Seth Meyers makes some good points about Donald Trump and Russian election meddling
Over the weekend, President-elect Donald Trump's casual "dissing" of the Army-Navy football game was overshadowed by reports that the CIA has firmly concluded that Russia interfered with the presidential election to help Trump reach the White House, Seth Meyers noted on Monday's Late Night. Russian agents reportedly hacked emails of both parties, but were suspiciously selective in which ones they leaked.
"So they only released the Democrats' emails, not the Republicans' — although to be fair, what could possibly be in the Republican emails that was more embarrassing than what their candidate was saying out loud in public?" Meyers asked. "Donald Trump is a hacked email come to life. 'Did you hear? Donald Trump made fun of the disabled.' 'In a private email?' 'No, into a microphone in an arena.'" Meyers noted that the RNC said it wasn't hacked and ridiculed Trump's assertion that he won a landslide in the Electoral College, then reviewed Trump's previous public doubts about the intelligence community's belief that Russia hacked the election — and Trump's alternate explanations. "A 400-pound guy at his home in New Jersey? Is he actively trying to frame Chris Christie?"
It can be healthy to take anonymous claims from intelligence officials with a huge grain of salt, so "we need a full investigation and the results to be made public," Meyers said, but Trump could also allay suspicions by repudiating Russia's involvement or at least not publicly questioning U.S. intelligence agencies. Instead, he is suggesting Russia is blame-free, filling his Cabinet with people with close Kremlin ties, and skipping intelligence briefings, explaining Sunday on Fox News that he's "like, a smart person" so doesn't need regular briefings. "Here's the thing about smart people: They don't go around telling people they're smart," he said, citing Stephen Hawking as proof.
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.
"We're about to enter a potentially dangerous period," Meyers said, laughing for some reason: "A president with a weird affinity for authoritarians and dictators appointing plutocrats to his Cabinet and fighting with America's own intelligence agencies. I don't see how Trump could get away with all this — unless he finds a way to distract us all for the next four years." So.... Watch below. Peter Weber
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.
-
The Spanish cop, 20 million euros and 13 tonnes of cocaine
In the Spotlight Óscar Sánchez Gil, Chief Inspector of Spain's Economic and Tax Crimes Unit, has been arrested for drug trafficking
By The Week UK Published
-
5 hilarious cartoons about the rise and fall of Matt Gaetz
Cartoons Artists take on age brackets, backbiting, and more
By The Week US Published
-
The future of X
Talking Point Trump's ascendancy is reviving the platform's coffers, whether or not a merger is on the cards
By The Week UK Published
-
Jussie Smollet conviction overturned on appeal
Speed Read The Illinois Supreme Court overturned the actor's conviction on charges of staging a racist and homophobic attack against himself in 2019
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Quincy Jones, music icon, is dead at 91
Speed Read The legendary producer is perhaps best known as the architect behind Michael Jackson's 'Thriller'
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
OJ Simpson, star athlete tried for murder, dead at 76
Speed Read The former football hero and murder suspect lost his battle with cancer
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Momofuku's 'Chili Crunch' trademark uproar
Speed Read The company's attempt to own the sole rights has prompted backlash
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Kevin Hart awarded Mark Twain Prize
Speed Read He is the 25th recipient of the prestigious comedy prize
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is Downton Abbey set to return for a final film?
Speed Read Imelda Staunton reveals that a third movie may be in the pipeline
By Adrienne Wyper, The Week UK Published
-
'Oppenheimer' sweeps Oscars with 7 wins
speed read The film won best picture, best director (Christopher Nolan) and best actor (Cillian Murphy)
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
'Rust' armorer convicted of manslaughter
speed read The film's cinematographer Halyna Hutchins was shot and killed by actor Alec Baldwin during rehearsal
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published