“I swear, Colbert just burned the entire Democratic playbook on live TV.” What could have triggered such an outburst? Was this a moment of honesty, or political theatre? Did he cross a line, or just say what many are thinking but afraid to voice? Colbert’s surprising takedown has sparked a firestorm across social media. Why now? Has the 2028 Democratic candidate made moves that challenge core progressive values? Or has Colbert become disillusioned with politics altogether? What does this say about the state of political comedy — is it still satire, or has it become activism? And will this bold moment strengthen Colbert’s influence, or isolate him from his audience and allies? How are other media personalities reacting? Silence? Agreement? Outrage? The 2028 race just got more interesting.
Stephen Colbert stuns viewers with rare takedown of top Democrat 2028 presidential candidate
Late-night host and outspoken Trump critic Stephen Colbert stunned viewers by challenging Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on his show Tuesday.
Colbert grilled the potential 2028 presidential candidate over his state’s bizarrely drawn congressional maps, after the governor offered refuge to Texas Democrats fleeing the state over a plan to redraw its own electoral boundaries.
The comedian pulled up a graphic of Illinois’ congressional districts while discussing Texas Republicans’ controversial plan to gerrymander the state’s voting maps in their favor.
‘If you are considering doing a little more redrawing in Illinois, you already have some crazy districts in Illinois,’ Colbert said.
‘Take a look at this. Look at [District] 17 here. It does that, then it comes up here, and it sneaks around there and goes all the way up here and then goes right over there like that,’ Colbert said, outlining the oddly shaped voting district.
‘Is this common for all states to do?’
Pritzker attempted to laugh off the jab, joking that a kindergarten class must have drawn up the map.
He then insisted it was an ‘independent commission’ responsible the boundaries.
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Late-night host and outspoken Trump critic Stephen Colbert stunned viewers by challenging Democratic Illinois Gov. JB Pritzker on his show Tuesday
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The comedian pulled up a graphic of Illinois’ congressional districts while discussing Texas Republicans’ controversial plan to gerrymander the state’s voting maps in their favor
Showing another map, Colbert pointed to its irregular shape.
‘It’s like a stinger on a scorpion,’ he joked.
‘So because all states to a certain extent do this, why is what Texas [is] doing particularly egregious in this case?’
Pritzker then shifted to discussing Texas Republicans redrawing their map ‘at the behest of Donald Trump’ and doing so ‘mid-decade,’ a break from the 10-year redistricting cycle tied to the census.
The move could result in the Lone Star State getting five more GOP seats.
‘That is extraordinarily rare,’ the governor said of the off-cycle attempt. ‘And the way they are doing it is taking voting rights away from black and brown people. They are literally obliterating districts that were written according to the Voting Rights Act.
‘So this is going to end up in court if they are actually able to do it.’
