Welcome, Ladies and gentlemen, too.

Ah, Late show.

I'm your host, Stephen Colbert.

Also, welcome to the after Escape.

It's not even a cool after escape or Spice tribes and face paint, fight each other and souped up muscle cars across the Forbidden Zone.

But make no mistake, we are in the dystopia because here's the situation.

Fellow American citizens overnight members of the National Guard had to sleep next to their weapons on the floor of the Capitol building.

Now, that's terrible to see.

But what's additionally heartbreaking about this is that some of these soldiers were sleeping next to a plaque Commemorating the Civil War troops that were quartered in the capital in 18 61 which happens to be the last time troops had to sleep over to protect the legislators.

So take heart.

National Guard.

Yes, your bodies and your bravery and your service are the primary defense against a raging mob off homicidal yahoos.

And yes, some of the folks you've sworn to defend have been actively inciting those sedition ists.

But if the country survived, there's a pretty good chance you're getting a plaque.

In fact, there's so many troops guarding our capital right now that the 15,000 mobilized for inauguration equals three times the number of US troops in Iraq and Afghanistan combined well, the United States is known for sending in troops to prop up failed states, hopefully will greet ourselves as Liberators.

And with this massive military protection in place today, the House of Representatives impeached the president of the United States.

I feel like I just took down my decorations from the last impeachment.

I'll tell you about all of it in tonight's edition of the reboot off my segment no one wanted, but everyone desperately needed.

Don and the Giant impeached to go fast were furious.

Donald Trump loves Nazis.

Very fine peaches on both sides.

Today's vote is historic because for the first time, a president has been impeached twice.

Makes sense.

This president loves having seconds.

Also, he's a traitor.

I'm just saying this man has an appetite for the destruction of our institutions.

The impeachment article passed today, charged the president with just one thing, inciting violence against the government of the United States.

That is a pure dereliction of duty.

That's like your doctor yanking out your I V or a lifeguard drowning your grandpa or the host of your book club failing to buy box wine.

We were counting on you, Brenda.

Read the Constitution.

Now the president of United States incited his mob to attack the United States government.

Reminds me of the climactic finale of Star Wars fire at will.

Commander at us, it has been noted that his impeachment comes just one week before the president's term expires.

Do you know how bad of a job you have to be doing to get fired while you're getting fired?

I'm sorry, Mark.

It's just not working out.

We appreciate everything you've done for the company and you're building a gallows to hang me.

Okay, there goes your severance, buddy.

Now, the Democrats alleged that the president gravely endangered the security of the United States and its institutions of government and that he threatened the integrity of the democratic system.

It's true.

And then he got elected.

The Republicans, for the most part, talked about how the president's followers attacking to keep him in power is bad, is not that bad.

And they reached a new high in low with California Republican congressman and guy at the mall who won't leave the massage chair.

Tom McClintock.

McClintock made a statement about California's leadership before he even opened his mouth with a Mass that read.

This mask is his useless as our governor, which I'm sure he means as a slam.

But if you read the science, it's actually a compliment.

Governor Newsome, Congratulations.

He believes you're 80% more effective than no governor.

Then McClintock opened his mask hole and tried to play down the insurrectionists.

If we impeached every politician who gave a fiery speech to a crowd of partisans, this capital would be deserted.

That's what the president did.

That is all he did, he specifically told the crowd to protest peacefully and patriotic Lee and the vast majority of them did.

But every movement has a lunatic fringe lunatic fringe.

There were tens of thousands of people in that murderous mob.

The day after the riot.

A poll found that 45% of Republican voters backed the attack on the Capitol building.

That's not a fringe that's almost half the outfit.

If you wore a suit that was 45% fringe, you'd be arrested for public indecency, but at least we'll be able to see through your pants to know you don't have any balls.

The attack on the capital was so reprehensible that 10 House Republicans supported impeachment, and Washington Republican Jaime Herrera Butler spelled out exactly what's kept Republicans silent for four years.

Fear, fear tells us what we want to hear.

It incites anger and violence and fire, but it also haunts us into silence and inaction.

Torture?

GOP colleagues responded.

Hell, here, you!

She tried to reassure them.

Truth, truth sets us free from fear.

Truth doesn't guarantee bad things won't happen, but it does promise to always prevail.

In the end, it has no shadows where darkness can hide.

With truth comes love, and we could use that Right now, my vote to impeach our sitting president is not a fear based decision I am not choosing aside.

I'm choosing truth.

It's the only way to defeat fear.

I never thought I'd be so excited to hear somebody say that they believe in objective truth.

Even though she's a Republican, the congresswoman is still willing to admit the sky is blue and most of the electoral map is too.

By the way, she's right.

The truth will set you free.

Unless you committed sedition, then the truth is gonna put you in jail for a long time.

Herrera Butler joined other Republicans who had previously announced their support for removing the president from office.

Yesterday, New York representative John Kat Cho said, I cannot sit by without taking action.

