S3·E3 Senator Bernie Sanders, Caitriona Balfe, The National

Episode recap

The third episode of the third season of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert continues the program’s blend of political commentary, celebrity interview, and live music. Hosted by Stephen Colbert, whose style is noted for satire and comedy, the episode opens with a conversation with Senator Bernie Sanders. During the interview the senator addresses recent developments in American politics and provides insight into the themes of his newly released book, Guide to Political Revolution. The discussion remains focused on the senator’s perspective on current political issues and the motivations behind his latest publication.

Following the political segment, the show welcomes actress Caitriona Balfe, best known for her role in the historical drama series Outlander. In her interview, Balfe talks about the series, offering commentary on its narrative direction and her experience portraying the lead character. The conversation stays centered on the show’s production and Balfe’s involvement, without extending into unrelated topics.

The episode concludes with a musical performance by the indie rock band The National. The group delivers a rendition of “Day I Die,” a track from their album Sleep Well Beast. The performance is presented in the show’s typical live‑music format, allowing the band to showcase the song’s arrangement and lyrical content as recorded on the referenced album.

Throughout the hour, Stephen Colbert interjects his trademark humor, linking the political interview, the entertainment discussion, and the musical set with his characteristic commentary. The episode’s structure adheres to the series’ established format of alternating between topical dialogue and cultural segments, providing viewers with a concise overview of contemporary politics, a glimpse into a popular television series, and a live rendition of a contemporary song. The content of the episode is limited to the three main components: Senator Bernie Sanders’ discussion of recent politics and his book, Caitriona Balfe’s talk about Outlander, and The National’s performance of “Day I Die” from Sleep Well Beast.