Stephen Colbert kicked off his final week of hosting The Late Show on CBS by looking back at some of the things that, for one reason or another, never aired. This included what the plan was to celebrate a Hillary Clinton victory in 2016, which Colbert revealed included naked male models. While eating some steamed chicken, Colbert recalled, “So, why do we have all the stuff that never made it to air? A lot of reasons. For one, sometimes the world just doesn't cooperate, like during the 2016 presidential election. We were doing a live special on Showtime, and no commercial breaks, and as the results started to come in, it became clear that we had planned for a different outcome.”   Stephen Colbert kicked off his last week of hosting "The Late Show" by looking back on some of the stuff that never aired, including what he would've done if Hillary Clinton won in 2016, "We were so sure that The New York Times prediction needle was right, we hired a bunch of… pic.twitter.com/8Juf1bnmCi — Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) May 19, 2026   Putting up a blurred image of the doomed bit, Colbert continued, “We were so sure that The New York Times prediction needle was right, we hired a bunch of naked male models with the words 'I'm with her' painted on their full plump butts. Sadly, all of those models had to be put down, but first we tried to save the bit. And as the outcome became clear, we repainted their butts to say ‘We’re [bleep].’” Ultimately, the bit died along with liberal hopes that night, “And between those two butt bits, this is totally true, our co-executive producer, Matt Lappin, was backstage screaming into his headset, ‘Scrub the butts!’ Right, Matt? Is that right?” Lappin joined in lamenting Election Night 2016, “That's right. It was more like ‘Scrub the butts! Scrub the butts!’ That night even the butts cried.” Instead, Colbert was compelled to solemnly lament that his fellow citizens voted for “the asteroid.” It was a theme he would repeat eight years later in 2024 when he lamented that he was switching out his “I voted” sticker for a “I am questioning my fundamental belief in the goodness of humanity" one because voters, apparently, “don't care that much about democracy.” Ultimately, in 2016, Colbert ended up being the butt of the joke because he simply assumed his liberal bubble was reflective of the nation as a whole. It was a tendency that plagued The Late Show over the next 10 years as well. Here is transcript for the May 18 show: CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert 5/18/2026 11:42 PM ET STEPHEN COLBERT: So, why do we have all the stuff that never made it to air? A lot of reasons. For one, sometimes the world just doesn't cooperate, like during the 2016 presidential election. We were doing a live special on Showtime, and no commercial breaks, and as the results started to come in, it became clear that we had planned for a different outcome. We were so sure that The New York Times prediction needle was right, we hired a bunch of naked male models with the words "I'm with her" painted on their full plump butts. Sadly, all of those models had to be put down, but first we tried to save the bit. And as the outcome became clear, we repainted their butts to say “We’re [bleep].” And between those two butt bits, this is totally true, our co-executive producer, Matt Lappin, was backstage screaming into his headset, "Scrub the butts!” Right, Matt? Is that right? MATT LAPPIN: That's right. It was more like “Scrub the butts! Scrub the butts!” That night even the butts cried. COLBERT: Oh, if you knew that took on Matt, you would know how important evidence for them to get in one more ass joke, and that's the cleanest it's ever been.

