"Sit Back, Relax" - Sir Richard Branson's Space Travel Advice For Jeff Bezos

Sir Richard Branson sits down with Stephen after returning from his historic trip to the edge of space, and has some advice for the next billionaire headed to orbit. Find out how you can win a trip on Virgin Galactic via Omaze: www.omaze.com/products/virgin.... #Colbert #VirginGalactic #SirRichardBranson
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The Late Show with Stephen Colbert is the premier late night talk show on CBS, airing at 11:35pm EST, streaming online via Paramount+, and delivered to the International Space Station on a USB drive taped to a weather balloon. Every night, viewers can expect: Comedy, humor, funny moments, witty interviews, celebrities, famous people, movie stars, bits, humorous celebrities doing bits, funny celebs, big group photos of every star from Hollywood, even the reclusive ones, plus also jokes.

[@starshake8998]

Billionaires: "You could do anything!" Kids: "Great! Let's raise taxes on the wealthy!" Billionaires: "Not that."

[@scratchy996]

You don't even need to raise taxes for billionaire. It would be enough to make them actually pay taxes.

[@mortuos557]

@@scratchy996 how about..... both?

[@djlads]

@@scratchy996 I mean it doesn't work at the moment

[@scratchy996]

@@mortuos557 They would just all move their home address to Switzerland, so what do you gain from that ? Fair would be for everyone to pay the same percentage of their real income. Wealth making opportunities should be encouraged, and spending for private research and development that actually help society should be encouraged too. Now let's say we take their space programs away and give the money to the government. The government would squander it in a matter of minutes on bullshit like the F35, or buy some more littoral combat ships. Why do you think people like Elon Musk chose to move to America ? If you increase taxes and hamper the wealth making machine, people who drive innovation will just chose another country.

[@johnericfranchi492]

@@scratchy996 ok then, later billionaires. We don't need them.

[@zomadee1007]

There is a Bob Marley song…. Men sailing on an ego trip Blast off on their spaceship Million miles from reality No care for you, no care for me So much trouble in the world…,

[@rodanderson8490]

So what are YOU doing to help solve the world's problems? Branson is employing tens of thousands of people in good paying jobs, who all pay lots of taxes for our Republican politicians to steal or squander.

[@searchingforfoodonyoutube2500]

@@rodanderson8490 democrat politician obviously steal and divide more

[@theidiotindisguise2263]

@@searchingforfoodonyoutube2500 If you are searching for food on youtube, why are you here? there's no food here lol. I wouldn't say they steal more they on par with republicans, but dem hide it and lie better to your face, republicans are more conniving.

[@UTubeVidMan]

On the internet, it's always easier to blame the rich until you realise that wealth is relative and you're no better from the perspective of those with fewer resources than yourself. Ever buy yourself something you don't necessarily need? That's all Branson's doing, just on an understandably different scale. Not to mention his philanthropic endeavours would likely also similarly outscale yours, just that you'd rather push a sense of moral superiority on choices that are not yours to make regarding wealth you haven't earned.

[@sarahtiferet9025]

@@rodanderson8490 PLEASE EDUCATE YOURSELF + FIRST of all he's British and 2nd of all Billionairs pay WAY LESS percentage wise in taxes than working people =and last but not least HE RECEIVED $$ MIllions of dollars in Loans/ GIFTS form the British GOVT which should have gone to small businesses who ACTUALLY needed the $$ to survive= He took that money and shot his GIANT SELFISH EGO into space DAMAGING the atomosphere { JET fuel is VERY TOXIC for the enviroment and human health } while doing so =

[@SqueepToons]

What an inspiring message “To all you kids down there, just imagine what you can do by ignoring the suffering and needs of others and pissing 30 billion dollars down the drain to polish your own selfish ego!”

[@rolandfischer931]

You do know he paid people that money? You might not think it's a useful endeavor but he didn't throw that money down the drain, he paid it to professionals who did work. Not defending Richard Branson here, just don't say stupid shit.

[@sarahtiferet9025]

@@rolandfischer931 HE TOOK MILLIONS FROM THE BRITISH GOVT for his " failing" Buisness LOL!! WHAT the FUCK are you talking about ? That Money should have gone into the British Health Care system ...THAT is the $$ as your say " he paid people with!- other peoples money = WTF is wrong with you?

[@kimberlyking9523]

It’s his money. He can do with it whatever he chooses. Bye Felisha.

[@pokerface7061]

Stay mad

[@chairmanm3ow]

"You could do anything with your powers. You could cure cancer!" But I don't WANT to cure cancer, I WANT to play astronaut!

[@morbidmanmusic]

it's his money. He likely does more giving per dollar made than either of us. Not that he shouldn't be taxed a lot more, but your money is yours to do what you will. nobody owes anyone anything in reality

[@chairmanm3ow]

@@morbidmanmusic He was literally just asking for government bailouts last year. Nobody earns a billion dollars. They steal it.

[@PakRT48]

That's it. I'm quitting my job today to set up my own postal mail-order record store. Space, here I come! #goals

[@TakahikoSugimura]

best of luck :)

[@marinusvanderlubbe7673]

He signed the Rolling Stones!!! Then he bought an island

[@shelbyseitzinger927]

Just do w/e. Be open to new things along the way. Work on not resenting the thankless work. Soon enough you'll be on your way. Time is a hell of a thang

[@EazyE11]

What's a record? 🤨

[@dysamoria]

@@EazyE11 Some weird fetish people have these days where they think vinyl disks with etchings of sound vibrations on them are superior to CDs...

[@thesoundsmith]

"Well, you could afford it!" Hell, CBS would foot the bill to put Stephen into space. Would be a great week. (Then maybe send McConnell up, and forget to bring him back...).

[@MichaelWadeLeeKapsalis]

Forget to bring him back????? I'd happily do it on purpose.

[@TartarianTopG]

What about Nancy baloney

[@itisfinishednowtimetoclean2723]

😂😂

[@lushen952]

Your brain is not impressive. Stephen Colbert could afford to do it on his own. He's in the top 1% easily.

[@Trini2DeBone]

How 'bout sending Agent Orange and leaving him there with McConnell

[@alfonsovanegas7870]

He says, “people are not educated about what space does for us…”…. If billionaires paid taxes…. and Public schools were fully funded…. maybe then people would be educated about space.

