>> THIS MORNING, THINGS ARE GOING FROM BAD TO WORSE FOR
Facebook.
AN UNPRECEDENTED TROVE OF INTERNAL DOCUMENTS REVIEWED BY
NBC NEWS REVEALS MORE STUNNING FINDINGS FROM THE COMPANY'S OWN
INTERNAL RESEARCH.
IT'S ALSO REVEALING JUST HOW UNHAPPY SOME EMPLOYEES WERE WITH
THE SPREAD OF MISINFORMATION AND CALLS TO VIOLENCE ON THE
PLATFORM.
>> MEANWHILE, AT Facebook HEADQUARTERS --
>> OKAY.
AS WE ALL KNOW, THERE HAS BEEN A LOT OF TURNOVER HERE AT
Facebook.
BUT I'M HAPPY TO WELCOME MY NEW TEAM.
SO, LET'S HEAR SOME IDEAS.
>> HOW ABOUT AN APP THAT MAKES TEENAGE GIRLS FEEL HORRIBLE
ABOUT THEMSELVES?
>> HAVE IT.
WHY DON'T WE UNDERMINE DEMOCRACY?
>> DID IT.
WELL, I'M MISS LEX LUTHOR.
WHERE IS HE, ANYWAY?
>> HERE IS MY EVIL PLAN -- WE'RE GOING TO SHIP A SINGLE WATCH
BATTERY IN A BOX LARGE ENOUGH TO HOLD A WASHER/DRYER!
( MANIACAL LAUGH ) >> Announcer: IT'S "THE LATE
SHOW" WITH STEPHEN COLBERT!
TONIGHT, THE WEST COAST.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN!
FEATURING JON BATISTE AND "STAY HUMAN."
AND NOW, LIVE ON TAPE FROM THE ED SULLIVAN THEATER IN NEW YORK
CITY, IT'S STEPHEN COLBERT!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ( THEME SONG PLAYING )
>> Stephen: HELLO, EVERYBODY!
HEY!
NICE TO SEE YOU!
WHAT CAN I SAY?
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ♪♪
>> Jon: HEY!
>> Stephen: THERE IT IS!
THERE IT IS!
( PIANO RIFF ) NOT ALWAYS, BUT SOMETIMES.
HEY!
THANKS VERY MUCH!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ♪♪
BEAUTIFUL.
SO NICE.
ALWAYS FEELS GOOD.
THANK YOU.
YOU COME OUT HERE YOU FEEL BETTER.
THAT IS THE SPOT, THIS IS THE MAGIC, LET IT WORK.
THANKS, EVERYBODY.
HAVE A SEAT.
( AUDIENCE CHANTING STEPHEN ) WELCOME TO "THE LATE SHOW," I'M
STEPHEN COLBERT.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) BUT YOU ALREADY KNEW THAT.
ALL OF THE NEWS TODAY IS STUFF WE ALREADY KNOW.
FACEBOOK IS EVIL, GLOBAL WARMING IS REAL, REPUBLICAN OFFICIALS
HELPED PLAN THE COUP, AND POP TARTS CONTAIN NO FRUIT.
IT'S TRUE.
THAT'S OUR TOP STORY.
THIS IS TRUE -- THE COMPANY THAT MAKES THE
TOASTER PASTRY IS BEING SUED FOR $5 MILLION BECAUSE FROSTED
STRAWBERRY POP TARTS CONTAIN 2% OR LESS OF DRIED STRAWBERRIES,
DRIED PEARS, AND DRIED APPLES.
YEAH, WE KNOW.
( LAUGHTER ) THAT'S WHY WE LIKE 'EM.
ON THE OTHER HAND, THE BROWN SUGAR CINNAMON POP TART HAS REAL
SUGAR, AND 50% OF YOUR RECOMMENDED DAILY ALLOWANCE OF
BROWN.
( LAUGHTER ) BUT I AM CONTRACTUALLY OBLIGATED
TO BE SURPRISED BY WHAT'S HAPPENING IN THE WORLD.
SO HERE GOES NOTHIN': HOW 'BOUT THAT WEATHER WE'RE HAVING, HUH?
( AUDIENCE REACTS ) AIN'T THAT A KICK IN THE KHAKIS?
LESS THAN A WEEK AFTER THE GOVERNOR OF CALIFORNIA DECLARED
A DROUGHT EMERGENCY, A HUGE STORM BROUGHT "POTENTIALLY
HISTORIC RAIN" TO THE GOLDEN STATE.
IN SACRAMENTO, THEY GOT MORE THAN FIVE AND A HALF INCHES OF
RAIN WHICH BROKE THE PREVIOUS RECORD
SET IN 1880, AND SAN FRANCISCO HAD ITS FOURTH WETTEST DAY IN
THE CITY'S HISTORY.
THE FIRST WETTEST DAY OF COURSE, WAS WHEN HARRY STYLES CAME TO
THE FILLMORE AND PERFORMED WATERMELON SUGAR.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) WOW.
THAT TOUCHED A NERVE, SHALL WE SAY.
AND IT'S NOT JUST THE RAIN -- THERE ARE ALSO WINDS THAT ARE SO
STRONG IT TOOK A SEMI AND LEVITATED IT ACROSS A BRIDGE.
I HOPE THAT TRUCKER'S OKAY -- AND THAT THE LID WAS ON HIS PEE
BOTTLE.
( LAUGHTER ) SPEAKING OF WHICH, OUTSIDE THE
49ERS STADIUM, WIND ALSO BLEW PORTA-POTTIES ACROSS THE
PARKING LOT.
