Colbert Loses Fat Bear Week, Biden May Mint A Trillion Dollar Coin

[@juliaconnell]

how many YEARS have I been watching Stephen? never *ever* noticed his ears before - the sad look on his face awwwww

[@roarkedunn2688]

I accept your hugs and raise you a squeeze

[@eurekamarijka]

Then you obviously never watched him back on the Daily Show with Jon Stewart! 😁 👂

[@tselengbotlhole750]

For me it was the first thing I noticed about him 🤣🤣🤣. It makes him unique in that way 😍

[@darkskyinwinter]

Decades.

[@lexterb2295]

Ur sweet...uwu

[@howardkerr8174]

"....and it's not like he even watches this...." Famous last words.

[@rob_i208]

Yeah, but one of his writer's former roommate's cousin watches it.

[@auroramichael1110]

😂😂🤣

[@Smeginator]

Now he needs to make an appearance on the show

[@mechanicalcowboy3242]

They SOOOOOOo need to invite that park ranger onto the show

[@telectronix1368]

But only if Mr Colbert gets a supervillan chair, so he can slowly rotate round when the ranger arrives on set.

[@JoMacSlauter]

Agree agree agree! The park ranger should be a regular on the show!

[@hustleyourknowledge]

@@telectronix1368 that would be epic dressed up as Lord Sidous 😂 eventually saying to him so apparently you feel I don't know about your show? I find your lack of faith disturbing.

[@missybarbour6885]

We need a saga in the style of John Oliver v. The Danburry Hat Tricks

[@ubuedro]

And the Coltbear

[@romxxii]

I'm just offended 747's name isn't written down as "Col-bear"

[@jessragan6714]

It's weird, because the shtick he had as "Stephen Colbert" the character on Comedy Central is that he hated bears.

[@Amataeo]

Cold_bear** lol

[@avcevyll0066]

Extra emphasis on the "ear."

[@Eddyspeeder]

It was RIGHT THERE for the taking!

[@ayelemensah8816]

What a huge let down!

[@Juniorverse]

Oh, I see, when the government mints a trillion dollar coin it’s all fun and jokes but when I run off a sheet of crispy new $20’s on my Epson dot matrix printer it’s a “crime”.

[@mljones655]

Lol

[@thesterndragoon9159]

That's actually because you're COPYING it, not making it. The serials can't be legally duplicated in any way and every dollar of every denomination is authorized to be minted by the government. Even dollars that are made but never circulated can't have their serials re-used. The mint puts an asterisk in the serial number for those bills that had to be made to substitute for the error bills.

[@melindaphillips5724]

🤣🤣🤣❤

[@johnrencheck2283]

Wouldnt it be great if we could pay our debts with money we make up ,if it werent for banks and the money monopoly deal they have with banks we could borrow money straight from federal reserve at a quarter or half percent interest and everyone could afford a house but in the greed old usa cant have that cause it would allow the poor to better themselves and the wealthy cant have that!

[@sardoniclaugh9646]

Settle down this has a lower chance of happening than you winning the lottery every month for the rest of your life. The system works like this: some guys with little tiny round hats on Wall Street conjure money out of thin air by issuing "synthetic securities" or some other bullshit and then they loan this fake money to the government which then taxes you to oblivion to pay interest on it. That's the propper way to do it. The government can't print that money all by himself, how are the chosen people gonna get filthy rich then? You want to go against God's will, heathen?

[@ninjapumkin]

Alright. How many people can say they never noticed Stephens ear till it was brought up. Now I can’t unsee it

[@Jessica-wt2sm]

Me!! Never noticed until he mentioned it 😂

[@UnknownTimeLord]

I honestly thought they exaggerated it for the punchline, but turns out I never noticed it either!

[@jamesevans4900]

it can't be unseen !!!!!

[@Leslie58]

I’ve noticed it. Also when people started wearing masks he had mentioned that he couldn’t wear the masks easily because the loop would slide off his “bad” ear. I think he may have to wear one that ties behind his head.

[@immortalasirpa8117]

I wrote almost exactly the same thing, then looked down and saw your post. You are brilliant. Kinda like me 😁

[@teejaydiscombobulated2724]

I am astounded that SO many people have never noticed the Colb-ear! It's a uniquely cool part of Colbert. I also think it's lovely that the bear is named after Stephen :-) Would love to see that guy's reaction to this episode, and his statement on the name being 'seen' after all this time! Lol

[@stephencoldbear]

It's a good sign. Most people don't care as much about appearance as you'd think. :) Those little traits you have that you see as flaws, that you think stand out -- this is a sign that most people really don't notice those things about you.

[@Jcorry123]

The guy saying "it's not like Stephen Colbert will watch this"... Do you know how the internet works!?

[@benlutz1974]

I see a park ranger being summoned for a zoom call... And I mean right Now! Mister! Thursday at 11:35, Don't miss it!

[@marcpeterson1092]

Nov 2017, he was right for almost four years.

[@alexfischer2527]

That's probably why he said it.