MRC Watchdogs churn out breaking news on a daily basis. Don't miss Today's Highlights, where you can keep up with the top MRC content, whether it's the latest study on media bias, a glaring omission from the elitist media, or how the Big Tech companies are serving up the same leftist spin as the media.  Top Stories:   TUDY: SNL Jokes About Conservatives Jump To 91 Percent In Season 51 SPECIAL REPORT: Yahoo News. Fake News or Fake Re-Balance? The View Demands Votes for Democrats If Americans Want to Avoid ‘End of Democracy’   STUDY: SNL Jokes About Conservatives Jump To 91 Percent In Season 51 A new NewsBusters study found that 91 percent of Weekend Update political jokes this season targeted conservatives. Donald Trump alone was the target of more than 100 jokes, showing how overwhelmingly one-sided SNL’s political humor has become. The study found conservatives dominated both the cold opens and Weekend Update segments, while liberals received comparatively little scrutiny. SNL’s political comedy no longer reflects broad satire and instead functions as partisan activism aimed almost entirely at the Right.   SPECIAL REPORT: Yahoo News. Fake News or Fake Re-Balance? A new MRC Free Speech America report argues Yahoo News is attempting to rebrand itself as politically balanced while continuing to amplify left-leaning narratives. The report found Yahoo News heavily relied on liberal sources and perspectives during major political coverage despite public claims of neutrality. Critics say Big Tech and legacy media outlets increasingly use “neutrality” branding as cover while still shaping coverage through selective story choice and framing. The study raises broader concerns about whether Americans can trust major digital news platforms to provide fair and balanced political reporting.   The View Demands Votes for Democrats If Americans Want to Avoid ‘End of Democracy’ The hosts of ABC’s The View claimed Americans must vote for Democrats in order to prevent what they described as the “end of democracy.” The rhetoric reflects escalating fear-based messaging from liberal media figures ahead of the 2026 election cycle. The segment framed Republican victories as existential threats while offering little substantive debate over policy differences between the parties. This kind of coverage reinforces concerns that corporate media personalities increasingly function as political activists rather than neutral commentators.      

On Sunday evening's The Weekend: Primetime on MS NOW, Ayman Mohyeldin offered this moment of rare candor while discussing Sen. Bill Cassidy’s primary loss: “I think the problem that a lot of people had with Cassidy — and again, I can’t really speak for Republican voters, I don’t know them very well — but just from hearing the commentary about them…” On Monday's CNN This Morning, host Audie Cornish turned that ignorance into a full segment on the state of the GOP in light of the defeat of incumbent Republican Senator Bill Cassidy in the Louisiana primary — with zero Republicans on the panel. Instead, she assembled three analysts — Sarah Fischer (CNN senior media analyst / Axios), Nia-Malika Henderson (CNN senior political analyst / Bloomberg), and Seung Min Kim (CNN political analyst / AP) — all with impeccable liberal-media credentials. Fischer’s contribution was pure gobbledygook: the coming midterms "foreshadowed" the current situation. So, something that hasn't happened yet is a harbinger of the present? She predicted: "The Trumpiest candidates are going to continue to prevail, and then in other cases, they're going to continue to completely fall flat." So, the Trumpy candidates will triumph -- unless they get trounced. Got it! MS NOW Admits “I Don’t Know Republican Voters” … Then CNN Analyzes the GOP With ZERO Republicans

The Elitist Media’s network evening news collectively whined over the Department of Justice’s announcement of a nearly $1.8 billion anti-weaponization fund intended to redress the grievances of those who claim to have been targeted by the Biden Department of Justice. ABC saw this as an opportunity to doctor President Donald Trump’s January 6th speech, as did the BBC. Watch as ABC splices Trump's speech and fabricates a quote out of whole cloth: HOLY JUMP CUT, ABC: @ABCWorldNews' report on DoJ anti-weaponization fund comes mighty close to BBC territory with its splicing of Trump J6 speech pic.twitter.com/xVQHaaP9F8 — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) May 18, 2026 RACHEL SCOTT: President Trump told his supporters to march to the Capitol. DONALD TRUMP: We’re going to walk down to the Capitol (VIDEO SWIPE) because you'll never take back our country with weakness. Anyone distracted with a phone or not watching the screen at that time can well have not seen the swipe effect, and believe that the spliced video is an actual quote (the video portions are several seconds apart). If this seems familiar, it is because the BBC infamously spliced portions of Trump’s J6 speech for a documentary: NEW: The Telegraph reports that an internal whistleblower memo claims the BBC “doctored” Donald Trump’s Jan. 6 speech, making it seem as though he encouraged the Capitol riot. pic.twitter.com/GORW82yeVS — Breaking911 (@Breaking911) November 3, 2025 ABC’s egregious video was published in service of a January 6th narrative against the establishment of the DoJ fund. And ABC weren’t