The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Nancy Pelosi Greenlights Articles of Impeachment Against Trump | John Lithgow

Episode Date: December 6, 2019

Nancy Pelosi gives the go-ahead for impeachment articles against President Trump, Jaboukie Young-White consults the founding fathers, and John Lithgow discusses "Bombshell." Learn more about your ad-...choices at https://www.iheartpodcastnetwork.comSee omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

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Starting point is 00:00:00 You're listening to Comedy Central. If you're listening to this ad, it's no accident, unless you forgot to hit Skip. But for marketers, finding the right audience matters. We worked hard for your attention. But you don't need to for your business. With Paramount Ads Manager, now you can reach huge audiences on the hottest shows on TV. That's right, big shows aren't just for the big brands. You can get 30-second views on TV instead of three in their social feeds. Best of all, it's easy. Sign up today, be on TV tomorrow with Paramount Ad's Manager.
Starting point is 00:00:29 Go to AdS Manager. Paramount.com. That's ADS Manager. Paramount. to learn more. Finding great candidates to hire can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. You might get a lot of resumes, but not tha tha tha tha toip Recruiter. Zip Recruiter finds amazing candidates for you fast. And right now you can try it for free at Zip Recruiter.com. Slip Recruiters' smart technology identifies top talent for your roles quickly. Immediately after you post your job, Zip Recruiters' powerful matching technology starts showing you qualified people for it, and you can use Zip Recruiter's pre-written invite to apply message to personally reach out to your favorite candidates and encourage
Starting point is 00:01:09 them to apply sooner. Ditch the other hiring sites and let Zip Recruiter find what you're looking for, the needle in the haystack. Four out free at this exclusive web address.zip recruiter.com slash zip. Again that's zip recruiter.com slash zip.ruder, the smartest way to hire. December 5th, 2019. From Comedy Central's World News headquarters in New York, this is the daily show with Trevor Noah. Ears Edition. Welcome to the Daily Show. Thank you so much for the Daily Show.
Starting point is 00:01:50 Thank you so much for tuning in and thank you for coming out. Thank you for coming out. Welcome to it. Take a seat. Thank you so much for coming outuning in and thank you for coming out. Thank you so much for coming out. Welcome to it. Take a seat. Let's make a show.
Starting point is 00:02:09 Take a seat. I'm Trevor Noah. Our guest tonight is a legendary actor who plays Roger Ailes in a new movie about Fox News. John Liffko is here, everybody. So excited. Also on tonight's show, Jjjj Young White checks in on America's founders, the hot new Apple product is an actual Apple, and Congress goes to law school. So let's catch up on today's headlines.
Starting point is 00:02:38 Let's kick it off with Tick-Tock, ADHD in app form. Kids these days use it for everything, from making jokes to sharing stories and now even political activism. But now, a new viral TikTok has some people wondering if there should be a limit. How much is social media a part of some kids' life? Well, the case of the teenagers you're about to meet, the answer would seem to be, it's essential.
Starting point is 00:03:02 They were involved in a car crash and almost immediately posted a video to to to to to the video the video to the video to the video the video to the video the video to their their to their tip toe on toe on toeck toeck tipeck toeck, toeck, toeck, toa tipeckiiolk, tockiock, tockiock, toauguk, toauguk, toauguk, tipeckiock, tomk, tomk, tomk, tomk, t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t.aa, t.a, t.a, t.a.a. t. t. t. tipeauiauiauiauiau. t. t. t. t. t. t. tokeau. tokeau. tokeau. tokeau. were involved in a car crash and almost immediately posted a video on the popular app, Tick Tock. Believe it or not, these teens are recording the aftermath of a bad car accident that happened only moments earlier. You can see the cracked windshield, and then they got camera ready, making a video that they posted on the popular TikTok app-Tock app, lip-syncing while waiting for police. What this shows is where young people have their priority. Yes. That they thought it was more of a priority to make a video.
Starting point is 00:03:33 Okay, I'm just going to say this straight up. This is how you know you don't have immigrant. You don't have immigrant parents. Because if you crash your parents car and your parents is an immigrant, forget making a Tick-Tock, you'll be writing your will. Like immigrant parents are the only ones who would show up to that crash and be like, did my son survive? Be like, luckily he's fine.