[@Beth-ie]

Doubt The Late Show or Mr. Colbert are watching the wildlife pieces on small local news pieces every day. This was a great find. I feel sooo bad for that guy. He was so polite, I think he must be Canadian.

[@abstrusepaladin]

Yeah, it's largely luck-based and biased towards the already popular :P

[@Silverfirefly1]

Now that you've noticed that you never noticed, you'll also notice how precisely he is aware of every camera change and how in control he is of his own relative position. He doesn't make many unplanned movements though that's more about his training than the ear, it just enables him to choose what people see and when. He's impressively consistent.

[@rebeccaelliot6586]

Tina Fey is the same way because of the scar on her face.

[@Anonymouse428]

Stephen, yesterday I got the news that a surgery I’m gonna need to have is gonna make me deaf in my left ear. Oddly, I thought of you and I thought, well, if Stephen can do all he does with hearing in just one ear, than I can do okay too.

[@moniqueengleman873]

Hopefully you will not be left without hearing.🙏 And the good news is that everyone hears better out of the right side of their body. The left cortex has the hearing and vocal functions.

[@MicheleEngel]

@@moniqueengleman873 Cool thing to know! Thank you!

[@justwinks1553]

I will keep you in my prayers and blessings for your surgery.

[@moniqueengleman873]

@@MicheleEngel try it. Cover your left ear and see how much better you hear things or understand muffled talking. Keep those ears clean. I got my ears cleaned out at the age of 60 and it was amazing. So much old wax. I can now hear a pin drop.

[@lizard3755]

I hope your surgery goes well and you have a swift recovery. Hearing loss is never fun (speaking from experience) but at least you'll be in good company.

[@NewMessage]

And that's how you lose a trillion dollars in your couch.

[@Opus313]

Check the coin tray on your dresser... you just never know...

[@intuitionz1198]

it could be in the ashtray of you're very old car....

[@KMcKee-qn6bo]

You three have me laughing hard.... really hard. Thanks. I needed that.

[@thethree60five]

DAMN bro again.. totally nail it... ... at grandpas house.

[@Marijuanifornia]

Michael Jackson's hair was turned into diamonds. Shave everyone's heads, make the world's largest diamond, take a photo of it, turn the photo into a NFT, sell the NFT to some wealthy douchebag, and pay off the national debt. It's all fictional bullshit, anyway.

[@kat_the_ot]

If it makes him feel any better, I never noticed until now. And I'll probably forget after tonight lol.

[@johannjames8698]

Mee too... And I have been watching him for more than a yr now 🤣

[@tonyhedgewolf]

Same here 😆

[@Theres_No_PlanetB]

Same. I never noticed the ears.

[@TankUSA]

Oh no I can’t un-see it now

[@cedfam9826]

I was thinking the same thing. Never noticed it until this vid and I will totally forget by tomorrow morning. Thank you for all the laughs SC you rock.

[@lesleyghostdragon3149]

Stephen Colbert, you adorable wonky-eared man. How cute are you and how cute was that park ranger's explanation?! That segment made me laugh so hard and then cry! There's your next Emmy! Love and best wishes xoxo

[@falcore91]

I think you need to invite that park ranger ( assuming that’s what he wants ) on for an interview. He would of course host a couple segments: “naming bears for late night hosts based on physical traits” and “naming anything ‘Colbert’ based on something that makes the real Colbert self conscious.”

[@FringePrincess]

I love this! It would be gold!!! 🥰✨

[@ezzellchic]

"Facebook. We feed on your hate." is a catchy and accurate slogan.

[@HashknightGaming]

Nah normal human beings are there posting pet pictures and food.

[@wiesejay]

That’s already Twitter’s slogan tho Which reminds me, I gotta go troll the poor staffer who has to read the comments on Ted Cruz’s tweets

[@NobodyC13]

Nope, Twitter and Tumblr run on self-righteous anger, smug satisfaction, and the insecurities of its userbase. They truly feed on hate.

[@antman8887]

I think Schwarzeneggar could really make that line work. FB should hire the Governator to do some ad work for them.

[@adib3011]

And regurgitate it somehow doubled in quantity

[@TheBlondeSunset]

I love it when Stephen puts on the Biden sunglasses, side-smiles, and talks tough!🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@cc1k435]

Yeah, Jack! 🤣

[@DTOmusic]

😎

[@DARWINZOO]

Always reminds me of General Patton too

[@thethree60five]

He is 23 Skidoo to the moon alice!... kinda good.

[@RaytheonNublinski]

Biden will look cool the day he signs a bill giving us all healthcare.

[@tcluchito]

That BIden pulling a coin out of your ears joke got me 😂

[@reeferseasalt]

Brilliant

[@fleetwoodm5292]

He does that hanging Jack Benny "I'm hurt" look to perfection. You know you are watching a master when he can look straight into the camera and not say or do anything and keep your undivided attention.

[@reeferseasalt]

He is very talented in comedy fo sho

[@caroleetchen8256]

Looks like it's a prosthetic ear, and his head is trying to reject it.

