The Late Show Pod Show with Stephen Colbert Meanwhile | Taser Chess
Mar 8, 2026
A surgical resident makes balloon animals to tackle massive med school debt. A chart-topping rapper is heading to Broadway to star in a major musical. A bizarre electrified chessboard idea sparks comedic disbelief. Reports surface of chocolate syrup recalls, fewer city rats after a brutal winter, and parents caught packing canned cocktails in kids' lunches.
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Taser Chess Loneliness Anecdote
- Stephen Colbert recounts a man who built an electrified chessboard that shocks players for bad moves as a bizarre invention called "taser chess."
- Colbert jokes it makes the inventor lonelier and likens the board to a punishment-driven experiment in negative reinforcement.
Balloon Surgeon Paying Off Debt
- Stephen Colbert follows up on a New York surgical resident making balloon animals to pay off $400,000 in student loans and displays a balloon version of himself.
- He highlights the Instagram handle Dr. Brandini and jokes about the resident's skills and debt situation.
Unexpected Drug Contamination In Novelty Candy
- Colbert reports a sugary supplement called Boner Bears was recalled for containing a Viagra ingredient, exposing hidden pharmaceutical contamination in novelty products.
- He uses humorous commentary to underline how unexpected ingredients can appear in consumer treats.