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that taste of tears. >> and, coming soon, departure updates from johnny cash! ♪ 13-hour delay ♪ >> announcer: it's "the late show with stephen colbert!" tonight: hearing today, gone tomorrow! plus, stephen welcomes: samuel l. jackson and clarissa ward featuring louis cato and the late show band! and now, live on tape from the ed sullivan theater in new york city, it's stephen colbert! ( cheers and applause ) ( band playing ) >> stephen: hey, there's my boy, right there! have a seat right over there, boy. ( cheers and applause ) ( band playing )

♪ ♪ ♪ ( cheers and applause ) proud of my boy! >> louis: right! bad mother honcho, there! >> stephen: hey, good to see you, good to see you, good to see you. welcome, everyone! one and all, down here, up there, all around the world. welcome! welcome, one and all, to "the late show." i'm your host, stephen colbert. folks-- i was-- ( cheers and applause ) i want you to know, we had every plan in the world to start tonight's monologue by talking about what i was going to talk about in tomorrow's monologue: the latest january 6th hearing. but we just learned this afternoon that the committee has postponed tomorrow's hearing, saying-- ( audience reacts ) no, it's for a good reason. "in light of hurricane ian bearing down on parts of florida, we have decided to postpone tomorrow's proceedings." that is understandable. we hope everybody in florida stays safe. please, if you can, get out of the storm's path. worst-case scenario-- ( cheers and applause ) worst case scenario?

tell ron desantis you are venezuelan. maybe he gives you a free plane ride to martha's vineyard. ( laughter ) ( cheers and applause ) >> louis: maybe. >> stephen: one event that will not be delayed is the mid-term elections, and things aren't looking great for republican senate candidate and vampire distracted... ( audience reacts ) okay, but how do you really feel? ( laughter ) and vampire distracted by your throbbing jugular... ( laughter ) dr. mehmet oz. dr. oz has been trailing in the polls for the whole race behind pennsylvania lieutenant governor and half-finished woolly willy... ( laughter ) john fetterman. recently, oz went on a right-wing podcast and pointed out that fetterman often wears hoodies and cargo shorts on the campaign trail, then tried to use those fashion choices to somehow attack the lieutenant governor. only, his insult didn't really come across as very insulting. >> when he dresses like that, it's not an accident.

he's kicking authority in the balls. he's saying, "hey, i'm the man, i'll show those guys who's boss!" >> stephen: yeah! ( laughter ) way to stick it to fetterman! by making him seem... cool? i tell you! i'll tell you, when fetterman dresses like that, he looks like a man you don't want to mess with, a man who knows what he wants. also, you have seen how huge he is? i just-- just think i would feel safe cradled in those burly, tattooed arms. ( laughter ) not long after that interview fetterman responded with this actual tweet, showing his new logo: "fetterman: kicking authority in the balls." ( laughter and applause ) that's how do you it, baby. >> louis: got to love it. >> tephen: that's how you run for senate. >> louis: ( kisses ) >> stephen: fantastic. that is fantastic. i don't know about authority, but he definitely just racked dr. oz in the nuts. ( laughter ) speaking-- speaking of people who should be kicked in the balls... ( laughter ) vladimir putin. his war against ukraine has been going so badly the last

week, he ordered a draft. this has been super unpopular, and to avoid it, a lot of russians are getting the hell out of dodge-ski, especially to neighboring georgia, resulting in a line of over 5,000 cars, that's at least ten miles long. and i'm told, we have footage from a helicopter. >> bob, traffic's pretty baked up along the georgian border-- so, if you're thinking of fleeing forced conscription, head out early and pack a snack. now back to sergei with sports-- permanently! i have a helicopter, and i am out of here! see ya, suckers! ( laughter and applause ) >> stephen: those who haven't managed to flee-- ( cheers and applause ) ivan-- ivan in the sky-ski, was that? those who haven't managed to flee are finding other ways out of service, because mobilized russians have been calling a hotline to ask how to surrender. we actually called that hotline this afternoon, and we have this recording.