( LAUGHTER ) NOW WE KNOW WHAT HAPPENS WHEN
THE FAN HITS THE (BLEEP).
THAT'S QUALITY.
THAT'S A QUALITY FAMILY JOKE.
>> Jon: YEAH, IT'S A QUALITY JOKE.
>> Stephen: BRING THE KIDS IN FOR THAT JOKE.
SO WHAT'S CAUSING IT?
HUMANS.
BUT MORE SPECIFICALLY, THERE'S AN OFFSHORE STORM SYSTEM KNOWN
AS A BOMB CYCLONE.
YES, BOMB CYCLONES.
BECAUSE THIS IS WHAT WEATHER IS NOW.
JUST COMBINATIONS OF TERRIBLE THINGS.
SO GET READY FOR NEXT WEEK'S FORECAST OF:
SUNDAY: MURDER TYPHOON.
MONDAY: STAB-ICANES.
AND THEN THE REST OF THE WEEK IS FLOODS THAT TRY TO EXPLAIN
BITCOIN TO YOU.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
I DON'T CARE.
I DON'T CARE ABOUT BLOCK CHANGES STOP TRYING TO EXPLAIN BLOCK
CHANGE.
( APPLAUSE ) THERE'S SOME EXCITING NEWS OUT
OF THE NEGOTIATIONS OVER PRESIDENT BIDEN'S BUILD BACK
BETTER BILL.
AS OF THIS WEEKEND, REPORTS ARE DEMOCRATS ARE NEAR A DEAL ON THE
SPENDING BILL.
AND I AM NEAR-EXCITED TO BRING YOU THIS BREAKING NEARLY-NEWS
FOR MORE CONTEXT, LET'S WATCH TV.
FIRST UP, JEREMY DIAMOND AT CNN.
JEREMY, ARE THEY ON THE PRECIPICE OF A DEAL?
>> IT DOES APPEAR THESE DEMOCRATIC LEADERS ARE ON THE
PRECIPICE OF A DEAL.
>> STEPHEN: OK, IS IT CLEAR HOW MUCH PROGRESS WAS MADE
YESTERDAY?
>> IT'S NOT CLEAR HOW MUCH PROGRESS WAS EXACTLY MADE
YESTERDAY.
>> STEPHEN: WELL, WHAT DO WE KNOW?
>> WE DON'T KNOW A WHOLE LOT YET.
>> STEPHEN: WELL, WHAT DON'T WE KNOW?
>> THERE ARE STILL A FEW UNKNOWNS.
>> STEPHEN: OK, SO WHAT ARE THESE KNOWN UNKNOWNS THAT WERE
DISCUSSED?
>> WE DON'T KNOW THE EXACT DETAILS OF WHAT WAS DISCUSSED.
>> STEPHEN: OK, GIVEN HOW LITTLE WE KNOW, CAN CABLE NEWS GET TO A
PLACE WHERE THEY CAN TALK CONTINUALLY ABOUT THESE
NEGOTIATIONS AND STILL TELL US NOTHING?
>> CAN THEY GET THERE?
THAT'S THE QUESTION AT THE MOMENT.
>> STEPHEN: THANK YOU ALL, FOR NOTHING.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) THERE IT IS.
>> Jon: I LIKE THAT.
>> Stephen: WE WILL STAY ON THIS STORY, AS
THERE CONTINUES NOT TO BE ONE.
( LAUGHTER ) CRUCIALLY, THE SPENDING BILL'S
ALMOST EXISTENCE IS CLOSE TO BEING SEMI-CONFIRMED BY SPEAKER
NANCY PELOSI, WHO TOLD REPORTERS THAT THE DEMOCRATS ARE "PRETTY
MUCH THERE" ON THE SOCIAL SPENDING BILL.
THAT'S SOME REAL "TEXTING YOUR FRIEND "2 MINS AWAY" WHEN YOU
HAVEN'T LEFT THE HOUSE YET' ENERGY.
I'M RIGHT AROUND THE CORNER.
GO AHEAD AND ORDER SOME PAID FAMILY LEAVE FOR THE TABLE.
( LAUGHTER ) NO... THAT'S NOT THE SOUND OF MY
SHOWER RUNNING.
HOW COULD YOU HEAR MY SHOWER WHEN I'M TEXTING?
( PIANO RIFF ) WHAT'S THIS?
I'M GETTING ANOTHER ALERT - IT'S A BREAKING COULD BE
SOMETHING.
( LAUGHTER ) WE'RE HEARING THAT THESE TRACES
OF PROGRESS MAY HAVE BEEN DETECTED THIS WEEKEND IN THE
MYTHICAL LAND OF DELAWARE.
>> PRESIDENT BIDEN, AND SENATOR JOE MANCHIN, SENATOR CHUCK
SCHUMER, THE SENATE MAJORITY LEADER, THEY HAD A CRITICAL
MEETING YESTERDAY AT PRESIDENT BIDEN'S DELAWARE HOME, AND
DURING THAT MEETING WE'RE TOLD THEY MADE SOME PROGRESS IN
REACHING TOWARDS A DEAL.
>> Stephen: OKAY, NOW WE'RE TALKING.
THE WORD IS, THEY HAVEN'T REACHED A DEAL, BUT BY THE END
OF THE MEETING, THESE THREE OLD MEN WERE ABLE TO PUT ASIDE THEIR
DIFFERENCES AND RELEASE A JOINT STATEMENT SAYING, QUOTE
THEY SURE DON'T MAKE 'EM LIKE SOPHIA LOREN ANYMORE.
AND THEY DO NOT.
