Trevor Noah pans Betsy DeVos on 60 Minutes. Jordan Klepper blames 60 Minutes and its 'meticulously researched' gotcha questions.
"President Trump's housing secretary doesn't know anything about housing, his environmental chief doesn't think manmade climate change is a thing, and last night we learned that his secretary of education has a lot of learning to do," Trevor Noah said on Monday's Daily Show. He played part of Education Secretary Betsy DeVos' awkward 60 Minutes interview, focusing on the part where DeVos admits to journalist Lesley Stahl that she has not intentionally visited underperforming schools to see what is going wrong. "You know the fact that she never 'intentionally' went to a bad school means she definitely walked into one by accident," Noah said. "I do feel bad for the next school she visits now, because they'll definitely know why she's there."
At The Opposition, Jordan Klepper was also disturbed by the interview, but for a different reason. "What really pisses me off is this gotcha journalism that 60 Minutes employs," he said. "If you're not familiar, 60 Minutes is a hidden-camera prank show where Lesley Stahl — their Ashton Kutcher — ambushes unsuspecting interviewees with a series of meticulously researched questions." DeVos was right to note that she is "misunderstood, like Dave Matthews lyrics or anything Matt Damon says about women," Klepper said. And "there are powerful forces out there working against DeVos, like the results of things she's done in the past."
The interview was a train wreck, he conceded, in part because "Stahl isn't just an ambush journalist, she's using Jedi mind tricks," and DeVos fell for them. He ended on-point, comparing the 60 Minutes interview with public schools. 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.
-
7 drinks for every winter need possible
The Week Recommends Including a variety of base spirits and a range of temperatures
By Scott Hocker, The Week US Published
-
'We have made it a crime for most refugees to want the American dream'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Anya Jaremko-Greenwold, The Week US Published
-
Was the Azerbaijan Airlines plane shot down?
Today's Big Question Multiple sources claim Russian anti-aircraft missile damaged passenger jet, leading to Christmas Day crash that killed at least 38
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Honda and Nissan in merger talks
Speed Read The companies are currently Japan's second and third-biggest automakers, respectively
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift wraps up record-shattering Eras tour
Speed Read The pop star finally ended her long-running tour in Vancouver, Canada
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Drake claims illegal boosting, defamation
Speed Read The rapper accused Universal Music of boosting Kendrick Lamar's diss track and said UMG allowed him to be falsely accused of pedophilia
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
'Wicked' and 'Gladiator II' ignite holiday box office
Speed Read The combination of the two movies revitalized a struggling box office
By Peter Weber, 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