On tonight's Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert took stock of the latest issues hurting the campaigns of the Republican candidates. Newt Gingrich is dealing his ex-wife's open marriage claim, Rick Santorum never shared a couch with anyone but his wife, Mitt Romney didn't really win in Iowa, and things got so bad for Rick Perry that he bowed out this morning. Even Colbert has some problems: the Jon Stewart-lead Super PAC rolled out an ad attacking him yesterday. Who could have known that an off hand remark about Rosa Parks could ever be used against him?

On tonight's Colbert Report, Stephen took a little time to delve into Mitt Romney and his evasive answers to questions about releasing his tax returns. The guy made nearly $375,000 from speaking engagements last year which is almost as shocking to Stephen as Romney getting speaking engagements at all. As usual, Stephen gets the last laugh as he appears to be leading the Republican field with a 36% approval rating, one percentage point ahead of Romney.

On tonight's Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert addresses allegations of coordinating with his Super PAC brought forth by Buzzfeed's Ben Smith. Smith found some inconsistencies in the timing of yesterday's Report and the Super PAC's most recent ad, which presented eerily similar ideas. But those inconsistencies were easily explained away with something Smith didn't account for: Colbert and Jon Stewart have ESP. Which is really useful, until one of them burns themselves on the stove.

Now that Stephen Colbert is officially exploring the possibility of running in South Carolina, his Super PAC, under the direction of Jon Stewart, has begun running attack ads. The first spot targeted Mitt Romney, who was likened to Jack the Ripper, and may have had an exaggeration or two. But that's not on Colbert's shoulders, after all, like all the other candidates, he isn't coordinating with the Super PAC.

Tonight's Colbert Report featured a major announcement. Spurred on by polling at five percent in South Carolina, Stephen Colbert has passed his Super PAC to buddy Jon Stewart and is forming an exploratory committee for a possible Presidential run. As long has Colbert and Stewart don't coordinate in any way, it's all perfectly legal. It doesn't seem like it should be, but it is.

Stephen Colbert just isn't in love with the idea of Mitt Romney becoming President of the United States, which his victories in Iowa and New Hampshire obviously foreshadow. But, that doesn't mean Colbert can't get used to the idea. When Stephen and Andy hash it all out over cosmos, Stephen learns that, sooner or later, everyone has to settle.

The rest of the Republican nominees took Mitt Romney to task over his "I like firing people" remark, but Stephen Colbert is standing behind old Mitt. On tonight's Colbert Report, Stephen made his clear his feelings about Romney's words: they were taken out of context in a way that was completely different from Romney taking President Obama's words regarding John McCain out of context in November. The point is this: as long as Romney is happy firing people, Stephen Colbert is happy to see them fired.

On tonight's Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert spoke passionately about his love for Rick Santorum and took great offense to the way the media has been portraying Santorum's supposed "black people" tongue slip. Colbert is just as sure that Santorum didn't say "black" as is he is in Santorum's belief that a father in jail is better than two lesbian moms. Because when it comes to parenting, Rosie O'Donnell is clearly eclipsed by Charles Manson.

For Stephen Colbert, the best part about Rick Santorum's near victory in Iowa this week was that it lead to Santorum picking up the endorsement of George Will. Will likes Santorum because he finds him fun and believes that "supporting Santorum feels like a lark." You know what, Will might have a point but I think most of us knew that Santorum was a joke a long time ago.

With such a close race in the Iowa Caucuses last night, the cable news networks had to stay live into the wee hours of the morning. This proved to be a little much for some of them, as Stephen Colbert made clear on tonight's Colbert Report. Fox News' Bret Baier lost his ability to subtract simple sums and CNN's Erin Burnett had a little trouble mastering the network's new "flick" technology. All in all, it really makes a guy miss Tim Russert's trusty white board.

On tonight's Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert paid homage to the late great Paul the Octopus and introduced his own invertebrate prognosticator, an incredible snail by the name of Megyn Shelly. Amazingly, she was right on the money: she chose no one.

From "holiday trees" in state capitols to store greeters saying "Happy Holidays" to mall Santas asked to lower kids' expectations, Stephen Colbert has been shocked and appalled by the War on Christmas. But thankfully all is not lost because the Scottsdale Gun Club, of Scottsdale, AZ, is having people take pictures with Santa and their choice of gun. Santa, guns and your family, isn't that what Christmas, nay America, is really about?

On tonight's Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert re-examined the Republican race now that Christine O'Donnell has endorsed Mitt Romney. It's a great excuse to run down the list of the other big names who have thrown their support behind the candidates. Except for Rick Santorum who is endorsing himself.

Trump fired himself as moderator from his own debate and this incurred that wrath of Stephen Colbert. Because they are "best friends," this allows Colbert to call Trump a "boob" and "the product of a sex between a tangelo and old dish rag." That's the thing about best friends — they know you better than anyone.

On October 30th, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert will host dueling rallies on the National Mall in Washington, D.C. to Restore Sanity and Keep Fear Alive in America. Gawker.TV will be there, and we're inviting you to join us.

Members of Congress used to love appearing on The Colbert Report, but apparently that's over. Says an aide to a previously embarrassed Colbert guest, the experience "is like herpes. It never goes away, and it itches and sometimes flares up."

We won't know if our coverage of the Whoomper conspiracy will win a Pulitzer Prize for another 10 months or so. But at least it's earned the approval of Stephen Colbert. Tonight he dug into Obama's music video "cameo."

Good news for fans of satirical news shows starring Jon Stewart and/or Stephen Colbert: Comedy Central have signed the two through the 2012 presidential election. But what about... [frightening music] The Conan O'Brien Factor?

Tonight on the Colbert Report, Stephen Colbert interviewed Wikileaks founder Julian Assange. We were wondering how Colbert would handle a subject as serious as a video showing 12 people being killed. Well, he handled it pretty seriously.

Stephen Colbert got an iPad and he is very excited to use it. To prepare salsa. Do not click if you are one of those weirdos who always worries about "voiding the warranty" on their gadgets. (What's with those guys?)