If the Trump administration fails to achieve its ambitious goals during its first 100 days in office, it will no doubt continue to blame the so-called “deep state,” an idea that was first introduced by conspiracy theorists like Alex Jones and Roger Stone but has since infiltrated the increasingly paranoid White House itself.
“You know who has a bad case of the Mondays this Tuesday?” Stephen Colbert asked during tonight’s Late Show monologue. “The Trump administration, because apparently paranoia has seized the Trump White House. I’m surprised, because I thought Russia was going to seize it.”
Helping to define the term “deep state” for his viewers, Colbert said he thought it was “what you achieve after doing three bong hits and watching Planet Earth.” But, “in fact, it’s a permanent national security apparatus that is pulling the strings behind the scenes.”
Mocking the meager precautions reportedly taken by some staffers to avoid being spied on by nefarious intelligence officials, Colbert said, “Even if there’s a vast government conspiracy out to get you, they’re never going to bug two phones.”
“I think this paranoia is just the frustration every new administration has with Washington, D.C.,” the host continued. “You went to work for Trump because you wanted to tear down the government. Now you have to deal with it. Now you are the government.” Colbert compared the situation to a dog who “spent his whole life chasing a car” and “now he has to drive the car.”
“We’re not happy about it either, by the way,” he said. “Remember, we’re in the backseat of a car being driven by a dog now.”