U. S. Is doing far better than any other country when it comes to wherever you go whatever you do i will right here waiting for you whatever it takes oh how my heart breaks i will be right here waiting for you announcer its the late show with stephen colrttot,e b. Plus ste wemen lithgow and cookbook author Allison Roman, featuring jon batiste and stay homin. Live on tape from a safe distance, its Stephen Colbert stephen whats going on over there . What are you doing . Texting. Stephen youre on the clock now. Is this work for the show . Yes, yes. Stephen this is not private, right . No, its very important for the show. Stephen because youre a cbs employee at the moment. Very important. Stephen its hard to get good help. Welcome to a late show. Im your host Stephen Colbert. You know, its no secret, i got a little thing for science. Im into the lifestyle, by which i mean continuing to live. Because right now, our country is in the middle of a fierce debate about listening to medical experts or diving like a drunken frat boy into the gullet of a crocodile which has led to a lot of family debates like this. Luke, its perfectly safe for me to go bowling oh, thats not true thats irresponsible stephen you stick your ground, luke. Your dads highrisk. While trump keeps trying to lure us out of safety, Health Experts are warning of dire consequences. The latest is former h. H. S. Official and kmtv weekend weatherman, rick bright. Last week, dr. Bright filed a whistleblower complaint alleging he was canned in retaliation for opposing the broad use of chloroquine. Yes, trump promoted, chloroquine, hydroxychloroquine, and his favorite cure clororox. Well, today, bright testified before congress. But even before the hearing began, trump went on the offensive tweeting, i dont know the socalled whistleblower rick bright, never met him or even heard of him, but to me he is a disgruntled employee, not liked or respected by people i spoke to and who, with his attitude, should no longer be working for our government thats quite a preamble as trump before i assassinate this guys character, let me first say, i have no idea what im talking about. The hearing was not reassuring. Starting with this warning from dr. Bright if we fail to improve our response now based on science, i fear the pandemic will get worse and be prolonged. There will be likely a resurgence of covid19 this fall and it will be greatly compounded by the challenges of seasonal influenza. Without better planning, 2020 could be the darkest winter in modern history. Stephen he was really driving home the darkest winter point, as was his lawyer, jon snow, esquire. Dr. Bright explained why he thinks were headed to disaster. We dont have a single point of leadership right now for this response. Stephen wait, isnt the president supposed to be the single point . Though, admittedly, hes more of a lumpy sphere. And dr. Bright says our lack of planning is especially bad when it comes to testing. We need a National Testing strategy. The virus is here. Its everywhere. Stephen yes, a sentiment echoes by associate director of the c. D. C. , dr. Georgee. Viro yours. And in the kennedy house, and mrs. Macklins house, and and a hundred others. Stephen then, dr. Bright described a chilling moment, when he heard from a mask and respirator manufacturer. Congressman, ill never forget the email i received from mike bowen indicating we are our masks supply, our n95 respirator supply was completely decimated. And he said, were in deep bleep . Stephen yes, thanks to poor planning, americas in deep bleep . Or as trump would put it promises made, promises kept. Stephen then, dr. Bright recounted a surprising meeting he had with the secretary of health and human services. Alex azar. I came in with my list of needs, and those lists were money, people, and viruses. My request was met with a bit of surprise, empuzzlement. I remember secretary azar looking around the room saying, you need money . Maybe there is money somewhere . Stephen first, im definitely adding the word empuzzlement to my vocabulary immediately. Second, youd think that alex azar, who used to be a pharmaceutical executive, would understand that medicine costs money. The fact that he doesnt know that fills me with empuzzlement. With the news focused on todays disturbing testimony, it was only a matter of time before trump tried to outshine doctor bright, in todays edition of chopper talk. Stephen no surprise, trump threw shade on doctor bright. To me, i watched this guy for a little while this morning, to me he is nothing more than a really disgruntled, unhappy person. Stephen and he knows a disgruntled, unhappy person when he sees one. He married three of them. Trump