[@thebrainpimp6779]

Salute for Jack Benny reference

[@enriqueali]

To be fair, Stephen himself has indeed mentioned his ear on the show on several occasions. That butthurt expression though...🤣🤣🤣

[@stephencoldbear]

I've heard him mention his ear for years, but I always thought he was referring to the deafness, not to a physical difference. That's a good thing. Most people don't care as much about appearance as you'd think. :) Those little traits you have that you see as flaws, that you think stand out -- this is a sign that most people really don't notice those things about you.

[@cleanclothes]

@@stephencoldbear nice way to put it!

[@mip4422]

I remember reading about it on wikipedia. has to do with some tragedy or something

[@gcitizenctk]

Omg. That look! You won't catch me making fun of Colbert's ear.

[@derekchristenson5711]

The trick is that, like Phineas and Ferb, you never see Stephen facing directly into the camera for more than a frame or two!

[@clearfield2009]

"Old rule historically used to preserve racist policies....". Should be all that is ever needed to obliterate it. Period.

[@TheClairemyst]

Thank you.

[@smrenshaw]

I think, "Colbear", would have been a better name!

[@Jessica-wt2sm]

Aww I like that! 🐻

[@blessall4ever]

ColbEAR!

[@ruekurei88]

Umm, that’s part of it. His name is pronounced ‘Colbear’ already, so it’s not needed to name the bear that, but the reference will be known when it’s pronounced without the literal spelling.

[@ShayGalor]

Yes! I can't believe they missed it

[@simond.455]

@@blessall4ever That's it. It's pronounced Colb-Ear.

[@notsure1969]

I never even noticed Stephen's "asymmetrical" right ear until this video.

[@floppsymoppsy5969]

Whhhhaaaaaaaaa... I honestly never noticed!!!... Is that why he never looks straight into the camera

[@moja6380]

Thanks to this comment I can't look away

[@waz207]

Same!

[@heavyhemi2828]

Omg same! I was like wait what! And then when they cut back to Steven I couldn't unsee it

[@zunipus]

All ears are to some degree asymmetrical. It's a matter of degree, noticeability. This asymmetry is unusual for we animals relative to most of the rest of our anatomy.

[@nilsfatman490]

The guy failed to mention, that Stephen Colbear is also the funniest bear in the whole national park.

[@Rei-Rei]

Funnier than the average bear.

[@psa921416]

With the exception of an old grizzly, named John Oliver.

[@josephking6515]

@@Rei-Rei But is he _funnier_ then the average bear?

[@byindani]

Does a Colbear shiz in the woods? Nope. Almost exclusively on Trumpetttes.😉

[@AndreVanKammen]

Is it because Colb-ear looks funny?

[@judibarth7999]

I love you Stephen, laughing my ass off after you lost the Fat Bear contest. Such humbleness or humility at the news!

[@wallacewallaby5782]

The idea of this trillion $ coin really does show that the idea of money, wealth, debt is all just something we all accept as real and not all BS.

[@melissalugo7553]

THANK YOU!!!!

[@cocoardo4394]

until bitcoin comes ;-P

[@DaniS398]

Yes!

[@kassistwisted]

If enough people thought about it, we could wipe out poverty. Money's worth is something we collectively agree on. Money backed by a valuable commodity like gold hasn 't been a thing since the Nixon administration. The Fed has the power to make money. We need to stop adhering to this lunatic idea that the GOP (and also Dems) espouse that we have to "balance the budget". No. We can make more money to pay our debts. The Debt Ceiling is an unnecessary complicateion that does nothing but create a crisis in Congress every few years. We could wipe out all student debt, all medical debt, and no one would suffer. But we stick to this ridiculous idea that the US Treasury operates like your household checkbook. And that just feeds the uber-rich.

[@marcusyallow1758]

Cause they have to have the metal if they print the coin.

[@MrGksarathy]

I thought we were going to get a reference to Stephen's longstanding feud with bears and the Colbear in particular.

[@mh2120]

Still the number one spot on the ThreatDown list, all these years later

[@MTCesquire]

I was hoping for the same too.

[@specialpatrolgroup92]

Noooo, no no. This is Stephen Colbert, the guy you're thinking of is Stephen Colbert, totally different guys :)

[@hurdygurdyguy1]

Godless Killing Machines!!!!

[@brucel7193]

get rid of the filibuster and sinema+manchin by winning some senate primaries

[@margo3367]

Our chances of electing another democratic senator from West Virginia are slim to none. I'll take Joe Manchin. He's voted with Biden 100% of the time.

[@brucel7193]

@@margo3367 Perhaps for Manchin, I don't know his voting record. He can be reasoned with. Sinema is really the issue given that she doesn't seem to have an opinion except that she will vote down the reconciliation bill without negotiation. I am a Canadian but I really am fascinated by this struggle because it is a no brainer. pass both bills.

