WATCH: The Daily Show pits Fox News against fast-food workers

John Oliver pits Fox vs. fast-food workers

(Image credit: Daily Show)

last updated 11 January 2015

Around the U.S., many fast-food workers are striking for higher wages. But they aren't finding much sympathy from Fox News pundits and journalists, says John Oliver at The Daily Show. And it's clear — and predictable — where Oliver's sympathies lie.

Oliver starts out noting economic forecasts that say raising the minimum wage will be good for both fast food companies and their low-wage workers — while also highlighting the fat profits companies like McDonald's are booking these days. Then he turns to Fox News analysts, running a series of tightly edited clips of Fox personalities saying unkind or demonstrably silly things about fast-food workers.

Neil Cavuto at Fox Business Network, for example, talks about how his stint at a fast-food joint at age 16 — at $2 an hour — was considered good work in 1974. Oliver points out that the average age of fast-food workers today is 28, and that in 2013 dollars, Cavuto started out earning almost $9.50 an hour, or $2 more than today's minimum wage.

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In the next segment, Oliver steps back from hitting Fox News and takes aim at the media in general, with a special jab at MSNBC's Chris Matthews. This gist of this portion of the show is: Can't the political press wait until at least September, when Jon Stewart gets back, to start covering the 2016 presidential race? The answer is no, and Oliver bows to the inevitable: Correspondent Jessica Williams, in New Hampshire, covering Hillary 2016:

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.