was optimistic about a vaccine, and revealed a plan to get it distributed. I think were going to have a vaccine by the end of the year and i think distribution will take place almost simultaneously, because weve geared up the military. Stephen the military . Yes, theyre going to have Seal Team Sick load the syringes into their rifles. You just roll up your sleeve, walk near a window, and wait for the little red dot to appear on your arm. Then trump was asked whether the shocking death count was accurate. He didnt know, but he did have these words of comfort. Death is death, we dont want people dying in this country. Weve done a great job. Stephen what a lovely condolence card. Sorry for your loss, death is death, weve done a great job. Brights testimony echoes what congress was told by Infectious Disease expert and veterinarian your mom brings the dog to way too often, dr. Anthony fauci. On tuesday, fauci testified on capitol hill that we need to be cautious before we reopen schools in the fall, but this morning on the fox business festival, trump said that he wants to get the schools open, and he wants to do it fast. We have to get the schools opened and we have to get our country open. Now, we want to do it safely, but we also want to do it as quickly as possible. Stephen yes, and as we know, the way to do something safely is to do it as quickly as possible. Thats why custodians put up those floor signs caution run as fast as you can. Then trump explained why dr. Fauci had no place in his administration. Anthony is a good person, very good person. Stephen he will be missed. And according to trump, most people are going to be fine. If you look, theres been very little damage done to people that are healthy and young and frankly mediumage people. Stephen yes, medium age. For trump, age categories go live with your mother, miss teen usa, mediumage, ex wife, and biggiegenarian. Like that . Good. The fatality estimates keep rising, but trump didnt seem concerned i see we are losing tremendous number of lives. Were gonna lose over 100,000 perhaps in this country. Now in all fairness thats at the bottom level of the scale. We would have lost two million, we would have lost more if we did it a different way. Stephen as trump yes, the number of dead is actually unthinkable. But how bout a little gratitude, i didnt kill all of you. And it was an option. Trump was also asked about trade, and he said this gibberish we can do things in our country you know, we used to make our own product, would you believe it . We used to make our own product. We dont need 37 pencils, we can buy two pencils. And they can be better. Stephen what the hell are you talking about . I think what were learning is, hes eaten a lot of lead pencils. as trump why are people always needing 37 pencils . And while were at it, why do pencils need erasers . If you make a mistake, just have fox news say that you didnt. Beyond the economy, schools, and the general population, trump says that this virus has especially taken its toll on his relationship with his special friend i havent seen mike pence, and i miss him. He was in the room with somebody that tested positive and he did not test positive, he tested the opposite. Stephen you mean negative . Im guessing, in school you didnt test smart, you tested the opposite. Trump has abandoned americas Pandemic Response to the governors, and some are taking it more seriously than others. One who put out a strong stayathome order is wisconsin governor and angel come to take you to business heaven, tony eavers. In response to rising infection rates, eavers had closed up wisconsin until the end of may. Or at least, he tried to. Because last night the Wisconsin Supreme Court struck down the governors stayathome order. No staying closed is the only way to keep wisconsin safe its already so close to michigans mitten. We have no idea where that things been the conservative justices were very skeptical of the governors plan, asking the States Lawyers if the extended stayathome order was the very definition of tyranny. A courageous, freedomloving question that was asked from the safety of a video chat. Must not wisconsinites be liberated from tyrannical house arrest . Before you answer, hang on, im gonna mute so i can buzz up my instacart guy. My chocolate pretzels are here in the ruling, one justice made an especially stunning comparison, saying, this comprehensive claim to control virtually every aspect of a persons life is something we normally associate with a prison, not a free society governed by the rule of law. Calm down, your honor. If this was prison, you wouldnt be sitting on your couch watching tiger king, youd be his cellmate. Even