>> stephen: and to get-- sure. ( cheers and applause ) >> louis: "the rise of gru." >> stephen: oh, yeah, "the rise of gru." >> louis: "the rise of gru." >> stephen: good movie. and i get why they want to preemptively surrender. check out this leaked video of a group of soldiers reportedly being told what to pack for the front lines. >> ( translated ): get your girlfriends and wives to get sanitary pads-- the cheapest pads, plus the cheapest tampons. you all know what the tampons are for? you shove it right into the bullet wound, and the tampon expands and applies pressure to the wound. >> stephen: tampons to plug gunshot wounds. that is awful. plus, so awkward to ask for. "ah, i've been shot! i've been shot! does anybody have a... tampon?" ( laughter ) ( cheers and applause )

go to the bathroom together. not everyone is fleeing russia. some folks are putting down roots, like n.s.a. whistleblower and grandson who showed up at the funeral dressed like that... ( laughter ) edward snowden. ever since leaking details of the n.s.a.'s domestic surveillance program, snowden has been living in exile in russia. well, yesterday, it was announced that he was granted russian citizenship. that is a rough bit of timing, bud. ( laughter ) "congratulations, new citizen. put right hand on potato and repeat after me: 'i,' state your name-- ( laughter ) 'i,' state your name, 'solemnly swear to immediately go to be exploded in ukraine.' here is passport and weapon-- sharpened tampon." ( laughter ) other people-- ( applause ) ( laughter ) true story. that's based on a true story.

( cheers and applause ) other people are choosing russian citizenship by force, because putin has made occupied parts of ukraine vote on joining russia in "sham" referendums. ( audience reacts ) and i'm being told we have a copy of that ballot. "should ukraine join russia? da? super da? or, d'ahhh i'm falling out of the window!" ( laughter ) very slippery floors. >> louis: slippery floors. you know. they'll get you. >> stephen: very slippery floors. a lot of bananas. >> louis: they'll get you. >> stephen: they eat a lot of bananas in the penthouse. according to one ukrainian mayor, the "get out of the vote" effort has been exactly what you think. they bang loudly, they ring the doorbell, they give people a ballot and point with their rifles where to put the mark. and of course, like all elections, it is being run by elderly volunteers. "ding-dong! hello, tavarech. here's your ballot. vote in the right way, or i'll pop a cap in your ass. ( laughter )

okay? all right, there's a bake sale down there, if you want to." staying overseas, in the u.k., buckingham palace has released king charles iii's official monogram design. take that, people who say the monarchy is an outdated institution that does nothing! they release monograms! ( laughter ) just in case-- ( cheers and applause ) very important. just in case you want uy the king of england thlauger ) we have it? take a look. okay, that's pretty good. it's classy. features the king's initial, intertwined with the letter r. "r" for "rex," latin for king. and "intertwined" for years of inbreeding. ( laughter ) we've got an update-- ( laughter and applause ) see, he wouldn't like it. he wouldn't-- ( cheers and applause )

it's a long story. we've got an update from outer space. last night, i told you about nasa's dart mission, which is a test to see if they could knock a planet-killer asteroid off-course and save the earth. they tried a mini-version of that on a space rock that wasn't presently threatening us, and guess what? the dart mission successfully slammed into the asteroid! there is the slam, right there. ( cheers and applause ) in your face! in your face, asteroid! planet... saved! we think. because even though it was a direct hit, it will take about two months for scientists to determine if the asteroid's orbit has changed. so, if this were a real emergency, i would be telling you folks, we may have saved the planet... we'll find out in two months. until then, there is only one thing to do-- spend time with those you love, and together, sign up for a free two-month trial of paramount+. ( laughter ) paramount+: we're all going to

die, why not? ( cheers and applause ) watch that "yellowstone." watch that "yellowstone." that's pretty fun. the mission was tricky. essentially, they hit a bullet with a smaller bullet that they shot ten months ago. but they nailed it, earning this joyful celebration of the moment of impact. >> three, two, one... oh my gosh! >> oh wow. >> awaiting visual confirmation. ( cheers and applause ) >> all right! >> we lost signal. >> we got it? ( cheers and applause ) >> and we have impact. a success for humanity in the name of planetary defense. >> whoo! fantastic. oh, fantastic. oh!

