George Stephanopoulos: In The 90s, The Situation Room Looked Like “A Conference Room In The Poconos”

Journalist and author George Stephanopoulos tells Stephen how the President’s command center in the basement of the White House has changed over the decades, and he previews some of the wild stories readers will find in his new book, “The Situation Room.”
#Colbert #GeorgeStephanopoulos #TheSituationRoom #Books
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Stephen Colbert brings his signature satire and comedy to THE LATE SHOW with STEPHEN COLBERT, the #1 show in late night, where he talks with an eclectic mix of guests about what is new and relevant in the worlds of politics, entertainment, business, music, technology and more. Featuring bandleader Louis Cato and “THE LATE SHOW band,” the Peabody Award-winning and Emmy Award-nominated show is broadcast from the historic Ed Sullivan Theater. Stephen Colbert took over as host, executive producer and writer of THE LATE SHOW on Sept. 8, 2015.

[@IvanBrackin]

I'm an 83 year-old Brit , always have been highly cynical about American politics and the media that reports on it, then I found George. He was/is a breath of freah air in a world of murk amd misinformation. Thanks George.

[@bonniejosavland3227]

And he hasn’t SA’d any women & still with his fun & lovely 🥰 wife!

[@user-ho5mm8gn8h]

An American treasure in reporting and politics.

[@vickiep4217]

Sadly, here in Blighty, we're rapidly catching up ( or descending) to American style 'journalism' with the likes of GB news. Some of our own MPs are trying to compete with the likes of DT, MGT etc. I'm hoping we can stop the slow slide into chaos. What is certain is that whilst our fptp system is flawed, at least our system would prevent a Jan 6th.

[@michiganjfrog366]

​I've noticed that too.... all the way from Michigan. England needs to nip it at the bud.. ASAP​@@vickiep4217

[@Weemadaggie]

@@vickiep4217 see the same thing happening here in Canada.

[@am2320LG]

BOOOOOM!!!! Who won the last election? Yessssss, George! Turn on the lights!!👍

[@stevenwarner7348]

🤪

[@jodyfulford8215]

🤣 😅 If only he would listen to Q-ANON. Everything would become crystal clear. 🤣 😂😅

[@user-pt1ow8hx5l]

Exactly! That WAS hilarious!

[@avisrobinson452]

Yes!!! Get him where it hurts! That would rattle tRump!! 😂

[@ogvangogh9485]

They would be in perfect agreement. They would both answer, "I did".

[@billmarshall8438]

The debate should also have real time fact checking.

[@debbiechang5781]

Yes!!!!!

[@justsaying3729]

Without a doubt. fact checkers right away to show whose Lying.

[@silencedogood7297]

Fact checkers should be at each debate and blow loud LOUD buzzers at each lie. the length of each buzzer noise should be deducted from the liar's next answer. 20 lies = no statement allowed at the end.

[@Noconstitutionfordemocrats]

As long as it's a Republican fact checker for biden, and a democrat for Trump.

[@slkhjf]

I like this idea!

[@slkhjf]

​@@Noconstitutionfordemocratsa republican with more than a passing relationship with FACTS would be a Democrat.

[@Noconstitutionfordemocrats]

@@slkhjf Why are you fighting so hard? It's literally fair.

[@slkhjf]

​@hubajuba-wz1or because they'd need to find a republican that actually believes in facts. Biden WON the 2020 election and the R party is still denying THAT after losing 60 or more lawsuits where they didn't have ANY evidence. It's 'literally' stupid.

[@adamswitlak1242]

Damn, he is sharp. Who won the election question is great

[@victorpradha9946]

Follow-up question to both candidates: What were you doing in the hours while the J6 mob descended on the U.S. Capitol?

[@InteractiveRootsProd]

Carter cared so much about those hostages, this story is so telling on many levels.

[@sn07]

And now we’ve just found out that Reagan’s people made a deal with the Iranian’s to hold on to the hostages until Reagan was sworn in so it looked like he was the one responsible for their release. Unbelievable!

[@GrimJerr]

Little did anyone know at the time Alexander Haig was working with Iran to keep the Hostages, not make a deal with Jimmy Carter to get the Hostages back, but wait until Reagan was in office and then release the Hostages.

