Watch The Daily Show mock Fox News' crush on manly Chris Christie
Brit Hume and Bill O'Reilly pine for the days when tough guys like Christie could be men, says Jon Stewart
Jon Stewart started out Tuesday night's Daily Show by conceding that, while adding "-gate" onto every American political scandal is generally dumb, it actually kind of fits with New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's (R) growing traffic-jam problem. That said, Stewart didn't think much of the newest "Bridgegate" revelations: Complaints by a Democratic mayor that Christie canceled meetings after he failed to endorse the governor "may count as payback on Downton Abbey," he said, but not in New Jersey.
The dominant political narrative about Christie coming from this scandal is that he's a bully, Stewart said. But on Fox News, that's actually a point in his favor. Senior news analyst Brit Hume got the ball rolling, decrying the "bully" accusation as one more bit of evidence of the "feminized atmosphere" in U.S. politics. The feminized atmosphere of New Jersey? Stewart asked, in mock surprise. "The state whose chief exports are Axe body spray and lit farts?"
No, Hume's point was that "men today have learned the hard way that if you act like a sort of old-fashioned guy's guy," you'll pay the political price. Ah, Stewart said, "so bullies, thugs, and sexists are the real victims here." He then played a clip of Bill O'Reilly endorsing Hume's "analysis of the tough-guy factor in politics." O'Reilly added that he's a target of bullying accusations, too. O'Reilly and Hume shared a moment.
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.
Stewart wasn't moved. Listen to them, he said. Hume and O'Reilly are so nostalgic for the macho glory days "they're like the Wilford Brimleys of sexism." (Slate's David Plotz makes a different case for embracing Christie's rough brand of politics. Damon Linker has some thoughts on what it means to be a man, here at The Week.)
Stewart followed this up with a good question: If Fox News is so enamored of tough-guy Christie, why aren't they also in love with "the toughest politician out there, other than Chris Christie," Hillary Clinton? "You don't have to have a dick to be a dick," he added, for good measure. But Hillary supporters aren't much better on the subject than Hume, Stewart lamented.
The wild-card segment on Tuesday was truly wild. In it, Samantha Bee performed a sort of one-woman show re-imagining Fox News' panel show The Five as a romantic psychodrama involving a handful of its rotating cast of hosts. It ends with Bee writhing on the floor, heart (literally) in hand. Watch:
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
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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.
-
5 blustery cartoons about the Stormy Daniels testimony
Cartoons Artists take on gag orders, lurid details, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The Idea of You review: 'impossible escapism' starring Anne Hathaway
The Week Recommends Steamy romcom about a 40-year-old who falls for a boy band singer
By The Week UK Published
-
Crossword: May 11, 2024
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Arizona court reinstates 1864 abortion ban
Speed Read The law makes all abortions illegal in the state except to save the mother's life
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Trump, billions richer, is selling Bibles
Speed Read The former president is hawking a $60 "God Bless the USA Bible"
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The debate about Biden's age and mental fitness
In Depth Some critics argue Biden is too old to run again. Does the argument have merit?
By Grayson Quay Published
-
How would a second Trump presidency affect Britain?
Today's Big Question Re-election of Republican frontrunner could threaten UK security, warns former head of secret service
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Rwanda plan is less a deterrent and more a bluff'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By The Week UK Published
-
Henry Kissinger dies aged 100: a complicated legacy?
Talking Point Top US diplomat and Nobel Peace Prize winner remembered as both foreign policy genius and war criminal
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Last updated
-
Trump’s rhetoric: a shift to 'straight-up Nazi talk'
Why everyone's talking about Would-be president's sinister language is backed by an incendiary policy agenda, say commentators
By The Week UK Published
-
More covfefe: is the world ready for a second Donald Trump presidency?
Today's Big Question Republican's re-election would be a 'nightmare' scenario for Europe, Ukraine and the West
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published