Late night hosts find the comedic upside in Biden's inflation woes and Trump's Jan. 6 beatdown
The Labor Department just revealed that consumer prices rose the most in 30 years last month, Seth Meyers said on Wednesday's Late Night. "Okay, how much more bad news is Biden gonna get? At the end of the month we're gonna find out the turkey he pardoned was at the Capitol on Jan. 6." Meanwhile, he added, "it was announced today that actor Paul Rudd is People magazine's Sexiest Man Alive, reclaiming the title he first received in 1938."
The Tonight Show's Jimmy Fallon news-smashed Rudd's new title, Adele's new song, the supply chain problems, and Arby's bizarre new vodka product. "Well, the holidays are coming up," and because of labor shortages, "malls are desperate to find Santas," he said. "Today, in fact, Macy's put out a bowl of whiskey outside the store like they were trying to lure a stray cat."
"Speaking of old fat men in red hats," former President Donald Trump's latest effort to escape accountability for the Jan. 6 riot was dashed when "a federal judge denied his attempt to withhold records from the Jan. 6 committee," Stephen Colbert said on The Late Show. "That is the worst denial for the former president since anytime he tried to hold his wife's hand," but "then the judge delivered the knock-out blow, writing 'Presidents are not kings, and plaintiff is not president," he added. "Damn, I have not seen such a brutal attack on an elected official since Jan. 6."
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.
"The last time Trump got a spanking like that was with a copy of Forbes magazine by Stormy Daniels," Jimmy Kimmel joked on Kimmel Live. "At this point Trump's lawyers are like the losingest team in history of any team ever." He brought out the Silver Lining Singers to look on the bright side of inflation, COVID-19, and other glum topics.
"Some critics are saying that America's inflation problems are President Biden's fault," but "almost every country in the world is dealing with this issue," Trevor Noah noted on The Daily Show. Whatever the cause, "this is a big danger to Biden politically, because inflation is one of the economic concepts that normal people actually care about." Roy Wood Jr. illustrated that point.
"It's rare that I celebrate happy things on this show," Samantha Bee said on Full Frontal. But "Biden's infrastructure bill is a major victory — it's the largest public works bill since Eisenhower created the interstate system. Incredibly, he built it all on his own. That man could not delegate."
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
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.
-
Spines and the rise of AI book publishers
Under The Radar New publishing venture has been roundly condemned by industry figures
By Chas Newkey-Burden, The Week UK Published
-
A Man on the Inside: Netflix comedy leaves you with a 'warm fuzzy feeling'
The Week Recommends Charming series has a 'tenderness' that will 'sneak up' on you
By The Week UK Published
-
Bread & Roses: an 'extraordinarily courageous' documentary
The Week Recommends Sahra Mani's 'powerful' film examines the lives of three Afghan women under the Taliban
By The Week UK Published
-
Linda McMahon, the former wrestling mogul tapped for Department of Education
In the Spotlight Longtime Trump ally set for nomination as secretary of the agency despite limited background in the field
By David Faris Published
-
Israel and Hezbollah agree to ceasefire
Speed Read Both sides accepted an agreement brokered by the United States and France
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
What will Trump do on Day 1?
Today's Big Question Presidents often promise immediate action, but rarely deliver
By David Faris Published
-
Democrats eye a new strategy after Trump victory
The Explainer Party insiders and outside analysts are looking for a way to recapture lost working-class support
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
Khan supporters converge on Islamabad
Speed Read Protesters clashing with Pakistani authorities are demanding the release of jailed former prime minister Imran Khan
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Prosecutor drops federal cases against Trump
Speed Read Special counsel Jack Smith requested to drop the charges against President-elect Donald Trump for his efforts to overturn the 2020 election
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
The winners and losers in Gaetz's rise and fall
The Explainer The implosion of Donald Trump's first pick to run the Department of Justice was part fluke, part feature and part forecast of the president-elect's incoming administration
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
State capture
Opinion We've seen this in other countries
By Susan Caskie Published