WITH JAYZ.
AND THEY BOTH GIVE YOU ADVICE.
WHO GIVES YOU BETTER ADVICE, BEYONCE ON JAY-Z?
>> I WOULD SAY JAY"Z" GIVES THE FUN ADVICE.
>> Stephen: WHAT'S THE FUN ADVICE?
>> SAY IF I'M HAVING A BAD DAY, HE'LL BE LIKE, YOU NEED TO BE
SOMEWHERE DRIVING A BOAT.
TURN UP, HAVE A GOOD TIME.
YOU KNOW WHAT I'M SAYING.
HE GIVES ME LIKE THE MORE HOT GIRL ADVICE.
>> Stephen: WHAT KIND OF ADVICE DOES BEYONCE GIVE YOU?
>> BEYONCE IS LIKE, "LOOK, QUEEN, JUST RISE ABOVE."
SHE'S VERY-- SHE SAYS IT IN A NICER WAY, AND JAY-Z GIVES IT TO
ME THE OTHER WAY.
>> Stephen: YOU MADE SOMETHING OF A SPLASH S THIS FALL WITH WAP
DECLARED SONG OF THE YEAR BY "ROLLING STONE" AND "PITCH
FORK."
BUT BECAUSE OF THE EXPLICIT NATURE OF THIS SONG, YOU HAVE
GOTTEN SOME HEAT FROM SOME CULTURAL CONSERVATIVES.
HOW DID YOU DEAL WITH THAT HOSTILITY?
>> FIRST OF ALL, I WANT TO SAY THANK YOU TO CARDI, FOR EVEN
PUTTING ME ON THE SONG.
BUT, I MEAN, I FEEL LIKE THAT WAS REALLY, LIKE, A LITTLE
WEIRD.
I KNOW THE REPUBLICANS HAVE BEEN HAVING A BAD YEAR.
AND THEY PROBABLY NEEDED TO TAKE THEIR FRUSTRATION OUT SOMEWHERE.
BUT I WANT TO TELL THEM THANK YOU FOR THE STREAMS, BECAUSE
WITHOUT YOU, I DON'T KNOW IF WE WOULD HAVE BEEN HERE.
BUT, NO, I MEAN, THEM PEOPLE ARE CRAZY.
( LAUGHS ).
>> Stephen: I WOULD LIKE THAT ENGRAVED ON A CARD JUST TO HAND
OUT TO PEOPLE-- "THEM PEOPLE CRAZY."
>> THEM PEOPLE CRAZY.
YEAH, THANK YOU FOR STREAMING.
WAP.
EVERYBODY STILL LISTENING TO IT NOW.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A LITTLE BIT OF A BREAK.
STICK AROUND, EVERYBODY.
WHEN WE COME BACK, I'LL ASK MEGAN ABOUT THE BODY ODY
CHALLENGE.
♪ ♪ ♪ >> ACROSS THE STREET, YOU'VE
BEEN HOLDING HOLIDAY PARTIES WITH HUNDRED OF PEOPLE, MANY NOT
WEARING MASKS.
WHY ARE YOU MODELING A DIFFERENT BEHAVIOR TO THE AMERICAN PEOPLE
THAN WHAT YOU'RE TRYING TO TELL?
>> WELL, THEY'RE CHRISTMAS PARTIES.
>> HEY, MY BIRTHDAY IS NOT THAT BIG A DEAL.
I'M 2,00 YEARS OLD.
WHEN YOU TURN TWUN YOU'RE GOING TO HAVE TO PUT JESUS ON A
LEIBER, WE'RE TALKING BACKYARD WRESTLING, ADAM SANDLER MIGHT
SHOW UP.
SAVE YOUR MONEY BECAUSE I MIGHT GET ARRESTED AND SOMEONE HAS TO
BAIL OUT JESUS.
GOT IT!
♪ ♪ ♪ >> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY,
WE'RE BACK HERE WITH THE ARTIST BEHIND THE NEW ALBUM "GOOD NEWS"
MEGAN THEE STALLION.
NOW, THERE'S A NEW DANCE CRAZY.
IT'S ON TIKTOK.
