You know that feeling when you're watching a train wreck in slow motion, but the conductor is trying to tell jokes to keep everyone from screaming? That’s basically what Stephen Colbert election night 2024 felt like for anyone tuned into The Late Show. Honestly, it was a weird vibe. If you remember 2016, Colbert did that live Showtime special where he looked like he’d just seen a ghost.
This time? It was different. He wasn't surprised. He was just... tired. We all were.
The Ed Sullivan Theater is usually this place of high energy and bright lights, but on the night of November 5 into the 6th, the atmosphere shifted from "let's see what happens" to "oh, right, this again." Colbert has spent nearly a decade making Donald Trump the center of his late-night universe. When the results started rolling in showing a decisive Trump victory over Kamala Harris, the comedy didn't stop, but it certainly got darker.
The Monologue That Everyone Is Still Talking About
Let’s get into the nitty-gritty of that post-election monologue because it was raw. Colbert walked out and the first thing he said was, "Well... f***. It happened again."
The audience laughed, but it was that nervous, "I don't know what else to do" kind of laughter. He didn't hold back. He talked about how he spent Tuesday wearing his "I Voted" sticker with pride, only to swap it on Wednesday for a sticker that said, "I am questioning my fundamental belief in the goodness of humanity."
One thing he addressed—which I think was a really smart move—was the common criticism that late-night hosts "secretly want Trump to win" because he’s a "goldmine for material." Colbert’s response was perfection. He compared it to a janitor. No one tells the guy cleaning the bathroom, "Wow, you must love it when someone has explosive diarrhea! There's so much material for you to work with!"
It’s gross, sure, but it’s a point well made. The guy is exhausted by the chaos, even if it pays the bills.
Why This Election Night Felt Different for Late Night
Back in 2016, the shock was the story. In 2020, the delay was the story. But Stephen Colbert election night 2024 was about the realization that this wasn't a fluke. It was a choice.
Colbert pointed out that the first time Trump was elected, it started as a joke and ended as a tragedy. This time? It starts as a tragedy. He wondered aloud what it would end as—a limerick? A "There once was a man from Mar-a-Lago" bit?
He was incredibly blunt about the future. He didn't sugarcoat it for his liberal-leaning audience. He talked about being governed by a "monstrous child" and being surrounded by "cowards and grifters." It wasn't just satire; it was an eulogy for the campaign Kamala Harris and Tim Walz had run, which he called "extraordinary" despite the 107-day sprint.
The Guests and the "Meanwhile" of it All
Leading up to the night, Colbert had been doing these massive interviews. He even traveled to Pennsylvania to talk to Tim Walz. But on the actual night and the day after, the focus shifted to the "wriggling brain worms" (his words for RFK Jr.'s influence) and the Silicon Valley "bros" like Elon Musk who backed the winning side.
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He didn't just stay in the political weeds, though. He tried to pivot to the absurdity. He mentioned how the polls were basically a "heads or tails" game and how pollsters would now either disappear or claim they were "1% right" all along.
Honestly, the most poignant part was when he looked at the camera and told his audience that democracy doesn't just happen on election day. He basically told everyone to keep their chin up, not because things are good, but because we’ve been through this before. "No one gets into this business because everything in their life worked out great," he joked about his staff. "We're built for rough roads."
What People Get Wrong About the "Colbert Bump"
There’s this idea that Colbert's platform can sway an election. In 2024, that theory took a massive hit. Despite the high-profile guests and the biting commentary, the "Colbert Bump" didn't translate to the swing states Harris needed.
Why? Because the country is siloed. If you're watching Colbert, you likely already agree with him. If you don't, you're probably watching Gutfeld! or scrolling X. Colbert’s election night wasn't an attempt to change minds—it was a therapy session for the people who felt like their world was tilting on its axis.
Actionable Insights: How to Process the Aftermath
If you're still feeling the "deep shock and sense of loss" Colbert mentioned, here are a few things you can actually do based on the themes of his coverage:
- Turn off the "Ramifications Pump": Colbert mentioned his brain keeps pumping out an unlimited supply of "what-ifs." Limit your news intake to once a day. You don't need the 2 AM doom-scrolling.
- Focus on Local Action: Since the national level feels "uncharted," look at your city council or local school board. That’s where you can actually see a result from your effort.
- Find the Humor, Even if it's Dark: Comedy is a survival mechanism. Whether it's Colbert, Seth Meyers, or just a funny friend, don't feel guilty for laughing when things feel bleak.
- Accept the Result Without Giving Up: As Colbert said, "the people voted and this is the choice we made." Accepting the reality is the first step toward figuring out what to do next. It doesn't mean you have to like it.
Colbert's 2024 election journey was a reminder that while the world changes, the role of the jester stays the same: to tell the truth, even when the truth is a punch to the gut. Whether you're a fan of his brand of comedy or not, his reaction was a significant cultural marker of where half the country stood at the end of 2024.
The next four years are going to be a lot of things. Boring isn't one of them. We're stepping over the precipice, and like Colbert said, the fight for justice doesn't end with one election. It just gets a lot harder.
Your Next Steps
- Watch the Full Monologue: If you only saw clips on TikTok, go watch the full 15-minute opening from the Wednesday after the election. It provides the full context of his "peaceful transfer of power" comments.
- Check Local Results: Go beyond the presidency. See how your local ballot measures fared—these often have a more direct impact on your daily life.
- Engage in Community: Find a local group or volunteer organization. Action is the best antidote to the "sense of loss" Colbert described.