Rachel Maddow talks ratings and the prospect of Republicans doing the right thing on The Late Show

Colbert made the claim that Maddow’s methodical, evidence-based approach to the news of the day (also called “actual reporting”) is the reason for MSNBC’s resurgence. Likening Maddow’s method to watching her spread auto parts out on her lawn and then then meticulously and then clearly assemble a car, Colbert asks Maddow if it’s at all possible that the myriad, rapidly multiplying suspicious things being learned about Trump and his crew might turn out just to be a big heap of nothing in the end. Maddow, admirably measured in response, said that it’s possible the “million contacts” between the Trump campaign and Russia uncovered to this point could wind up being “a bizarre series of coincidences.” Which is some of that admirable, actually “fair and balanced” journalistic restraint that, during a Trump administration at least, apparently translates into big ratings.

As to whether, should the worst about Trump-Russia turn out to be true—you know, that an American politician conspired with a foreign power to steal a presidential election—the Republicans in Congress would put country over party and seek justice, Maddow, again, took a deep breath and stated that she believes they would. “We have to decide if we’re that country or not,” Maddow stated, perhaps optimistically, “and I don’t think we are.”