Starting point is 00:03:55 Unluckily he's fine, huh? But I mean, I guess this is just what kids in the social media generation do. Like there's no situation that they don't think think of think of think of think of think of think of think of think of think of thin thin thin thi their their their their their their their the in the social media generation do. Like, there's no situation that they don't think of turning into viral content. Like, if the movie taken came out now, Liam Nieson's daughter would probably make a Tick-Tock under that bed. Yeah, she'd be like, you had a bad day. It's going where bad.
Starting point is 00:04:20 All right, and speaking of Carrex, the Trump administration. Every day. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th, th. th, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. thi. thi. th. th. thi. thi. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. That's is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is, is th. That is th. That is th. That is th. And, is th. th. th. thi. thi. thi. thi. the. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. th. th. thi. the the the t. the the the t. tha. the Trump administration, every day, it feels like President Trump says something that causes outrage. He's called countries in Africa's shitholes. He's declared that he's in love with Kim Jong-un, and last week he said he was way cuter than baby Yoda, which is insane. But sometimes it's easy to forget that while Trump is loudly offending people. His administration is quietly affecting people. Nearly 700,000 Americans are now in jeopardy of losing their food stamp benefits under
Starting point is 00:04:51 a new Trump administration regulation. The new regulation makes it more difficult for states to waive a requirement that able-bodied adults without children work at least 20 hours per week. It's part of the Trump administration's efforts to cut the supplemental nutrition program otherwise known as SNAP. The administration says the new rule aims to encourage those receiving SNAP to get a job. Okay, this is just horrible man. You're gonna cut food stamps to people and you're saying it's because you want to inspire them to get jobs? Like that's only going to make it harder to get a job. How are you supposed supposed supposed supposed supposed supposed supposed to to to to the the to to to to the the to to to the the to to to the the to to to to the the to to to to to to the the to to to to to to to to to to to their. their. to to to their their. their their. to to their. to to to their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their te. tttttoo. tttoo.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s.s. too.s.s.s.s. too. too. too. t inspire them to get jobs? Like, that's only going to make it harder to get a job.
Starting point is 00:05:26 How are you supposed to make a good impression at an interview if you're hungry? Huh? The person's going to be like, so well, why do you want this job? Because I need to eat, bitch. And also, to do this during the Trump's worldview is twisted to everyone else. Like, I bet when Trump watched 101 Dalmatians, it was a sad movie about a woman who couldn't get a coat. And you know what I also find interesting? Honestly, what I find interesting?
Starting point is 00:05:53 Is that you always have politicians who take services away from poor people because they claim it'll inspire them to become better. But then when it comes to big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big big to big to big big big to big to big to big to their their their their the all of a sudden their attitude changes to, we have to help out these oil companies and these farmers. They need our support. And you're like, well, what about poor people? Yeah, I guess we could give poor people to the oil companies. Let's try.
Starting point is 00:06:13 Yeah, we could try it. Right, and finally, if this news has worried about losing your food stamps, and you just want to stock-up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up up, to, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, and, to, to, to, and, and, to, to, to, to, their, their, their, their, their, their, and, and, and, and, their, and, their, their, and, their, and, and, their, and, their, and, and, and, their, and, their, their, their, and, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, to their to their too, their too, their their their their their their their their their their. their, their. new food that'll keep for a while. A new type of apple is hitting supermarkets this week, and if you buy some, they might still be good for next year's holiday apple pie. The Cosmic Crisp, reportedly, could keep for more than a year in storage. The apple is a cross between the enterprise and honey crisp apples, and it apparently gives them a higher shelf life while still holding their naturally sweet flavor. And they are resistant to browning th brown brown brown brown brown brown brown thap brown thap brown th, th, th, the the the the the the the the the their their their their their their their their their their their their thui thu-a, thoom. th. th. thi. thi. th. A th. And, and th, and th, and th, and th, and th, and th. And if th. And th. And, and th. And, and th. And, and th. And, and th. And, and th, and th, and th, and th, th, th. And, th. And, their, their, their, their, their, their, thi. their, thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. theeea. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi naturally sweet flavor, and they are resistant to browning. Okay, what? They invented a new apple that can last for a year? Why do we even need new apples?
