Stephen Colbert and Jimmy Kimmel shudderingly picture the downsides of Trump's mandatory text alerts
On Wednesday afternoon, FEMA sent out its first presidential alert to all cellphones in America. The idea of President Trump being able to text everyone simulateously whenever he wants may have merit, but The Late Show considered the downside.
Seriously, "is there really an emergency so big that everyone in America — people in Hawaii, Florida, Maine, New Mexico — have to hear about it at the exact same time?" Stephen Colbert asked. "What is that big? Is it the death astroid? Is it Thanos?" Apparently it's more along the lines of a nuclear attack or a tsunami, he noted, unpersuaded. "Look, if there's a tsunami, Trump is the last person I want to get a text from. 'Huge wave! Very wet in terms of water. I'll be there with paper towels soon.'"
"But here's the truly frightening thing about this system: Unlike Amber and weather alerts, the presidential alert cannot be turned off," Colbert said. He had a sort of workaround for the iPhone — but don't try it at home.
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.
Jimmy Kimmel Live was on the same page. "The idea of letting President Trump send a text message to every American whenever he wants to may sound like a bad idea, and it is a bad idea," Kimmel said on Wednesday's show. "But what do we do here in Hollywood when we have a bad idea? We make a major motion picture out of it." And you can watch the remarkably realistic trailer 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.
-
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