THEY TONIGHT.
TREAT YOURSELF.
>> TREAT YOURSELF TO A -- ( APPLAUSE )
I DON'T KNOW.
( LAUGHTER ) IT IS A MONUMENTALLY BAD DAY FOR
FACEBOOK, THE WORLD'S TOP SOCIAL MEDIA NETWORK AND UNCLE
RADICALIZER.
THANKS TO HUNDREDS OF LEAKED INTERNAL DOCUMENTS, 17 NEWS
ORGANIZATIONS ARE PUBLISHING A SERIES OF STORIES ABOUT ALL OF
THE DAMAGE FACEBOOK DOES, FOR EXAMPLE, HOW COORDINATED GROUPS
ON FACEBOOK SOW DISCORD AND VIOLENCE, INCLUDING ON JANUARY
6.
THAT'S IN ADDITION TO THE DISCORD YOUR COUSIN SOWS ON
FACEBOOK BY ANNOUNCING SHE'S NAMED HER TWINS DASH AND OTTER.
( LAUGHTER ) UNSURPRISINGLY A LOT OF
MISINFORMATION HAS TO DO WITH FACEBOOK CEO MARK ZUCKERBERG.
LAST YEAR, HE TESTIFIED BEFORE CONGRESS THAT FACEBOOK REMOVES
94% OF HATE SPEECH, BUT THE COMPANY'S OWN RESEARCHERS
ESTIMATED THAT IT WAS REMOVING LESS THAN 5%.
( AUDIENCE REACTS ) THAT'S A HELL OF A SPREAD.
MOM, I KNOW I SAID I GOT 94% ON THE MATH TEST, BUT IT WAS
ACTUALLY 5%.
I DIDN'T LIE.
I JUST SUCK AT MATH.
( LAUGHTER ) ( APPLAUSE )
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) I DID.
I SUCKED AT MATH.
I DID.
THE C.E.O.'S INFLUENCE WAS SO STRONG THAT A FORMER V.P. AT
FACEBOOK SAID THE SPECTER OF ZUCKERBERG LOOMS IN EVERYTHING
THE COMPANY DOES.
BUT IS IT HIS SPECTER, OR DID HE JUST WEAR TOO MUCH SUNSCREEN
AGAIN?
( LAUGHTER ) SOCIAL MEDIA ISN'T THE ONLY
THING THAT HELPED CAUSE THE JANUARY 6TH RIOT.
SO DID GOP OFFICIALS.
BECAUSE ORGANIZERS SAY THEY PARTICIPATED IN 'DOZENS' OF
PLANNING MEETINGS WITH MEMBERS OF CONGRESS AND WHITE HOUSE
STAFF.
WOW.
( AUDIENCE REACTS ) GREAT PLANNING, GUYS.
(AS ORGANIZER) YOU GRAB THE PODIUM, YOU SMEAR
YOUR POOP ON THE WALLS, THE REST OF YOU RECORD IT ON YOUR PHONES,
AND PUT IT ON FACEBOOK SO WE DEFINITELY GET CAUGHT.
LET'S GO TO JAIL!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ( PIANO RIFF )
TEAMWORK.
ONE OF THE MOST SURPRISING, COMPLETELY NOT SURPRISING
REVELATIONS IS HOW MANY REPUBLICAN MEMBERS OF CONGRESS
WERE INVOLVED IN THE PLANNING.
WE'RE TALKING INTELLECTUAL GIANTS LIKE
PAUL GOSAR LAUREN BOEBERT
MO BROOKS MADISON CAWTHORN
ANDY BIGGS LOUIE GOHMERT
IT'S A REAL OCEANS 11 OF PEOPLE WHO CAN'T COUNT TO TEN.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ( PIANO RIFF )
THEY HAVE TO SET REMINDERS ON THEIR PHONE TO REMIND THEMSELVES
TO BREATHE.
( LAUGHTER ) THIS WASN'T JUST A RANDOM EVENT
WITH WEIRDOS LIKE THE Q-SHAMAN.
THIS WAS A CONSPIRACY TO OVERTURN A DEMOCRATIC ELECTION
THAT INCLUDED THE WEIRDOS IN CONGRESS.
ONE OF THE ORGANIZERS SAID "I REMEMBER MARJORIE TAYLOR
GREENE SPECIFICALLY."
YES, I CAN IMAGINE IT'S HARD TO FORGET SOMEONE WHO TELLS YOU
FOREST FIRES ARE CAUSED BY CIRCUMCISED SPACE LASERS.
( LAUGHTER ) WE'VE GOT A GREAT SHOW FOR YOU
TONIGHT, MY GUEST IS BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY!
GIVE IT UP FOR JON BATISTE AND "STAY HUMAN," PLEASE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) JON, GOOD TO SEE YA.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Jon: YEAH...
YEAH, THAT'S SOMETHING.
>> Stephen: PLEASE HAVE A SEAT, EVERYBODY.
THANK YOU VERY MUCH!
JON, LISTEN, I KNOW YOU'RE COOL AND YOU DO FUN THINGS AND YOU DO
COOL THINGS THAT ARE FUN, BUT I BET, WHATEVER YOU NAME, I BET I
DID SOMETHING COOLER.
>> Stephen: WHAT DID YOU DO?
>> Stephen: YOU HAVE TO NAME WHAT YOU DID AND SEE IF I CAN
BEAT IT.
>> Jon: OH, I WENT TO DISNEY WORLD.
>> Stephen: THAT'S PRETTY COOL.
I HAD DINNER WITH DION WARWICK.
>> Jon: OH!