the only ones to push this narrative line. CBS did so also, at the end of a report on Thomas Massie’s primary election:  CBS EVENING NEWS 5/18/26 6:42 PM TONY DOKOUPIL: Speaking of, the president today withdrew a $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS, this all tied to the leak of his tax returns and the settlement involves the creation of a $1.8 billion fund. What do you know about that? ED O’KEEFE: That’s right. The Justice Department calls it an anti-weaponization fund and says that the money will be used to compensate people who claimed they were targeted by the Biden Justice Department or by Democrats. The DoJ says the fund will have the power to issue monetary relief owed to claimants. Democrats are worried this is going to be used as some kind of slush fund and could also be used by those who have been charged or convicted of crimes associated with the January 6th insurrection. Tony. DOKOUPIL: Ed, thank you very much. NBC went the same route, hyperfocusing on January 6th. Here’s the report submitted by Kelly O’Donnell: Watch: NBC, like the rest of the media, make J6 the focus of the Trump DoJ anti-weaponization fund. No mention of the Biden FACE Act prosecutions, persecution of nuns, Latin Mass adherents, et al TOM LLAMAS: We want to head to Washington now, and a growing controversy over the… pic.twitter.com/rrf26jqWjr — Jorge Bonilla (@BonillaJL) May 19, 2026 NBC NIGHTLY NEWS 5/18/26 6:41 PM TOM LLAMAS: We want to head to Washington now, and a growing controversy over the Trump administration's move to create a $1.7 billion fund to compensate people they say were wrongly prosecuted by the Biden administration. Kelly O'Donnell joins us now, and this is all in exchange for President Trump dropping lawsuits? KELLY O’DONNELL: Tom, this is an extraordinary legal drama that involves the president dropping his multiple lawsuits against the federal government, including against the IRS for a leak of his tax returns. But in exchange, the Trump administration today created what it calls an anti-weaponization fund. Using more than $1.7 billion of taxpayer money that could pay out compensation to Trump allies who say they were unfairly prosecuted by the Biden administration. Possibly including January 6th rioters who were pardoned by President Trump. Democrats are calling this “corrupt” and “an abuse of power.” Tom. LLAMAS: All right, Kelly O’Donnell at The White House for us. Kelly, we thank you for that. Same formula, same January 6th arguments. All of this by design. By making the fund about January 6th, the Elitist Media paper over the many other weaponizations of government carried out by the Biden administration. You’ll note the zero mentions of FACE Act prosecutions. Mark Houck was dragged out of his home and in front of his family by federal agents, only to be found not guilty of violating the FACE Act at trial.  Likewise there are no mentions of the nuns targeted by the BIden DoJ, the persecution of Latin Mass adherents, or the concerned parents who didn’t want their kids transitioned at school behind their backs, or who protested the rape of their daughters in girls’ restrooms. As is often the case, we are reminded that if it weren’t for double standards, there would be none at all. Click “expand” to view the transcript of the aforementioned report as aired on ABC World News Tonight on Monday, May 18th, 2026: ABC WORLD NEWS TONIGHT 5/18/26 6:41 PM DAVID MUIR: We turn now to your money tonight. The Justice Department has now set up a fund paid for in taxpayer money, $1.8 billion. What the president calls an anti-weaponization fund to compensate Trump allies, including the rioters on January 6th. Here's Rachel Scott. RACHEL SCOTT: Tonight, the Justice Department announcing a new so-called anti weaponization fund, $1.8 billion in taxpayer money to be given away to allies of President Trump who claimed they were unfairly treated by the Biden DoJ. Among those who could see payouts, the 1600 people charged in connection with the riot at the Capitol on January 6th, President Trump told his supporters to march to the Capitol. DONALD TRUMP: We’re going to walk down to the Capitol (VIDEO SWIPE) because you'll never take back our country with weakness. SCOTT: Today, the president defending the new fund. TRUMP: This is reimbursing people that were horribly treated, horribly treated. It's anti-weaponization. They've been weaponized. They've been, in some cases, imprisoned wrongly. SCOTT: The fund is part of a legal settlement between President Trump and his own administration. The president agreeing to drop his $10 billion lawsuit against the IRS over the leak of some of his tax returns several years ago. He's also dropping $230 million in claims against the Justice Department for investigations they launched against him. President Trump has acknowledged the unprecedented circumstances- a president suing his own administration, which he controls. Democrats tonight calling it a MAGA slush fund. CHUCK SCHUMER: Trump pardoned violent insurrectionists who assaulted your Capitol to overturn your votes, and now he wants to give them your hard-earned tax dollars as a reward. Can you believe that? SCOTT: And again, David, we're talking about nearly $1.8 billion of taxpayer money. This fund will expire a few weeks before the president leaves office. David. MUIR: Rachel Scott with us. Thank you. Rachel.  

