
The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Nathan Lane (Extended) | Crude Awakening
Apr 1, 2026
Nathan Lane, Tony- and Emmy-winning actor known for his stage and screen work, discusses his role as Willy Loman in Death of a Salesman. He defends ballet and opera after a recent remark and reflects on why the play resonates globally. He also performs a live musical number, offering a humorous take on finding laughter in troubled times.
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Trump Walking Away From A Mess
- Stephen Colbert frames Trump's shifting Iran strategy as abandoning a complex problem because it exceeds a self-imposed timeline.
- Colbert compares it to leaving a giant jigsaw puzzle unfinished after finding an edge, highlighting avoidance over responsibility.
The Politics Of Public Threats
- Colbert highlights Trump's social-media push for other countries to seize oil and the threat to destroy Iranian infrastructure.
- He sarcastically frames the threats as reckless and potentially criminal, coining a dark EGOT joke.
Religion And Justifying War
- Colbert contrasts Pentagon prayers for violence with Pope Leo XIV's Palm Sunday message rejecting war in God's name.
- He uses the Pope's quote that Jesus "rejects war" to challenge using religion to justify conflict.