Starting point is 00:06:54 They're already too many apples, okay? We got so many apples out there, we need white people to pick them. That's too many. We don't need fancy new apples that don't go bad. You know what we need? We need fancy new oranges that know how to peel themselves. That's what they need to invent. Yeah, because the ones we have now, by the other time you're done peeling them, your fingers look like you strangled Ernie to death.
Starting point is 00:07:19 And then orange isn't that's great as a fruit. I mean, half of it is just that white stuff you're trying not to eat. You know how I know oranges are shit? They named orange. It's just a color, yeah. Someone took a bite and they were like, you don't deserve an identity. So we don't need new apples, we need new oranges. And yeah, that's it for the headlines. Let's move on. Start-top story. Impeachment. It's like a juice cleanse for the Oval Office.
Starting point is 00:07:52 We're getting closer and closer to the fateful vote. So, let's catch up on the latest developments in our ongoing segment, the magical, wonderful road to impeachment. This morning impeachment took yet anotho to impeachment and the way the black thanks. That's probably presidential harassment. This morning impeachment took yet another major step forward when Nancy Pelosi, speaker of the House and sober Lucille Bluth gathered up all the flags she could find for a major announcement.
Starting point is 00:08:23 House Speaker Nancy Pelosi announcing to the country and to the world that articles of impeachment against President Trump will proceed. Pelosi telling the American people that Trump has left the U.S. Congress with no choice but to move forward. Sadly, but with confidence and humility, with allegiance to our founders, and a heart full of love for America. Today, I am asking our chairman to proceed with articles of impeachment. Oh my God, oh my God!
Starting point is 00:08:53 They finally proposed articles of impeachment. I mean, I knew when they reserved that hearing room that this would be it, but you never know until it really happens. Oh my God, I'm so happy for you guys. Now, Pelosi's announcement comes a day after the latest impeachment hearing, where legal scholars were brought in to give their opinions on impeachment. And most of them agreed that D.J.T.T. needs to GT needs to GFO. The three experts invited by Democrats arguing that the president's conduct regarding Ukraine is exactly what the founders had in mind when they wrote impeachment into the Constitution. President Trump's conduct, as described in the testimony and evidence,
Starting point is 00:09:35 clearly constitutes impeachable high crimes and misdemeanors under the Constitution. If we are to keep faith with our Constitution and with our Republic, President Trump must be held to account. If what we're talking about is not impeachable, then nothing is impeachable. Wow. If this is not impeachable, then nothing is impeachable. Most of us thought that sounded powerful, but Trump probably thinks that just means he can do whatever he wants. Yeah, he heard that and he was like like, and thiiiiiiiiii, thinks that just means he can do whatever he wants. Yeah, he heard that and he was like,
Starting point is 00:10:05 yay, nothing is impeachable. I can do anything. Look at me. I'm running around with scissors. La la la la la. The scissors cut me. The scissors work for the three constitutional experts called by the Democrats testified yesterday that Trump's actions were like super impeachable.
Starting point is 00:10:31 But according to the Republicans on the committee, these people weren't saying this because they're constitutional scholars. No, they were saying it because they're drinking Trump haterade. Could I begin just with a show of hands, how many on the panel actually voted for Donald Trump in 2016? I don't think we're obligated to say anything about how we cast our ballots. Just show up hands. The gentleman may ask the question. The witnesses don't have to respond. How many of you supported Donald Trump in 2016? Show of hands.
Starting point is 00:11:02 Not thank you. Not an indication of an answer, sir. Okay, can we just agree that people in power should never be asking anyone who they voted for? Yes. Thank you. That's not part of a healthy democracy. There's a reason there's a curtain on the voting booth. It's so you can cost your vote in secret and then shower afterwards, okay? And also like the sly way the congressman was interrogating the panel, you know?
Starting point is 00:11:31 I felt like I was watching a scene with Christoph Valtz. So just by a show of hands, how many of you actually voted for Donald Trump? We're all friends here. Come on, come on, you can tell me. And Republicans, Republicans didn't just say that these law professors were biased. No, they took it one step further and went after their credentials. We had one professor who just absolutely fictionalized what the president said to meet her own statement.
Starting point is 00:12:03 And then another said he was so reluctant to go to impeachment when his tweets from day one nearly have been, he wants to go full speed ahead. So all I got to say is, if you love America, mamas don't let your babies grow up to go to Harvard or Stanford Law School. What? Mamas don't let your babies go to Harvard or Stanford? That took a weird turn. No, because like now I like to imagine that there is some family in the south where a mother just found a Harvard acceptance letter that her daughter hid under the bed. She's horrified. She's like, what is this Mary Lou?
