In what’s already being called the most explosive moment in The Late Show’s recent history, former Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi turned her guest appearance into an unforgettable, unscripted verbal clash that left even Stephen Colbert—king of progressive punchlines—frozen in stunned silence.
The May 2025 broadcast began with its usual comedic rhythm but quickly spiraled into something far more unpredictable, raw, and polarizing.
What was supposed to be another breezy political segment morphed into a high-stakes faceoff between two cultural titans on live television—and the fallout has been nothing short of seismic.
THE CLASH NOBODY SAW COMING. The segment began innocently enough. Bondi, a controversial conservative firebrand known for her unapologetic views and national presence during the Trump era, joined Colbert for what viewers expected to be a spirited, if standard, exchange.
Colbert, whose trademark style blends satire with surgical political jabs, opened the conversation with a few light digs at Bondi’s political record. But when he pivoted into a biting joke about her role in Trump-era investigations, Bondi didn’t just laugh it off—she retaliated with a cutting line that stopped the show cold.
