Senator Elissa Slotkin doesn’t always get a chance to flex her comedic timing, but when she does, she makes it count. On The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, the Michigan Democrat brought a mix of charm, candor, and no-nonsense national security insight to the stage—along with a surprising family claim to hot dog fame.
Slotkin’s appearance began lightheartedly, with Colbert diving into the senator’s family history—specifically, her connection to the iconic Ballpark Franks and Nathan’s hot dogs. “We were allowed to eat other hot dogs,” she said with a grin. “We helped start Nathan’s.” Colbert, delighted, declared it a “hot dog empire,” and Slotkin gamely leaned into the bit, even discussing the Senate’s annual hot dog celebration on National Hot Dog Day.
But this wasn’t just a late-night cooking segment in disguise. Slotkin, a former CIA analyst who served three tours in Iraq, pivoted the conversation toward deeper issues—what it means to serve, and how that experience shapes her current work in the Senate.
When asked what intelligence analysts actually do, Slotkin emphasized the seriousness of her past mission: identifying terrorist networks and preventing attacks on U.S. forces. “Who are their leaders? How do they move money? How do they communicate?” she explained. “So that we can make sure they don’t attack us.” Slotkin also noted she carried a weapon and bunked with a CIA “seamstress” whose job was outfitting agents in culturally appropriate disguises.
But Slotkin didn’t just share war stories—she used her background to take a direct shot at the conspiracy-laden narrative of the “deep state.” “A lot of the guys at the CIA are wearing mom jeans and white sneakers on weekends,” she said. “They’re just cornfed Americans who want to help their country.”
She reserved pointed criticism for President Trump and former Rep. Tulsi Gabbard, who currently serves as Director of National Intelligence. Slotkin accused them of politicizing intelligence, particularly referencing the timing of Gabbard’s recent press conference just as the Epstein files naming the president were made public. “It is dangerous bull,” she said flatly.
On the topic of the war in Gaza, Slotkin didn’t flinch. Drawing on her experience in Iraq, she said the U.S. had a moral responsibility to ensure humanitarian aid reaches civilians. She noted a recent moment when a rabbi and a Muslim leader from Michigan jointly approached her about funding baby formula and clean water for Gaza. “Getting aid to children,” she said, “is an American value, a Jewish value, and a Muslim value.”
Slotkin also brought what she calls “alpha energy” to the conversation—something she believes the Democratic Party needs more of. It’s not about being macho, she explained, but about bold, gutsy leadership. She likened it to Michigan sports culture: “How are we going to get from the dark place we’re in through the tunnel to the light?”
Her final word on gerrymandering was just as unflinching. Calling out Trump’s efforts to redraw congressional maps every five years instead of ten, she didn’t mince words: “If he’s going to bring fire, I’m going to bring fire too.”
It was a rare late-night appearance that managed to be funny, personal, and urgent all at once. Slotkin may have brought the hot dogs, but she also brought the heat.