Starting point is 00:12:45 Is this an acceptance letter to Harvard? It's like, Mama, I know you want me to go to Princeton, but this is my dream, Mama? What's the point of living? If I can't go to the Kennedy School of Government, Mama? How dare you? How dare you upset your mama like this, what else are you hiding from me? Well, Mama, I'm also gay. I don't care if you're gay. Love is love. You can love whoever you want, as long as they didn't go to Harvard.
Starting point is 00:13:10 And sleep. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. Thank you. My new one-man play, Annie, get your degree will be off Broadway in two weeks. Thank you. So basically, that's what happened.
Starting point is 00:13:28 Yesterday was a hearing with constitutional scholars that took us one step closer to impeachment. All of it was pretty standard, except for one moment that got everybody talking. And it was when one of the scholars made a joke that backfired hard. One of the three scholars that Democrats called to testify had to apologize for mentioning the president's 13-year-old son during her testimony. Republicans blasted Stanford law professor Pamela Carlin after she tried to make a point
Starting point is 00:13:57 that Mr. Trump does not have the same powers as king. The Constitution says there can be no titles of nobility. So while the president can name his son Baron, he can't make him a baron. When you invoke the president's son's name here, when you try to make a little joke out of referencing Baron Trump, that does not lend credibility to your argument. It makes you look mean. I want to apologize for what I said earlier about the president's son. It was wrong of me to do that. No, Professor, what were you doing? You were brought in for your legal expertise
Starting point is 00:14:31 not to try and make jokes. The C and C-SPAN doesn't stand for comedy. It stands for, Christ, this is boring. And look, I'm not saying the professor had bad intentions, but just as a rule, don't drag Trump's underage son into politics, especially when you've got these two dead-eyed jimokes to make fun of. I mean, seriously!
Starting point is 00:14:52 Look at these two! Look at these two! They look like the world's most affordable personal injury attorneys. Look at them. They look like failed clones of Celino and Barnes. Like, they look like they run a strip club by the airport. And not the classy one, the other one with the bed bug problem.
Starting point is 00:15:13 Why don't go after them? So look, those are the highlights from yesterday's impeachment hearings. And after the break, we'll be talking to our own legal expert who knows exactly what the the their their their their their their their their their their.. after the break, we'll be talking to our own legal expert who knows exactly what the founding fathers would have wanted. We'll be right back. Finding great candidates to hire can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. You might get a lot of resumes, but not enough candidates with the right skills or experience. But not with Zip Recruiter. Zip Recruiter finds amazing candidates for you fast.
Starting point is 00:15:49 And right now you can try it for free at Zip Recruiter's smart technology identifies top talent for your roles quickly. Immediately after you post your job, Zip Recruiters powerful matching technology starts showing you qualified people for it. And you can use Zip Recruiters' pre-written invite to apply message to personally reach out to your favorite candidates and encourage them to apply sooner. Ditch the other hiring sites and let Zip Recruiter find what you're looking for, the needle in the haystack. Four out of five employers who post on Zip Recruit to get a quality candidate within the first day. Try it for free at this exclusive
Starting point is 00:16:25 web address ziprecruter.com slash zip. Again that zip recruiter dot com slash zip. Zip recruiter the smartest way to hire. It's been said that nice guys finish last but is that really true? I'm Tim Harford host of the cautionary podcast, and I'm exploring that very question. Join me for my new miniseries on the Art of Fairness. We'll travel from New York to Tahiti to India on a quest to learn how to succeed without being a jerk. We'll examine stories of villains undone by their villainy and monstrous self-devaring egos and will delve into the extraordinary power of decency. We'll face mutiny on the vast
Starting point is 00:17:14 Pacific Ocean, blaze a trail with a pioneering skyscraper and dare to confront a formidable empire. The art of fairness on cautionary tales. Listen on the IHart radio app, Apple podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. When the House brought in legal scholars yesterday, they were there to answer one basic question. When the House brought in legal scholars yesterday, they were there to answer one basic question. The four law professors who testified brought history lessons to the hearing with talk of American founding fathers and British monarchs. We're looking back at it right now to say, what did the founding fathers envision
Starting point is 00:17:59 about this country that we are now in. We find actually it fascinating to look back at the founding fathers and the definition of impeachment and what it means because it really does matter. This morning's hearing is meant to answer some basic but very important questions. What is impeachment? When is it justified? to try to this whole thing? It's like you're about to have sex and then you're like, give me one second, baby. Siri, what is vagina? This is not the time.
