The Daily Show: Ears Edition | January 9, 2026

Episode Focus:
Jon Stewart's Daily Show team, hosted by Ronny Chieng (with guest Lucy Liu), delivers a characteristically satirical but sharp look at America’s policing—centered on the recent ICE killing in Minnesota and its political fallout—while also touching on the psychology of pet psychics and discussing Lucy Liu’s latest film Rosemead.

Main Theme & Purpose

This episode revolves around the political and cultural shockwaves from an ICE-related shooting in Minnesota that has ignited widespread protests and polarized responses from major political figures, particularly Kristi Noem and Donald Trump. Through a blend of biting humor and investigative critique, the team explores the consequences of aggressive policing, the recruitment culture of ICE, and public mistrust. The episode closes with a lighthearted feature on pet psychics and an engaging interview with actress-director Lucy Liu, giving listeners both critical insight and entertaining relief.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. ICE Shooting in Minnesota: The Event and Public Outrage

• Event Overview (01:41): ICE agents surrounded a woman’s car in Minneapolis and shot her when she tried to drive away. This incident, caught on video, sparked heated protests.

  • Ronny Chieng: “We got so much to talk about tonight because everything in America is super cool right now… President Trump is doing everything he can to keep us safe.” (01:17, ironic tone)
  • Michael Costa (quoting the mayor): “Get the f*** out of Minneapolis.” (01:41)

• Protester Reaction (02:23):

  • “Demonstrators taking to the streets... some confronting ICE agents throwing snowballs.” (02:23)
  • Ronny Chieng's quip: “First we fight the oppressive police state and then hot cocoa.”

• Political Reactions and Media Spin:

  • Kristi Noem quickly claimed, with no factual basis, the woman “attacked” the officers and doubled down even after facts contradicted her statements (03:02–04:18).
  • Ronny Chieng on Noem: “Maybe you didn’t see the video clearly because your stupid hat is blocking your vision...” (03:16)
  • Pres. Trump’s social media post described the victim as “viciously” running over an officer, further inflaming tensions.
    Ronny Chieng's response: “This is like one person saying the dress is blue and black and the other person saying it’s a dishwasher.” (05:32)

2. Broader Issues: ICE’s Militarization and Recruitment

• Divide Over Video & National Mood (05:32):
  The incident is used as another “political Rorschach test.” Partisan interpretations overshadow any shared reality.

• ICE’s Recruiting Tactics (06:26–07:54):

  • Advertising on themes from violent video games (Halo), targeting gun rights supporters, “military enthusiasts,” and UFC fans.
    • “It’s not just how they’re promoting; it’s who they’re recruiting." (07:04)
  • Many new hires fail drug tests, academic requirements, or physical exams. Nearly half fail an open-book written exam.
    • Ronny Chieng: “How the f*** do you fail an open book test? … This is what happens when you don’t have immigrants to cheat off of.” (08:03)
  • ICE’s “lawless militia” image: poorly trained, overzealous, and unaccountable agents making safe situations more dangerous.

• Recent ICE Abuses (08:47–09:44):

  • Accounts of citizens (including elderly) wrongly detained, body slammed, shot, or brutalized, including children at a Halloween parade.
  • Michael Costa: “A Halloween parade for children canceled after agents deployed what appeared to be Tear Gang.” (09:37)

Notable Quote

“The violence and showing the violence is the point. … Maybe this ICE agent feared for his safety, but this woman probably feared for hers, too, and for good reason.”
— Ronny Chieng (09:44)

3. Satirical Solutions: "NOICE" Ad (11:02)

• Fake, satirical PSA offering would-be ICE recruits a PlayStation 5 and “a dozen Xboxes,” so they can play shooter games at home instead of joining ICE.
  “If living out your video game fantasy makes you want to join ICE, then we’d rather you didn’t.” (11:07)

Segment: Pet Psychics (14:02–20:31)

Michael Costa Investigates the Booming Pet Psychic Industry

• Meet the Pet Psychic (14:29):
  Daniel MacKinnon claims to communicate psychically with both living and deceased animals.