[@mr.nobody9697]

Feel the burrrn!!!

[@alexbutler1872]

Dead comment this guys doing shit

[@raghavsayal]

Why should rich people be taxed after providing so much jobs for society

[@amyelizabeth529]

Touché! Well played, sir, well played, indeed.

[@mr.nobody9697]

@@raghavsayal Nonsense. Stop believing republican bullshit. Tax rates on the rich have gone down and so has job creation. Lower taxes on the rich leads to more job creation is complete bullshit. All it does is widen the wealth gap.

[@jimmyholloway8527]

"What does Space do for Earth?" Well, for starters, it IS the place where I keep all my stuff.

[@johng7410]

You should get yourself some Solar Storage. It's guaranteed to never get moisture issues, daylight 24rs every day even Christmas, and not had a single theft from the Solar Storage ever.

[@supershinigami1]

I wanna see how space gives a poor person healthcare.

[@AnimefortheLazyman]

@@supershinigami1 the satellites could bring cheap or even free internet (see zuckerberg or Elon’s projects) that then let them sign up for healthcare programs, vaccinations, checkups, etc. internet is a huge equalizer

[@nobodyknows3180]

@@supershinigami1 I wanna see how poor persons provide their fare share for their healthcare.

[@supershinigami1]

@@nobodyknows3180 why do you hate the poor?

[@foxyboiiyt3332]

Playing footsie with Billionaires. Is that a metaphor for politics?

[@orgasmatron4296]

No it's a metaphor for people using the products of billionares to complain about billionaires...and politics haha

[@qwertyfla]

FTSE with billionaires.

[@orgasmatron4296]

@JZ's Best Friend yeah cause interviewing some guy named Joe that works at the deli down the street is so captivating

[@RedrumVideos]

@@orgasmatron4296 yeah, and billionaires totally deserve our admiration and their taxes shouldn't be raised at all.

[@Sound22001]

Always PLATITUDES! Nothing substantial. ENVY rules the World.

[@choobababoo905]

No worries guys. Earth is located in space.. so we all in space inside of earth

[@erikagluck]

#Justshowerthoughts

[@MF-Creations]

Reminds me of the old Steve Martin bit - How to be a millionaire and never pay taxes. First, get a million dollars...

[@AlainSTO]

"It'll trickle down!" Nope. They'll just build their own personal spaceships with it.

[@elvenkind6072]

Isn't something wrong in USA when billionaires can have their own space race, instead of paying taxes that could allow Americans to live in just another first world country with universal healthcare?

[@TRKTKO]

Fuck em let em blow it

[@djlads]

Richard Branson is British, not American, so you only have 2 US billionaires doing it, who could contribute to a universal healthcare.

[@ExcessumGaming]

He is British btw.

[@robertgoldie5077]

Yet the fact is that if they didn't have a space race and did pay more tax you still wouldn't get your universal healthcare. Political will just isn't strong enough sadly.

[@scratchy996]

Yeah, but you have guns and Jesus. Guns protect you from whatever you can see, and Jesus protects you from everything else. That's why you have the greatest country on the whole flat Earth.

[@selfish-perverse-n-turbulent]

Best advertisement for a 90% wealth tax above $50 million.

[@chinesesparrows]

Already enough horror stories of gross budget misuse, more money to the govt is just adding bureaucratic bloat to politicians to play around with.

[@user-xr3rb6pn9m]

And it's not like he wouldn't be able to afford to go to space even after such a tax.

[@Matthew-ve7uv]

Oh yeah, more roads, more social security, more education, more healthcare -- fucking horror story. Much rather billionaires misuse it is keep it in their bank accounts -- that way none of it goes to the people who need it. Hey, wait...

[@Satyameda]

@@NiekBrokkelkoek leader of woketopia.

[@selfish-perverse-n-turbulent]

@@chinesesparrows That's just a defeatist attitude. At least some of the money would have stayed here on Earth.

[@justcallmerichard7596]

Awesome project! Keep the development of space travel going.

[@debbiecooper1677]

Sir Richard seems like he would be fun to hang out with

[@jeromediktas3414]

Seems like Branson just beat our very real life Lex Luthor.

[@edricaldones9639]

But the Walking Glans will go up in a penis-shaped rocket.

[@SilentEdgeTv]

Jealousy much?

[@meattooth1303]

James Bond

[@brianmelendy1194]

Not really. He never entered space.

[@chairmanm3ow]

They're both Lex Luthor

[@Sam-rb1sj]

There’s nothing like a massive display of wealth during a pandemic and recession 👍

[@NiecieSavo]

Ya really lightens the mood from all the miserable news all day 👍

[@bombelz]

Recession?

[@orgasmatron4296]

Oh God enough with this billionaire crap. I get it they should pay taxes but how about the jobs they create and the services they create for us to use? Now any poor person with an iphone(made by a billionaire) can order anything online or donate to any charity at the press of a button. Everything you use was made by someone likely not paying taxes so if you don't like it go live off grid and hunt for your own food

[@telectronix1368]

@@orgasmatron4296 Nope, that's a false argument.

[@orgasmatron4296]

@@telectronix1368 fine the stuff you use to complain and entertain yourself was made by companies that enrich millionaires and billionaires.

[@goldstrandjupp]

Always glad to see tax evaders getting a spot on Late Night TV.

[@awesomestuff92]

That moment when Colbert asks him the costs and he says we'll, you could afford it and they chuckle... Clear example of how the millionaires work for the billionaires to keep everyone else below them.

[@melektwelve6451]

Branson is not a tax evader. This was not an interview with Trump. And stop being so jealous. You sound like my sister who's jealous of anything the neighbors get, even though her husband made a frikking fortune. Millions, and she still is snotty about the neighbor's new Camry while she drives an E-class. You sound just like her.

[@Sebastianvalen]

@@tobiasclausen6273 calm down bud. you should take your saltiness to the govt made tax loop holes. 😂😂

[@Domidomi85]

@@Sebastianvalen Who do you think writes those laws for the politicians?