Starting point is 00:18:31 But that's what yesterday was all about. Democrats and Republicans each brought opposing experts on to determine whether or not the founding fathers would have impeached Donald Trump. So for more on this, let's turn to our very own constitutional expert. Chibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibibib. to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to their th, th. to th. to th. to to th. to th. th. to th th th th th th th th th th. th. th. th. th. th. th. tho the the the the the the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. tho. the the's turn to our very own constitutional expert, Jabuki Young White, everybody. I was actually surprised to find this out, but you are an expert on the founding fathers. Oh, no, I'm not. I just told you that so I could get on TV. Yeah. I was, I'm not.
Starting point is 00:18:59 Wow, that's actually really disappointing. Wow, that's actually really disappointing because I was hoping you could tell us if the founding fathers would have wanted Trump to be impeached or not. Trevor, the truth is that's impossible. You can't guess what the founding fathers would do today based on what they wrote back then. The world is just so different now. Well, that's interesting. So you, are you saying that Americans of today should apply their own principles instead of thiiiiiiii. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi, thi, th. thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, thi, thi, thi, tho, tho, tho, tho, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the, the, the, thi, the, to, the, to to to to to theeeeeei. toei. to toeei. to toei. thei. thei. the. the. the.. So you are you saying that Americans of today should apply their own principles instead of asking what the founders would have wanted? No, mm-mm. I'm saying we should still ask the founding fathers
Starting point is 00:19:32 directly. Which is why I have my crystal ball. Oh wow, so wait, are you a medium? Um, no I'm usually a small, but I think... I don't know. I don't know. Oh wow, so wait, are you a medium? Um, no, I'm usually a small, but I think... I don't know. It's unique, I can't tell. I'm at the bowl, are you gonna... Oh, yes, yes, sorry, concentrate. Okay. Spirit of George Washington.
Starting point is 00:20:02 What do you think of impeaching the president? Oh, wow. Okay. Okay, all right. What is he saying? What is he saying? He's saying America is not a monarchy. We don't want a king. He's saying that we must honor our democratic traditions.
Starting point is 00:20:17 Okay. Now he's saying the N-word. Not even like angry. I just don't think he has another word for black people. Oh, okay, I think we got off track with him. Jabuki, is there another founding father we could talk to? Okay, okay, I'm gonna contact Thomas Jefferson. He wants to speak to me. He thinks I'm his grandson. Okay. Hello, Trevor.
Starting point is 00:20:42 . Hello, President, President Jefferson. America needs your guidance. What do you thiiiiiiiiiiiii???? thiiii? thi? thi? thi? thi? thi? thi? thi? thi? thi? thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. th. th. thi. thi. I thi. We, th. We' th. We' th. We' th. We' th. We' th. We' th. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We. We, th. We, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. the. the. th. the. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th president Jefferson America needs your guidance. What do you think should happen with president Trump? America stay true to your principles Follow your heart. Don't hide yourself in regret. Just love yourself in your set. You're on the right track baby. We were born this way Born this way No, Chibuki. That makes no mistakes. I thought you were born. this way. No, Chibuki, come. God makes no mistakes. I thought you were going to take... We were born this way. I thought you were going to take...
Starting point is 00:21:12 This way. Seriously. We were born. This way. weren't listening to Lady Gaga, dude. Well, maybe if they did, we'd be in better shape right now. I'm just- No, Chibuki Young White, everyone. We'll be right back. You're just wasting my time. You're a TV show.
Starting point is 00:21:30 Finding great candidates to hire can be like trying to find a needle in a haystack. You might get a lot of resumes, but not with zip with the right skills or experience. But not with Zip Recruiter. Zip Recruiter finds amazing candidates for you fast. And right now you can try it for free at Zip Recruiter's smart technology identifies top talent for your roles quickly. Immediately after you post your job, Zip Recruiters' powerful matching technology starts showing you qualified people for it. And you can use Zip Recruiters' pre-written invite to apply message to personally reach out to your favorite candidates and encourage them to apply sooner.
