{"id":2599270,"date":"2026-05-06T04:46:01","date_gmt":"2026-05-06T08:46:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colbert-talks-presidential-legacy-expansion-of-presidential-powers-and-aliens-in-interview-with-barack-obama\/"},"modified":"2026-05-06T04:46:57","modified_gmt":"2026-05-06T08:46:57","slug":"colbert-talks-presidential-legacy-expansion-of-presidential-powers-and-aliens-in-interview-with-barack-obama","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/colbert-talks-presidential-legacy-expansion-of-presidential-powers-and-aliens-in-interview-with-barack-obama\/","title":{"rendered":"Colbert talks presidential legacy, expansion of presidential powers, and aliens in interview with Barack Obama"},"content":{"rendered":"<aside class=\"mashsb-container mashsb-main mashsb-stretched\"><div class=\"mashsb-box\"><div class=\"mashsb-count mash-medium\" style=\"&quot;\"><div class=\"counts mashsbcount\">30<\/div><span class=\"mashsb-sharetext\">SHARES<\/span><\/div><div class=\"mashsb-buttons\"><a class=\"mashicon-facebook mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/www.facebook.com\/sharer.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.conservativenewsdaily.net%2Fbreaking-news%2Fcolbert-talks-presidential-legacy-expansion-of-presidential-powers-and-aliens-in-interview-with-barack-obama%2F\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Facebook<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-twitter mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"https:\/\/twitter.com\/intent\/tweet?text=&amp;url=https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/?p=2599270&amp;via=ConservNewsDly\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Twitter<\/span><\/a><a class=\"mashicon-subscribe mash-medium mash-nomargin mashsb-noshadow\" href=\"#\" target=\"_top\" rel=\"nofollow\"><span class=\"icon\"><\/span><span class=\"text\">Subscribe<\/span><\/a><div class=\"onoffswitch2 mash-medium mashsb-noshadow\" style=\"display:none\"><\/div><\/div>\n            <\/div>\n                <div style=\"clear:both\"><\/div><\/aside>\n            <!-- Share buttons by mashshare.net - Version: 4.0.47--><p>Stephen Colbert interviewed former President Barack Obama on *The Late Show* Tuesday night in a prerecorded conversation held at the yet-to-open Obama Presidential Centre in Chicago. The interview comes a little more than two weeks before Colbert\u2019s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/mattel-announces-barney-is-coming-back-with-apparel-and-accessories-for-adult-fans\/\" title=\"Mattel Announces \u2018Barney\u2019 Is Coming Back With \u2018Apparel And Accessories For Adult Fans\u2019\">final episode airing<\/a> May 21 and includes discussion of a range of topics, including comments that could be read as indirect criticisms of President Donald Trump without naming him.<\/p>\n<p>During the conversation,Colbert and Obama joked about Colbert being allowed to call Obama by his frist name (\u201cBarack\u201d),with Colbert briefly trying-and then stopping-before the two agreed to wait until off camera. They also talked about Obama\u2019s Chicago background, his presidential legacy, the role of race in his election, and how his presidency affected the country\u2019s story.<\/p>\n<p>On executive power, Obama discussed concerns about presidents\u2019 expanding authority and argued for restoring norms and codifying limits. He singled out the idea that the White House shoudl not be able to direct the attorney general to <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/biden-used-extreme-rhetoric-within-48-hours\/\" title=\"Biden used extreme rhetoric within 48 hours\">prosecute political enemies<\/a>, stressing the independence of the Justice Department. He also raised the possibility of constraining presidential pardons-such as where campaign contributions or business interests might potentially be involved.<\/p>\n<p>Later, Colbert asked about extraterrestrial life and whether the government was hiding it. Obama denied any conspiracy, saying that if aliens existed, evidence would likely have surfaced already, noting that \u201cthe government is terrible at keeping secrets.