[@evatripp7788]

Bruce L. The problem with centrist dems is they have been telling themselves & us their voters that repugs are reasonable people that can be negotiated with even as 30 years ago " newt" gingrich came into power in the house of reps & yelled " NO MORE COMPROMISE" . THE Establishment dems acted as if repugs weren't getting more OBSTRUCTIVE & CONFRONTATIONAL & LESS COOPERATIVE ever since " newt's" anti- democracy declaration which has led the democratic base to see the establishment dems as either COMPLICIT or NAIVE to be great leaders. With only 2 parties , the party of evil - repugs or the party of lesser evil & naivete the American voter has been screwed the last 30 years. Usually picking the party of lesser evil over the truly evil but that's why Bernie Sanders & progressive dems are such a breath of fresh air & also why so many have been drawn to lying tang face because not enough difference between 2 parties & too much enabling of bad behavior of repugs by dems!!! Any way dems spent 18 months " negotiating" with repugs & letting them change Obamacare & after that NOT ONE repug voted for OBAMACARE!!! joe manchin is a repug in sheep's clothing he is pretending to negotiate on reconcilliation bill to waste time before 2022 election but then he won't vote for it finally!!! Sinema might actually be more honest in the way she is obstructing the process then manchin.But naive , blind establishment dems still are falling for his B.S. IT'S SO FRUSTRATING!!! VOTE PROGRESSIVE DEMS TO CONGRESS SO WE CAN GET SOMETHING DONE FOR THE AMERICAN PEOPLE, NOT THE RICH, GREEDY CORPORATE DONORS!!! VOTE " TRUE" BLUE!!!

[@elizawulf8180]

Honestly, we need a way for Congress to override Senate the same way they can both override Presidents. That or add Puerto Rico.

[@margo3367]

@@brucel7193 I think they will pass both bills. They have to. It is painful to watch though. I don't know about Sen. Sinema. I don't think she'll be the lone holdout for the BBB bill. She was instrumental in getting the bipartisan infrastructure deal passed. She doesn't want that to fail. Thus, House Democrats have leverage. It's all like a game of cards. Let's see who folds first and find out who has the winning hand.

[@olyttha]

I have to admit I never noticed the difference between Stephen's ears until now

[@notsure1969]

Me neither.

[@sleepassist5745]

same

[@ericawentz2734]

Thank you for talking about your special ears, Stephen!! My 13-year old son Parker has a “special ear” too!! He is deaf in his Left ear (from a congenital malformation of his inner ear called vestibulocochlear cavitary malformation, of unknown cause) and hears normally in his Right ear!!! Parker & I appreciate the way you lend humor when discussing this and we are so encouraged to see your fine example of success despite your hearing challenges! Have you been deaf in your beautiful right ear since birth?

[@maychap]

He said in a previous interview that he had to have a couple of surgeries on that ear when he was about 8 or 9 year-old.

[@chichio9568]

Ooooh,the ColBEAR bit is the bestest...the explanation and Colbert’s face after😂😂😂Oooh my ribs...Suffering from a ColBEAR hug😂😂😂😂

[@kikivolauvent1]

I’ve always noticed that ‘wonky’ ear but it nearly killed me seeing Colbert trying NOT to smile during this revelation! He’s the best.

[@tanyajackson-smith5504]

Finally! The Democrats grew a pair! If the Dems don’t NEED Republicans to move forward to serve and protect the citizens of the U.S.A., then damnit, FORGET bipartisanship, and do what you need to do. So sick of the Democrats being so easy-going regarding the Republicans. They would run over the Dems in a New York minute, if they had the opportunity.

[@margo3367]

Walk softly and carry a big stick. We democrats practice that. We're not into games.

[@marceasusanna7749]

Yeah come on dammit get a backbone Democrats

[@andrewthezeppo]

I would say I can't wrap my head around anybody actually voting for Mitch McConnell and then I look up the education ranking of Kentucky and it makes sense. Southern Republicans know the only reason they are elected is being they have systematically insured a poorly educated constituency.

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

@@andrewthezeppo *ensured I agree that the KY educational system is ... quite subpar, but your own seems to have failed you a bit, too, unless that was a careless autocorrect gone wrong.

[@j.dragon651]

@@MaryAnnNytowl alert, grammar nazi!! U canot judg a person by there patturns of speech, grammer, speling etc. U du that an you gonna git a reel supirse somday. All any of that just pruves is you be a good parot.

[@sciencesaves]

and just like that, a Late Show writer fixed the CNN website for us all

[@ColoringKaria]

Hopefully. They know they are wrong for that. It’s not like this is news to them.

[@shantoreywilkins651]

#lol

[@msstellafay1320]

All Hail!!!

[@wasdnc4132]

​@@shantoreywilkins651 nope cause ad revenue

[@jsb331]

Nothing can fix that website. They just need to start over. It's a mess, it won't load quickly on any machine or device and their video player acts like it's from 10 years ago. Ew.

[@noobcaekk]

the comedy of this show is just unstoppable. i die laughing so much; the re-watch value is immense. The entire Late Show production team stands next to none

[@goodmorninggilw2836]

"Hey kiddo! Come here! What's that behind your ear?"😂😂😂 thank you folks. I just Laughed heartily. I don't get enough of those these days.