IT'S-- IT USES YOUR SONG "BODY," THE BODY ODY CHALLENGE, FROM THE
NEW ALBUM ONCE AGAIN.
JIM LET'S TAKE A LOOK AT A LITTLE OF THIS.
♪ ♪ ♪ BODY ODY ODY ODY ODY.
>> BODY ODY ODY ODY.
BODY ODY ODY ODY ODY.
>> Stephen: WHAT-- WHAT DOES THE-- WHAT DOES THE BODY ODY
CHALLENGE MEAN TO YOU?
( LAUGHING ).
>> Stephen: WHERE DOES THAT SONG COME FROM, FIRST OF ALL?
>> OKAY, SO, FIRST OF ALL, IN THE BEGINNING OF QUARANTINE, I
FELT LIKE I DEFINITELY GAINED THE QUARANTINE FEN.
AND I WAS LITERALLY IN THE LIVING ROOM LOOKING AT MYSELF
LIKE, WOW, GIRL, YOU HAVE REALLY DONE IT.
WHAT ARE YOU EVEN EATING?
LIKE, WHY ARE YOU BAKING SO MUCH?
HOW MANY HONEY BUNS CAN WE EAT?
YOU KNOW, SO I WAS LOOKING AT MYSELF IN THE MIRROR, AND I WAS
LIKE YOU KNOW WHAT?
YOU LOOK GOOD, THOUGH.
SO, YOU KNOW, WE SHOULD DANCE ABOUT IT.
SO I WROTE ALL THE VERSES TO THE SONG.
IT TOOK ME A MINUTE TO FIGURE OUT EXACTLY WHAT I WANTED TO
SAY.
AND IT CAME FROM ME DANCING IN THE MIRROR.
AND THAT'S-- THAT'S HOW WE WROTE THE SONG.
BUT IT'S DEFINITELY ABOUT PEOPLE JUST CELEBRATING THEIR BODIES.
LIKE -- >> Stephen: THAT'S VERY NICE.
BECAUSE WHEN I'M IN FRONT OF A FULL-LENGTH MIRROR, I TRY TO
KEEP IT AS BRIEF AS POSSIBLE THESE DAY.
>> NO!
YOU HAVE TO APPRECIATE.
LET IT MARINATE.
LET IT SIT, LIKE, I LIKE THIS.
I LIKE WHERE THIS IS GOING.
I WAS ALWAYS THE TALLEST GIRL IN CLASS SINCE, LIKE, SECOND GRADE,
I WAS PROBABLY ALREADY 5'7".
AND WHEN I FINALLY GOT TO NINTH GRADE, ALL THE BOYS CAUGHT UP.
BUT I HAD A LOT OF PEOPLE PICKING ON ME, "OH, MY GOD,
YOU'RE SO TALL.
YOU'RE THE BIGGEST GIRL IN CLASS."
AND I WOULD BE LOOKING AT THEM LIKE, "NO, YOU'RE ALL REALLY
SMALL."
I HAD GOOD WOMEN IN MY LIFE TELL ME, "MEGAN, YOU'RE SO GREAT.
YOU'RE TALL LIKE A MODEL."
AND I WAS LIKE, "YEAH, WHAT ARE YOU KIDS TALKING ABOUT?"
I WANTED MY FANS AND MY SUPPORTERS TO FEEL LIKE, YOU
KNOW WHAT, GIRL, MEGAN THEE STALLION SAID I'M FINE SO I MUST
BE FINE.
>> Stephen: WELL, THAT IS GOOD NEWS.
AND THE ALBUM IS "GOOD NEWS," AND IT'S AVAILABLE NOW.
MEGAN THEE STALLION, EVERYBODY.
MEGAN, THANKS SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
>> THANK YOU!
>> Stephen: WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK.
♪ ♪ ♪
A LATE SHOW, EVERYBODY.
TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN MY GUEST WILL BE JAMES CORDEN, AND
MUSICAL GUEST, FLEET FOXES.
JAMES HAPPENS TO BE NEXT, ACTUALLY.
HE'S GOT A SHOW RIGHT HERE ON THIS NETWORK.
STICK AROUND.
GOOD NIGHT.
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