>> stephen: look at those happy nerds. ( laughter ) i'm so happy for them. that is lovely. quite an achievement. ( cheers and applause ) >> louis: so nice! very nice. >> tephen: and they hit their target twice! when they landed that double high-five. ( laughter ) this is a lot like what happens every night with the writers who work here at the late show mission control. here they are, watching a live feed of last night's opening monologue. >> he's setting up the joke. ten, nine, eight... seven seconds to punchline. five, four, three, two, comedy... >> stephen: the question asked most-- "do you want fries with that?" >> we have laughter! >> stephen: the answer is yes. ( cheers and applause ) and-- the joke landed! and in two months, we'll find out if it was funny. ( laughter ) we've got a great show for you tonight. my guest is samuel l. jackson, and cnn's clarissa ward.

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( cheers and applause ) >> stephen: hey, everybody, welcome back! say hello to louis and the late show band, everybody. ( band playing ) that's fantastic. ( cheers and applause ) that's fantastic. i love that version. >> louis: thanks, man, thanks. ( cheers and applause ) acoustic. >> stephen: that is beautiful, sounds fantastic. ( cheers and applause ) oh my goodness. what's going on? anything to say? thanks, everybody. please have a seat, everybody. oh, louis, oh, my friend. >> louis: oh, stephen. >> stephen: oh, my friend. we have such wonderful, wonderful guests tonight-- we always do, obviously. >> louis: obviously. >> stephen: i'm grateful for everybody that wants to come talk to this clown. but tonight, we have, from the cnn, their senior international correspondent clarissa ward is here tonight, amazing.

she goes everywhere, she does everything. ( cheers and applause ) >> louis: she's in the front, yeah. >> stephen: and, also, the legendary samuel l. jackson is here tonight. ( cheers and applause ) >> louis: whooo! >> stephen: fun fact-- the "l" stands for legendary. >> louis: did not know that. >> stephen: folks, i'm a bit of a tech head. ( laughter ) don't believe me? ask jeeves. and-- ( laughter and applause ) ( cheers and applause ) very good crowd. >> louis: it's a good crowd. >> stephen: one technology that i particularly love is ride-share apps. they are perfect for when you want to get to your destination, but you also want to put your life in the hands of a sleep- deprived stranger. it's been a difficult few years for industry leaders uber and lyft. they've lost billions of dollars and many drivers have quit. but now, new startups are emerging that promise to treat the drivers better, such as

alto, which gives them annual compensation; the driver's cooperative, which promises a share of the profits; and wridz, which gives 100% of the cab fares to the driver. ( cheers and applause ) hey, wridz? that's great, but maybe save just a little bit of that money for spell-check. ( laughter ) there is one new ride-share startup that has found a business model that ensures it'll keep all of its drivers happy. take a look. >> looking for a new ride-share app? >> car's almost here. >> uber? >> no. >> lyft? >> nope. i'm trying something new. >> mid-western dad for mark? >> introducing mid-western dad. the only ride-share app that guarantees to have no problem keeping our drivers happy. >> looks like we get to spend a little time together! >> because, let's face it: dads just love driving you around. mid-western dad is the only car service that comes exclusively to and from

airports, with the occasional stop at the hardware store. >> just got to grab something real quick. just needed some screws, but these babies were on sale! >> okay... >> it says he's approaching, but it's said that for ten minutes. >> can i hold your stop sign? ah, cool! >> with mid-western dad, you pay by putting up with fights with the g.p.s... >> what is with these google maps? >> i think that's your gmail app. >> oh, wow, singles in my area! >> ...rambling stories... >> my buddy dennis used to live around here somewhere. >> who? >> and, of course, steely dan. ♪ ♪ ♪ >> i think it's on third... >> yeah! >> (inaudible) >> mid-western dad! the only ride-share that tips you. >> here's 20 bucks. >> i can't take this. >> take it! you will need it in the city.

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prop 27 sends 90% of profits from online sports betting for up to 100% leak-free to out-of-state corporations in places like new york and boston. no wonder it's so popular... out there. yeah! i can't believe those idiots are going to fall for this. 90%! hey mark, did you know california is sending us all their money? suckers. -those idiots! [ laughter ] imagine that, a whole state made up of suckers. vote no on 27. it's a terrible deal for california. we win. you lose.