[@flangekiwi]

Non-American here. I heard that too. Imagine a world where that didn't happen .... no trickle down Reaganomics, no Milton Friedman and messing around with South America ... world would've been a better place ...

[@brando7266]

Similar to what Nixon did, before the 1968 election,

[@PleaseDontEatAnimals]

Yep, typical republiCONS...🤥💩👹

[@johnlongville595]

Perhaps the greatest treason conspiracy in American history.

[@GoGoPooerRangers]

Kinda like Trump making Republicans reject the immigration bill so he can run on it.

[@IvanBrackin]

The debate rule - that the mike goes off at the end of two minutes. Great! Almost as good as a gag order.

[@nzelver559]

Biden, how will you turn around the economy and bring back jobs go the US? Biden what are your plans for stopping illegal immigrants?

[@scourge6563]

​@@nzelver559: Clearly, the only way is to vote out all Republicans since, as we have already seen, Republicans will do Trump's bidding to tank any legislation to deal with illegal immigration.

[@MR.GL1.1.1TCH]

I've always believed that the mics should turn off after the time is up

[@sailincat2822]

Broadcasting either the mic or camera on for the person waiting their turn is an invitation to chaos, which is exactly why they do it. Give each debater an audio and video 'stage monitor' so they can see and hear themselves at all times, and optionally see and hear their opponent when they want to. But don't broadcast their distracting antics while it's not their turn. And yes, automatic countdown timer, visible to all, which cuts/switches cameras and microphones.

[@fleece192]

George is awesome, how can you not like him. He’s certainly been around. Vote 🗳️ Blue people. Get rid of this clown Trump.

[@chef1088]

HELL no!

[@jkingston5498]

Hell yes!

[@HarrisonGelles]

Yeah so we get more of this woke BS and destruction of the economy.

[@traviscutler9912]

WHY IS JOE SO UNPOPULAR!?!? American voters no longer believe Biden as he has a long demonstrated record of lying. Remember when genocide Joe said that he was going to hold Saudi Arabia accountable for the murder of an American journalist but instead gave MBS a fist bump, Biden said he'd stop the mass slaughter of Yemenese but now Biden is bombing them for trying to protect Palestinians, a $15 minimum wage, a public option, cynically canceling student debt so that it fails by a conservative scotus to force young voters back to the polls, Biden drilling the most oil and gas for a president ever after promising no more drilling on federal land, selling out the green infrastructure plan to Joe manchin, using Ukraine and it's hundreds of thousands of young men as canon fodder to try and bankrupt Russia and worst of all, genocide Joe's support of Israel and it's merciless killing of tens of thousands of Palestinian women & children and on and on........ Campaign to the Left, rule for the Right. The system works

[@TraderRobin]

Vote BLUE......not orange!!

[@johnfox9939]

It’s easy to note that George’s Smartness, Eloquence and political insights are clearly beyond what Trump has to offer..

[@chef1088]

George may be a lot of things but smart is not one of them.

[@stevenwilkinson2031]

Make American great again put Trump in jail

[@TraderRobin]

@@chef1088 I would be shitting in my skirt, when George would debate Trump right under the table!!

[@ronaldrothchild4068]

NEOLIB’S WET DREAM: U.S. SENATOR GEORGE STEPHNAHLOUS8 OF NEW YORK ELECTED PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES

[@MsWarriordiva]

DUH!! That describes a lot of people. Trump is not known for his intelligence.

[@elaineisabelle427]

I love George, he's a good guy.

[@StacyInLove1]

1st question: Who won in 2020? 2nd question: Will you commit to accepting the 2024 result? 3rd question: Mr. Trump, will you let us know when you are ready for an actual debate? Goodnight everybody.

[@herstoryswitness]

George Stephanopoulos was recognized at a young age as someone with a lot to contribute to democracy. I see the same in our new and upcoming generation of people in government.

