[applause] the National Book awards are a huge part of that mission, and it is a thrill to be here with everyone tonight recognizing exceptional literature and increasing the visibility of books which are among the most powerful weapons we have against what has lately felt like an often hostile world. I think this past year has felt overwhelming and disheartening to many people. Its also felt exhausting for women, for people of color, for immigrants, for muslims, for the lgbtq community, for so many groups. To remain on the defensive in nearly every waking hour takes its toll. For some of us, books provide a welcome escape into someone elses world. For others they serve as a valuable resource for arming ourselves with indispensabling knowledge of history. But all books offer something we need so desperately right now; broadened perspective. Books allow us to view circumstances through the eyes of someone else. They cultivate empathy. They inspire action. They make us feel less alone an
Everyone to the 68 National Book award. [applause] like most people here tonight i have always been an avid reader and i come from a family of avid readers and i have birthed at least one avid reader, the jury is still out on the younger ones. As an only child and the daughter of two only children it wasnt uncommon in our house to find everyone in separate corners, each of us buried in a book. Huge nerds, you might have called us. Its a privilege to be in his room full of huge nerds. I feel right at home. My mothers father was a rare book dealer in chicago so the nerd gene goes back even farther in my family. One year there was a terrible fire and my grandfather store and the fire itself didnt reach the volume the fire hoses did. Water, water, everywhere. His whole inventory ruins and my grandfather felt he had no choice but to close up shop. My grandparents packed up and moved to the ozarks in the heart of missouri where my grandmother was from and they both were effectively retired a
Were not going to sit down and talk to you. Its now how we handle the government. Now refusing to end the government shut down. Thousands protest calling for immigration reform. Eight democrats from congress arrested. 200 others taken away by police. Thats the news at this hour. Consider this. Ill see you back here for the news and you can get the latest on al jazeera. Com. Congress and the white house throw political blows again. Two sides are further from a day than the day this all started. As the u. S. Comes closer than the brink of default. Hows it impacting other countries and an interest in a global scale. The nfl gets hit hard by a controversy. A denial on the science linking football with lasting brain damage. Well ask the authors of league of denial on how long the league has gone to save face. Welcome to consider this. We begin with week two of the government shut down and the more heated the rhetoric than in washington. The tough talks served up by president obama and House
cheers and applause stephen whooo welcome to the report, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much. Stephen Stephen Stephen Stephen Stephen. Stephen thank you so much, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for being here, in here, out there. cheers and applause . Ladies and gentlemen, colbert nation, one and all, it is the final night of my epic, superb owl coverage. cheers and applause . Im proud to say, folks, i am proud to say it has brought a lot of new viewers to the show mainly owls. At least now someone is watching our 1 a. M. Rerun. Folks, im afraid what i learned this week isnt all sunshine and rainbows because theres an ominous cloud wafting over football. A new push to allow Medicinal Marijuana use in the nfl. Should the nfl reexamine its Marijuana Policy . Were willing to take a look at medical marijuana if there is proof that it could help some of our players, i think thats something that we should explore. Stephen you cant have marijuana in football. No those players will
cheers and applause cheers and applause stephen whooo welcome to the report, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much. Stephen Stephen Stephen Stephen Stephen. Stephen thank you so much, ladies and gentlemen. Thank you so much for being here, in here, out there. cheers and applause . Ladies and gentlemen, colbert nation, one and all, it is the final night of my epic, superb owl coverage. cheers and applause . Im proud to say, folks, i am proud to say it has brought a lot of new viewers to the show mainly owls. At least now someone is watching our 1 a. M. Rerun. Folks, im afraid what i learned this week isnt all sunshine and rainbows because theres an ominous cloud wafting over football. A new push to allow Medicinal Marijuana use in the nfl. Should the nfl reexamine its Marijuana Policy . Were willing to take a look at medical marijuana if there is proof that it could help some of our players, i think thats something that we should explore. Stephen you cant have marijuana in football. N