worse, the court has no backup plan. Their ruling ends the stay at home order but puts nothing in its place. And governor eavers pointed out how dangerous the lack of guidance is at this point in time there is no orders. Theres nothing thats compelling people to do anything other than having chaos here. We are the wild west. Stephen oh, you wish you were the wild west. Those guys wore bandanas. Within minutes of the decision the Tavern League of wisconsin posted to is Facebook Page open immediately fair enough. I guess we shouldnt expect any common sense from the Tavern League of wisconsin. Their motto is, dont let em take your keys, bro and open immediately they did. Heres footage of nicks bar in wisconsin last night, no social distancing, no masks. And if you think nicks is bad, you shouldve seen the crew over at p. J. Lick n coughs. Weve got a show for you tonight. John lithgow is here. But when we come back, meanwhile stick around, it will be very pleasant. Hows that . Ck aro if for People Living with hiv, keep being you. And ask your doctor about biktarvy. Biktarvy is a complete, onepill, onceaday treatment used for hiv in certain adults. Its not a cure, but with one small pill, biktarvy fights hiv to help you get to and stay undetectable. Thats when the amount of virus is so low it cannot be measured by a lab test. Research shows people who take hiv treatment every day and get to and stay undetectable can no longer transmit hiv through sex. Serious side effects can occur, including kidney problems and kidney failure. Rare, lifethreatening side effects include a buildup of lactic acid and liver problems. Do not take biktarvy if you take dofetilide or rifampin. Tell your doctor about all the medicines and supplements you take, if you are pregnant or breastfeeding, or if you have kidney or liver problems, including hepatitis. If you have hepatitis b, do not stop taking biktarvy without talk toour doctor. If youre living with hiv, keep loving who you are. And ask your doctor if biktarvy is right for you. If youre living with hiv, keep loving who you are. The last thing you should have is having enough toilet paper. Please know were working around the clock to get you more charmin. Stay safe. Lets be honest. Quitting smoking is hard. Like, quitting every monday hard. Quitting feels so big. So try making it smaller, and youll be surprised at how easily starting small can lead to something big. Start stopping with nicorette. Is now more important than ever. At sprint, we understand saving money for your family starting small can lead to something big. Thats why were offering our best unlimited deal. Switch and get four lines of unlimited for just 100 a month. Thats right four lines, for 100 bucks if thats not enough, to really amp this up, were including four amazing iphone 11s, on us, when you trade in iphone 6ss or newer, in any condition. And now, sprint customers enjoy expanded roaming access on the tmobile network. Shop from the comfort of your home at sprint. Com or come see us in our stores. For people with hearing loss, visit sprintrelay. Com. Stephen welcome back. Hi jon. Folks, i spend a lot of time carefully arranging the biggest stories of the day on my mantelpiece, picking the tasteful floral arrangements, and handwriting my ornate placement cards, and measuring silverware placements for the imperial gala that is my monologue. On in a while, i likeo text some college friends, bring out the red solo cups, and that bottle of vodka my roommate left in the freezer in 2011, and slap together the beer pong table of news that is my segment quarantinewhile stephen quarantinewhile, a restaurant in virginia planned social distancing filling tables with mid century mannequins who occupy the seats between the patrons and the patrons occupy seats at a different restaurant that isnt filled with creepy old dolls. The restaurants chef explained the idea saying hes been working with a local theater to get the faux humans costumed in 1940s, era garb. I wanted to point out if the guy only needed to borrow the costumes, that means he had a collection of naked mannequins. Get out of there quarantine while, star county, ohio announced theyre holding the nations and maybe historys first drivethrough county fair. Thats going to be one messed up tilta whirl. But turns out the rides wont be open. Theyre just doing this for the residents so they can get food on sticks including hot dody anp fried oreos. Good for you. Thank you for thinking healthy, ohio sit safely in your car while eat you can deep fried oreos quarantinewhile, the lockdown is hitting everyone hard or almost everyone. Matt damons doing pretty good according to an interview he gave yesterday in