\u201d  <\/p>\n<p class=\"readmore\">\n    <button onclick=\"showReadMore()\" id=\"readmorebtn\">Read more&#8230;<\/button>\n<\/p>\n<hr id=\"line\">\n<span id=\"more\"><\/p>\n<article class=\"fn-body\">\n<p>Late-night talk show host <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/stephen-colbert\/\">Stephen Colbert<\/a> interviewed former President <a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/tag\/barack-obama\/\">Barack Obama<\/a> on <em>The Late Show with Stephen Colbert <\/em>on Tuesday night. It was a prerecorded interview that took place at the yet-to-open Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois. <\/p>\n<p>Colbert\u2019s interview with the former president comes a little over two weeks before the final episode of his show which is scheduled to air on May 21. The two discussed a wide array of topics, including comments that some may interpret as <a href=\"https:\/\/amzn.to\/3YuVZYV\" >thinly veiled criticisms<\/a> of President Donald Trump, albeit without mentioning him by name.<\/p>\n<section class=\"explore-more-section\" id=\"wex-recommended-widget\">\n<div class=\"magazine-container single\">\n<h1 class=\"magazine-title mt-2\">Recommended Stories<\/h1>\n<p>             <i class=\"fa-solid fa-play icon\"><\/i>         <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-grid\">\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4556695\/colbert-interview-with-barack-obama\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>Colbert talks presidential legacy, expansion of presidential powers, and aliens in interview with Barack Obama<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4556656\/bickering-and-blaming-trump-dominate-california-gubernatorial-debate\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>\u2018Bickering\u2019 and blaming Trump dominate California gubernatorial debate<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<div class=\"explore-card\">                         <a href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/news\/4554800\/five-killed-in-ukraine-in-russian-strikes\/?itm_source=parsely-api\">                             <\/p>\n<div class=\"explore-thumb-wrap\">                                                                                                                                  <\/div>\n<h3>At least five killed and dozens injured in Ukraine in \u2018vile\u2019 Russian strike amid ceasefire talk<\/h3>\n<p>                         <\/a>                     <\/div>\n<\/p><\/div>\n<\/section>\n<p>\u201cLongtime viewers of America might remember that we used to have other presidents, a bunch of them in fact, including this guy (as he pointed to a picture) Barack Obama,\u201d Colbert said as his audience cheered. \u201cRecently, he invited me to meet him in Chicago at the Obama Presidential Center which opens to the public on June 19th. We sat down for a conversation that touched on everything from <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/what-planet-am-i-on-stumbling-across-the-protect-trans-youth-booth-in-my-small-town\/\" title=\"\u2018What Planet Am I On?\u2019: Stumbling Across The \u2018Protect Trans Youth\u2019 Booth In My Small Town\">alien life forms<\/a> to the future of the Democratic Party.\u201d<\/p>\n<div class=\"article-paywall\">\n<p>After the two exchanged pleasantries and shook hands, Colbert and Obama reflected on their time at a previous fundraiser that both attended in which the president gave Colbert permission to call him by his first name, Barack as opposed to \u201cMr. President.\u201d <\/p>\n<p>Colbert was reluctant to do so, humorously expressing discomfort at using the former president\u2019s first name.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell, I haven\u2019t done it yet,\u201d Colbert said. \u201cI have never actually tried it out.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>\u201cWhat do you think\u2019s going to happen?\u201d Obama replied while laughing. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI don\u2019t know. I\u2019m not sure that I\u2019m going to be comfortable with this but we\u2019ll give it a run,\u201d Colbert said, before attempting to use the former president\u2019s first name.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cIt\u2019s wonderful to see you again, Bara\u2013,\u201d Colbert said before stopping. <\/p>\n<p>Both giggled and Obama said \u201cwe\u2019ll wait until we\u2019re off camera.\u201d It set the tone for the remainder of the interview. The two discussed Obama\u2019s background and upbringing in Chicago. Colbert then quizzed and surveyed the former president on Chicago local cultural traditions. As for the serious topics, they discussed Obama\u2019s legacy as president, the importance of race in his election, and how his election shaped the country\u2019s story. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cI assume in my eulogy, somewhere it\u2019ll be mentioned, \u2018He was the first African American president,\u2019\u201d said Obama. \u201cBut what I want people to understand is that there was this extraordinary journey this country took to get to that point, and I was an episode in that.