Starting point is 00:22:11 Ditch the other hiring sites and let Zip Recruiter find what you're looking for, the needle in the haystack. Four for free at this exclusive web address, ziprecruter.com slash zip.ziprecruiter.com slash zip. Zip recruiter, the smartest way to hire. It's been said that nice guys finish last. But is that really true? I'm Tim Harford, host of the Cautionary Tales podcast, and I'm exploring that very question. Join me for my new miniseries on the Art of Fairness. We'll travel from New York to Tahiti to India on a quest to learn how to succeed without being a jerk. We'll examine stories of villains undone by their villainy and monstrous self-devaring
Starting point is 00:23:06 egos and will delve into the extraordinary power of decency. We'll face mutiny on the vast Pacific Ocean, blaze a trail with a pioneering skyscraper and dare to confront a formidable empire. The art of fairness on caution Cautionary Tales. Listen on the IHart Radio app, Apple Podcasts, or wherever you listen to podcasts. Welcome back to the Daily Show. My guest tonight is a Golden Globe Emmy-Antoni Award winning actor who plays Roger Ailes in the new film, Bombshell.
Starting point is 00:23:49 John, let's go. Thank you so much. Such an honor to have you on the show. Welcome to the Daily Show. And congratulations on what many people are just describing as a stellar performance in the new movie, Bombshell. This is one of those films where I think a lot of people are going to be shaken up. Because a lot of people, most people know Fox News, even around the world. tho tho people, thoo tho the. th. Wow, th. Wow, tho tho tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, thi thi thi thi thi thi that that, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, wow, thi. Wow, tho, tho, wow, tho, tho, th. Wow, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi. Wow, thi, thi. Wow, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi. Thank, thi. Thank, thi. Thank, thi. Thank, thi. Thank, thi. Thank, thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thii. thii. thiii. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. tha, tha, think a lot of people are going to be shaken up because a lot of people, most people know Fox News, even around the world. You know, a lot of people don't know the man behind Fox News, Roger Ailes. Ail, a lot of people have referred to him as a genius of television, but then over time we learn that he was also a sexual predator in the workplace.
Starting point is 00:24:41 You're playing this character who's charismatic by many accounts but at the same time extremely evil. Is that difficult to convey to people? Well, it was it, it was wonderfully written. Charles Randolph created this amazing character. He didn't create it. Roger Ailes created the character. Right. But he presents it in an extraordinary way. The movie is a 16-day period in which karma just caught up with Roger Ailes and washed him away. So you had to, I had to sort of figure a way to present all these sides of this man.
Starting point is 00:25:19 He was, he had a volatile temper. He had a raucous sense of humor, he was deeply insecure, and yet he was very scary and tyrannized his people. Right. They were, the movie does an amazing job of just showing how so many different women responded to him. Some of them were scared of him, some of them succumbed to him, some of them resisted him, but some of them were very devoted and loyal to him. Some of them were scared of him, some of them succumbed to him, some of them resisted him, but some of them were very devoted and loyal to him. It really is interesting because you see how different people respond to the
Starting point is 00:25:54 same, you know, predatory force, you know, and I guess part of it, part of it was because of Roger's power he could make or break somebody's career. He could define what you could or could not do in the world of news, you know? When you're reading up on Roger Ailes and when you're preparing to play this character, like where did you even find information on him? Because he was notoriously secretive. Well, the most interesting thing I did, I've tracked down an old friend of mine who had actually worked as his producing partner in the 1970s when Ailes was in his mid-30s and at the beginning of his career as a media consultant and this friend of mine, Stephen Rosenfield, he revealed a completely
Starting point is 00:26:38 different Roger Ailes. He said, this is something that nobody sees now. The fact that this man was kind of a terrific company. He could make you laugh. He was even tough on his very conservative political consultancy clients because they were too conservative and didn't have enough empathy. I mean, I was so astonished to hear this. I couldn't wait to get to the set and tell Jay Roach, our director, about it. Any time you play, I mean, I sort of embrace the role of the villain of the piece.
