Bruce Springsteen calls political landscape ‘harrowing’ on special Late Show With Stephen Colbert

Bruce Springsteen described the US political landscape as ‘harrowing’ on Monday during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.

The rocker, 72, was promoting his book and podcast Renegades, both of which he produced in conjunction with President Barack Obama, 60, and was asked by Stephen, 57, about the book’s introduction. 

Stephen said: ‘You say these are treacherous times with much at stake, with everything at stake. I agree with you, but what do you mean about that, specifically. I mean, it’s harrowing’, while Bruce echoed: ‘Oh, it’s harrowing’. 

Despite his concerns about the political landscape, he conceded that the promise of young people fighting for their rights is what ‘gives hope’.  

Harrowing landscaping: Bruce Springsteen described the US political landscape as ‘harrowing’ on Monday during an appearance on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert

Bruce went on: ‘Do you want Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Ron DeSantis and our ex-fearless leader deciding the fate of the American experiment?’

Stephen asked how he keeps his hope up and Springsteen replied that he has to be a ‘fighting optimist’, as he said: ”There was an attempt to overturn a free and fair election. It failed’. 

He said he remains optimistic because he has young kids and he has to because the other choice is ‘unthinkable’.

Bruce went on: ‘My kids were out at George Floyd and Black Lives Matters protests. Seeing the diverse group of young people in the streets the day after the election. You know, it’s a cliché, but that’s what keeps me optimistic…

Springsteen and Obama have paired up now to produce a podcast and forthcoming book, 'Renegades: Born in the USA'

Springsteen and Obama have paired up now to produce a podcast and forthcoming book, ‘Renegades: Born in the USA’

‘I think there’s a great generation of young people coming up who will be interested in protecting American democracy and things like the fundamental right to vote…

‘All of which has been a sort of an endangered species at the moment, so, anyway, that’s my hope’. 

Renegades is a companion book to a series of podcasts by Bruce and Obama. Bruce detailed: ‘It was the president’s idea. He called me. I thought he had the wrong number!’

In conjunction with the release of the project, the former President revealed that his wife Michelle told him to spend more time with Bruce to reflect on his ‘failings and flaws.’

American experiment: 'Do you want Marjorie Taylor Greene, Matt Gaetz, Ron DeSantis and our ex-fearless leader deciding the fate of the American experiment?,' Springsteen asked

Famous rocker: The 72-year-old rocker was promoting his new book Renegades about his podcast with President Barack Obama, 60, and was asked by Stephen, 57, about his introduction in the book

Obama said during a CBS interview on Monday that as he was getting to know singer-songwriter Bruce Springsteen, his wife said to him, ‘you need to spend more time with Bruce.’ ‘I said, “Well, why is that?”’ Obama recounted.

She says, “You know, he understands all his failings and flaws as a man, and you don’t seem to understand as well just exactly how messed up you are.”‘

The rocker and the former president reflected on how they both see themselves as outsiders. Springsteen warned that many people will be left feeling disaffected by technological and social changes and Obama said that change is happening ‘too fast’ for many in the US.

Bruce said: ‘And Donald Trump was, you know, he had the cynicism and the carny ability to play on that part of our weakness, you know?…

‘I think we’re going to be in a lot of trouble if you can’t find a way to engage a lot of people who feel disaffected. Whether it’s by technological change, whether it’s by the post-industrialization’.

Classic song: Springsteen during his visit on the CBS talk show also performed his song The River

Classic song: Springsteen during his visit on the CBS talk show also performed his song The River

‘Bruce is right,’ Obama said. ‘You end up having, on the one hand, change happening very rapidly, too rapidly for a big portion of the population. For another portion of the population, it’s like, ‘You know, how long are we gonna keep having to defer this dream?'”

Bruce also promoted the upcoming release of The Legendary 1979 No Nukes Concert that features him performing with The E Street band. 

During his visit on the CBS talk show, he also performed his song The River.

In conjunction with the release of the project, the former President revealed that his wife Michelle told him to spend more time with Bruce to reflect on his 'failings and flaws'

In conjunction with the release of the project, the former President revealed that his wife Michelle told him to spend more time with Bruce to reflect on his ‘failings and flaws’