Hillary Clinton tells Stephen Colbert what happened with 'manspreading' Vladimir Putin
Stephen Colbert began his interview with Hillary Clinton on Tuesday's Late Show with the title of the book she is out promoting: "What happened?" Clinton said it was painful trying to figure that out, but she thought it a worthwhile endeavor so that what happened in the 2016 election "doesn't happen again." She said she was as candid as she could be about the mistakes she made, but also dove into misogyny, voter suppression, the "unusual behavior" of former FBI Director James Comey, and the Russians. "I believe so strongly that they think they succeeded in messing with our democracy," Clinton said, and she thinks they did, too.
Russian President Vladimir Putin didn't just want Donald Trump to win, she said, he wanted to destabilize and undermine American democracy, divide the country, and wreck its faith in its intuitions. "I think that they believe they had a good outing in 2016," she said, "and I think they will be back in 2018 and 2020 unless we stop them." Clinton said she's been told Putin also had a personal grudge against her, but she doesn't take it personally, then she gave a brief psychoanalysis of Putin's anger issues, insecurities, and problems with women.
The fact that she was a female secretary of state and potential president did "seem to get him a bit agitated," she said, and he showed his discomfort with "manspreading" every time they met. She did find one topic that warmed him up, however.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Colbert broke out the chardonnay for the second part of the interview. But first, Clinton tried to clear up some comments she made about the legitimacy of the election. "Nobody's talking about contesting the election, including me," she said, suggesting that if the various investigations find evidence of Trump's team colluding with Russia, people who don't appreciate that mobilize and vote, because the ballot box "is where we settle our political differences, and that's where it should be." You can watch what she felt Trump should have said at the U.N. instead of the "very dark, dangerous" speech he gave below. Peter Weber
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
'A speaker courageous enough to stand up to the extremists in his own party'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
How could the Supreme Court's Fischer v. US case impact the other Jan 6. trials including Trump's?
Today's Big Question A former Pennsylvania cop might hold the key to a major upheaval in how the courts treat the Capitol riot — and its alleged instigator
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 18, 2024
Cartoons Thursday's cartoons - impeachment Peanuts, record-breaking temperatures, and more
By The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published