[@Alduinsshadow148]

@@tobiasclausen6273 you forgot to mention he’s British so why would he pay US tax, he’s go to the UK government

[@UncleGraham]

I love watching Stephen Colbert interviews with Richard Branson. They are soooo passive-aggressive with each other.

[@mohashaa7125]

What? The two played footsie? Almost blew each-others.

[@katica04]

Perhaps Branson should think first about the kids without food on their tables then the ones dreaming about going to space

[@DarkAvador]

Maybe google how much he gives to charity, and then remember that Gates pushed for the vaccine to be sold via AstraZeneca instead of it being open sourced. Maybe if governments were actually concerned for their people, they would make sure it would be impossible for anyone to be without food.

[@georgesos]

he is thinking about them and just showed his opinion about them by putting his feet to the faces of the world.... #pitchforks

[@chinesesparrows]

Your wealth is likely top 25% across the world. In many places a $8k annual salary is middle class. You should donate your money too. #hypocrite

[@katica04]

@@chinesesparrows you know nothing about me

[@AslanJazzLan]

"I can understand it but maybe they're not fully educated of what space does for earth...." Way to connect with the people, Richy...

[@tommy_casual]

Yeah, a douchey way to say that. He's not entirely wrong, space is part of the path to the future, it's not one or the other. Without space exploration, we would not have the MRI which has saved the lives of hundreds of millions or the grooved pavement on our highways that prevent cars from sliding on ramps, saving thousands of lives per year. We should be doing both. Saving the earth and looking to the stars. He did however say so in the rich douchebaggiest way

[@eriviscale2]

I mean he did not say anything wrong. Space is the future. Its the only hope for long term human survival, furthermore the technologies developed by the Space programs have greatly benefited all of humanity.

[@alexfreidah1075]

the space program of the past led to all sorts of innovations that we all utilize today. The list is massive. en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_spinoff_technologies just go there because it would be a waste of time for me to list all of them. He might have said it in an awkward and stupid way and he might represent private interests over government funded ones but his point was that the science learned working on space travel has had massive impacts on the day to day life of Americans in a ton of ways.

[@AslanJazzLan]

@@tommy_casual yeah... Just seems a pretty out of touch response to "we have a bunch of problems here on earth". It's not like racism can be solved by GPS...

[@sanjaykumar-mz6tf]

The question was why this particular program. The program of billionaires going for a ride on space.How this program will help us in the present /future...... It's just a deflection to the real question

[@tabiandro]

World needs less space pollution, not more. This sort of thing shouldn’t happen while homelessness exists. Billionaires are such an unneeded part of society because we don’t tax them enough.

[@ExcessumGaming]

You know that If we wont become space faring civilization all that you hate will only get worse till our civilization collapses or we all die. Ohh the ignorance.

[@_Atzin]

I agree and disagree with you, the sort of technology that is being brought about as a result of striving to travel space will/has undoubtedly made the world a better place. I do think billionaires need to be taxed more but to say that while we are trying to solve huge issues like homelessness we should cease all development into new technologies is not the solution.

[@chinesesparrows]

The US military spends more than the next 6 most powerful countries combined, and the US pays to have the largest prison population on earth yet needs even more taxes? What kind of bloat is this? Tax is already being misallocated when the US govt already has the largest budget on earth, increasing taxes will only increase bad spending.

[@PartlySunny74]

@@ExcessumGaming BS! By trying to waste all our resources you try to prove your nihilistic dead-end point.

[@PartlySunny74]

@@_Atzin Yeah, your placing your emotion and faith in more Tang and trickle down technology. When you could be right now investing your logical brain, skills and local political power directly in the design and acquisition of sustainable packaging equipment and collecting sorting recycling and remanufacturing equipment. Make Waste Management Great Again!

[@kat8351]

They gave civil rights activist and legend Rep. Eleanor Holmes Norton 5 minutes on the show to discuss the ongoing attack on voting rights in this country so a billionaire could put his feet up on the desk and receive applause for taking a literal ego trip to the edge of space?

[@freebein]

Oh shut up, it was 7 minutes

[@asithaweerakkody5405]

Not an ego trip but an continues progress of space travel

[@sprybug]

@@asithaweerakkody5405 By Billionaires to sell their brand like a commercial.

[@I_Love_Puzzle_from_Arknights]

Just last year he was pleading poverty and asking for government financial support lol

[@telectronix1368]

Hey it costs a lot of money to carve out parts of the UK national health service for profit.

[@Chrisko1492]

Then don‘t continue to elect republicans. Vote progressive. It‘s in your hands.

[@kebab.productions]

@@Chrisko1492 he's a brit.. But u got a point

[@Dappydoo]

My main account got banned for making negative comments about Branson. I honestly can’t believe it

[@sciencenate]

@@Dappydoo what did you say? Do it again for science

[@melissabill1640]

I did the same thing during the moon landings - went outside and looked at the moon knowing they were there.

[@timluther3431]

I was still just an itch in my daddys levis

[@nahuelma97]

I loved when he said that, must've been such an amazing, awe inspiring moment to be alive at that time and be able to go outside and look at it and say "there are people just like us there"

[@martinlouis911]

@@timluther3431 lmao never heard that one before

[@TheWinterscoming]

Yeah but that was a human endeavor for exploration, not a vanity project from men who can just solve global problems. Leave space travel to scientist not privatized industry

[@martinlouis911]

@@TheWinterscoming coming up with rules and limitations for any human on a planet nobody owns is weird....if you can do it and you're not harming people or the earth....do it

[@PluribusProject]

Great guest, Mr. C. and well handled. Minimal, considerate, modest

[@virginiabotha3545]

Wel done Richard Branson. Fabulous achievements.:)

[@raigresham1298]

Man, I miss the Colbert Report when you probably would have eviscerated a billionaire for doing something like this.

[@maverick5066]

Couldn’t agree more

[@telectronix1368]

So, Sir Branson, hundreds of millions of people in the developing world are unable to get vaccines (and not just covid) ........and you went on a few seconds joyride into high orbit."

[@rejoyce318]

Stephen's a life-long space geek, so I'm not surprised Branson was his guest. However, I am disappointed. Very disappointed.

[@Chickenparmm]

Me 2

[@christophereaton5848]

This comment deserves more likes.

