Late night hosts chase down Omicron conspiracy theories, defend Dr. Fauci from Fox News and friends
The good news about the new Omicron COVID-19 variant is that "cases appear to be very mild," Stephen Colbert said on Monday's Late Show. The "bad news" is that "Omicron does appear to be evading vaccines — it's a scientific phenomenon known as Aaron Rodgers."
"Oh, there's another highly transmissible strain being passed around the country — it's the QAnon variant," Colbert said. "It turns out after years of failed prophesies, some folks are threatening to get off the Q train." He paraphrased a letter to former President Donald Trump from a very disappointed, newly disillusioned QAnon follower.
It may be "a couple of weeks before we know more about the Omicron strain," but "over in MAGA world, well, they seem to already have figured it all out," Trevor Noah said on The Daily Show. He chased down and mocked various Omicron conspiracy theories: the Democrats created it to win elections, bones are full of coronavirus, and "by far the least believable" one, that "if Trump was still in office, this variant — which doesn't even exist — would already be defeated."
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.
"Anyone whose brain hasn't been rotted from Fox and Facebook knows that everything these people are saying is bulls--t," Noah said. "And the best way you can tell that is that a year ago, MAGA world was pushing the exact opposite conspiracy."
"If you've been watching Fox News, you know that the real enemy isn't the virus or the do-my-own-research geniuses who refuse to get the vaccine — the real enemy is Dr. Fauci," Jimmy Kimmel said on Kimmel Live, showing some examples. "Let me tell you screwballs something about Dr. Fauci, because I've had enough of this and he's too nice to say this himself."
Kimmel listed some highlights from Fauci's 50 years protecting America from deadly viruses. "And what thanks does he get?" he asked. "He gets scumbags like Ted Cruz, like Rand Paul, like that vile, inflatable Macy's parade balloon of dogs--t Tucker Carlson making up lies to take him down" so "they can keep terrifying old people," all for "ratings and money and votes."
Kimmel also updated "Elf On the Shelf" for the Facebook age, with an ad for "Zuck On a Truck" that devolves into a re-enactment of the Jan. 6 riot.
And The Late Show used the trial of a Jan. 6 insurrectionist who also played Judas in a touring production of Jesus Christ Superstar to rewrite that musical's namesake song.
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.
-
'Republicans want to silence Israel's opponents'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Harold Maass, The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Today's political cartoons - April 19, 2024
Cartoons Friday's cartoons - priority delivery, USPS on fire, and more
By The Week US Published
-
Poland, Germany nab alleged anti-Ukraine spies
Speed Read A man was arrested over a supposed Russian plot to kill Ukrainian President Zelenskyy
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Israel hits Iran with retaliatory airstrike
Speed Read The attack comes after Iran's drone and missile barrage last weekend
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Is there a peaceful way forward for Israel and Iran?
Today's Big Question Tehran has initially sought to downplay the latest Israeli missile strike on its territory
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Peter Murrell: Sturgeon's husband charged over SNP 'embezzlement' claims
Speed Read SNP expresses 'shock' as former chief executive rearrested in long-running investigation into claims of mishandled campaign funds
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Mark Menzies: Tories investigate MP after 'bad people' cash claims
Speed Read Fylde MP will sit as an independent while party looks into allegations he misused campaign funds on medical expenses and blackmail pay-out
By Arion McNicoll, The Week UK Published
-
Why Johnson won't just pass Ukraine aid
Speed Read The House Speaker could have sent $60 billion in military aid to Ukraine — but it would have split his caucus
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Sudan on brink of collapse after a year of war
Speed Read 18 million people face famine as the country continues its bloody downward spiral
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
How powerful is Iran?
Today's big question Islamic republic is facing domestic dissent and 'economic peril' but has a vast military, dangerous allies and a nuclear threat
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published