Stephen Colbert Interviews Barack Obama in Prerecorded Segment at Future Obama Presidential Center

Stephen Colbert interviewed Barack Obama on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert in a prerecorded segment that aired Tuesday night. The conversation took place at the yet-to-open Obama Presidential Center in Chicago, Illinois, which opens to the public on June 19th.

Colbert’s interview with the former president comes a little over two weeks before the final episode of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, scheduled to air on May 21.

Washington Examiner reported that the two men reflected on a previous fundraiser they both attended, at which Obama gave Colbert permission to call him by his first name, Barack. “Well, I haven’t done it yet. I have never actually tried it out,” Colbert said.

“I don’t know. ” He began, “It’s wonderful to see you again, Bara–,” before stopping. ” The pair discussed Obama’s background and upbringing in Chicago. Colbert quizzed Obama on Chicago local cultural traditions before turning to more serious subjects.

But what I want people to understand is that there was this extraordinary journey this country took to get to that point, and I was an episode in that,” Obama said. The two discussed Obama’s legacy as president, the importance of race in his election, and how his election shaped the country’s story. ” Obama answered that there were powers he followed even though they were not law.

“The White House shouldn’t be able to direct the attorney general to go around prosecuting whoever the president wants prosecuted,” he said. ” Obama continued, “Two of the core principles of a democracy. We can survive a lot, bad policy, funky elections, there’s a bunch of stuff that we can overcome.