[@Victoria-dh9vb]

There's a difference between sending random people to space for *literally no reason* and studying space it's self, but tell yourself whatever helps you sleep at night

[@cynthiahernandez3598]

get over it....you're just jealous and pay attention and learn about what this all means!

[@bree77749]

"If we can do this, just imagine what you can do!!" - one of the most privileged men in the world with wealth only attainable by 1% of the population.

[@blhr6159]

Work hard and you would be able to surpass him in wealth.

[@mrg0th1er83]

@@blhr6159 No. That’s just dumb.

[@pmc3593]

Someone drank the capitalist kool aid.

[@blhr6159]

@@mrg0th1er83 Dumb? Elon Musk did not born a billionaire and look at him right know, he is a multibillionaire, chief engineer of spacex (the company with the most advanced rockets in history) and he is doing a lot of great stuff for this planet and the future of humanity.

[@blhr6159]

@@mrg0th1er83 Majority of rich people once were poor and thanks to the freedom that capitalism gave us they where able to make a lot of money and have a great life.

[@maxhess3151]

My favorite part of the show is the way Jon matches the intro music to some part of the guest's history.

[@Stuartski]

The photo of Stephen is not the same one that he was cutting. Maybe that cutting scene was done before the show.

[@Ecovaluations]

Why does this matter to you given the bigger picture (pun intended)?

[@fitzy1093]

@@Ecovaluations jokes are funnier when you don't point them out

[@rockman4699]

Does anal retentive have a hypen?

[@ksathra2132]

If it was the same Photo, Was Stephen paid to put Branson in the show?

[@ImMrHibachi]

Yeah, in all likelihood Branson cut up a photo to take as a joke, but not as a bit for the show, and since they wanted to have the bit on the show, they had him re-enacted it on camera.

[@ratatataraxia]

Ummm, yeah that’s not the same picture, the first photo was cut above the tie, pic he gave Colbert still had the tie showing.

[@wetvein4908]

Movie magic? They filmed him putting it in his pocket the day he showed up for the late show. Doesnt mean he didnt really do it. (but prob not) ;)

[@HannoverDaz]

Like the bike he cycled to the rocket on. All fake. The bloke will do anything for headlines. Like this whole space flight!

[@Simon-ph1nf]

Yes, more fluff for the audience

[@grayg5124]

He is not very sincere, is he? He is just a showman.

[@Cassandra6]

@@grayg5124 yeah he’s just here to sell seats in the spacecraft to the other super rich in the world

[@tomroberts2135]

"IF we can do this, just imagine what else we can do!" Is it - work our entire lifetimes so more billionaires can have fun?

[@vivi5258]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@notconvinced]

Exactly!! Excellent comment Tom!!!

[@shelbyseitzinger927]

The human condition of existence is work and pain. Be open to new things, don't resent thankless work. Youll be aight.

[@shivamkaushik7589]

That billionaire gave you the job by starting the company when you never thought about taking the risk and just work for a 9-5 for whole life

[@voiceout001]

Then become a billionaure yourself so you don't have to complain the way you do now and you can have fun with your family, friends and acquaintances. How about that?

[@izabellahartz3384]

I respect people who have nothing to lose, and they go for brave deeds!

[@screamingphoenix8113]

This is what we have instead of healthcare and a sustainable ecosystem.

[@AnnoyingInflatable]

And that is Branson's fault how? Maybe focus your energy on the corrupt politicians and oil and pharma companies

[@TheNefastor]

Forgive me if I'm wrong, but isn't Branson British ? And they do have public healthcare in the UK... so I don't think you have a point.

[@oddballrecords6551]

@@TheNefastor He tried to sue the NHS because he wants to overtake our public health care with private health care... Virgin fucking Health Care. All because he lost out on a contract. Why on Earth would you sue our public health care which is already under immense strain. Our current government is trying to dismantle our public health care and fuck us over big time. Boris Johnson is a more covert narcissistic version of Donald Trump.

[@TheNefastor]

@@oddballrecords6551 I agree the UK government is out to kill the NHS. The way I see it, Branson just wants his part of the corpse. We'd do the same in his position, I have no doubt. Besides, look at brexit : it doesn't seem the British don't know what's good for them, unfortunately. Branson is probably too smart to sink with the ship when he could use the debris to build a spaceship. It's ugly but it's what the facts look like.

[@charlottesghost2845]

@@AnnoyingInflatable Who is it exactly that you think is corrupting these politicians? Hairdressers and Walmart greeters? LMAO You'd be funny if not so naive.

[@mikajo]

Biggest endorsement for omaze. Suddenly doesn’t feel scammy anymore.

[@paoloviray2799]

Never felt omaze was scammy.

[@theexperiment8498]

Always wondered if they were scammy. They don’t do much to dispel the feeling in the way they solicit and leave you without updates.

[@paoloviray2799]

@@theexperiment8498 Updates? They literally have a date of when the events end and every Wednesday they publish the winners. What else do you need? Their charities do the updates of their own they just give omaze a mention i think

[@tallenpelegrin7026]

I would hope that the best thing to learn by going to space and looking back is that we are one world, not a Muslim world, not a Christian world, not a Capitalist world, not a Communist world, not Democratic world, not a Republican world, not an American world nor a Chinese world, etc, etc, etc,... We're one world. It's time that all our divisions stop being so divisive and we all work together to protect this wonderful world we all live together on.

[@PartlySunny74]

Did that already. Learned by proxy in 1960’s. This wasn’t that at all.

[@nigelwaxley]

Correction: To the next generation of billionaires, if we can do this, imagine what you can do..

[@pr7ish]

but at what cost

[@nigelwaxley]

@@pr7ish British Tax Payers Money?

[@brady9592]

@@albertocarrilho5839 wealth accumulation like this is a harm to us all

[@mw354]

It will become less expensive

[@brady9592]

@@SailorDoggo www.washingtonpost.com/news/wonk/wp/2018/02/06/how-rising-inequality-hurts-everyone-even-the-rich/ I'm not able to explain it any better than the many resources on the problems of extreme inequality that you can find with a simple google search. This article gives a limited number of reasons but it's a decent primer and it sets aside the presupposition/pov that their wealth is somehow simply "fair" or what they justly earned.

[@johnknight9150]

Please send the leaders of the Flat Earth society up there.