>> Stephen: WHO WON, JON?
>> Jon: YOU GOT THAT ONE.
>> Stephen: THAT'S MY ACE IN THE HOLE.
THERE'S A DOCUMENTARY ABOUT HER LIFE IN THE FILM FESTIVAL CALLED
DON'T MAKE ME OVER.
I INTERVIEWED HER AFTER THE AUDIENCE.
SHE'S SO COOL.
SHE'S 80, STILL GOT IT, SHILL COOL, ENERGETIC, PERFORMING.
SHE SAID -- ♪ DO YOU KNOW THE WAY TO
SAN JOSEÉ ♪ >> Jon: AHAZEING.
>> Stephen: YOU FORGET HOW MANY AMAZING HITS SHE HAD AND
WHATTEN AMAZING WOMAN.
HAVE YOU MET HER.
>> Jon: I HAVEN'T MET HER.
>> Stephen: I'LL INTRODUCE YOU.
>> Jon: I'LL HOLD YOU TO THAT ONE.
>> Stephen: JON, HAVE YOU EVER MET BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN?
>> Jon: YES.
>> Stephen: THE GUY'S PRETTY COOL.
HE'S OVER HERE JUST MINUTES AWAY FROM NOW.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN IS RIGHT THERE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: THAT'S EXACTLY
RIGHT AND HE'S GOT A PODCAST NOW WITH FORMER PRESIDENT OBAMA.
PRETTY EXCITING.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) YOU KNOW WHO ELSE HAS A PODCAST.
I TELL YOU RIGHT NOW.
YOU'RE ALL HERE ON AN HISTORIC NIGHT FOR THE LATE SHOW.
BECAUSE THIS SHOW HERE, THE ONE YOU'RE WATCHING NOW, IS ALSO THE
FIRST SHOW OF OUR NEW PODCAST: "THE LATE SHOW POD SHOW WITH
STEPHEN COLBERT."
FROM HERE ON OUT, RIGHT AFTER THE SHOW AIRS, YOU CAN GET THAT
SHOW'S AUDIO AS A PODCAST.
IT GIVES YOU EVERYTHING YOU WANT AND NO DEADLY NEUROTOXINS.
CAN CONAN'S PODCAST SAY THE SAME?
HE CERTAINLY HASN'T.
WHICH MAKES YOU WONDER WHY.
AND JUST BECAUSE THE PODCAST LISTENERS WON'T SEE THE VISUALS,
DOESN'T MEAN THAT THEY AREN'T GETTING THE FULL SHOW
EXPERIENCE.
ISN'T THAT RIGHT, HOLLYWOOD SUPERSTARS ANGELINA JOLIE AND
IDRIS ELBA?
THEY'RE BOTH NODDING YES.
( CHEERING ) THANKS FOR STOPPING BY, ANGELINA
JOLIE AND IDRIS ELBA.
PLEASE PUT ON SOME CLOTHES NEXT TIME!
( CHEERING ) SO, BE SURE TO CHECK OUT "THE
LATE SHOW POD SHOW," STARTING TONIGHT ON APPLE PODCASTS,
SPOTIFY, BLOOFY, PETS.COM, YOUR METAL FILLINGS, 18TH CENTURY
SCRIMSHAW CARVINGS, OR WHEREVER YOU GET PODCASTS.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ♪♪
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY!
WELCOME BACK!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, I'M
EXCITED TO TELL YOU THAT MY GUEST TONIGHT CALLS HIMSELF A
HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE FROM FREEHOLD, NEW JERSEY, WHO PLAYS
THE GUITAR.
LADIES AND GENTLEMEN, MR. BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ♪♪
>> Stephen: LOVELY TO SEE YOU.
THANK YOU SO MUCH FOR BEING BACK.
>> MY PLEASURE.
>> Stephen: GOOD SEEING YOU AGAIN.
I KNOW YOU'RE A BUSY MAN ALL THE TIME.
YOU HAVE BEEN SPENDING A LOT OF TIME WITH FORMER PRESIDENT
OBAMA.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: FAIR AMOUNT OF
TIME.
YOU HAVE A NEW BOOK "RENEGADES," BORN IN THE U.S.A.
IT COVERS THE SERIES OF PODCASTS YOU MADE WITH HIM.
DID YOU MAKE THE CUT FOR HIS 60th BIRTHDAY PARTY THIS LAST
AUGUST?
>> WELL, I HEARD YOU WEREN'T GOING SO I DIDN'T GO.
>> Stephen: I WAS GOING, AND I GOT CUT.
>> OH, OH!
>> Stephen: YEAH, YEAH, YEAH.
THERE WAS NOBODY INTERESTING THERE, ANYWAY.
>> Stephen: THAT'S RIGHT.
YOU WEREN'T THERE AND I WEREN'T THERE.
>> THAT'S IT.
>> Stephen: SURE.
BEYONCE.
>> JAY-Z!
>> Stephen: THIS IS A REALLY IMPORTANT QUESTION TO ME, HAS HE
INVITED YOU TO CALL HIM BARACK?
>> UH, WELL, I ACTUALLY ASKED HIM ABOUT THAT.
I SAID, HOW DO YOU WANT TO BE REFERRED TO?
AND I ASSUMED MR. PRESIDENT, BUT HE SAID, CALL ME BARACK.
>> Stephen: WOW.
YEAH.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: WAS THAT HARD?
THEN HE ASKED HOW I WANTED TO BE REFERRED TO, AND I SAID,
MR. BOSS, PLEASE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: MICHELE HAS BEEN
KINDLY ASKED ME TO CALL HER MICHELLE, AND I HAVE NOT HEARD
ANYTHING FROM THE FORMER PRESIDENT.