  • “I hear words in my head. I see pictures in my head. … I smell psychically.” (15:15)

• Service Details and Skepticism (15:58–17:28):
  She charges about $500 per session and has thousands of clients.

  • Her rationale: “Other people believe it. They pay me to do it.” (17:17)

• Demonstration:
  – Couples seek closure from a deceased retriever; MacKinnon claims the dog “knows the plan” they made three weeks ago.
  – Michael Costa jokes about the validity, but acknowledges the emotional benefit for clients.

Notable Quote

“People that are critical of pet psychics or psychics, in general, would say this is batshit crazy. No one is able to access the mind and the emotional feeling of a dead dog. What the f*** are you doing with your man?”
— Michael Costa (19:02)

• Personal Reading:
  MacKinnon does a reading for Michael’s dog Walter, claiming Walter just wants more attention from his owner.

Interview: Lucy Liu on "Rosemead" (23:41–41:22)

Introduction, Warm-Up, and First Starring Role

• Lucy Liu appears to promote Rosemead, her first true leading role despite decades of A-list work.
  Ronny Chieng: “It’s your first time on the show…and it’s your first time starring in a movie, which is weird, because I feel like you’ve been starring in every movie since the 90s.” (25:21)

• Rosemead as a Passion Project:
  Film is an intimate drama about a terminally ill mother (played by Liu) and her son, grappling with loss, grief, and healing.
  – Lucy Liu: “It’s based on a true story…It’s about every family…how we can support each other.” (27:42)

Challenges of Indie Filmmaking

• Efforts to find funding, working with 16 different small investors; Liu took on multiple off-camera roles.
  • “There was no budget. I think I was the assistant…Can I get you a coffee?” (31:42)
  • “My job is to risk. If I don’t risk, then there’s no reward. And the reward is not like, how did it do at the box office. The reward is, who did I meet?” (41:05)

Reflections on Acting, Loss, and Presence

• On Longevity & Change in the Industry:
  “People are nostalgic…technology is very fast…it could be harder and it’s going to get harder…have gratitude for where you are.” (35:38)
• On Grief and Healing:
  “Grief is not linear…You think time heals it, but it doesn’t necessarily… I think there’s a lot of healing about this movie.” (40:03)
• Living in the Present:
  “I want people…to feel the presence of what’s happening to them now and appreciate. Because there’s so many things that are going by so quickly.”
• On her work:
  “These are not just like work to me. These are…parts of my life that I can remember. And this is my photo album.” (33:23)

Notable Quotes

“This movie…is something we want to honor [the family’s] name and also remember that when you talk to somebody and you communicate, you connect with people, it can save lives.”
— Lucy Liu (28:26)

“My job is to risk. If I don’t risk, then I don’t…there’s no reward…The reward is, who did I meet? What are the experiences that I had?”
— Lucy Liu (41:05)

Closing

• Ronny encourages audiences to go see Rosemead in theaters, to “support the arts,” and experience film together in a communal way (41:22).

Memorable Moments & Tone

• Satirical jabs at both Kristi Noem and Trump’s political spin, especially their rush to judgment before investigation.
• The contrast between the somber and absurd: from ICE abuses to the phenomenon of pet psychics.
• Playful sparring between Ronny Chieng and Lucy Liu, poking fun at their careers, fame, and indie filmmaking hustle.
• Moments of genuine reflection on grief, love, and creative risk-taking.

Timestamps of Important Segments

• ICE Shooting & Protests: 01:17–11:02
• NOICE Satirical Ad: 11:02–12:07
• Pet Psychic Feature: 14:02–20:31
• Lucy Liu Interview: 23:41–41:22

This episode blends scathing satire of political and policing failures with moments of surprising warmth, epitomized by Lucy Liu’s reflections on grief, art, and humanity. Both deeply relevant and entertaining, the show offers listeners context, laughter, critique, and a few unexpected insights.