[@leftyelomis1824]

they don't deserve it. just keep them here, underground maybe where they belong

[@eaaeeeea]

They'd just say that the windows or their very own eyes are fish eye lenses making the Earth look round. Probably not worth it.

[@nonaboccalupo7733]

As long as you hit the eject button

[@-oiiio-3993]

And leave them?

[@johnknight9150]

@@eaaeeeea You're probably right. But at least they'd cry while they were doing it.

[@debbiemarquis3231]

Billionaire checking out their escape strategy...

[@galaxyspace76]

The pandemic apparently put them into overdrive. I wonder why?

[@Julia-wh4hl]

Trust me there's no escape

[@telectronix1368]

Billionaires (and ageing ones, too) trying to stave off their existential angst with 'projects'.

[@RobO912]

We make fun of people with doomsday bunkers, meanwhile the richest people on Earth are trying to escape to space! Can’t spell escape without space.

[@debbiemarquis3231]

@@YearRoundHibernater because he sees this as business..and never spoke about Mars..does not mean it's not a plan....

[@homee08]

Richard is the 1 person I want to meet before I die. He is an amazing person and very uplifting. 🙏 congrats on the takeoff and landing, the world can't lose you especially in these times.

[@Blue_3rd]

I respect their achievements and understand how space exploration has helped us, but I still can’t help thinking that these billionaire space racers could afford to pay some more taxes to benefit the less fortunate.

[@toastypuffgoodness]

But they're so generous to allow us poors to enter a space raffle, so we can watch the ocean catch fire 250,000 feet in the air.

[@AaronAlthaus]

Yeah… I’m 100% with you. This is a hard unsubscribe for me.

[@prof.scheere6933]

Sad they could probably achieve both

[@MatthewSpencerKociol]

I'd like to think that they can pay their fair share of taxes AND ALSO afford to participate in the space race. Maybe space exploration itself can be tax exempt but that doesn't mean the rest of their for profit businesses should be able to avoid proper taxation.

[@rodanderson8490]

The tens of thousands of people who are employed by Branson all pay lots of taxes on their high incomes. Compare them with the millions of people who do not have jobs or have jobs that pay so little the people pay zero taxes and depend on tax-payer funded food stamps to survive. A large percentage of Jeff Bezos' Amazon employees are in this 2nd category.

[@puzzle21_81]

Wasn't he asking for government bail out just about a year ago? Also ironic to upload this vid on #BastilleDay

[@infiniteinfiniteinfi]

A new aristocracy has arose. We need to storm Bastille again!

[@smokeydization]

Man just donated, I would do anything to go into space, my biggest childhood dream was to sit on the moon and watch earth come over the horizon!

[@mikeharrison1868]

;0) Maybe possible if you're in the small bit of the moon's surface that wobbles to and fro. (Moon is tidally locked to the earth, so most parts will never experience an earth rise.)

[@TheWtfanime]

Anyone of these billionaires could be taxed any amount of money and America could afford better health care and free education.

[@rhymereason3449]

The planet is literally burning up. Getting to space is the most energy intensive per-capita thing a human can do. How can commercialization of "space rides" be a good thing for the planet?

[@Mike-vq1fm]

This vehicle is quite efficient as it only goes 85km straight up. Very different to a orbital vehicle like the Falcon 9 or Space Shuttle but also nowhere near as fast or heavy

[@quantumeseboy]

I've been flying in space all my life, but instead of some stupid rocket, I use Earth.

[@yjwrangler7819]

Clever lol

[@mistamycall]

Mee too.

[@JiveDadson]

It's roomier, for sure.

[@KootFloris]

While the ecology of the earth deteriorates we get to enjoy pr stunts of billionaires who could make a difference, but rather escape before the pitchforks come.

[@AnnoyingInflatable]

So lets just ignore the companies actively destroying the earth in the first place

[@georgemcgill9063]

Check the emissions from him burning rubber to experience the same effect as being in a fast descending lift in a tall building.

[@debbiedoodiedandi]

Right?!?

[@nickromo8195]

@@AnnoyingInflatable have you ever considered how impossible that would be considering the monopolies that have formed in America and around the world

[@davidbrown8546]

Stephen needs to interview Ben Elton about the book he wrote years ago called "Stark". Premise was a group of super rich building spacecraft to escape a dying earth....

[@tremainsinclaire8103]

The advancements in space tech can improve civilian technology that's 1 reason why it's important

[@tremainsinclaire8103]

@@benwoods5616 the pic isn't the same and the bike ride was staged, watch colbert from last night, and yes the money could be directly dumped into research, probably with a better outcome but that wont happen with our current billionairs

[@tremainsinclaire8103]

@@benwoods5616 business is all a con to make more profits than the other company some are just better than others at doing it lol

[@ritamendoza2621]

He is very humble. So much admiration for Mr. Branson. People coming back from space got their Spiritual awakening.

[@pr7ish]

oh dear

[@kefinkamed]

Oh, we do understand why things like satellites are important. On the other hand, you parading to space and back for no good reason, not so much.

[@kefinkamed]

@FutaRoon I didn´t mean that I literally don´t understand. I meant that it´s completely pointless and certainly not as impressive as they would like us to think.

[@chinesesparrows]

You are likely richer than 75% humans on earth, yet you waste time and money watching youtube enjoying yourself. What have you done for the bottom 75%?

[@kefinkamed]

@@chinesesparrows Thanks for that, I needed a good laugh today 👍

[@chinesesparrows]

​@FutaRoon proportionally you are richer than 75% of earth. The exact same logic applies to you. Shop less, waste less time and give to the poor, you yourself can feed several orphans in many countries. The entitled do realize their own entitlement huh?

[@chinesesparrows]

​@FutaRoon There's always people poorer than you who cannot afford electricity or internet, and what have you done for them?

[@sophierobinson2738]

I watched a few flat earth debunking videos go over some flat earther videos "debunking" the flight. Sad and cringy. When Colbert welcomed him back to "the cool, green grass of earth" I think he was referring to Robert Heinlein's "The Green Hills of Earth", a short story that was in the Saturday Evening Post, Feb. 8, 1947. The poem is entitled "The Cool, Green Hills of Earth".

