Watch The Daily Show mangle Obama's State of the Union speech
Stewart and co. muffed the details of the SOTU — but it was still pretty funny
Jon Stewart started out Tuesday night's Daily Show by sheepishly (indirectly) acknowledging that, because the show was taped in the afternoon, he hadn't watched President Obama's State of the Union address, the big story of the day. He tried to get around this by noting that Obama had released a three-second Vine video preview on Monday, which Stewart said is just as effective as the pointless SOTU: "The state of the union is bleaugh! May God continue to bless blaugh!"
Stewart was so impressed with his SOTU-by-Vine idea, he proposed it for the Republicans' "awkward response speech," as well as the Tea Party response and the after-speech punditry. His mash-up of awkward moments from the SOTU responses by Gov. Bobby Jindal (R-La.), Gov. Mitch Daniels (R-Ind.), and Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) is pretty funny, but this year's official GOP response from Rep. Cathy McMorris Rodgers (Wash.) was probably the best of the Obama presidency — a disadvantage of taping before the actual event.
I don't know what the Daily Show's excuse is for suggesting that Obama plans to unilaterally raise the minimum wage, though. Noting the futility of expecting anything to pass through Congress, Stewart said that he is sympathetic to Obama's desire to govern through executive action — "the most auto-erotic form of governance." But the one executive order Stewart focused on, raising the minimum wage to $10.10 for a tiny fraction of the workforce — people hired under new government contracts — he willfully got pretty wrong.
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
Before we pick nits, though, the interlude about how this SOTU marks the beginning of the "f--k-it stage of his presidency," is probably pretty accurate. And Stewart's "f@ck it list" of Obama's executive orders is pretty good:
Here's where things got a little strange, though. Stewart, saying he's a little uncomfortable with Obama's "executive order thing," turned the show over to Samantha Bee for a segment about the pluses and minuses of raising the minimum wage nationwide — something the Daily Show has explored before, and something Obama can't (and doesn't propose to) change unilaterally. Bee did a fine job making financial commentator Peter Schiff look silly and cold-hearted, but the segment seemed a little warmed-over and unmoored from current events:
Before interviewing comedian Louis C.K., Stewart brought out comedian Lewis Black for his recurring "Black in Black" look at the news. The news, in this case, was the upcoming Winter Olympics in the balmy Russian resort town of Sochi. Black wasn't impressed with the venue, the security situation, the U.S. Olympic uniforms, or the statement from Sochi's mayor that there are no gay men in town. There are a lot of bleeped-out words. Watch:
For Louis C.K. fans, here's Stewart's interview with the comedian, on to promote the release of his 15-year-old film, Tomorrow Night:
Sign up for Today's Best Articles in your inbox
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
As a non-Daily Show bonus, here's Louis C.K.'s romp with Jerry Seinfeld in Comedians in Cars Getting Coffee. Cheers:
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
US election: who the billionaires are backing
The Explainer More have endorsed Kamala Harris than Donald Trump, but among the 'ultra-rich' the split is more even
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
US election: where things stand with one week to go
The Explainer Harris' lead in the polls has been narrowing in Trump's favour, but her campaign remains 'cautiously optimistic'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Is Trump okay?
Today's Big Question Former president's mental fitness and alleged cognitive decline firmly back in the spotlight after 'bizarre' town hall event
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
The life and times of Kamala Harris
The Explainer The vice-president is narrowly leading the race to become the next US president. How did she get to where she is now?
By The Week UK Published
-
Will 'weirdly civil' VP debate move dial in US election?
Today's Big Question 'Diametrically opposed' candidates showed 'a lot of commonality' on some issues, but offered competing visions for America's future and democracy
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
1 of 6 'Trump Train' drivers liable in Biden bus blockade
Speed Read Only one of the accused was found liable in the case concerning the deliberate slowing of a 2020 Biden campaign bus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published