Stephen Colbert digs into the human costs of the government shutdown. Jimmy Kimmel tries to help.
The ongoing partial government shutdown is causing problems across the U.S., including trash and human waste piling up at national parks. On Monday's Late Show, Yogi Bear had a solution for Jellystone Park, and it may be replicable in the real world.
There's also a human toll for the 800,000 federal employees being furloughed or forced to work without pay, noted Stephen Colbert. "Turns out, people don't want to go to work when they're not getting paid," including TSA agents. "The president does have some sympathy for the plight of unpaid federal workers," Colbert deadpanned, showing video of Trump saying unpaid workers "will make adjustments."
"I agree, adjustments must be made — starting in November of 2020," Colbert said. He was skeptical of Trump's claim that these unpaid federal workers support his quixotic quest to build a wall, but he noted that the White House has at least offered succor to struggling federal employees, advising them to barter their skills in lieu of rent. "You know things are bad when the government is advising federal workers to use the same strategies you see in porn," Colbert said, explaining what he meant.
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.
This is "Donald Trump doing what Donald Trump does best: Not paying the people who work for him — that is where he shines," Jimmy Kimmel said on Kimmel Live. "It's unfortunate that these people, these workers who have nothing to do with this ridiculous wall, aren't getting paychecks, especially right after the holidays. So I wanted to do our part to pitch in, and so tonight and every night until the shutdown is over, we're going to put a federal employee to work here at the show." He started with a prison guard, and you can watch that 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.
-
Today's political cartoons - December 21, 2024
Cartoons Saturday's cartoons - losing it, pedal to the metal, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Three fun, festive activities to make the magic happen this Christmas Day
Inspire your children to help set the table, stage a pantomime and write thank-you letters this Christmas!
By The Week Junior Published
-
The best books of 2024 to give this Christmas
The Week Recommends From Percival Everett to Rachel Clarke these are the critics' favourite books from 2024
By 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