Seth Meyers is worried that Jeff Sessions is coming for your legal marijuana
The confirmation hearings for President-elect Donald Trump's Cabinet nominees began on Tuesday, and while the hearing for Homeland Security nominee John Kelly was relatively uneventful, the confirmation hearing for Sen. Jeff Sessions (R-Ala.), Trump's nominee for attorney general, was long and unusually spirited, considering that the nominee was being grilled by his colleagues. Seth Meyers took a closer look at the Sessions session on Tuesday's Late Night, before interviewing Trump's senior adviser Kellyanne Conway. He talked about the various racial controversies that have dogged Sessions, but he also pointed out that the Alabama senator is not a big fan of pot.
"As attorney general, Sessions would also be in charge of enforcing the nation's drug laws," Meyers said, "and given that several states, most recently California, have legalized the recreational use of marijuana, that puts Sessions in a position to crack down on those states if he so chooses — and again, his previous statements on marijuana have not been promising." He played a clip that illustrated his point, ending with a curious assertion from the prospective attorney general. "Good people do not smoke marijuana?" Meyers said. "Tell that to Willie Nelson!"
But the Sessions hearing would probably have been more contentious if he weren't among friends — including Democratic colleagues who spent a lot of time recently talking about their camaraderie with Sessions in the Senate gym. "Just when you think senators couldn't be more out of touch with everyday Americans, they think it's okay to talk to people in the gym!" Meyers said. He ended with a raised eyebrow at Sessions' assertion that when it comes to the big story of the day, and one in his wheelhouse — the Russian election hacking — he's "done no research on that." "You've done no research?" Meyers said. "Did you forget this was happening today? I've done research on that, and my job is interviewing celebrities in the middle of the night!" Watch below. Peter Weber
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.
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.
-
Today's political cartoons - November 24, 2024
Cartoons Sunday's cartoons - taped bananas, flying monkeys, and more
By The Week US Published
-
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
-
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