I JUST SAY, MICHELLE, YOUR HUSBAND --
( LAUGHTER ) HOW DID THE PODCAST AND BOOK
COME ABOUT?
WHOSE IDEA WAS THIS?
>> IT WAS THE PRESIDENT'S IDEA.
HE CALLED ME.
I THOUGHT HE HAD THE WRONG NUMBER, BECAUSE HE'S A COLUMBIA
GRADUATE, TEACHER OF CONSTITUTIONAL LAW, UNIVERSITY
OF CHICAGO LAW SCHOOL, FIRST AFRICAN-AMERICAN PRESIDENT OF
THE UNITED STATES.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) I AM A GUITAR PLAYER.
I AM A FREEHOLD HIGH SCHOOL GRADUATE.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: I WILL EMAIL YOUR
RESUME TO YOU.
IT'S A LITTLE BIT LONGER THAN THAT.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: YOU WRITE IN THE
INTRODUCTION OF THIS BOOK, YOU SAY THESE ARE TREACHEROUS TIMES
WITH MUCH AT STAKE, WITH EVERYTHING AT STAKE.
I AGREE WITH YOU, BUT WHAT DO YOU MEAN ABOUT THAT,
SPECIFICALLY?
I MEAN, IT'S HARROWING.
>> OH, IT'S HARROWING.
DO YOU WANT MARJORIE TAYLOR GREENE, MATT GAETZ, RON
DeSANTIS AND OUR EX-FEARLESS LEADER DECIDING THE FATE OF THE
AMERICAN EXPERIMENT?
( BOOING ) >
>> Stephen: I AGREE WITH THAT DANGER.
BUT KEEPING YOUR HOPE UP, I THINK, IS A MORAL COMMANDMENT
>> THAT'S CORRECT >> Stephen: I SAY YOU DO NOT
WORRY.
SO HOW DO YOU KEEP YOUR HOPE UP?
>> YOU HAVE TO BE A FIGHTING OPTIMIST, I BELIEVE, YOU KNOW,
IN THE SENSE THAT, WELL, THERE WAS AN ATTEMPT TO OVERTURN FREE
AND FAIR ELECTION, IT FAILED >> Stephen: BUT EVERY DAY, WE
LEARN THERE WAS MUCH MORE COMPLEXITY TO IT AND MUCH MORE
CONSPIRATORS >> YEAH, THAT'S JUST COMING OUT.
I MEAN, IT'S A CLICHE, BUT HOW DO YOU REMAIN OPTIMISTIC?
I'VE GOT YOUNG KIDS.
I HAVE TO, I DON'T HAVE A CHOICE.
>> Stephen: SURE.
( APPLAUSE ) >> YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THE OTHER
CHOICE IS UNTHINKABLE.
SO, YOU KNOW, I HAVE TO REMAIN OPTIMISTIC, AND SEEING THEM, YOU
KNOW, MY KIDS WERE OUT AT GEORGE FLOYD AND BLACK LIVES MATTER
PROTESTS, SEEING THE DIVERSE GROUP OF YOUNG PEOPLE IN THE
STREETS THE DAY AFTER THE ELECTION, YOU KNOW, IT'S A
CLICHE, BUT THAT'S WHAT KEEPS ME OPTIMISTIC.
I THINK THERE'S A GREAT GENERATION OF YOUNG PEOPLE
COMING UP WHO WILL BE INTERESTED IN PROTECTING AMERICAN DEMOCRACY
AND THINGS LIKE THE FUNDAMENTAL RIGHT TO VOTE, ALL OF WHICH HAS
BEEN A SORT OF AN ENDANGERED SPECIES AT THE MOMENT, SO,
ANYWAY, THAT'S MY HOPE.
>> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE A QUICK BREAK, BUT STICK AROUND.
BACK WITH MORE BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ♪♪
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY!
WE'RE BACK WITH THE AUTHOR ALONG WITH BARACK OBAMA OF THE BOOK
"RENEGADES," BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.
PEOPLE TALK ABOUT THE WORK-LIFE BALANCE A LOT.
WHEN ART IS YOUR WORK, IS THERE SUCH A THING AS AN ART-LIFE
BALANCE, OR IS EVERYTHING BLENDED.
>> YEAH, YEAH, NO, THERE'S GOT TO BE.
I FOUND OUT EARLY ON, LOVE MY JOB, GREAT WAY TO MAKE A LIVING,
NO WAY TO LIVE IF YOU'RE A MUSICIAN.
SO YOU'VE GOT TO WATCH YOURSELF THERE.
MY JOB, IT'S A GREAT WAY TO MAKE A LIVING.
IF YOU FULLY SUBSUME YOURSELF IN IT, IT'S NO WAY TO LIVE, AND
THERE HAVE BEEN MANY, MANY ARTISTS PREVIOUS TO ME AND MY
PIERCE WHO DIDN'T FIGURE THAT OUT, AND IT CAN BE VERY, VERY,
VERY, VERY DANGEROUS TO YOU MENTALLY, PHYSICALLY, NOT
CLEAVING BETWEEN YOUR WORK LIFE AND YOUR FAMILY LIFE AND YOUR
HOME LIFE, YOU KNOW.
YOU'VE GOT TO MAKE SOME VERY CLEAR BOUNDARIES AND
DISTINCTIONS IF YOU WANT TO LIVE A FULL LIFE IN BOTH THOSE AREAS.