Democrats want to exploit the war in Iran to claim they’re the Affordability Party. Trump bluntly answered a question from Daily Caller reporter Reagan Reese by saying Americans’ financial situation didn’t matter “not even a little bit” in his negotiating with Iran to end the war. “They can’t have a nuclear weapon.”   MRC Business associate editor Joseph Vazquez and NewsBusters contributor Steve Malzberg joined the show to discuss this topic and more. The Reese exchange went like this:  REAGAN REESE: When you're negotiating with Iran, Mr. President, to what extent are Americans financial situation motivating you to make a deal? DONALD TRUMP: Not even a little bit. The only thing that matters when I'm talking about Iran, they can't have a nuclear weapon. I don't think about Americans financial situation. CNN Democrat contributor Xochitl Hinojosa was eager to exploit this statement: "I don't know why we don't have ads up running in every swing congressional district with those comments, but they need to be up fast." Trump was clearly asked about his negotiating position with Iran, and he doesn't want go soft in the press. But his ratings on the economy right now are dismal.  Steve reported on CNN reporter Mathew Chance getting the opportunity to report inside Iran....with all the Iranian government-managed talking points. They proclaimed: "We'd like to note that CNN only operates there with the permission of the Iranian government, as is required under local regulations, but maintains full editorial control over what it reports." It sounded more like a rerun of Peter Arnett's robotic reports from inside Iraq. They lament the bombing of bridges...without discussing the security objectives of cutting off arms supplies.  Joey explained how Alex Soros has now pledged $30 million to fight antisemitism, which is a little odd since the Soros empire has sided with anti-semites. Joey wrote:“Alex Soros pledging a fortune to fight antisemites is about as believable as an arsonist dressing up as a firefighter.” MRC Business also exposed a horrific 2007 pro-Hamas op-ed written by George Soros himself calling on America and Israel to “open the door to Hamas.”  So they can bring a gun or a bomb? Finally, there's the tilt of Saturday Night Live. NBC's jumped the comedy shark in 2016 when Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton and their "cold open" to begin the show was their Hillary impersonator Kate McKinnon singing Leonard Cohen's sad song "Hallelujah" instead of trying to be funny. They were all too emotionally wrecked to be funny. Right after Trump was inaugurated, they wallowed in their feelings again by singing "To Sir With Love" as a tribute to President Obama. It's become quite clear that this "iconic" show has become weaponized against Trump, as it seems almost every show opens with an anti-Trump skit, and the "Weekend Update" fake-news segment is a cesspool of ugly anti-Republican mockery.  Season 51 recently came to an end, and it was considerably more liberal than Season 50. A new NewsBusters study by Alex Christy has found that 91 percent of the season’s Weekend Update jokes were directed at conservatives, while 81 percent of its “cold open” political characters were conservatives or Republicans. You can enjoy the podcast below, or the audio is here.