[@laurawatters914]

AWESOME INTERVIEW WITH GEORGE AND STEPHEN, WHAT A GREAT INTERVIEW!!! THEY HAVE GREAT CHEMISTRY. 😊🩷✌️

[@charleshamilton2415]

First time I ever heard George laugh.His laugh is very contagious 😂😂😂😂 He has an amazing personality

[@andrewhaag2422]

George is the best !! 💙💙🇱🇷

[@malikstallworth]

The book honestly sounds extremely interesting

[@user-fe7ll3tv8h]

👏👏👏👏 George is the best!!! Good first question!

[@jeanneratterman]

George, live long, stay healthy, keep us informed. 🙏❤️

[@Noreenlee1]

Thanks to both of you for standing for truth!

[@Jenny_Oblivion]

It’s unbelievable that debates haven’t always had mics cut at time! Hopefully that happens

[@wolverine3605]

That is a book I will absolutely get and read.

[@nancyking9033]

Propaganda

[@jonroesler8155]

Notice how quiet everyone gets when George talks about Carter in the WHSR.

[@anniehuckerby9281]

Oohhh How I wish George would be a moderator 🙏🤞❤ Trump must agree to the terms of the Debate with no audience and cutting off microphone 🥰

[@shawncrites6896]

Thanks George....

[@jpdemer5]

When time's up, the camera should also go off... we can do without Donnie's antics.

[@RedBearsy]

George is a voice of rationality in a country gone woowoo - thank god he’s able to retain an SOH about the pathetic state of American politics

[@mrfuzztone]

Biden needs to do the debate. I hope he stays strong so the American people can see what the real choice is.

[@LCarefortheworld]

I’ll buy this guy’s book. He seems to be a very good insightful person.

[@sshaw4429]

I love George ❤️❤️❤️❤️❤️

[@Frenetic321]

Great interview!

[@joannejohnson7006]

Great show tonight, thanks 😊

[@MR.GL1.1.1TCH]

I'm watching this from the sit room right now! 😊😮🙊

[@darrelllowe2619]

Yes, turn the mic off.

[@philrabe910]

1:20 Oh that got a big belly laugh at home too guys!

[@cycoklr]

When Trump's mic cuts off he'll just run over to Biden's lectern and start yelling.

[@anniehuckerby9281]

🤣🤣🤣

[@chezmoi42]

That's why he should be confined in a soundproof glass booth.

[@debrahelmlinger6256]

And show what an ass he really is😂

[@jacobstravail]

😅😅😅

[@nath-wp7xp]

Pretty cool looking book

[@pennygleeson5029]

' men who love goats ' ❤️❤️🤣🤣

[@nolasmith7687]

Yep! I’ve read that book too. Thought of it as soon as he he mentioned remote viewing. Funny, funny book. Hard to believe the CIA actually tried it.

[@jeanneratterman]

Men who stare at goats

[@JamesJones-mm2nm]

The news crawlers were all trumps mind could digest! How hard is that to figure out?

[@darrelllowe2619]

Every debate should start with those questions. That way we don't waste time on unnecessary insults and foolishness.

[@NewMessage]

Surely it was known as the 'The S*it-Room' during Donnie's stay....

[@GenRN]

He had a changing table installed.

[@ebybeehoney]

I've always liked George. I used to 6:49 love the Round Table with him Cokie Roberts, George Will and others. That was when it was good

[@Xiph1980]

I think George is one of the globally most well known people in the US political scene, apart from presidents. If only for Friends S01E04. 😁

[@TheDuckMaster12]

Famously Americans have incredibly short memories. Biden wants to remind people how bad it was before and how much worse it would be again. Especially because Trump is the one actually slipping cognitively

[@marystacey4796]

Just bought the audible version of George's book.