>> Stephen: THAT IS SOMETHING YOU MAY NOT HAVE KNOWN IN 1975
WHEN THIS ALBUM DROPPED, AND -- ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
"BORN TO RUN," A BREAKTHROUGH MOMENT FOR YOU.
I UNDERSTAND YOU BROUGHT SOMETHING TO SHOW US FROM THIS
ALBUM.
>> OH, RIGHT.
SOMEBODY SAID, SHOW AND TELL, BRING SOMETHING.
ALL RIGHT, LET ME GET AHOLD.
THIS IS THE GUITAR THAT IS -- ( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
THAT'S THE GUITAR.
>> Stephen: THAT'S THE ONE.
( APPLAUSE ) I'VE PLAYED THIS GUITAR FOR 50
YEARS.
I BOUGHT IT WHEN I WAS 22.
22 YEARS OLD FOR $185 ON HIGHWAY 34, I THINK, IN BELMAR,
NEW JERSEY, FROM A MAN -- ( APPLAUSE )
-- FROM A GREAT DITAR MAN NAMED PHIL PATILLO.
IT'S A MUTT, IT'S MADE UP OF TWO GUITARS.
BUT THIS GUITAR HAS BEEN IN EVERY CLUB, THEATER, ARENA AND
STADIUM ACROSS AMERICA AND MOST OF THE WORLD.
SO IT'S BEEN AROUND A BIT.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: IT'S NOT THE ONLY
GUITAR YOU PLAY IN CONCERT, THOUGH, RIGHT?
>> NO.
>> Stephen: WHAT DOES IT FEEL LIKE WHEN YOU GO FROM ANOTHER
GUITAR TO THIS ONE?
>> THIS FEELS LIKE MY ARM.
IF I HAVE THIS GUITAR, I DON'T HAVE ANYTHING ON.
THIS BECAME AN EXTENSION OF MY ACTUAL BODY, YOU KNOW.
ANYTHING ELSE I PICK UP, IT'S A GUITAR.
YOU KNOW, AND, FOR SOME REASON, I'VE PLAYED THIS FOR SO LONG
THAT IT JUST BECAME A PART OF YOUR NATURAL SORT OF PHYSIQUE.
BUT I DON'T PLAY IT MUCH ON STAGE THESE DAYS BECAUSE IT'S
GOTTEN -- I SORT OF PUT IT A LITTLE BIT OUT TO PASTURE, IT'S
DONE SO MUCH GOOD WORK FOR ME.
>> Stephen: HAVE YOU THOUGHT ABOUT PUTTING IT OUT TO STUD?
>> YEAH, YEAH.
I SHOULD, YOU KNOW.
>> Stephen: HERE, I'LL TAKE THAT FOR YA.
I'LL PUT IT BACK.
>> YEAH, OKAY.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: THERE YOU GO.
HAVE YOU EVER LET JON STEWART TOUCH THIS?
>> I DON'T BELIEVE JON STEWART HAS TOUCHED THAT GUITAR, NO.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: NOW, YOUR FANS ARE
FAMOUSLY DEVOTED.
ARE THERE ANY PARTICULAR MEMORIES OF FANS EXPRESSING
THEIR APPRECIATION TO YOU THAT COME TO MIND?
>> YEAH, THERE'S BEEN A FEW.
THE WORST WAS, AFTER I JUMPED OVER THE WALL AT ELVIS' HOUSE,
AND I -- WHICH, LONG STORY SHORT, I JUMPED OVER THE WALL AT
ELVIS' HOUSE TO SEE IF ELVIS WAS AT HOME.
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: WAS HE?
NO, HE WAS IN LAKE TAHOE.
>> Stephen: OKAY.
AND THEN THEY THREW ME OUT.
BUT I HAD A LOT OF FANS DOING THAT TO ME FOR QUITE A WHILE.
WHEN I WOULD CHASE THEM AWAY OFF MY FRONT LAWN, THEY WOULD SAY,
BUT YOU DID IT TO ELVIS!
( LAUGHTER ) BUT ONE OF THE STRANGEST ONES
WAS I'M ON MY MOTORCYCLE WITH A FRIEND OF MINE, WE'RE COMING
FROM LAKE PLACID, HUNDREDS AND HUNDREDS OF MILES TO GET FROM
LAKE PLACID, WE'RE TRYING TO DO IT IN AN AFTERNOON, GET BACK TO
JERSEY, AND IT STARTS POURING.
AND IT'S POURING AND POURING, AND WE'RE RIDING, AND IT'S LIKE
PINS AND NEEDLES HITTING YOU, AND WE'RE SOAKED COMPLETELY TO
THE BONE.
I GO THROUGH A TOLL BOOTH, I'M STUCK IN TRAFFIC, I'M DRENCHED,
AND A GUY ROLLS DOWN HIS WINDOW, HANDS ME AN 8X10 AND A PEN.
( LAUGHTER ) SO I SIGNED IT AND HANDED IT
BACK TO HIM.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: WE HAVE TO TAKE
ANOTHER BREAK BUT STICK AROUND.
BACK IN A MINUTE BE MORE BRUCE.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ♪♪
>> Stephen: HEY, EVERYBODY!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) WE'RE BACK WITH THE AUTHOR OF
"RENEGADES."
YOU KNOW THIS GUY, IT'S BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.
ON TOP OF THE WEEK AND THE PODCAST THAT YOU CAN DOWNLOAD,
YOU ALSO HAVE -- LET ME BE SURE TO GET THIS RIGHT, IT IS A
CONCERT FILM OF THE LEGENDARY "1979 NO NUKES CONCERT."