I will vote to impeach this president, Illinois Republican Adam Kinzinger explained.

The president broke his oath of office and inside of this insurrection, I will vote in favor of impeachment.

And Michigan Congressman Fred Upton declared, I would have preferred a bipartisan formal censure rather than a drawn out impeachment process.

I fear this will now interfere with important legislative business and a new Biden administration.

But it is time to say enough is enough.

Thus, I will vote to impeach.

Forcefully said.

It reminds me of the stirring scene from Spartacus.

I'm Spartacus!

I'm Spartacus!

I'm Spartacus!

I'm Spartacus!

I'm Spartacus.

I would have preferred not to have to be Spartacus, given how important my own identity is to me and the fear that we might all suffer punishment at a time when Rome should just move forward.

But enough is enough.

So I reluctantly I am also sparked a kiss, I guess.

But by far the most significant statement was this.

There has never been a greater betrayal by a president of the United States.

I will vote to impeach the president that from Liz Cheney she's the head of the House Republican caucus.

She's the third ranking Republican.

She's the second ranking.

Cheney.

That's how awful this president is.

He has made me grateful to Liz Cheney.

Can we impeach him for that?

Uh huh.

Oh, it burns now, unlike the first time Trump was impeached, this impeachment might not be dead on arrival in the Senate, thanks to Senate majority leader and guy creeping out everyone else at the strip club.

Mitch McConnell.

Reportedly McConnell has told associates in private that he believes the president committed impeachable offenses and is leaning toward convicting him.

That's all gonna be in his memoir, leaning toward courage.

Turns out the president unleashing his supporters to kill Congress was a bit of a turning point.

Now the senator apparently hates the president and never plans to speak to him again.

Oh, Dang.

Being impeached is one thing, but getting the silent treatment from Mitch McConnell that's gotta sting.

Imagine seeing your old pal Mitch and not being greeted with the usual sunshine of Hello, Mr President.

McConnell's apparent support for impeachment gives cover for others, meaning a dozen Republican senators and possibly MAWR could ultimately vote to convict the president.

Yes, and at least a dozen and possibly mawr if there's a sale at Bob Spine Barn there.

Verte Great.

One Republican House member who's sticking with the president is Alabama representative and man who wants you to overthrow democracy.

Mo Brooks Brooks isn't upset that the president inside of the mob because he was incitements opening act Today is the day American Patriots start taking down names and kicking ass.

Now Brooks refuses to apologize for that speech, claiming that when he said kicking ass, he was talking about a donkey.

Same way I'm talking about a chicken when I say Mo Brooks is a complete cock.

Brooks has since changed his story and claimed that his remarks were about winning the 2022 2024 election.

Come on, mo.

You don't get to rile up a crowd and tell them to kick ass at the Capitol.

And then when they do say it was about voting two years from now.

That's like C and C Music factory, claiming that the song Everybody Dance Now is actually about going home, getting some rest so you can boogie to your heart's content at your cousin's wedding next summer and you're not invited.

Mo Brooks has a much bigger problem than incitement to insurrection because he's implicated by the architect of the rally itself.

Stop the steal activists and Sammy Davis, Hitler.

Allie Alexander.

Before the riot, Alexander went on the Internet to share the credit.

I'm the guy who came up with the idea of January 6th when I was talking with Congressman, Goes through our congressman Andy Biggs and Congressman Mo Brooks.

It was to build momentum and pressure and then, on the day, change hearts and minds off Congress peoples who weren't yet decided or saw everyone outside and said, I can't be on the other side of that mom.

He just implicated Republican Congressman Paul Goes ER, Andy Biggs and Mo Brooks, also known as the three coaches.

This name Mo Brooks will now go down in infamy.

Luckily for him, CNN's Erin Burnett mixed up her.

Brooks's Charlie, You you heard Olly Alexander, Paul Go star Andy Biggs, Mel Brooks.

It is incredible when you see this and and certainly the words of Mel Brooks.

Come on, Mel Brooks.

Mel Brooks.

What does Mel Brooks ever done to appeal to fascists?

Don't be stupid, be a smarty.

Come and joined the Nazi Party.

Okay, but unlike the president, he was joking.

Now, another profile in Jello is South Carolina senator and death or with a haircut.

Lindsey Graham.

Immediately after Wednesday's violent pushed, Graham came back out of the Senate safe bunker and took to the floor to let everyone know that he's against almost being killed.

All I can say is, Count me out.

Enough is enough.

I have searched my conscience and examine my values.

And I have come to the profound realization that I enjoy breathing Graham out except ground.

Back in, because yesterday, Lindsey flew on Air Force One with the president to his speech.

So six days after taking what seemed like a stand, he hopped on the president's plane.

Okay, somebody stuff in the overhead compartment.

Good thing my spine fold so easily, and I contain less than three ounces of courage.

Oh, hi.

We've got a great show for you tonight, my guests or Sam B and the star of normal people, Paul Mescal.

But when we return, meanwhile, stick around.