[@Bj5m17h]

The truth is... Stephan Colbert is half-elf. Part of why he's a little bit magical. (one of my ears is a little bit pointy from getting nipped during a haircut when I was young and squirmy)

[@solarnaut]

had your barber been any good he'd have evened the other side to match ! B-) (or, potentially not have hacked a squirmy kid's ear in the first place ! ) (unless it was family, in which case they are fully excused, of course !)

[@terriem3922]

Second the elf

[@a.r.9357]

This is exactly what I thought all the time. I hope he sees your comment and can be proud of his heritage one day. ;-)

[@doodsrem]

LOL

[@cindysaroya1251]

Dearest Stephen, the ear is just a wabi Sabi thing - a slight imperfection that makes you all the more exquisite.

[@comkver]

Exactly!

[@SchoolforHackers]

God bless you Cindy.

[@NewMessage]

Wish I could shed my hibernation fat as efficiently as Otis does.

[@monkieassasin]

If all I do is hibernate how am I still fat?

[@hanburgundy4317]

Easy. Once spring comes, spend all day eating berries and chasing deer.

[@richardbraakman7469]

Have you tried sleeping for 5 months?

[@telectronix1368]

@@monkieassasin It is a long winter.

[@denvercunningham4126]

Try Slim Tea. One cup before bed. Only diet product that ever worked for me. Available at Ross, TJ Maxx

[@NEWORLEANSFINEST308]

THANK YOU FOR SAYING “AN HISTORIC…”. You are appreciated.

[@MicheleEngel]

YES!

[@viddork]

Why would using the incorrect indefinite article be cause for appreciation? Or, do you normally say, "an istoric ..."?

[@MicheleEngel]

@@viddork It is not "the incorrect indefinite article" when it precedes a word that begins with a vowel. And words spelled with an initial "h" that were originally latinate words, where the stress was placed on the second syllable, ended up being pronounced in English with an inaudible "h," making them words pronounced with an initial vowel sound. Therefore the speaker used "an" to precede that word. So Seth deliberately pronounced the word "historic" without the "h," and in so doing he was required to precede it with the indefinite article"an" instead of "a." Most people now pronounce "history" with an audible "h," so they precede it with the indefinite article "a."

[@viddork]

@@MicheleEngel So "H" is a vowel now? And I don't know what Seth said, because I was watching Stephen, and he definitely pronounced the "h".

[@MicheleEngel]

@@viddork Sorry, I misspoke when I referred to Seth; I meant Stephen. And you are correct, "H" is a consonant, but when a speaker leaves it off (does not pronounce it), they are saying "Istoric," which then starts as a vowel, "i." The word "historic" can be said either way; it is up to the speaker (this is not really a spelling issue but a SPEAKING issue) to use the correct indefinite article. If you say, "historic," you precede it with "a." If you say "Istoric," you precede it with "an." Stephen was an English major in college, as was I, and that's where we learned it (if not in grammar school or high school). I hope that clarifies the issue. So I have no idea why he made a point of saying "an historic," but he did pronounce the "h." Perhaps a joke on us English majors? I dunno....

[@zetteharbour3145]

OMG, the bear bit made me ROFLOL. felt so great, thanks Stephen Colbear!

[@lexslate2476]

The Trillion-dollar coin should be the size of a hubcap, and have an eagle in a monster truck on one side, and Mich McConnell cross-eyed with a stupid look on his face and a dunce cap on the other, with the text saying "This jackass made us do this". Also you missed out on a chance to refer to Facebook's CEO as The Zuckerborg.

[@telectronix1368]

It should be the size of half a football field, made of the heaviest combination of materials to be found on the planet and be permanently chained to Moscow Mitch on a very short chain. He and failue trump caused this latest debt, let him carry it around.

[@beth8775]

Zuckerborg 😂

[@privatenexus5764]

Your right ear makes you almost a character to be in LOTR. Its your left ear that is letting you down.

[@kellyg358]

I wasn't feeling the idea of the trillion dollar coin but then Stephen completely sold me with the game of dreidel.

[@A_Lo_TX]

What???? You said “an historic”……Shane Respect lost

[@thethree60five]

Yet again.. no matter how dumb an idea is in America, somehow, they can sell it. /s

[@jb34304]

Personally, I think it's utter nonsense. If we were able to pay off our debts as simply as snapping our fingers, we wouldn't waste so much taxpayer money on financing our countries' debts… That's The Department of War's responsibility.

[@cynthialindblom2490]

He had me at giant Chocolate coin

[@RussianJackal]

We should trust the safe keeping of the trillion dollar coin to an honorable man! I suggest Charles Montgomery Burns.

[@eljaysmiley]

I love it when you say "I'm getting news in my deaf ear"!

[@SayHelloToOblivion]

I never noticed his ear! Lol. Stephen, you’re perfect. ❤️

[@kit2770]

That grandpa-with-the-trillion-dollar-coin joke was pretty good.

[@ftrejo7]

One side of the coin: the rich not paying taxes. The other: the rest of us paying for this coin

[@catherinepeloton4446]

And since at least 5000 years...