Starting point is 00:27:13 It's a movie very much about the women of Fox, particularly these three extraordinary actresses, Charlies, Nicole, and Margo, who... it is their movie, and they play very much in reaction, in to to to to to to to to to to to to to to the the the it is their movie and they play very much in reaction to Roger and I sort of accepted the role of the sort of malevolent villain, but you can't approach a character like that. You have to approach a villain's character like any character with empathy, find out what is it that drives him. It's interesting you say that because that sometimes is the reason that the reason that that the that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the their tha tha their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their thiiiiiiiiiiia.ea.eauuuiau.eauiau.eau.eauiau.eauiau.eauiauia.ea.e's interesting you say that because that sometimes is the reason that these men are able to do what they do in society is because they know how to reveal their empathy to people
Starting point is 00:27:53 in select moments in time. You know, and I think without doing that, you don't tell the real story because it becomes a caricature. Yeah, well, the movie puts an audience sort of on guard. It's, in a way, my own performance, I sort of tempt them to have sympathy with the devil, and it's a very disorienting feeling. Right.
Starting point is 00:28:17 This is a man who is loathed by so many people. So I look, I just simply tried to find the things that people loved about him. My great, my great asset was Connie Britton, playing Beth Ailes, his wife, who was completely devoted him, protected him completely. So in the story, her great crisis was discovering that all of this was true and being disabused and disillusioned by her husband. I mean, these are big, high stakes, emotional stories of sort of Shakespearean scope.
Starting point is 00:28:51 And because it's about a gigantic institution like Fox News, which has a lot to do with our entire culture. Yes. As I say, the stakes are monumentally high. It's interesting that you say that, you know, because you're somebody who people have known and loved for a very long time, and like many performers, you have kept your politics to yourself for the most part.
Starting point is 00:29:14 You know, you, a lot of people have chosen to say, hey, the art will speak for itself, and then I will privately vote and I will cost my ballots. But in the age of Donald of of you have become outspoken about what you don't like about him and why you don't, you appreciate this administration. In fact, you even wrote a book, you know, you illustrated this book called a Dumpty, right? And that over there. It's really just a book, you know, of all the, well, you know, we... It's interesting because it's verse as well.
Starting point is 00:29:47 Why did you choose to write it in that way? Is it to mock? Is it too, like, what was it, how you process the world we're living in? Well it is true. The age of Trump has drawn me out politically, as it has done a lot of people. But I'm an entertainer, how do I to this by just finding the funny? The way you do, the way Stephen and John Oliver do. I mean, to me, you're my great heroes these days. Oh, no, you're kind.
Starting point is 00:30:14 Because you, you, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, I mean, you have found a brilliant way of taking your own reactions, your own political reaction to this, the reality, and making, I, and, I, and, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way the way the way the way the way the way the way the way the way the way the way the way, the way the way the way the way the way the way the way the way the way the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way, the way of taking your own reactions, your own political reaction to this, the reality, and making it into something that is both an entertainment and exposing the truth. This is my version of that. They are dog-roll poems. They're as funny as I could possibly make them.
Starting point is 00:30:44 And yet, there's an awful lot of anger in there. And it's, this is, there are 33 poems in it. Each one of, the subject of each one is one of the amazing cast of characters from the Trump administration. Most of whom are gone by now. Right. Yeah, I mean, I was, I was intrigued because, I mean, in the time it took me to read the sca the Right. Yeah, I mean, I was, I was, I was intrigued because, I mean, in the time it took me to read the Scaramucci poem, he was in and out of the White House. Right, exactly. That, that is...
Starting point is 00:31:09 I mean, people are started like, oh my god, I completely forgot about Tom Price. Right. And, John Kelly, these people, they just disappeared from view. And, uh, but I mean, I'm an they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, they, th. th. th. th. th. that, that, that, th. th. th. th. th. That, th. That, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, th. That, th. th. th. th. that, that, th. that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that that, that that that that that that that that, that, that, that, that, this has become a mini little history lesson on what we've lived through for the last two years. You know what? But I mean, I'm an actor and I respond to amazing larger than life characters. Look at them all. And I have my way of skewering every one of them. You do a fantastic job.
Starting point is 00:31:42 Not just in the book, but in the movie as well. Thank you so much for being on the show. Thank you, Trevor. Really wonderful having you. The book, Dumpty is available now. Bombshell opens in New York and Los Angeles December 13th and will be in theaters nationwide December 20th. John Lithgow everybody. The Daily Show with Cover Noa, Ears Edition.
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