[@rolandfischer931]

Stephen is a smart cookie. Definitely referencing that poem.

[@backpaincure]

I like when Heinlein said the Moon Landing was Day One of Year One.

[@jamesmziegler]

People like Branson are taking humankind into the future. We should be grateful.

[@sarahtiferet9025]

LOL!!!! Ill be fucking grateful when he stops polluting the planet and spreading Carcinogenic Rocket Fuel into the atomsphere AND our bodies! Rocket Fuel is Toxic as Fuck = What are you talking about ?

[@jamesmziegler]

@@sarahtiferet9025 It is plain that you are unable to understand what I'm talking about. So, I'll leave you to your thoughts.

[@ellymaloba6489]

I'd love to sit there across Steohen and get Richard to listen to my dream when I was 9 year old.

[@jonlivesley]

My dream when I was 9 years old was to shoot all these billionaires into the sun in their rockets so the rest of us could get on with fixing things here on Earth

[@DrToddles]

The most interesting part is the descent tech. THAT would be an awesome thing to see on an orbiter level spaceship.

[@zacvidyasagar8208]

The feather would be spectacular to see on a shuttle sized craft

[@tapio83]

the feather would be super hard to do wirh orbital speeds as youre ecposing joints and gaps to essential plasmacutter. thats why re entry vehicles have smooth surfaces

[@MonsterSound]

VSS Unity descent speed max is ~ Mach 2 whereas orbit entry speed is ~ Mach 22. BIG difference.

[@eaaeeeea]

The Omaze campaign is actually really cool. Enter a competition to win a space ticket, with the proceedings going to giving out even more space tickets.

[@aikidragon9762]

I think Richard should take two "Flat Earthers" with him on his next trip for free and let them see for themselves the 'Globe' we live on and send them back with knowledge not speculation to their fellow deniers.

[@summerbrewster5555]

Now this is a brilliant idea and I would happily contribute to the GoFundMe if it meant humanity is tiny bit less dumb.

[@MooMan1374]

That's a great idea. I just became a flat Earther yesterday. Sign me up :-)

[@tripwire4727]

When someone is intent on decieving themselves, there is nothing that can be done. They would claim the widows were television screens or some such nonsense 🙄

[@christophercooper6731]

Flat Earthers should definitely be rewarded. Real scientists should be at the back of the queue.

[@tonia4934]

They would still see flat

[@chairmanm3ow]

The first man in space wasn't a billionaire, he was a soviet.

[@siddokis2945]

And his body is still there.

[@chinesesparrows]

And the soviets went bankrupt

[@NewMessage]

I think the fact that the Amazon board made Bezos step down before the flight tells us everything we need to know about their confidence that he'll get back down to earth in a form other than carbon dust.

[@kelvinnana205]

Bezos Prime form

[@TheNefastor]

That probably felt great to write, but last I checked, Bezos' rocket has flown a dozen times and never crashed. There's no actual reason to think Jeff wouldn't survive.

[@sxsxpl]

The decision to step down was made long before the trip plans.

[@topsecret1837]

@@sxsxpl it was made by Bezos himself as well. This probably means he’s looking to get his hands full with BO.

[@HavePipesWillTravel]

And *another* Heinlein reference! Well done, Stephen!

[@care2think611]

What a cool thing to do! What might help save the world is a change in perspective on a massive scale. The personal experience and perspective offered from space just might help.

[@ganeshakella8835]

"He licked the donut.!!" Damnnn.! that was the best one.

[@brammurti]

I don't get that line actually. Can somebody help with that?

[@ankrag]

I think Branson forgot that we have HD now. That is not the same picture. Kind of important!

[@berneysharp3940]

What's different about it and why do you think it was changed?

[@ankrag]

@@berneysharp3940 First picture was cut just below the jaw og Stephen. Second picture shows his tie, is much larger. There are many more obvious differences

[@berneysharp3940]

@Tryen2bgd 21 the man who lied to start his first business and may have committed import tax fraud? Surely not

[@berneysharp3940]

@Tryen2bgd 21 the man who sued the NHS? Surely not!

[@TheCorruptedHuman]

He seems so anxious being in the spotlight. He's one of the few billionaire that i still see as a decent human being.

[@Morning404]

You're easily fooled.

[@michelereid]

Why are we giving airtime to billionaires who waste millions in self indulgence....while people are struggling to pay rent in COVID times 🤯🤯🤯

[@00dahc]

The photo of Stephen is clearly different than the one he put in his pocket in the video

[@nickwallette6201]

Yeah. Although, Devil's Advocate: Maybe it's not the one he put in his pocket, but still went to space. Could be the one in his pocket got crushed, or just forgotten and put through the laundry. Or it might just be a big lie. I'unno.

[@Rekonstructio]

And who cares?

[@drustan1355]

yes, he called him out on it the next day: kzbin.info/www/bejne/fmeok3d5rdSnmsk

[@fayeleexuan]

His answer to the question “why go to space when there are so many problems on earth” was terrible!! I’m not convinced 😒

[@Stardust_4]

You probably never would. The fact that you're using internet and eating food at the comfort of your home should be enough to explain it all. If it's not for the curious and explorative nature of people, we'd still be hunting for food, living in caves and succumbing to silly diseases 😬

[@RustyGonzo]

@@Stardust_4 hahaha, dude, that's the most pathetic attempt at defending a soulless husk of a man I've ever heard. Curious and explorative? Try "callous and exploitative". The guy isn't some renowned explorer. He's a man with enough power and resources to piggyback on those he hires to do all the hard work for him and has enough money left over to spend on good PR to trick rubes like you into defending him. "using the internet and eating food"... What kind of bullshit...

[@Stardust_4]

@@RustyGonzo well my response was for the question mentioned in the original comment....." Why is space exploration important when there are so many problems in this world?"

[@macshall5741]

@@Stardust_4 What?? We're still hunting for food, living in constructed caves, and succumbing to silly diseases like COVID! How dumb is the planet where you came from?

