‘It’s Their Damn Hormones,’ Colbert Alleges Sexism Amid Speaker Fight

The Late Show host Stephen Colbert tried and failed during his Tuesday show to use Republican infighting during the Speaker battle to play the sexism card by suggesting there was a double standard present.

Recalling the fourteenth and penultimate ballot, Colbert recalled, “After that, all pluperfect hell broke loose. A furious [Kevin] McCarthy got out of his seat, walked up the aisle, and got into a yelling match with [Matt] Gaetz.”

Advertising for a parodic show, Colbert moved on with an exaggerated McCarthy impression, ‘You can catch all the drama on the new Bravo hit: The Real House Guys of D.C.  No, no. No! uh-uh, I’m not here to make friends. Because I’m Kevin McCarthy, and no one will be my friend.’” 

While showing some C-SPAN footage, Colbert recalled, “then it got even dramatic-er, when McCarthy ally Mike Rogers approached the scrum and then– where it is, right here– and appeared to lunge at Matt Gaetz, and then was quickly pulled away.”

Colbert reacted to this confrontation with fake horror, “Oh, my god. I don’t know if men should hold political office. They’re just too emotional! You know what I mean? They’re just… hormones, I guess. I just– it’s just– it’s the damn– it’s their damn hormones.”

The point Colbert is trying to make is not literally that men should be banned for public office because of testosterone. He is trying to ironically suggest a double standard, arguing that less sophisticated people believe women are not as qualified because they are hormonal. Of course, he cannot point to anyone of any relevance to back up this accusation or rebut the obvious point that most people vote based off party label. As it is, the man who called Kellyanne Conway “Satan’s trophy wife” should hold off on accusing other people of sexism.

This segment was sponsored by Progressive.

Here is a transcript for the January 9 show:

CBS The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

1/9/2023

11:38 PM ET

STEPHEN COLBERT: After that, all pluperfect hell broke loose. A furious McCarthy got out of his seat, walked up the aisle, and got into a yelling match with Gaetz. Meeoowtch! Get a saucer of milk. 

You can catch all the drama on the new Bravo hit: The Real House Guys of D.C. 

“No, no. No! uh-uh, I’m not here to make friends. Because I’m Kevin McCarthy, and no one will be my friend.” Then– that was wine, that was a glass of wine–

LOUIS CATO: Now, I got to see it.

COLBERT: — then it got even dramatic-er, when McCarthy ally Mike Rogers approached the scrum and then– where it is, right here– and appeared to lunge at Matt Gaetz, and then was quickly pulled away. Oh, my god. I don’t know if men should hold political office. They’re just too emotional! 

You know what I mean? They’re just… hormones, I guess. I just– it’s just– it’s the damn– it’s their damn hormones.