Trevor Noah begs news networks to treat climate science as seriously as Maury Povich does genetics
On Friday, the Trump administration tried to quietly drop a bombshell. "Thirteen agencies, all part of the Trump administration, have released an official report saying that manmade climate change is not only real, but its effects are already here," Trevor Noah said on Monday's Daily Show. "So ... surely the Trump of the administration will finally come on board?" Nope.
Noah wasn't impressed that "the president of the United States is throwing away four years of scientific work which is endorsed by his own administration," but he was confused as to why news networks keep paying "climate change buffoons" to offer their similar and openly unscientific skepticism of climate science. "Think of it this way: When Maury Povich brings someone on, if the DNA test says you are the father, then that's it, the science has spoken," Noah said. "So all I'm saying is, American news, maybe you should respect science as much as Maury Povich does."
Jimmy Fallon has a slightly different take on Monday's Tonight Show. "Leave it to America to release a report about saving the planet on 1,600 pieces of paper," he quipped, before touching briefly on the migrant caravan: "And today, Trump threatened to permanently shut down the entire U.S.-Mexico border. In response, migrants said, 'Relax, man, we're just trying to get to Canada.'"
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.
Noah said what he found interesting about the story of U.S. Border Patrol agents using tear gas on migrants at the Mexico border "is how much it changes depending on where you get your news." He showed two examples. "This wasn't an invasion," he said. "It was frustrated asylum-seekers at the border, throwing stones — which, we can be honest, probably isn't going to help their case. ... Unless you can throw them, like, really fast, like 95 miles an hour, because then maybe the Yankees will help you get in."
Noah explained why the Central American migrants are getting desperate, and made Michael Kosta eat his words about pepper spray tasting good on nachos. 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.
-
Swiss bliss: Chenot Palace Weggis takes wellness to the next level
The Blend Heath retreat on Switzerland's Lake Lucerne offers a mid-winter reset
By Felix Bischof Published
-
Earth's mini-moon was the moon all along
Under the radar More lunar rocks are likely floating in space
By Devika Rao, The Week US Published
-
Crossword: February 4, 2025
The Week's daily crossword
By The Week Staff Published
-
Beyoncé, Kendrick Lamar take top Grammys
Speed Read Beyoncé took home album of the year for 'Cowboy Carter' and Kendrick Lamar's diss track 'Not Like Us' won five awards
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Louvre is giving 'Mona Lisa' her own room
Speed Read The world's most-visited art museum is getting a major renovation
By Peter Weber, The Week US 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