( band playing ) ♪ ♪ ♪ ( cheers and applause ) >> stephen: hey, everybody! thank you, louis. ( cheers and applause ) thank you, mr. lampley. welcome back, folks. ( cheers and applause ) ladies and gentlemen, my first guest tonight is an actor and one bad monday to friday. please welcome back to the "late show," samuel l. jackson. ( cheers and applause ) ♪ going to lay down my burdens down by the riverside ♪ down by the riverside ♪ down by the riverside going to lay down my burdens ♪ down by the riverside ♪

( cheers and applause ) >> stephen: look at that! >> that was incredible! yeah! >> stephen: look what we have here! ( cheers and applause ) >> stop! ( cheers and applause ) got a new band! >> stephen: there you go. >> oh, papa's got a brand new band. i like it. >> stephen: that's right! mr. samuel l. jackson, it's lovely to see you again. >> thank you! so lovely to be able to come back and do this again. >> stephen: i haven't seen you since-- in person. >> yes. >> stephen: we saw-- zoom, over a year ago was the last time we were together. >> exactly. >> stephen: this is so much nicer. >> yeah, it is. >> stephen: yeah, there is something ineffable, some micro-nutrient that get passed between two people when you're together. >> or-- well, you know, it's a whole, kind of-- the reason i'm here in new york and being back in front of a live audience and having the whole live thing happening? it's like, kind of awesome. ( cheers and applause ) >> stephen: yeah! how long--

( cheers and applause ) for those out there who don't know yet, those don't know, you are starring in "the piano lesson," written by the great august wilson. ( cheers and applause ) previews-- previews started last week. how are you feeling about being back on broadway? >> oh, it's amazingly energizing. i had forgotten... >> stephen: how long had it been? >> i think maybe seven years or so? last time i was on broadway, i was doing a play called "the mountaintop" with angela bassett, right before i did "django." ( cheers and applause ) so, i literally-- i literally went from being martin luther king to being steven, the most-hated negro in cinematic history. ( laughter ) after playing martin luther king. and, being back on broadway, you forget... i mean, i started here, i pounded the pavement, i did plays all the time. and you forget how energizing, and how you look forward every night to meeting all these new people, and their energy and what that does for you. >> stephen: when you have that opportunity to make that connection in a different way, and to express the character in

a different way? >> well, i'm playing a different character in this play. i originated this character 30-some years ago, at yale. >> stephen: wow. here we go. you were in this play. you played... >> i played boy willie. and john david washington is playing that character now. >> stephen: mm-hmm. >> and the character that i am playing now is this character, doaker, who was played by carl, who was a really good friend of mine at the time. >> stephen: so this is 1987. >> oh, yeah, long time ago. long time ago. >> stephen: up at yale. now, this was-- was this play still in development? was august wilson there working on the play with y'all? >> yes. we started previews at yale, yes, he would come in with new pages during the day and we would rehearse them and learn them and do them that night. which is kind of what we are doing now, but we're not learning new things, but we're still rehearsing, because we're in previews, which means we've got to go to rehearsal all day, and then we've got to do a show at night. so we're doing twice as many shows as we're going to do when the show actually opens.

so. >> stephen: what was his process like? because he's one of the greats of american theatre, of world theater-- what was that like, to work with him? >> well, you talk about the characters during the day-- and lloyd richards was directing it, who was the head of the drama department at yale when we were doing it. so, we developed the characters, we talked about them, we talked about the things that, you know, they wanted. what boy willie's goals were-- that was my character-- and what was going on in the play. what the piano lesson actually was, what it meant. and that was before we knew anything about, you know, generational wealth, or started talking about it as that, and what the play actually means, in terms of taking an heirloom, or something of value that belongs to a family, and turning it into something that is going to help the family down the line. and, if one person wants to keep it, another person wants to sell it-- to do that, who's right, who's wrong? so, that's the conundrum of the play.