ireland where hes staying its ridiculous. It feels a little bit like a fairytale here. You know, when we came in, people were saying, well, bono lives over there, and enya lives over there. We have teachers with us. So, weve got what nobody else has, which is actual live human beings teaching our kids. Its just absolutely gorgeous. Even in the lockdown, youve got to stay, you know within two kilometers of your house. I mean, two kilometers, theres trees, and forest and woods and ocean. Stephen matt no one wants to hear about famous people who have it so great. We went over the guidelines at the rich people club. You say how lucky you are, give a shoutout to the healthcare workers, then zip it dont tell them about mermaid hunting in the secret ocean only we know about. Okay, see you at scarjos mountaintop lobsterfest. Quarantinewhile, the film version of the broadway smash hit hamilton wasnt supposed to hit theaters until 2021, but, due to coronavirus, it will now premiere july 3 on disney plus and disney is working hard to make the case that the film wont just be like one of the versions of filmed plays you can see on pbs great performances. damn, take that, pbs great performances that burn was made possible by a generous gift from the alfred p. Pwn foundation. The folks at disney are promising that hamilton wont be a play at all, but rather a true cinematic experience. Oh, please tell me its gonna be hamilton 3d 2 fast 2 federalist well be right back with john lithgow. Sc johnson they will, but with accident forgiveness allstate wont raise your rates just because of an accident. Cut is that good . No you were talking about allstate and. I just. When i. Accident forgiveness from allstate. Click or call for a quote today. Happy birthday so, it goes. Hold up your answers. How is mickey doing today . Youre just a really hard worker. Stephen welcome back. My first guest tonight is a New York Times bestselling author and an actor you know from bombshell, the crown, and so many others. Please welcome, john lithgow john, how are you riding out your quarantine now . Whats a lithgow quarantine like . Im a lucky man. Ive had a project in quarantine. Stephen please dont tell me youre one of those productive people. Ive actually been productive. Every writer friend i have is having writers block. I have no writer but im writing my head off. Stephen whats the project . Ive completed a followup to my book durch dumpty from last. Stephen i remember it well. My poetry book you introduced to the country about a year ago. That came out in october, was a big hit, and my publisher said we have to have another one prior to the election in fall. I recklessly said yes. I wouldnt have been able to meet my deadlines if we haddon had a global pandemic, but im done. Stephen whats it called . Its called Trumpty Dumpty wanted a crown, versus for a despotic age. Last year it was dumpty versus the age of trump. Stephen where are you in the process right now . Are you completed or are you well under way . Ive completed the poems but im illustrating it. The month of may is about getting the illustrations done. Stephen i forgot you do the illustrations, too. Youre a renaissance man. Well, hardly. Stephen youre a jack of three trades. As an illustrator, im a very good actor. I did the cover art, and all of the poems are accompanied by line drawings. Stephen would you be willing to read us one of the poems now . Can you give us a little taste . Sure. I will read you the title poem. It will be the first poem in the book and its called Trumpty Dumpty wanted a crown. Ill read it briskly so as to not take up too much of your time. Stephen take all the time you want. Epiones on a slight sense of hiatus at all moments. All of us aspire to wasting as much time as we possibly can. Trumpty dumpty wanted a crown, to make certain he never would have to step down. He wanted a robe made of ermen and velvet, the constitution he wanted to shelve it. A wash his ambition had grown, he wanted an orb, a scepter, a thrown. Six royal palaces, six royal. Court years installed on his own Supreme Court and beheadings if only for sport. He craved the occasional royal procession and gasp the eventual royal succession. Trumpty dumpty gets his way unless the public has something to say. If we let him have all his favorite things, well have to endure the divine right of kings. Thats more or less the tone of the book. Stephen bravo. I was curioous whether Rudy Giuliani shows up at all in the book because the president s free lawyer, rudy, he comes on the show all the time, usually on the same night youre there. I dont know if you ever run into each other backstage. I simply cant explain the coincidence, ste