Who is Mike Johnson? Stephen Colbert has the answer … maybe
By Matt Moore
![WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 25: Newly elected U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) delivers remarks after the House of Representatives held an election at the U.S. Capitol on October 25, 2023 in Washington, DC. After a contentious nominating period that has seen four candidates over a three-week period, Johnson was voted in to succeed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who was ousted on October 4 in a move led by a small group of conservative members of his own party. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images) WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 25: Newly elected U.S. Speaker of the House Mike Johnson (R-LA) delivers remarks after the House of Representatives held an election at the U.S. Capitol on October 25, 2023 in Washington, DC. After a contentious nominating period that has seen four candidates over a three-week period, Johnson was voted in to succeed former Speaker Kevin McCarthy (R-CA), who was ousted on October 4 in a move led by a small group of conservative members of his own party. (Photo by Win McNamee/Getty Images)](https://images2.minutemediacdn.com/image/upload/c_fill,w_720,ar_16:9,f_auto,q_auto,g_auto/shape/cover/sport/e8eef00c6cb238d2074da1b48628e93d6cff1874a451b32c12412ec8e4abf238.jpg)
Stephen Colbert‘s monologue on Wednesday night attempted to answer the number one question on the nation’s collective mind: Who is Mike Johnson? The Late Show did its best to introduce viewers to the newest Speaker of the House.
Johnson, a representative from Louisiana, managed to collect enough votes to win the Speaker of the House election on Wednesday. It came weeks after former Speaker of the House Kevin McCarthy was ousted in a maneuver led by Representative Matt Gaetz.
The House GOP then struggled to find an electable replacement. Stephen Colbert stood by and watched Steve Scalise, Jim Jordan, and Tom Emmer face varying levels of humiliation as they failed to become the new Speaker.
So who is Mike Johnson? Stephen Colbert’s monologue had the answer as the late-night TV host continues to have his finger on the pulse of the GOP’s most extreme members
Stephen Colbert’s monologue introduces Speaker of the House Mike Johnson
No Stephen Colbert profile of a politician would be complete without the traditional Late Show introduction. Colbert flashed Johnson’s portrait on the screen and added Johnson was “seen here ogling the photographer’s crotch.”
Colbert sounded less than impressed that Johnson managed to secure enough votes. “Finally a man who appeals to all factions of the Republican Party: the MAGA faithful, the social conservatives, the white nationalists, and the horny Beetlejuice goblins,” Colbert teased.
Instead, Colbert highlighted how every major news outlet ran a headline with some variation of “Who is Mike Johnson?” following the vote. But Colbert’s mocking wasn’t reserved just for Johnson.
After quipping that Johnson is “just another boring white guy in a suit and glasses,” Colbert went side-by-side with the Speaker’s image to reveal some similarities. “Am I Mike Johnson?” he asked to close out the monologue segment.
Everyone in the country will get to know Mike Johnson over the coming weeks and months. Stephen Colbert’s monologue may have just found its new favorite target.