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) THERE YOU GO.
>> NOW, THERE IS ONE PROBLEM WITH THIS ALBUM COVER.
EVERY BAND MEMBER IS ON IT EXCEPT FOR ROY BENTON.
ROY BENTON IS NOT ON THIS ALBUM COVER BY MISTAKE, AND I'M IN
VERY DEEP ( BLEEP ) ABOUT IT, WHICH IS WHY I BRING IT UP THIS
EVENING.
SO, ROY, YOU ARE NOT HERE, BUT YOU ARE HERE IN MY HEART.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: SO FOR THE PEOPLE
WHO DON'T -- I REMEMBER, I WAS THE RIGHT AGE TO BE LISTENING TO
THE CONCERT, THE NO NUKES CONCERT.
I WAS 15.
FOR THE PEOPLE WHO DON'T KNOW, WHAT WAS THE NO NUKES CONCERT?
>> THE NO NUKES CONCERT WAS A BENEFIT CONCERT FOR NO NUKES.
>> Stephen: THERE IT IS.
THERE YOU GO.
>> AND, AT THE TIME, I WAS KIND OF TALKED INTO IT BY JACKSON
BROWN AND THE THREE MILE ISLAND NUCLEAR ACCIDENT CONVINCED ME TO
TAKE PART.
SO THAT'S WHAT THE SHOW WAS.
THERE WERE ALL KINDS OF PEOPLE -- TOM PETTY, JACKSON
BROWN, CHAKA KAHN, JAMES TAYLOR, BONNIE RAITT, THERE WERE A LOT
OF GREAT MUSICIANS.
WE PLAYED MADISON SQUARE GARDEN FOR I THINK TWO NIGHTS, ONE OF
WHICH WAS MY BIRTHDAY WHEN I TURNED 30, AND IT WAS A GREAT
SHOW.
THE E STREET BAND PLAYED FOR AN HOUR AND A HALF, AND THIS FILM
COMING OUT MOMENTARILY IS A FILM OF THAT SHOW.
>> Stephen: AND WE HAVE A CLIP HERE OF I THINK THIS IS THE END
OF YOUR SECOND NIGHT OUT THERE.
>> OKAY.
>> Stephen: SO YOU'VE ALREADY TURNED 30, I THINK.
>> YEAH.
>> Stephen: AND THE CROWD IS TRYING TO GET YOU TO DO ONE MORE
SONG.
JIM.
>> I CAN'T GO ON LIKE THIS!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) I'M 30 YEARS OLD!
MY HEART'S STARTING TO GO ON ME!
I CAN'T!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) I CAN'T!
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) I DON'T WANT YOU TO BEG.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ♪♪
♪♪
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE )
( LAUGHTER ) >> Stephen: YOU'RE 30!
YOU CAN'T GO ON, YOU'RE 30!
>> I CAN'T GO ON LIKE THAT, I'M 30 YEARS OLD!
THAT'S IT!
>> Stephen: WHAT'S THE DIFFERENCE BETWEEN YOU NOW AND
THAT 30-YEAR-OLD GUY AND WHAT'S THE SAME?
>> WELL, IT'S FUNNY, ON STAGE, I DON'T KNOW IF THERE'S A LOT OF
DIFFERENCE, YOU KNOW.
( APPLAUSE ) YOU KNOW, WE STILL COME OUT, AND
WE TAKE IT ALL THE WAY EVERY NIGHT THAT WE'RE ON STAGE, YOU
KNOW.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) SO, YOU KNOW, I MEAN, THAT'S A
COMPLETELY DIFFERENT PERSON.
AT 30, I WAS STILL A KID, AND THAT WAS MY ENTIRE LIFE, WHAT
YOU'RE VIEWING RIGHT THERE, YOU KNOW.
SO THAT'S -- >> Stephen: NO ART-LIFE
BALANCE THERE.
>> NO ART-LIFE BALANCE.
NO, JUST WORK WORK WORK WORK.
SO THAT WAS DIFFERENT.
BUT BASICALLY, I STILL FEEL ABOUT IT THE WAY THAT KID WOULD
HAVE.
THAT HASN'T CHANGED AT ALL, YOU KNOW.
>> Stephen: WE'RE SO LUCKY YOU'RE GOING TO BE DOING A SONG
FOR US TONIGHT.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ♪♪
>> Stephen: MR. BRUCE
SPRINGSTEEN, WHAT WILL YOU BE PLAYING?
>> I WILL BE PLAYING THE RIVER.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) WHICH WAS A SONG -- IT'S A SONG
I WROTE WHEN I WAS THAT YOUNG MAN RIGHT THERE, I WROTE IT
PROBABLY ONLY WEEKS OR MONTHS BEFORE THAT SHOW.
I WAS 29 WHEN I WROTE IT, YOU KNOW, AND IT'S HELD UP PRETTY
WELL, AND IT WAS REALLY THE BEGINNING OF A CERTAIN KIND OF
MY NARRATIVE WRITING THAT LED TO A RECORD I MADE CALLED NEBRASKA
AND THE RECORD CALLED THE GHOST OF TOM JODE AND DEVILS AND DUST.
>> Stephen: I REMEMBER WHEN IT CAME OUT.
I WAS 16, JUST GOT MY LICENSE, I WAS LATE COMING HOME, I WAS WITH
A FRIEND OF MINE FROM BOSTON AND HE INTRODUCED ME TO YOUR MUSIC,
AND HE SAYS, YOU HAVE TO LISTEN TO THIS, AND WE LISTENED TO "THE
RIVER."
I WAS RIVETTED ABOUT IT.