[@totsmini3105]

🏆George Stephanopoulos For President!!❣ - 💫Stephen Colbert VP -

[@Xiph1980]

Not sure Stephen would want to be a VP/prez. Also, not quite sure if he'd be good at it. He's an amazing comedian, but a manager of a very slow and inflexible organization? Now Jon Stewart, I think he could. But hate it through and through though. 😭😂

[@totsmini3105]

@@Xiph1980 - ....Lets look at America's "presidents"...🤣 (most, if not all, have been disastrously pathetic and dangerous) Reagan, a cowboy & B-grade-Actor! - Trying to Run a Country - - But Nancy was pulling his strings - So that "saved the day"🙄 But lets take the Handsome-Playboy-JFK - His daddy PAID to get him in The Peoples House... made dogs-dinner out of everything - - But hey, he was the "Camelot" Prince🤭 Nixon/Agnew dynamic-duo - Ugghh😖😵‍💫 Bottom-line, a Stephanopoulos / Colbert ticket don't really sound so weird or unfathomable!! When you "click your heals in America" you can "Live-the-American-Dream" baby!!... even whilst in shackles🤯🤦‍♀😖 ......Only in America🤯

[@peteinwisconsin2496]

Shutting off the microphone at the end of the response time is a great idea. Switching the camera to the moderator or other candidate should happen at the same time. Also important is to pre-record the debate and have a panel of judges decide whether a candidate dodges or answers a question so the non-answers can be edited out, sparing the viewers from listening to a two minute rant about nothing.

[@GenRN]

All Trump’s answers will be rambling non-answers. People need to see that.

[@Monika-mh2je]

Speaks loud how much Trump cared about the word abd the country like watching Fox news instead of being in the Situation room. He's a truly dangerous sociopath.

[@olorin4317]

These is a great book by Annie Jacobsen about the CIA remote viewing programs called ‘Phenomena’.

[@pennygleeson5029]

' would you want to moderate that debate? ' bahahahahaha 🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@roxydejaneiro5640]

The U.S. Army has no serious alternative but to be wonderful.

[@jackietupper6520]

There's a Remote Viewing institution in my town of Yelm, WA!

[@annieis300]

💙💙💙💙💙💙

[@markjaramilloGTA]

Anyone remember Art Bell remote viewing

[@Christyschair]

Only know about it because of the why files

[@samhanks7920]

I do. Hugh fan RIP art

[@charliediradour]

Am I the only one who sees a young Michael Dukakis?

[@mbroihier]

I want George's sweater.

[@user-eq2dx2jp6v]

❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@elizabethobrien5702]

I live in the Poconos! Watch it Sounds interesting 🤔

[@mehere8038]

I can't top that debate question, but my suggestion for a question is "you have 1 minute to list as many words as possible begining with f" because that's a dementia test question. Lets use the debate to settle the dementia drama once & for all! No prizes for guessing who will "get the best score"

[@johnbroker327]

🔵💙

[@garfoonga1]

Thumbnail looks like stephens firing eye lazers

[@tangoangel2782]

He collected the banners to use them as talking points.

[@persuasivebarrier2419]

There's a good movie called Suspect Zero around "remote viewing." A solid mystery film.

[@JimHolder-pk2kk]

3:08 George feeds Stephen the straight line about kids calling it the whizzer (WHSR) but George says "I can't do it." Stephen just let that line sail past without saying anything about people George's age having trouble using the whizzer. No raised eyebrow, nothing?

[@bluetortilla]

Carter was a good president ruling over terrible circumstances.

[@yurielcundangan9090]

G.Stephen is 🎉

[@gavidhariwal6307]

6:29 ‘and that’s in here?’ Stephen didn’t read the book 😂 😭

[@oldinuselesshancox5194]

Greetings from the other side of this gem we’re FUBAR Thanks for making day better with lol’s I’m betting my left lovenut trumps mic gets cut an he’s pulling out a toy bullhorn ( hopefully someone was playing with voice change before he grab it ) 👍🏼👍🏼👍🏼🤟🏼🤙🏼🖖🏼

[@terri200]

I just have always loved George for his honesty, humor, intelligence, and reporting!! What a lovely man!! Wish he could mediator the debates!! It would be hysterical!!🙏💖🪶💞✨️💜🫶

[@cagedgreed]

Remote viewing...more people should be aware of what that is, truly a remarkable field of scientific inquiry. Examined by our government with a man named Ingo Swann and a group of scientists in the Bay Area near Stanford.

[@danondler8808]

George Stephanopoulos for president.

[@wendigo53]

Yup, The Men Who Stare At Goats were in the WH situation room.

[@divinewon73]

🌈💕💞💖

[@podracer35]

4:40 Probably because he was watching Fox News all day and couldn't listen and read the chirons at the same time

[@neatofication]

What they described at the end reminds me of stranger things!!