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>The conversation then turned to executive powers of the presidency, how they have expanded over time and, if there was a need to restrict such powers, now or in the future. Colbert asked Obama about the expansive authority of the presidency during his terms.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cNow that you\u2019re no longer in office, what powers do you believe the president should not have?\u201d Colbert asked. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cWell there are a couple that I followed even though they weren\u2019t law,\u201d Obama said. \u201cAnd \u2026 we\u2019re going to have to do some work to return to this norm, and we probably now have to codify it. The White House shouldn\u2019t be able to direct the attorney general to go around prosecuting whoever the president wants prosecuted,\u201d Obama said.<\/p>\n<p>\u201cThe idea is the attorney general is the people\u2019s lawyer, it\u2019s not the president\u2019s consigliere,\u201d Obama said. <\/p>\n<p>\u201cEven when it\u2019s Bobby Kennedy,\u201d Colbert quipped. <\/p>\n<p><a target=\"_blank\" rel=\"noopener noreferrer\" href=\"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/premium\/4550193\/democrats-court-disaster\/\"><strong>HUGO GURDON: DEMOCRATS\u2019 COURT DISASTER<\/strong><\/a><\/p>\n<p>\u201cTwo of the core principles of a democracy,\u201d Obama continued, \u201cWe can survive a lot, bad policy, funky elections, there\u2019s a bunch of stuff that we can overcome. We can\u2019t overcome the politicization of the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/president-trump-please-pardon-jon-woods-a-victim-of-process-crimes-like-michael-flynn\/\" title=\"... Trump, Please Pardon Jon Woods, a Victim of Process Crimes Like Michael Flynn\">criminal justice system<\/a>, the awesome power of the state. You can\u2019t have a situation in which, whoever\u2019s in charge of the government, starts using that to go after their political enemies, or reward their friends, right?\u201d <\/p>\n<p>\u201cAnother power, maybe, I\u2019d say would be, although this is in the Constitution, it\u2019s a little hard to change, but, maybe don\u2019t pardon people who\u2019ve given you a bunch of campaign contributions,\u201d or invested in your businesses,\u201d Obama said. \u201cSo, restoring some sense of the Justice Department being independent.\u201d<\/p>\n<p>Later in the interview, Colbert brought up the topic of extraterrestrial beings and alien life. He asked Obama if the government was involved in a grand conspiracy, hiding the existence of alien life, as many  conspiracy theorists have claimed over the years. Obama denied it, saying if there were aliens, proof of their existence would have been leaked by now.  <\/p>\n<p>\u201cOne of the things you learn as president is the government is terrible at keeping secrets,\u201d Obama said.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n<\/article>\n<p><\/span><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Stephen Colbert interviewed Barack Obama on his show in Chicago<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":2677,"featured_media":2599271,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_mo_disable_npp":"","fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-jww1wtxsb-1778055406792-e1778055448480.jpg?1778041074&amp;w=696","fifu_image_alt":"","footnotes":""},"categories":[],"tags":[5835,49703,6234,68227],"class_list":["post-2599270","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","tag-aliens","tag-executive-power","tag-interview","tag-presidential-legacy"],"fifu_image_url":"https:\/\/www.washingtonexaminer.com\/wp-content\/uploads\/2026\/05\/image-collage-jww1wtxsb-1778055406792-e1778055448480.jpg?1778041074&amp;w=696","_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599270","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/2677"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=2599270"}],"version-history":[{"count":3,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599270\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":2599274,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/2599270\/revisions\/2599274"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/2599271"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=2599270"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=2599270"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/www.conservativenewsdaily.net\/breaking-news\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=2599270"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}