The Late Show with Stephen Colbert aired a special live episode following the Republican National Convention. Host Stephen Colbert expressed frustration with the RNC's focus on "fear" and "American carnage" instead of addressing pressing issues like the COVID-19 pandemic, racism, and gun violence. He criticized the Trump administration's handling of the pandemic, including the CDC's recent reversal on testing guidelines, and accused Trump of "dictating our health regulations."
Colbert also discussed the recent shooting in Kenosha, Wisconsin, and the police response to the protests that followed. He criticized the Kenosha police chief's comments justifying the murder of two protesters and the wounding of one, saying it sounded like "The Purge." Colbert praised the Milwaukee Bucks for boycotting their game in response to the shooting and the subsequent postponement of all NBA games.
The episode featured commentary from NBA players and coaches, including Kenny Smith, who walked off the set of Inside the NBA in solidarity with the players, and Doc Rivers, who spoke about the systemic racism and fear-mongering perpetuated by the Trump administration.
Colbert emphasized the importance of voting in November, saying that until the people change the administration, they will continue to get more leadership from the NBA than the RNC. The episode concluded with an announcement that Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi would be joining the show.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. The Republican National Convention (RNC) was held with a theme each night.
2. The first night's theme was "Land of Promise", followed by "Land of Opportunity".
3. The speaker, Stephen Colbert, did not watch much of the convention.
4. As of the recording, 180,000 Americans had died from COVID-19.
5. A hurricane was making landfall on the Gulf Coast at the time of the recording.
6. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) reversed their testing guidelines to say people without symptoms may not need to be tested.
7. The CDC was pressured to change their guidance on coronavirus testing by higher-ups within the Trump administration.
8. The Hatch Act is a law that prohibits federal employees from using their official duties for political purposes.
9. The law was allegedly broken by White House officials using the presidential seal and the White House for partisan campaigning.
10. A 17-year-old Illinois resident was arrested for shooting two people and injuring one at a protest in Kenosha, Wisconsin.
11. The shooter reportedly believed they were a member of the militia.
12. The Kenosha police chief said that protesters wouldn't have been shot if they hadn't been out past curfew.
13. The Milwaukee Bucks boycotted their game to protest what had happened in Kenosha and around the United States.
14. The rest of the NBA followed suit, postponing their games.
15. The NBA players and coaches took a stand in solidarity with the protesters.
16. The speaker of the House, Nancy Pelosi, was a guest on the show.