[@RustyGonzo]

@@Stardust_4 my apologies for misunderstanding, and maybe I still am, but I don't believe that going to space at the moment is very important. It's VERY cool and it's the sort of thing that I've dreamt about since I was a kid, but realistically we absolutely need to save our one option NOW, and it might be boring but our only option is earth. At least for a century or two. I'd love if we could go out and terraform a planet and start over, but we simply cannot. Not yet anyway

[@WhatSarahLikes1]

He can feed the whole world and fix all problems. You can't money with you. I hate billionaires. No one needs that much money.

[@TheNefastor]

No, he can't. Try doing the math, if you can.

[@eltino49]

Do you even know what you're saying?...No he does not hold that power... To feed the whole world, the whole world would require a proper functional government who could provide and keep a proper economy...

[@chinesesparrows]

Your rich, your wealth is likely top 25% across the world. In many places a $8k annual salary is middle class. You must donate your money too. #hypocrite

[@_WorldWorks]

The services that billionaires provide for all of us are simply essential. They are worth much more to society than their fortune.

[@clasmir5281]

I did not want to, but I respect and love this guy. Sir Richard Branson.

[@RandomPerson2times]

This isn't what we meant by asking billionaires to let us into their pockets.

[@GrammaDeath625]

he forgot the space between his ears

[@quantumeseboy]

Flying a rocket must be more exciting than fixing Earth problems.

[@jcjuxojn]

Actually, flying a rocket leads to some interesting tech that ends up fixing a lot of Earth problems! en.wikipedia.org/wiki/NASA_spinoff_technologies

[@callsign_Elysium]

@@jcjuxojnmy g lets go

[@quantumeseboy]

@@jcjuxojn Except massive resources get wasted on mars and rockets, but not so much on fundamental problems that we face here.

[@jcjuxojn]

@@quantumeseboy still a drop in the bucket when you compare the waste in the military industrial complex. Also, this is private money. He can spend his money however he wants.

[@andrekunkel1520]

He is, at least, doing exciting things with his billions. Look at the guy, he is having a blast!

[@willsmith39]

He's right about people needing to be educated about what space does for us. Outside of Antarctic explorers and people on the top of Everest I had no idea that satellites were involved in all our mobile phone communications 🙄

[@PartlySunny74]

So easy to have publicized satellite usage without a wasteful joyride. Fun fact: the telecom companies didn’t want it known how much they relied on satellites and so they contractually insured the satellite companies wouldn’t disclose or advertise that fun fact. You didn’t know unless you were in the business.

[@igorflexus9493]

It is simply amazing and important!

[@TheKindredTrucker]

Idk about you all, but watching a billionaire grin ear to ear whilst coming down from his whole playing-in-space high while the planet burns makes me want to throw my laptop.

[@mc1543]

👏… yay you… aren’t you socially aware. .. 🙄

[@IMLYINGISWEAR]

Someone Jelly.

[@kbowman968]

Don’t normally dislike the Colbert show but as others have said this is tone deaf and out of touch. Hope all these billionaires continue to go to astronauting for fun, wish them a very blow up.

[@cynhanrahan4012]

Thank you. I agree. Without the blow up part. I don't wish death on anyone. But yeah, tone deaf.

[@solderbuff]

We don't need more travelling. Neither to space, nor between continents. What we need is a climate race. I want to see billionaires compete in saving the planet.

[@peteshaw1739]

They want to live in style, always after the next big thrill.....damn the earth and anyone else.

[@RustyGonzo]

Thank you! Seriously though, this whole faux space race nonsense is pure headline clickbait fluff. Yeah, space is cool. Terraforming another planet in our solar system might be a neat trick once we're actually able to, but ultimately for the foreseeable future earth is unfortunately all we've got and we gotta do something FAST. Climate race is our only option out.

[@nazmus_saqib]

The best joke in the pocket! Good to see old and new people together. I hope I will take off too to the next big step.

[@nazmus_saqib]

No.. space travel reality is in my mind from now. Congrats to see Sir Branson living his dream and leading the sleep heads.

[@julieturtle99]

I thought he would have held his feet to the fire just a bit longer. Billionaires should be teaming up to fight climate change!

[@LaVictoireRosee]

Billionaires shouldn't do anything other than pay their taxes and obey environmental and labour laws. Climate scientists and researchers and local people should be teaming up to fight climate change.

[@julieturtle99]

@@LaVictoireRosee I agree that billionaires need to pay their far share in taxes and obey environmental laws. but EVERYONE needs to fight climate change, and the billionaires have the resources to affect the policies. Its not just individuals like you and I, it's about policies at this point. \

[@LaVictoireRosee]

@@julieturtle99 policies are drawn up by governments, which is the embodiment of the people.

[@julieturtle99]

@@LaVictoireRosee I really like your definition of government and I really wish it would operate like that. But unfortunately, the voice of the people are ignored too often in place of lobbyist with HUGE pockets. Literally EVERYONE wants to tax billionaires and corporations their fair share, but taxes for the ultra-wealthy are getting lower and lower with every administration since the 80's, why is that? Because of you and me? no, because of corporate lobbyists courting the senators to lower their taxes. Unfortunately, big pockets pass policies way too often.

[@LaVictoireRosee]

@@julieturtle99 hence why you want billionaires away from the entire process. When Breton Woods was happening, bankers weren't allowed in the room. Not everyone is an equal stakeholder. It's like having a murderer sitting collaborating with the judge on his punishment. And these billionaires _are_ murderers. They don't get to have a say.

[@mk1st]

The money the billionaires are spending is a drop in the bucket compared to military budgets. THAT is where the funds should be coming from to make the world a better place.

[@dharmaosman184]

Absolutely

[@Deadpool3203]

Last time I saw these two together, they were engaged in a fire extinguisher fight on the Colbert Report, in the Before Times

[@ahmad000almahdi]

« إِنَّ اللَّهَ وَمَلَائِكَتَهُ يُصَلُّونَ عَلَى النَّبِيِّ ۚ يَا أَيُّهَا الَّذِينَ آمَنُوا صَلُّوا عَلَيْهِ وَسَلِّمُوا تَسْلِيمًا »

[@Freeweightj]

Wow this was a great interview!!

[@zyzzyvacation]

He's come a long way since dropping out of school at age 15, living on a houseboat on a canal in London, then signing schoolmate Mike "Tubular Bells" Oldfield as his first artist on his Virgin Records label . . . and the rest, as they say . . .