>> stephen: as you do this play, do you think back to that young man who was doing it in 1987? like, do you approach a role differently than he did? >> yeah, i do. different character, different goals. ( laughs ) definitely different director. who-- >> stephen: for the people there who don't know, your director is an acclaimed actor, the first woman to direct an august wilson play on broadway. she just happens to be your wife, latonya richardson jackson. ( laughter ) >> yeah. ( cheers and applause ) yeah. exactly. >> stephen: is that-- what's it like? what's it like to be-- is this the first time you've been directed by your wife or has she directed you before? >> yes, well... in the theater, yes. ( laughter ) >> stephen: there's a lot of directing! >> not the first time i have been directed by her-- but, yeah, on stage, yeah, for sure. ( laughter ) but, she-- she has a vision that is amazing for this play. i have seen this play a lot, and it's never been done this way. she's the first person to approach the play from this

place that she wants to do it. and, it's about the piano and it's about this thing, it's about these people-- but, she's always insisted it was a ghost story, and she's made it one. >> stephen: wow! >> and it's kind of great. so, if you get a chance to see it, please come see it. ( cheers and applause ) >> stephen: can y'all leave that-- can you leave the work at the office, or does it follow y'all home? >> right now, it's following us home, because it's all day. you know, so. we talk about what happened at rehearsal, or she'll tell me what i need to do to facilitate somebody doing something else, or to stop doing this other thing that she doesn't like me doing. ( laughter ) >> stephen: here y'all are together, right there. how long have y'all been married? >> we have been married-- what is this, '22? 42 years. we got married in '82, yeah. >> stephen: 42, that's nice. ( cheers and applause ) >> but-- but we lived together ten years before we got married. >> stephen: so you have been together for 52 years, really? >> 52 years, yeah. >> stephen: here's a shot of

y'all... >> oh, yeah. >> stephen: that is a great shot. >> that is the beginning. that's back in college, yeah. 1972. ( cheers and applause ) >> stephen: did you guys meet in class? where-- where did y'all-- ? >> ( laughs ) well, the first time i saw her was, actually, i was on a plane going to memphis, to march with the garbage workers the day after martin luther king was killed. we were on a plane that robert culp and bill cosby rented to take these students to march with the garbage workers, so i saw her on the plane, and was like, wow, who's that? and then i didn't see her again for about six months or so after we locked the trustees in a building on the campus, and she was in that room-- she was in there too. >> stephen: did a take-over. >> so she was, like-- we took over, yeah, the trustee meeting. and then i didn't see her again for like two years, because i got kicked out of school and she didn't. ( laughter ) when i came back to school,

i went to register for the drama department and she was trying to sneak a production book in the professor's office. and he was looking out the window, talking to me, and she stuck it on the thing, and i saw her. and she's, shhh! she snuck out of the room. and he turned around and grabbed it and put a big "f" on it. and then i saw her that night, at the rehearsal, for the first time. and we've kind of been together ever since, yeah. ( cheers and applause ) >> stephen: that's lovely. that's lovely. we have to take a quick break. we'll be right back with more samuel l. jackson. stick around, everybody. ( cheers and applause )

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( band playing ) ♪ ♪ ♪ ( cheers and applause ) >> stephen: fantastic. hey, everybody! we're back here, with the young, the talented, samuel l. jackson. the-- as you said, the actor who is playing your original part, who-- he's john david washington. >> yes. >> stephen: and, what's it like to watch him do this part, that you did back then? and, do you give him any advice? any notes at all? >> first thing was, i was instructed, "never talk to john david about boy willie," so i have never had a conversation with him about that character. >> stephen: do you think he would like it, from you? >> oh, yeah! ( laughter ) oh, yeah, of course, yeah. >> stephen: the fact that you are not supposed to say anything

about this part, or this play, to him, and you're saying it on tv and he might be watching it right now-- are you breaking the rule right now? >> no, no, no, no, no! i'm not telling him how to do it! i'm not telling him what-- what boy willie's intentions are, or, you know, "at this point in the play, you're supposed to be, like, dah-dah-dah, and this part of the play, you do this." but to sit there and watch him-- i did boy willie a specific way because i was directed to do it that way. he's being directed to do boy willie another way. and to sit there and watch it is kind of breathtaking at times, because i say, "i never thought to do that." you know, i never thought to try that, and she has him doing something that is spectacularly moving and touching, in a way that i didn't do it, you know. and i love watching that. i love watching his growth, from the first day we stepped in the rehearsal room and moving around that room and being comfortable with the actors, and having that many words to say. when and if you have an opportunity to see this play,

