Stephen Colbert opened Tuesday's Late Show with a countdown to a government shutdown, which would cut numerous essential services and leave many out of work. But not everyone Colbert noted that people deemed essential workers, such as air traffic controllers or TSA agents, must stay on the job, even if it means working without pay. Which is perfect for anyone who's ever said I just wish this TSA worker groping my junk was also angry,' Colbert quipped.
"Beating up on these people, rightly or wrongly, accurately or perhaps inaccurately, in the name of comedy-not once were we squeezed by anyone from any governmental agency, let alone the dreaded FCC," he said. He added, "The institution of the president of the United States ought to be bigger than a guy doing a talk show." Letterman was speaking with The Atlantic's Jeffrey Goldberg a day after ABC announced it was suspending Jimmy Kimmel Live "indefinitely"-a move that critics attributed to pressure from Brendan Carr,