[@benchipman453]

And the rest, they say, is exploitation. Stop romanticizing billionaires

[@zyzzyvacation]

@@benchipman453 Unlike a certain former Commander-in-Chief, Branson didn't receive a massive donation from a billionaire dad to help get him started on his road to good fortune . . .

[@maremacd]

Well, he’s definitely the most personable of the space billionaires.

[@jonnies]

I dunno he’s still got that vibe like he got up to some weird stuff with Bill Clinton and Jeffrey Epstein.

[@jonathandalton2921]

Mark Richard Shuttleworth (born 18 September 1973) is a South African-British entrepreneur who is the founder and CEO of Canonical, the company behind the development of the Linux-based Ubuntu operating system.[1] In 2002, Shuttleworth became the first South African to travel to space as a space tourist,[2][3][4] and indeed the first African from an independent country to travel to space

[@rattlesnakehawkweed1876]

(Muffled) "to all you kids down there in the UK, your school is crumbing, and your teacher is badly paid because billionaires like me who are aggressive tax avoiders"

[@tlak]

Branson talked about what going to space has done for humanity, but it was all past references, he didn't say anything they were doing now for the planet. Six degrees of separation ties all the earth and humanity's problems directly to billionaires.

[@quincyhutchison3546]

why was his hands that shaky in the beginning? or is it just the camera?

[@thearmchairjournalist566]

I noticed that too!

[@mkilner]

he was shaking his thumbs all through the interview, something bizarre about him!...

[@d.b.1176]

Congrats Sir Richard

[@jamespierce6309]

Let R. Branson be forever known as a man who could have done some real good in the world. But didn't.

[@deamian65]

should read this from an article on Market Realist. Branson, 70, has made a pledge to give away half of his fortune to charity, which could be a significant amount since the Virgin Group founder has a net worth of about $5.9 billion. The billionaire philanthropist reportedly supports over 28 causes including gender equality, LGBTQ rights, environmental conservation, and climate change. He contributes to about 37 charities including Virgin Unite, which is the nonprofit foundation he created in 2004

[@PartlySunny74]

@@deamian65 Audit him. “Pledge” is PR to throw off the gullible. “37 charities including his own” is PR to throw off the gullible. How much in real dollars or proportion of assets? Shit, I can contribute to 37 charities, and I bet it’s a higher proportion of my net worth than his. Can’t take it with him, but he and his like can still continue to be a-holes after death.

[@deamian65]

@@PartlySunny74 Until you prove otherwise your words are just jealousy lol. I wanted to go to space when I was a kid, sorry I didn't get billions along the way but if I did It looks like some of my "friends" in high school would have wished I blew the fuck up on the way to space. Do better

[@halukonal1400]

In the future, belters will say Branson Drive is what started it all 🤣

[@HellHunter00]

I can't wait to go through the Ring. 😂

[@TheNefastor]

Consider all the weird stuff Branson has done before, I'm not surprised he went to space before the nerdy billionaires.

[@ShahidKhan-ke8fe]

'Nerdy billionaires' - yeah what I really love are cool billionaires. So much better. You know what would be even cooler? If they paid their fair share of taxes.

[@matbroomfield]

He IS a nerdy billionaires, and every bit as crappy.

[@MattsInTheBelfry]

He did not pass the Kármán line, where aeronautics ends and astronautics begins.

[@telectronix1368]

If anything this latest exploit is more like his earlier high-altitude balloon trips than genuinely going into space/earth orbit.

[@brianmelendy1194]

He didn't get to space.

[@Doggeslife]

I remember that! Going outside at the age of 9, gazing up at the moon and and thinking "People are walking around up there right now!" That was a cool flashback. Thanks.

[@Doggeslife]

@R G Once we stopped going back there I did. But that's because we didn't have anyone up there anymore. Time to leave the cave, toss away that wooden club and join modern humans in the 21st century with the rest of us.

[@Doggeslife]

@R G Oh man, you're funny. Please troll elsewhere, little one. You play silly games.

[@borjacardona7011]

Space is important and we need to go more to outer space agree but with a purpose not just for a ride

[@trinafirey1175]

I had reservations about Richard, but he’s quite fantastic, interesting and intelligent! Glad I watched this interview.

[@gomcocramp]

no

[@markkaleta1682]

“I believe it’s important to spend my money on space travel instead of helping issues on earth, because space travel makes you want to help improve the issues on earth.” Wtf?!

[@EndeavorsDnB]

Money should be spent however the people with it want to spend it. Hope the next time a charity asks for ur help u give a yr’s salary to it or empty ur wallet to the next homeless person u see but I know that probably won’t be your choice.

[@wazowski489]

Even TV hosts ask astronauts for autographs

[@Kat-fl1yj]

For any Americans who don't know, this man sued the NHS. Seeing his barefeet made me want to claw my eyes out.

[@gold6813]

The NHS tried to screw him. If you actually knew the facts. You wouldn't say that. Richard Branson delivered his side of the bargain. While the government tried to screw him. Hence RB won in court. For Christ sake. You have a super computer in your hand. All you need is half a brain to operate it if you wanted the truth!

[@Kat-fl1yj]

There's no justification for billionaires to sue the NHS because they lose out on contracts. Fuck Branson and Virgin Care and the privitisation of the NHS.

[@vikasanandame]

@@Kat-fl1yj Mate, if you were a billionaire and someone wronged you, would you just sit back and accept that you derserve to be wronged? A little perspective would help.

[@Kat-fl1yj]

@@vikasanandame if you think there's any justification for billionaires to even exist then it's you who needs perspective

[@vikasanandame]

@@Kat-fl1yj I'm not sure if you're aware as to how wealth and valuation work but if I had to explain in simple words it would be that the term billionaire doesn't mean they'd necessarily have billion dollars in bank. It's the investors and shareholders who pump up the valuation of the company shares which these billionaires own. If the company fails these billionaires will loose all that money along with everyone who is part of that company. Virgin group and the thousands of job it created wouldn't exist without this billionaire. Just coz someone is a billionaire doesn't mean they are evil. They worked hard and had some luck on their side. I'm sure you have your reasons to say what you said and I don't oppose your opinion. If you hate someone just make sure you hate them for the right reasons. Sorry for the long essay!