Why is Fox News so scared of Ocasio-Cortez's Green New Deal? Trevor Noah and Samantha Bee have some ideas.
Who's afraid of the Green New Deal? The Daily Show knows.
The Green New Deal, "introduced by Republicans' wet nightmare Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez," is "very ambitious," Samantha Bee said on Wednesday's Full Frontal. It "proposes making America carbon-neutral by 2030, overhauling transportation systems, implementing a universal jobs program," and other tenets (real and NSFW-imaginary.) But the idea behind it shouldn't be controversial, she said. "An overwhelming number of experts agree we only have about 12 years to stop climate change from devastating our planet," and "'It's too expensive and too hard' isn't a reason not to save the world, it's a reason not to have a destination wedding."
Still, even though the Green New Deal is "just a nonbinding resolution, the right is already delightedly inventing a future eco-dystopia," Bee said. "As usual, the loudest criticism is coming from Fox News."
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.
Yes, Fox News treats Ocasio-Cortez like "what would happen if Stalin was good at Instagram," Trevor Noah said at The Daily Show. But the Green New Deal really does contain "a lot of major issues for a climate change plan to solve. ... Apparently it's also going to give everyone a job, and health care, and free education, and provide affordable housing, and get your parents back together?"
Most of the plan tackles climate change, though, and "Ocasio-Cortez is right that the U.S. needs to take drastic measures to prevent climate change's worst effects," Noah said. "Of course, over at Fox News, as soon as they heard 'Cortez' and 'climate change,' sirens started going off like bin Laden just emerged from the ocean carrying Aquaman's trident. ... There are enough real questions about the Green New Deal for conservatives to take issue with, but I guess it's more fun to scare America into thinking it's about to become a vegan North Korea." Since there's "clearly a generation divide" on the Green New Deal, Noah asked Senior Youth Correspondent Jaboukie Young-White for his thoghts. Watch below. Peter Weber
Create an account with the same email registered to your subscription to unlock access.
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.
-
'Make legal immigration a more plausible option'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
LA-to-Las Vegas high-speed rail line breaks ground
Speed Read The railway will be ready as soon as 2028
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel's military intelligence chief resigns
Speed Read Maj. Gen. Aharon Haliva is the first leader to quit for failing to prevent the Hamas attack in October
By Justin Klawans, 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
-
The Beatles are getting 4 intersecting biopics
Speed Read Director Sam Mendes is making four separate movies, each told from the perspective of one band member
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Taylor Swift to Miley Cyrus: female artists dominate 2024 Grammys
Speed Read SZA, Phoebe Bridgers and Lainey Wilson were also among the winners at LA gala
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published