[@jayrodathome]

@@catherinepeloton4446 huh?

[@MaryAnnNytowl]

@@catherinepeloton4446 not since 5k years ago, no. Not that long ago, we had a fair taxation system here in the USA. Over a certain $, the tax % got higher on that amount, then over a certain $$, the tax rate on _that_ amount was higher, yet, and it continued up and up until the highest earners (I won't call them wage earners, because they get that money not by the sweat of their brow, but by being rich, already, and being able to manipulate that money) had their highest $$$$ taxed up to 90%. Not the entire amount, though - some are confused about how that works (or, like the GQP, they _lie_ about it), so here's an illustration, if I may. [NOT real income numbers, just random, much smaller numbers!!]: Your first dollar of the year, and any more you make up to $50, have no tax on them, but your first 51st dollar is taxed at 10%, and all other dollars you get, up to $100, all get taxed at least 10%. •Then, your $101st dollar is taxed at 20%, and all dollars $101 and up are taxed at least 20%, while $51-100 is still taxed at 10%, and the first $50 still has no tax on it. •Then the $501st dollar you bring in that year gets taxed at 30%, and all dollars above that are taxed at least 30%, too, while your $101-500 is still taxed at 20%, and your $51-100 is still taxed at 10%, and the first $50 still has no tax on it. •Then, the 1001st dollar is taxed at 40%, and any other dollar above that is also taxed at least 40%, while the first $50 is still not taxed, $51-100 is still taxed at 10%, $101-500 is still taxed at 20%, and $501-1000 is still taxed at 30%. •Then, the 1501st dollar is taxed at 50%, and any other dollar above $1501 is also taxed at least 50%, while $1001-1500 is still taxed at 40%, $501-1000 is still taxed at 30%, $101-500 is still taxed at 20%, $51-100 is still taxed at 10%, and the first $50 has no tax on it. •Then the 2001st dollar is taxed at 60%, and all dollars above $2001 are taxed at least 60%, too, while 1501-2000 is only taxed 50%, $1001-1500 is still taxed at 40%, $501-1000 is still taxed 30%, $101-500 is still taxed at 20%, $51-100 is still taxed 10%, and the first $50 still has no tax on it. •It continues this way up to 90%, at various higher income increments, and any amount higher than that final increment, say, that 5001st dollar of income, on up to infinity, is taxed at 90%, while $4001-5000 is taxed at 80%, $3001-4000 is taxed at 70%, $2001-3000 is taxed at 60%, $1501-2000 is taxed at 50%, $1001-1500 is taxed at 40%, $501-1000 is taxed at 30%, $101-500 is taxed at 20%, $51-100 is taxed at 10%, and that first dollar up to $50 still has no tax on it. Remember, this is nowhere near the actual levels that were used in the tax tables then, but I used hsmaller increments & lower amounts to avoid all those big numbers with 3 or 4 commas in them. 😄 But that is how the progressive tax system works, and once, not that many years ago (points to Ronald Reagan's presidency), the percentages went up much, much higher, just like in my example, than they do now for the very top amounts of incomes of the very rich. And guess what? Those very rich people still had plenty of money to throw around, throw away, burn, or do something constructive with it, like actually investing in, and building, businesses to create lots and lots of _good-paying, union-protected_ American jobs that earned _nice, fat union pensions_ to supplement Social Security in their old age. People really only needed ONE income per family back then to pay the bills and live a good, solid, middle-class life, too. But that has to do with what minimum wage _should be, now_ if it kept up with inflation and productivity - and that's another lecture for another day. I hope you enjoyed and learned from my TED talk. Thank you for attending. The exit is through the gift shop, where you can find my merchandise available, if you desire to learn more. [The last paragraph is joking, BTW - I'm not selling books or t-shirts, just climbing on my soapbox for another late-night/early-morning rant.]

[@stevehardisty6502]

@@MaryAnnNytowl Awesome explination and absolutely correct that since Regan its been all downhill for middleclass and raking money in a barrel for the elite. We used to have a strong middle class.... but they don't want that. Not sure if it'll ever be fixed.

[@mikeximenez5285]

Well... The rich pay 40% of our taxes so... Twould Mostly them paying. But they dont pay FAIR taxes. Theres a big difference. If you dont learn it they will win.

[@generalpublic3744]

When it comes to Colbert's ears the Ranger was just laying out the "bear" facts. 😉

[@shirleyrombough8173]

- Ouch.

[@melissalugo7553]

"Waka, Waka!!!."..In my Fozzie Bear voice

[@karinfroller7403]

Stephen, we love your ears, both of them! ❤️

[@lopheche]

I CANNOT UNSEE. But this has to be one of his best monologues in months. Keep up that great work!

[@Opus313]

A Trillion Dollar Coin would be awesome to find on your dresser in the morning!

[@muh.yusufspdi9985]

👍👍nice

[@NewMessage]

Or in your couch cushions on laundry day.

