Late night hosts have fun imagining Biden and Putin's Zoom fails on their high-stakes Ukraine chat
"President Biden held a video meeting with Vladimir Putin to warn him not to invade Ukraine," Trevor Noah said on Tuesday's Daily Show. "And a video chat is a tough way for both of these guys to do diplomacy, I mean especially because even when he's in person, Biden talks like he's got a bad connection." He acted that out, joking that Putin could just reset the White House servers to improve connectivity.
The Late Show wrapped some classic Zoom fails into its re-enactment of the Biden-Putin chat.
Hey, "the world may be standing at the precipice of war between two nuclear-armed powers," so a de-escalatory chat about Ukraine between Putin and Biden "makes sense," Stephen Colbert deadpanned on The Late Show. "The only way to resolve a delicate situation that requires crystal-clear communication is two old men on a Zoom."
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.
![https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516.jpg](https://cdn.mos.cms.futurecdn.net/flexiimages/jacafc5zvs1692883516-320-80.jpg)
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.
"Now, if you're worried these rising tensions with Russia will lead to World War III with Russia, don't be ridiculous," Colbert said. "It's gonna be World War III with China. We got a preview yesterday" with the diplomatic boycott of the Winter Olympics in Beijing. And if that's not enough "gloom and doom," he said, a giant black box in Australia will soon record humanity's self-inflicted demise to climate catastrophe.
"Speaking of catastrophes," Rep. Devin Nunes (R-Calif.) is quitting Congress to be CEO of former President Donald Trump's social media company, despite any relevant experience — except "milking things with leathery skin," Colbert said. "Now, usually when when the former president appoints someone who is grossly incompetent to an important position, he has a good reason: They're related to him. That means the only reason Nunes got this gig is because Jared, Don Jr., and Eric all turned it down."
The Biden-Putin call lasted two hours, "and like most two-hour meetings over Zoom, Putin was like, 'This could have been email,'" Jimmy Fallon joked at The Tonight Show. "On the bright side, it was the first time Putin could see Biden on camera — when Biden actually knew he was on camera."
Meanwhile, "China's moon rover spotted a mysterious cube-shaped object on the moon's surface, and everyone on the internet is trying to figure out what it is," Fallon said. "If there's anyone who knows the truth, it's random people on the internet — yeah, the same internet that couldn't figure out the color of a dress."
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.
-
Ukraine's Olympians: going for gold in the line of fire
Under the Radar Hundreds of the country's athletes have died in battle, while those who remain deal with the psychological toll of war and prospect of Russian competitors
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
'Democrats now have a chance to present a vigorous, compelling case'
Instant Opinion Opinion, comment and editorials of the day
By Justin Klawans, The Week US Published
-
What has Kamala Harris done as vice president?
In Depth It's not uncommon for the second-in-command to struggle to prove themselves in a role largely defined by behind-the-scenes work
By Theara Coleman, The Week US Published
-
ICJ ruling: will 'damning verdict' stop Netanyahu?
Talking Point The UN's top court has ruled Israel's occupation of Palestinian territories breaks international law
By Sorcha Bradley, The Week UK Published
-
Menendez convicted of bribery, fraud, and extortion
Speed Read The New Jersey Democratic Senator was found guilty in a federal corruption trial
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
Venezuela election: first vote in a decade offers hope to poverty-stricken nation
The Explainer Nicolás Maduro agreed to 'free and fair' vote but poor polling and threat of prosecution pushes disputed leader to desperate methods
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Florida judge dismisses Trump documents case
Speed Read Judge Aileen Cannon ruled that special counsel Jack Smith was improperly appointed
By Rafi Schwartz, The Week US Published
-
How could J.D. Vance impact the special relationship?
Today's Big Question Trump's hawkish pick for VP said UK is the first 'truly Islamist country' with a nuclear weapon
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published
-
Hamas says military chief survived Israeli strike
Speed Read An Israeli bombing failed to hit its intended target, military commander Mohammed Deif, but killed at least 90 Palestinians
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
Biden, Trump urge calm after assassination attempt
Speed Reads A 20-year-old gunman grazed Trump's ear and fatally shot a rally attendee on Saturday
By Peter Weber, The Week US Published
-
The Tamils stranded on 'secretive' British island in Indian Ocean
Under the Radar Migrants 'unlawfully detained' since 2021 shipwreck on UK-controlled Diego Garcia, site of important US military base
By Harriet Marsden, The Week UK Published