Late night hosts poke Republicans for cherry-picking MLK Jr. quotes, recap Trump's 'deranged' rally

"Speaking of angry people in a spin," Jimmy Kimmel said on Monday's Kimmel Live, pivoting from Kanye West's new track about Pete Davidson, "Donald Trump's back on the road. He was in Florence, Arizona, this weekend for his first rally in quite a while. He ranted for an hour and 35 minutes," and his material's just "not working" anymore, he said. "It's kind of like watching the Sex and the City reboot. It needs more Samantha or something."
"Not only did Trump play the hits, he rolled out new stuff, too, including a COVID conspiracy theory that is outlandish even by Donald Trump's standards," Kimmel said. "White people are being sent to the back of the line? I guess Martin Luther King's dream has been realized at last."

The Daily Show rounded up other Martin Luther King Jr. day fails.
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, MLK Jr. Day is "a day in which we all celebrate Dr. King's legacy by taking his words out of context to make it look like he agrees with whatever we're saying," Stephen Colbert said on The Late Show. "As King himself said, 'You're right, Stephen.'" He played a clip of King lamenting that the filibuster prevents a majority of the Senate from passing voting rights laws, back in 1963.
Among those cherry-picking MLK Jr. quotes was new Virginia Gov. Glenn Youngkin (R), who cited King's "I Have a Dream" speech to defend his ban on teaching "critical race theory" in schools. "You think Martin Luther King's message to America is don't teach children about racism?" Colbert asked. "Let's see if he agrees." (He did not.)

The Late Show further illustrated Youngkin's ban on discussing racism with a reading list.
At Late Night, Seth Meyers took a closer look at Trump's "deranged rally in Arizona" and tied it to the GOP's attempts at "subverting future elections to regain power," then compared Youngkin, Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), and other Republicans taking King quotes out of context to Chumbawumba songs.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com

Trump has apparently "been trashing Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis behind his back, calling him a 'dull' guy who has no chance of beating him in a potential 2024 matchup," Jimmy Fallon said on The Tonight Show. "Trump was like, 'I have to insult him behind his back because I can't tweet it to his face.'" Still, he said, "DeSantis doesn't seem phased. He said he's gonna handle the insult just like COVID and completely ignore it."

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.
-
Israel intercepts 2nd Gaza aid flotilla in a week
Speed Read The Israeli military intercepted a flotilla of nine boats with 145 activists aboard along with medical and food aid
-
Japan poised to get first woman prime minister
Speed Read The ruling Liberal Democratic Party elected former Economic Security Minister Sanae Takaichi
-
Israel and Hamas meet on hostages, Trump’s plan
Speed Read Hamas accepted the general terms of Trump’s 20-point plan, including the release of all remaining hostages
-
US tipped to help Kyiv strike Russian energy sites
Speed Read Trump has approved providing Ukraine with intelligence for missile strikes on Russian energy infrastructure
-
Netanyahu agrees to Trump’s new Gaza peace plan
Speed Read At President Trump's meeting with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, they agreed upon a plan to end Israel’s war in Gaza
-
Russia is ‘helping China’ prepare for an invasion of Taiwan
In the Spotlight Russia is reportedly allowing China access to military training
-
Moldova gives decisive win to pro-EU party
Speed Read The country is now on track to join the European Union within five years
-
Interpol arrests hundreds in Africa-wide sextortion crackdown
IN THE SPOTLIGHT A series of stings disrupts major cybercrime operations as law enforcement estimates millions in losses from schemes designed to prey on lonely users