NBC's Katy Tur tells Jimmy Fallon that Michael Cohen was authentically Michael Cohen. Fallon brought jokes.
"Today in Congress, Trump's former lawyer Michael Cohen testified about the president and all his scandals," Jimmy Fallon said on Wednesday's Tonight Show. "He called Trump a conman, a cheat and a racist. Trump heard that was like, 'Great, now I need a new 2020 campaign slogan. And a new Tinder bio.'" Cohen also said "he was responsible for making sure Trump's SAT scores never leaked," he added. "It's safe to say the only time Trump's seen a 1600 is when he passes the White House mailbox."
"Cohen's testimony was such a big deal that it completely overshadowed between Trump and Kim Jong Un," Fallon noted. "You could tell Trump was upset because at one point he leaned over the Kim and said, 'How much to fire off a nuke right now? Don't hit anything!'"
"It was a seminal day, it was huge," NBC News' Katy Tur told Fallon, comparing Cohen's testimony Wednesday to John Dean's during the Watergate hearings. Tur covered the Trump campaign for NBC, and she frequently interacted with Cohen, who "would always, always defend" Trump, no matter what. So "it's incredible," she said, to now hear him "come out and describe the president of the United States as a cheat, as a conman."
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.
"Is this going to do anything to President Trump?" Fallon asked. Tur shrugged: "It remains to be seen, I guess." Democrats asked a lot of questions about Trump, but the GOP's decision to ignore Trump and just re-litigate Cohen's confessed crimes shows "they believe that their voters are still on Donald Trump's side." And that may be true, she added, but they should be worried about the "marginal voter, the Trump-trier voter" in Pennsylvania and Michigan.
"How do you think Michael Cohen handled himself?" Fallon asked. "I thought he was really authentic," Tur said. "I mean, as somebody who knows him and knows him well, I think Michael Cohen came off exactly like Michael Cohen is. He didn't seem rehearsed, he didn't seem practiced. ... I think he came off as well as he possibly could have." Watch below for her criteria on whether he was trustworthy. 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.
-
Methanol poisoning: how Laos horror happened
The Explainer Recent 'tainted-alcohol' deaths expose 'dangerous incentives driving backpacker-focused tourism'
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Are cinema singalongs hitting a bum note?
Talking Point Wicked fans have been belting out songs during screenings – and not everyone's happy
By Irenie Forshaw, The Week UK Published
-
New Zealand is up in arms over Maori rights bill
In the Spotlight Thousands of New Zealanders have taken to the streets over the bill
By Justin Klawans, 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
-
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