this character talks the whole play-- the whole, whole, whole play. and i remember when i did it, by the time my character said to him, "boy willie, will you shut up!" the audience just, like, "yeah, please!" because it was that kind of play. but when i say it to him in this play, you know, the audience is really like, oh my god. you know, they're like-- they love him, so much, because they believe what he wants and what he's doing. and, i believe it. and i'm moved by it. and i'm sitting there just thinking, this is a great play to do every night. i'm sitting there enjoying the play and, you know, hoping that-- it's like, "oh-- oh, no-- did i miss my line?" ( laughter ) >> stephen: you become a spectator? >> i'm sitting there watching. "oh my god, it's quiet!" and you go-- >> stephen: i've done that. i've done that. >> "is it me?" >> stephen: i've done that before. i've been on stage, like, "this is going really well." >> yeah! yeah. and then it gets quiet-- and you go... "oh, wait a minute..." >> stephen: have you ever fallen asleep on stage? >> not on stage.

i have fallen asleep during a movie. >> stephen: what, camera's rolling and you're asleep? >> well, when i'm doing off-camera for the other actor. >> stephen: oh, i see. ( laughter ) and it gets kind of, like, is this as good as he's going to be? ( laughter ) >> stephen: thank you for being here. >> oh, my pleasure. >> stephen: "the piano lesson" is on broadway. >> please come, please come! >> stephen: samuel l. jackson, everybody. we'll be right back with cnn's clarissa ward. ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪ ♪

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♪ ♪ ♪ ( cheers and applause ) ( band playing ) ("down by the riverside") >> stephen: appropriate. hey, everybody, welcome back. folks, my next guest has been reporting from front lines across the world for over 50 years, now cnn chief international correspondent. please welcome back to "the late show," clarissa ward. ( applause ) ( applause )

>> this is so fun. i'm like flabbergasted by how much fun it is, i'm not used to having this much fun. >> stephen: no, no, you really aren't. this is the fourth time that we have done an interview. this is the first time you have been in person. it has always been on a battle field or a recent battle field or some tragic down fall some place. >> yeah. >> stephen: do you enjoy this more? >> this is almost more overwhelming. but i didn't fall over. that was my big fear. i was like i'm wearing heels. i'm not used to this. >> stephen: do you not wear heels in the field. >> no, not usually. >> stephen: it is trouble with the rubble. >> exactly, exactly. >> stephen: well, are you in town because the news emmys are coming. so you are nominated for three. congratulations for that. >> thank you. i've been perfecting my clap for when you don't win and you have to do the clap where you look

really for its other person. >> stephen: sure, that would be kind of entertaining if you were the one person who want. >> i think i might-- >> stephen: do it, just do it. okay. last week, let's gets to-- last week putin announced a partial mobilization. >> yep. >> stephen: and he is feigning this going in an orderly process. we have gotten report, possibly from you, i don't know. we have gotten reports that in fact there really is no planned, comprehensive plan to make this happen. what do we know so far about what is happening in russia? >> we know it say disaster. as you eluded to in your introduction to in your monologue, this is not seal team six, these guys being recruited to go there, a lot of them are drunks, a lot of them have no military experience. a lot of them are just ordinary young guys who have no desire whatsoever to go and fight and die in a war that they don't believe in. and it's really important for people to understand that a lot of russians i think have been pretty sanguine about the war in ukraine, as long as it stayed on their television sets.