[@joanbowden3448]

Yeah, but it'd be a bytch getting change for it when you went to Starbucks for that $5 cup of coffee! LOL

[@robertlust6234]

@@muh.yusufspdi9985 5:05 that coin better have Dave Chappelle's face on it. And a space kitty on the tail side Hi-5

[@robertshaffer3072]

The Tooth Ferry has upped her game. Shit, I still have most of mine, there are several I don't need!!

[@Ceci_et_Cela]

What’s even cuter than the “fat bear” is, chubby cubs. 💜 Alaskan here!

[@Callandor361]

Finally a contest that I could win!

[@Azerinth]

I look forward to the followup of that mountie looking guy finding out Colbert did hear about the fat bear competition.

[@kamalharris4654]

Extremely amazing exactly right now Stephen Colbert.

[@nehanaik6482]

Best self depreciating humor ever

[@SuperBC1975]

Stephen: "Mitch better have my money Y'all should know me well enough Mitch better have my money Please don't call me on my bluff Pay me what you owe me Mitch better have my money!"

[@hugewangsan3060]

Well im sorry but I dont have it.

[@Marijuanifornia]

Oh, yes. You hit that snooze button Until you up and fell asleep again. You did not even fight. Well, it's just another song talking about how you let them take your rights Another redundant verse about how your refused to fight and lost What cost? Your cause has got no champion How could you hope to win by just complaining? Now it's raining on your parade Decisions made could cost you dearly Not just your money but your freedom Are you wealthy? Improper choices could be deadly They took your so-called rights You did not even fight! - Snot, Snooze Button

[@milanb.6022]

Hey, Biden Baby i got your money Don't you worry Say hey

[@hugewangsan3060]

@@milanb.6022 oh yes very creative. Very original. Well played.

[@qasperr994]

@@Marijuanifornia Nice.

[@RidireOiche]

How have I never noticed that before, this explains so much. I knew there was a reason the man never ages, he's a damn half elf!

[@stevepatrickjarvis]

Redire I don't know I have seen him eating cookies that look like elves before. Wouldn't that kind of be like cannibalisms? I guess not since it's just a cookie though.

[@RidireOiche]

@@stevepatrickjarvis I don't mean any offence here bud and I'm sure your reply is great craic but as a non-American I don't get the reference or the connection between cookies and elves, Sorry bud. I meant more along the lines of Tolkien-esque elves.

[@TehLucario]

If the make the coin, it should have Schumer flipping of Mcconnel on it.

[@marceasusanna7749]

yeah!

[@mortisCZ]

And then with a simple flip of a coin, your trouble has doubled. :-D

[@nickwallette6201]

"We call that, 'giving him the eagle.'"

[@angieoh2]

As soon as dude started talking about the bears ears, I KNEW! Love you Stephen! :)

[@tinasovariance9398]

I love it how polite the park ranger was.

[@JadeValour]

I noticed Stephen’s ear a long time ago. I think it’s very en-d👂-ing. Love you, Stephen, from ears to toes!💋

[@lisab9541]

Same.

[@msstellafay1320]

"Mitch better have my money!" Ohhh, that's good🔥

[@MM-vv8mt]

The assymetry of Stephen's "Colb-ear" is mighty powerful juju, helpful in distracting the Evil Eye. Consider it a gift, bro!

[@Cyndance]

OMG that ear bit was hilarious! I'm sure we all love you twice as much after hearing it.

[@derdin8]

Thanks, Stephen, for the shout out to Albuquerque! I went to Balloon Fiesta just this morning...and everyone should go at least once in their life - it's magical!

[@monkeyking9863]

i would absolutely love to have seen the reaction of that guy when he found out that indeed Stephen did watch that video

[@TheMulToyVerse]

It may have taken Stephen 3 years and nearly 11 months… but he’s seen this now He’d likely be more upset that you named one of his greatest fears after him (bears) more so than the ear thing. But the real question is this: Since you’ve named that bear “Colbert”… which I would’ve done as “Colbear”… has anyone snuck into his hibernation spot and tucked the top of the bears right ear into the lower part of its ear as Stephen can do with his? Really add some officialness to the name Seriously though, Colbear was right there and you missed it 😒

[@El_Al14]

I can’t stop staring at Colbert’s ears lol, that guy gave me a task for every night.

[@scottrowe533]

I know, right? I'd never noticed any difference in Stephen's ears, but going forward it's going to be nearly impossible not to check out that right one from time to time. It's like someone saying to you, "Whatever you do, don't think of an elephant."

[@kimberknutson831]

Hah! I LOVE the Colbert Bear story. : )

[@tabiandro]

I’ve NeVeR noticed the ear before! 😂 how funny to have a bear named after such a unique feature!

[@Vejur9000]

His ear makes him just that much more lovable.

[@hellcat1988]

Stephen is going to have to auction off those aviators after Biden leaves office, regardless of how, for charity. By that point, it would just be cruel not too.

[@marybeth1644]

Just take all the money hiding out in South Dakota!

