Because CBS is taking The Late Show off the air in less than a month, Stephen Colbert will not be able to use the show as a platform to entertain Democrats as they seek the 2028 nomination. Therefore, Colbert tried to use Wednesday’s show to compensate when he tried to get former Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg to announce a 2028 bid.
After Buttigieg said his message to fellow Democrats is not to assume that things will go back to the way they were pre-Trump when Trump leaves office, Colbert had his own vague suggestions for reform. Zeroing in on the Senate, Colbert declared, “I mean, I think one of the things that needs to change is the United States Senate, how it's run, how people are elected, all that kind of stuff. It’s a highly anti-democratic institution. It’s part of the reason we are in the mess we are right now.”
With his show going off the air next month, Stephen Colbert tries to get Pete Buttigieg to announce a 2028 while casually suggesting he wants to radically overhaul the Senate, "I mean, I think one of the things that needs to change is the United States Senate, how it's run, how… pic.twitter.com/cX1kxPsZaH
— Alex Christy (@alexchristy17) April 23, 2026
Colbert never said what he had in mind, but one imagines getting rid of the filibuster is one idea. His reference to changing “how people are elected” is more puzzling, but it is a reasonable guess to say that Colbert is lamenting that small red states have the same representation as larger blue ones, which is the one part of the Constitution that cannot be amended through the normal process precisely because the Founders wanted to prevent people like Colbert from being able to erase the influence of small states.
Speaking of the Senate, Colbert continued, “You decided not to run for Senate in Michigan even though there was a seat opening up and were a really good candidate for that. Is there some other office that appeals to you on any level? For President? And I realize it's way too early. I admit—”
Colbert then paused to allow the audience to repeatedly chant, “Pete!” before continuing, “I realize this is way too early to be talking about running for president in 2028, but I go off the air in four weeks, so why don't we just do this. We won't roll on this. We'll just, you just say ‘yes, I am running for president’ or ‘yes, I'm not running for president.’ And we'll just roll that in once you are not we got an exclusive here and no one here will tell anyone what you said. That seem fair? You're on your honor.”
Buttigieg dodged the question, “Don't you think that would be bad luck, though?”
Colbert tried again, “Does it appeal to you at all? I mean—”
Buttigieg didn’t deny it but still danced around the question, “I mean, look, obviously, I ran for that office once. What I’d say now—obviously, I'm a ways away from being able to make a decision like that, make news like that.”
Trying a third time, Colbert teased, “But it is a decision you need to make. Your words. Your words, sir.”
Buttigieg replied, “I suppose so. Sure. I mean, the thing is, either way I know what to do with myself right now, which is make myself useful to candidates and causes I believe in.”
Those causes are the same one Colbert believes in, but in a month neither Colbert nor aspiring Democratic candidates will have The Late DNC Show to use to promote them. It will be a sad but fitting ending for what was supposed to be a comedy show.
Here is a transcript for the April 22-taped show:
CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
4/23/2026
12:09 AM ET
STEPHEN COLBERT: I mean, I think one of the things that needs to change is the United States Senate, how it's run, how people are elected, all that kind of stuff. It’s a highly anti-democratic institution.
PETE BUTTIGIEG: Yup.
COLBERT: It’s part of the reason we are in the mess we are right now, but you decided not to run for Senate in Michigan even though there was a seat opening up and were a really good candidate for that. Is there some other office that appeals to you on any level? For President? And I realize it's way too early. I admit—
AUDIENCE: Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete! Pete!
COLBERT: I realize this is way too early to be talking about running for president in 2028, but I go off the air in four weeks, so why don't we just do this. We won't roll on this. We'll just, you just say “yes, I am running for president” or “yes, I'm not running for president.” And we'll just roll that in once you are not we got an exclusive here and no one here will tell anyone what you said. That seem fair? You're on your honor.
BUTTIGIEG: Don't you think that would be bad luck, though?
COLBERT: Does it appeal to you at all? I mean—
BUTTIGIEG: I mean, look, obviously, I ran for that office once.
COLBERT: Yeah.
BUTTIGIEG: What I’d say now—obviously, I'm a ways away from being able to make a decision like that, make news like that.
COLBERT: But it is a decision you need to make. Your words. Your words, sir.
BUTTIGIEG: I suppose so. Sure.
COLBERT: Okay.
BUTTIGIEG: I mean, the thing is, either way I know what to do with myself right now—
COLBERT: What’s that?
BUTTIGIEG: —which is make myself useful to candidates and causes I believe in.