I KNEW IT WAS SOMETHING NEW.
I'M CURIOUS, WHAT DID THAT SONG MEAN TO YOU THEN, AND WHAT DOES
IT MEAN NOW?
>> I WROTE THE SONG "MIDDLE OF THE NIGHT," I WAS LIVING IN
NEW JERSEY.
I CAME HOME FROM THE STUDIO, I WENT UP TO MY ROOM, AND I'M NOT
SURE WHAT THE INITIAL INSPIRATION WAS.
I THINK I HAD BEEN LISTENING TO SOME HANK WILLIAMS, AND HE HAD A
SONG ABOUT GOING DOWN TO THE RIVER, AND THE RIVER WAS DRY,
SOMETHING LIKE THAT.
SO IT STAYED IN MY HEAD.
AND MY SISTER WAS -- WHO LIVED ONLY HALF AN HOUR AWAY FROM ME
WAS SORT OF LIVING MY PARENTS' LIVES, YOU KNOW, THEY WERE JUST,
YOU KNOW, LIVING A VERY BLUE-COLLAR LIFE, HER HUSBAND
WAS A CONSTRUCTION WORKER, IT WAS THE '70s RECESSION, THERE
WASN'T A LOT OF WORK TO BE HAD, AND I STARTED -- REALLY, SHE WAS
THE INSPIRATION -- SHE AND HER HUSBAND WERE THE INSPIRATION FOR
THE CORE OF THAT SONG.
AND ONCE I GOT THE OPENING LINES THAT I COME FROM DOWN IN THE
VALLEY, MR. WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG THEY BRING YOU UP TO DO LIKE
YOUR DADDY DONE, THE REST FELL OUT AFTER THAT.
( APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: BRUCE, THANK YOU
SO MUCH FOR BEING HERE.
THANKS FOR PLAYING.
ALWAYS WONDERFUL TO TALK TO YOU.
THE BOOK IS "RENEGADES," THE MAN IS BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.
WE'LL BE RIGHT BACK WITH A SONG.
STICK AROUND.
>> STEPHEN: AND NOW, PERFORMING "THE RIVER," BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN.
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) ♪ ♪ ♪
♪ I COME FROM DOWN IN THE VALLEY
WHERE MISTER, WHEN YOU'RE YOUNG ♪ THEY BRING YOU UP TO DO
LIKE YOUR DADDY DONE ♪ ME AND MARY WE MET
IN HIGH SCHOOL ♪ WHEN SHE WAS JUST SEVENTEEN
WE'D RIDE OUT OF THIS VALLEY ♪ DOWN TO WHERE
THE FIELDS WERE GREEN ♪ WE'D GO DOWN TO THE RIVER
AND INTO THE RIVER WE'D DIVE ♪ YEAH DOWN TO THE RIVER
WE'D RIDE ♪ THEN I GOT MARY PREGNANT
AND, MAN, THAT WAS ALL SHE WROTE ♪ AND FOR MY 19TH BIRTHDAY
I GOT A UNION CARD ♪ AND A WEDDING COAT
WE WENT DOWN TO THE COURTHOUSE ♪ AND THE JUDGE PUT IT ALL
TO REST ♪ NO WEDDING DAY SMILES,
NO WALK DOWN THE AISLE ♪ NO FLOWERS, NO WEDDING DRESS
THAT NIGHT WE WENT ♪ DOWN TO THE RIVER
AND INTO THE RIVER WE'D DIVE ♪ OH DOWN TO THE RIVER
WE'D RIDE ♪ ♪ ♪
♪ I GOT A JOB WORKING
CONSTRUCTION ♪ FOR THE JOHNSTOWN COMPANY
BUT LATELY ♪ THERE AIN'T BEEN MUCH WORK
ON ACCOUNT OF THE ECONOMY ♪ NOW ALL THOSE THINGS
THAT SEEMED SO IMPORTANT ♪ WELL THEY VANISHED
RIGHT INTO THE AIR ♪ NOW I JUST ACT LIKE I DON'T
REMEMBER ♪ MARY ACTS LIKE SHE DON'T CARE
BUT I REMEMBER US RIDING ♪ IN MY BROTHER'S CAR
HER BODY TAN AND WET ♪ DOWN AT THE RESERVOIR
AT NIGHT ON THOSE BANKS ♪ I'D LIE AWAKE
AND PULL HER CLOSE ♪ JUST TO FEEL EACH BREATH
SHE'D TAKE ♪ NOW THOSE MEMORIES
COME BACK TO HAUNT ♪ ME THEY HAUNT ME LIKE A CURSE
IS A DREAM A LIE ♪ IF IT DON'T COME TRUE
OR IS IT SOMETHING WORSE, ♪ THAT SENDS ME DOWN TO THE
RIVER THOUGH I KNOW THE RIVER IS ♪ DRY THAT SENDS ME DOWN TO THE
RIVER TONIGHT ♪ DOWN TO THE RIVER
MY BABY AND I ♪ OH DOWN TO THE RIVER
WE RIDE ♪
( CHEERS AND APPLAUSE ) >> Stephen: THANK YOU, BRUCE.
THANKS, BROTHER.
>> Stephen: "RENEGADES" IS OUT TOMORROW AND THE "1979 NO NUKES
CONCERT" IS AVAILABLE NOVEMBER 19th.
BRUCE SPRINGSTEEN, EVERYBODY!
THAT'S IT FOR THE "LATE SHOW."
TUNE IN TOMORROW WHEN MY GUEST WILL BE KATIE COURIC.
GOOD NIGHT!