Stephen Colbert boycotted the Republican National Convention last night

Stephen Colbert’s monologue explained why he skipped watching the Republican National Convention

Stephen Colbert didn’t do his job last night and he’ll be the first one to tell you that. The Late Show host would also tell you that he felt great about boycotting night three of the Republican National Convention on Wednesday night.

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert has been live all week following the RNC just like it did after the Democratic National Convention. Each night has been a progressively worse viewing experience for Colbert. He started by calling the first night a dark experience and followed that up by calling Tuesday night “slow and boring.”

Wednesday night wasn’t likely to capture Colbert’s attention, especially with Vice President Mike Pence headlining. But covering the event is Colbert’s job and The Late Show is the go-to show in these types of situations for late-night fans. That was not the case on Wednesday night.

At the top of his monologue, Colbert disclosed that he did not watch any of the RNC. Given everything else going on in the country, a political convention seemed inconsequential in Colbert’s eyes. He explained why he had no interest in hearing the GOP discuss a reality that simply does not exist.

Stephen Colbert argued the RNC has ignored the pandemic and social injustices

Stephen Colbert has made it clear that the Democratic Party and Republican Party have two very different views on what’s happening in the country right now. One side has infused the Late Show host with hope while the other has him counting up the ways President Trump has violated the norms of Democracy.

Colbert warns his audience not to ignore these acts of corruption or violations of the Hatch Act. He argues that ignoring reality is now the Republican Party’s philosophy as evident by the message of the Republican National Convention. For Colbert, the event has repeatedly ignored the reality of what’s going on in favor of a fictionalized one meant to demonize Joe Biden and Democrats.

So knowing all that, it made no sense for Colbert to tune in to night three of the RNC. The comedian knew he wasn’t going to hear anything different or thought-provoking. Instead, it was going to be more fearmongering. Colbert’s monologue pivoted to discussing how stoking fear can have dire consequences as evident by the shooting in Wisconsin during the Jacob Blake protests.

Colbert followed the lead of the Milwaukee Bucks and the NBA by doing something tangible in protest of what’s going on. Media coverage is the top priority for President Trump but The Late Show decide to put the spotlight not on the RNC but the connections between the shootings and the “fear fantasy” coming from the White House the past four years.

The monologue ends with Colbert arguing that more leadership has come from the NBA than the RNC. It’s a theme that has been consistent on The Late Show during the pandemic and the latest period of social unrest: moral leadership has to come from the people because it’s not coming from the president.

What did you think of Stephen Colbert’s monologue and his decision to skip the Republican National Convention last night? Share your thoughts in the comment section.