[@dauatem2416]

How have I never noticed THE EAR!!! LOOOOOL!!!! I can't stop laughing

[@Halsafar]

Hahaha Colbert is the king of comedy. That cut back after the ear explanation left me in stitches.

[@CameronBrtnik]

Stephen's "coin from behind the ear trick" was weird uncle-level masterful!

[@lauragriffith1826]

I noticed this in "Strangers with Candy." Yet all I can think about, regarding Stephen's ear, are all the children who can see that differences are part of everyone and don't have to hold them back.

[@louannruyak1108]

I hope parents will show that to their kids as I don't think many kids watch the Colbert show as it's on too late !

[@submittedbymail]

So I'm not supposed to max out my credit cards, but the government does it every four months and then gets a new card?

[@Shuizid]

Because the government ideally would be making money with that debt, resulting in a net-gain.

[@trashtv69]

i hope this nightly beacon of hope is preserved for a long long while.

[@NorthMountainFairy]

I hope that Alaskan bear guy sees this. 😅😂🤣

[@sybaritesphynx8057]

HOLY SHIT! I never realized Colbert’s ears are asymmetrical AND NOW I CANT STOP LOOKING 😭😭

[@bmonton]

I never noticed either! wild

[@napoleonibonaparte7198]

I was expecting Fat Bear Week to be about big, burly, hairy bear of a man.

[@christopherblack5361]

The deadpan look he gave the camera after the bear thing. Classic. 😆

[@Yash71521]

First the space toilet and now the bear? Awesome.😂

[@totalbliss1]

Oh man, I was cracking up when I saw this thumbnail photo and title! 🤣🤣

[@cadmean-reader]

When that gets minted, someone's going to lose that 1 trillion dollar coin in between some couch cushions.

[@davidlundquist1979]

Well, whatever else happens, let's at least not entrust it to Mr. Burns.

[@psammiad]

Actually the interesting thing about bears is that their weight gain has no impact on their general health. It's something being studied to understand why obesity damages humans so much.

[@candacen7779]

Because their bodies burn off all of the calories while they're hibernating. It's not rocket science. That's why they eat so much and gain all that weight before going into hibernation. It's to keep them alive throughout the winter. Humans don't hibernate in the winter.

[@Baalenciaga666]

@@candacen7779 actually it is rocket science. Wildly fluctuating weight in humans is also really unhealthy. Apparently for bears it doesn’t damage them in the way it damages the human system. So you should give the scientist a little more credit. They’re not just fuxking around

[@romxxii]

@@Baalenciaga666 Professional athletes tend to wildy fluctuate in weight as well. They have a "walk-around weight" which is usually 10-30 lbs heavier than the weight they need to be at the time of competition. Boxers, bodybuilders, weightlifters, MMA fighters, they all go through wild weight fluctuations throughout their life.

[@FringePrincess]

@@romxxii that is true, but that doesn’t negate the toll it takes on the human body

[@romxxii]

@@FringePrincess It's hard to determine whether the weight-cutting takes any actual toll on the body, when the act of competition itself introduces accumulated wear and tear to the body. Moreso in combat sports, where brain damage is almost always a guarantee even if you're like Ali and float like a butterfly. I guess you could compare it to a high impact sport like the NFL, where they also accumulate brain damage over time but don't weight cut, and see whose retirees live longer with fewer health problems.

[@starsweeper11]

I've always thought Stephen's ears make him look Elven.

[@ThePiemasteification]

My right ear is decorative too, Mr. Colbert, there are tens of us out there.

[@leavingitblank9363]

"Like he even watches this..." That was so adorable.

[@audreymuzingo933]

Now we know why Stephen loves Lord of the Rings so much --all those pointy ears!!

[@aishalee5924]

“It’s not like he’ll ever watch this…” Oh boy lol

[@ErrolJ]

I know what the coin looks like. Batman already has one in his cave.

[@thishappycrafter272]

The bear comment 🐻 Bwahahahaha 🤣🤣🤣

[@GregKeane]

the ear part was hilarious..."which is easy, because i am deaf in that ear"

[@robbrcnstuff4220]

How would someone spend a trillion dollar coin? I've had stores give me a problem with breaking a $100 bill.

[@nickwallette6201]

Sell it on TV in between talk shows, for a one-time special low price of $89.99.

[@Tustin2121]

I’m severely disappointed that “Fat Bear Week” wasn’t some gay pride community thing voting on the biggest and best looking bears in the community. 😅🏳️‍🌈

[@comkver]

I want this to be a thing now.

[@gasparinha]

I really thought it was! LOL Then I wondered why SC would be considered a bear.

[@joaomoniz7854]

Thank you. I thought i was Alone thinking About that 🤣

[@KatKrueger]

🤪🤪🌈🌈

[@SchoolforHackers]

💀💀💀💀💀

[@cthulpiss]

I miss the days when Colbert's bears were bloodthirsty killing machines.....

[@sn2464]

Mitch better have ma money! That's fantastic😂

[@josemora6448]

The ears joke was hilarious. I hadn't notice it, Stephen Colbert is so funny, I can't miss his monologues.