>> stephen: putin wanted it that way. >> that is how he wants it. there is a reason he waited all this time before taking this step. because he understands that for the first time now, russians really get it. that everything they have built for the last 30 years is now in jeopardy. and it could be a whole generation before they will be able to rebuild their lives. and i have talked to friends in russia who are just sobbing because they understand that this is really crossing the rubicon. and it won't be the same again. and you are already seeing people protesting. and of course you then see this incredible, i mean machiavellian a approach to dealing with the protesters what is the sickest thing you can do to them, let's punish them by issuing draft summons, so people who are gets a rested in some of these protests in moscow are being then summoned to go and serve.

and are you seeing protests in other parts of the country. they deliberately zeroed in on parts of the country that are not ethnically russian. and that is deeply cynical and are you seeing a really strong response from people. >> when you say the people that you know from russia are looking at horror, the possibility that everything they built over up years could be gone, since the fall of the iron curtain, what does that mean that can it could be lost what could be lost in this for them is that putin has risked their national security, has risked their standing in the world, they get kicked out of the banking system, they had the ruble crumble. what is it they could lose if putin loses this war. you hit on the two central things. the big part of the social contract that putin made with the people as he rose was this idea of stability, coming out of the chaos of the 1990. and also self-respect and being able to hold your head up eye on the international stage. both of those things now have

effectively being corroded. qs now the referendum that putin has called in these breakaway regions in eastern ukraine, or supposedly breakaway regions of ukraine what is the upside for him for doing this? because it clearly appears to be a sham election at gunpoint, so no doubt will say it was 97% in favor. >> he already has. the results have come out. shocking news, guys. >> stephen: what is the result >> i believe it was 96%, 97%, 98%, and maybe like 95%. there were four different regions. but effectively what this is, this is a smoke screen for annexation so then russian can say all these parts of ukraine are now effectively part of russia. so any attack on these areas is no longer an attack on ukrainian territory, or even disputed territory. this is a direct attack on russia.

and thats why he came out and gave this sorted of very ominous warning about not being afraid to use nuclear weapons. >> stephen: how seriously. he says i'm not bluffing which san odd thing for someone to specially a world leader dealing with weapons that could destroy everything. from what you know of russia because you have a long relationship with that country. you were abc's chief correspondent for russia for years. should we-- is he bluffing-- bluffing. i thought hi more to that question. >> that is it. >> stephen: i don't know what is beyond that. >> i pray he is bluffing but no one should assume he is bluffing and everyone should be prepared for what happens if he is not bluffing. i have talked to hard-liners inside russia who support the use of, you know, potentially a tactical nuke, for example, because they say it is very important for russia at this stage to reinject fear into the battle space. >> stephen: and it would provide them enough time to get this mobilization going. because if it is you know, the chaos that you have described, then they need something to keep

ukrainians from advancing. >> the irony is none of this is likely, even the most extreme nuclear-- nukes, for example, none of that is going to fundamentally change the dynamic on the battle field. i think what russia is really hoping to do in the long run or certainly many analysts believe this, is they just want to keep this grinding and grinding and grinding for as long as they possibly can. because the one thing they are better at than most others is suffering. and so, they have a very high pain threshold. and they're really hoping that if they can maximize this, keep it going as long as possible, that they will start to see support waning for ukraine. what they haven't banked on and what i have been covering for 20 war i have seen over an over again, the people who win usually are the people whose hearts are in it the people who believe it, they feel it, they fight for it. >> stephen: let's talk about feeling and fighting. you've also reported from iran in the past.

what do you make of what is going on there with the protests in its streets and the question of the leadership, especially the women protesting in the street. >> it's extraordinary, the bravery of these women. ( applause ) i mean, next level. a 22-year-old woman is reportedly beaten to death for daring to show her hair. and this groundswell that you have seen, of women going out and pulling off their head scarves and demanding to no longer be second-class citizens, effectively, and risking everything-- ( applause ) their lives, their livelihoods, their security. and the idea of how frightening that is to these majority of geriatric men who have been rulin iran for four decades. now i'm never going to get a

visa. but it is an extraordinary thing to see. >> stephen: clarissa thank you so much for being here, good to see you. >> thank you. >> stephen: you can watch clarissa on cnn. her book is now available in paerback. clarissa ward, everybody. we'll be right back.

>> stephen: that's it for "the late show." tune in tomorrow! stick around for james corden. good night. captioning sponsored by cbs captioned by media access group at wgbh access.wgbh.org ♪ are you ready, y'all to have some fun ♪ feel the love tonight don't you worry, baby ♪ where you come from it'll be all right ♪ it's "the late late show!" >> reggie: ladies and gentlemen, all the way from inside an established estuary inside the