Colbert Razzes Cuomo for Saying America Was ‘Never That Great’

https://www.nytimes.com/2018/08/17/arts/television/stephen-colbert-andrew-cuomo-america-great.html

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Stephen Colbert is no fan of President Trump’s “Make America Great Again” slogan, but he also wasn’t impressed by Gov. Andrew Cuomo’s rebuttal.

In a speech on Wednesday, the New York governor mocked Trump’s catchphrase by saying, “We are not going to make America great again. It was never that great.”

Colbert and Jon Batiste, the “Late Show” bandleader, looked at each other with blank, astonished stares after they watched that clip. Then Colbert said this seemed like a Politics 101-level mistake.

“That is the dumbest thing you can say as a politician. That’s like closing your speech with, ‘Apple pie sucks, I’m lukewarm on the troops and those stripes make the American flag look fat! Thank you, I hate my mother.’” — STEPHEN COLBERT

“Come on, America may have been through some rough patches, but we’ve also done great things. In World War II, we beat the Axis powers and ended Nazism — for several decades.” — STEPHEN COLBERT

Nearly 350 newspapers across the country ran editorials on Thursday criticizing President Trump for his attacks on the press. (The New York Times was one of those papers.)

James Corden issued some gentle jabs at the newspapers, then he said it must have been to get Trump to actually read those negative appraisals.

“Three hundred and fifty newspapers ran these editorials! That must be like 800 readers.” — JAMES CORDEN

“Nothing will convince Trump that the media isn’t aligned against him like every newspaper running anti-Trump editorials on the same day.” — JAMES CORDEN

“Just to make sure that Trump sees them all, each editorial begins with ‘Two for One Big Macs.’” — JAMES CORDEN

Trump responded characteristically to the onslaught of editorials with an attack on Twitter in which he complained about so-called “FAKE NEWS,” and insisted that “HONESTY WINS!” Colbert said that sounded ironic, coming from Trump.

“It is true — honesty wins. But lying will get you the Electoral College.” — STEPHEN COLBERT

Omarosa Manigault Newman on Thursday revealed that she had secretly taped yet another conversation with a member of Trump’s inner circle.

This time, she released a recording of a conversation with Lara Trump, the president’s daughter-in-law, who is heard offering Manigault Newman a salary of $180,000 in exchange for staying quiet about sensitive topics.

Jimmy Fallon said Lara Trump must be mortified.

“In response Lara said, ‘I am so embarrassed about this tape. Now everyone will know that I’m married to Eric Trump.’” — JIMMY FALLON

“Democrats and some Republicans are voicing concerns about President Trump’s proposed military parade, and feel the event may come off as totalitarian. Ya think? That’s like someone being worried that the Pride Parade is going to come off as a little bit gay. That’s what they were going for!” — SETH MEYERS

“Trump went on to say that he’ll be going on the road and making 50 campaign stops, but he has, quote, ‘no problem with that.’ You know who else doesn’t have a problem with that? Melania.” — JAMES CORDEN, referring to an interview Trump gave to The Wall Street Journal

Jimmy Kimmel asked Tiffany Haddish a trio of ridiculous questions. One of them was, “What’s the best thing about white people?” And eventually, she got real: “Inheritances!”

James Corden imagined Robert Mueller delivering his indictment in the form of a gospel musical.

Aretha Franklin’s “Respect” was the most empowering popular song ever made, our critic writes. But did we fully comprehend how powerful the woman who delivered it really was?

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