[@shinyshinythings]

And to think, he could have just called up the Reagan campaign and asked them!

[@tasneemmathee8024]

i would like Dana and Jake 2 ask the first question that George recommended would be interesting 2 see / hear the response

[@oleladywho]

Lawrence O'Donnell......though it would never happen.

[@chezmoi42]

@@oleladywho That would certainly freak T out.

[@tasneemmathee8024]

@@oleladywho true

[@tasneemmathee8024]

@@chezmoi42 thats 4 damm sure

[@31emxof]

I would like to see one more thing on debate rules....a team behind the scenes doing live fact-checking, with control over a Nickelodeon slime tube positioned over each candidate.

[@patrickbureau1402]

Btw Couzinz- aboot youz IRAN HOSTAGES - can u say "ARGO" -- " The "Canadian Caper" was the joint covert rescue by the Canadian government and the CIA of six American diplomats who had evaded capture during the seizure of the United States embassy in Tehran, Iran, on November 4, 1979" - WIKI

[@pamr4040]

❤

[@lynnmckenna9934]

Don’t knock remote viewing.

[@chezmoi42]

Yeah, those Ring doorbells are very useful.

[@JJustCool]

Wait so the US gov't actually had a real "Minority Report"

[@JamesJones-mm2nm]

They better put them both in sound proof booths if they turn the microphone off ! Because trump would yell over the dead microphone!🤣

[@bsing2u]

Maybe the next President should be a political correspondent or a historian that knows history and facts. One that is not in denial of the good bad and ugly of the USA.

[@andrewhaag2422]

🔥 VOTE BLUE 💙 Up and Down the Ballot in November for the Greater Good of the Country and the WORLD 🔥🔥😎💙🇱🇷💙🇱🇷💙🇱🇷💙

[@mishka8180]

LMAO "Who won the last election?" Best question to ask🤣💀

[@corneliusdinkmeyer2190]

Maybe Netanyahu should try the psychic approach for the Israeli hostages. They need to come home.

[@Forriedude]

Where's Chris Ramsey when you need him?

[@darareachphon]

You are surprised that I am so young so poor like 75. 😢

[@AAZEDLARC]

The "remote viewing" info is well documented in Jon Ronson's book, "The Men Who Stare at Goats." (not the dumb George Clooney film.)

[@lazyperfectionist1]

1:18 "Wh- Wh- What would you- What would be, like, your first question? To _both_ men. Like, what's the question the _both_ have to answer?" "Who won the last election?" 😄 Hah. There we go. And make you _second_ question, "Who won the Popular Vote in 2016?"

[@ecamp6360]

At 4:38 : "...mimeographed..."? Really? How old is Georgie? Not photocopied or laser-printed?

[@3souris]

I'll ask the stenographer.

[@wenzwenzel2529]

Better Still: "Only one of us wears a diaper. It isn't me. Do you know who it is, Joe? "

[@mytexasdays1526]

Good ol' whiny guy will say he didn't get to finish his answers afterwards.

[@jbtpa895]

Gag order,part deux. Mic shutoff. If they do that I might watch.

[@ziggyustar3137]

when Donnie's mike goes off he'll walk like a angry toddler and say it's rigged; come on it's a given

[@johnk9029]

Stephen, you should revive Kristi Noem's book tour (not!) and compare it to George's. No contest.

[@yurielcundangan9090]

G stephan is🎉❤

[@JAllenKaiser]

Super cringey that Rosalyn invited a couple sideshow fortune tellers to the WHSR and thought she was “helping”

[@elizamccroskey1708]

Then Nancy Reagan had a team of psychics in to plan Ronnie's day.

[@JAllenKaiser]

@@elizamccroskey1708 well yeah, we already knew the Reagans were psychotic.

[@CarrieV9]

Remote viewing has been used by the Soviets beginning in the 60s.

[@JAllenKaiser]

@@CarrieV9 I guess that’s why the Soviet Union and soviets don’t exist anymore.

[@CarrieV9]

@@JAllenKaiser yes, it was remote viewing which was the downfall 😆