In the Field with Ronny Chieng

Summary

The Daily Show: Ears Edition – Episode Summary: "In the Field with Ronny Chieng"

Release Date: March 23, 2025

In this engaging episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition, host Ronny Chieng ventures "In the Field" to explore pressing societal issues with his characteristic humor and incisive insight. The episode traverses a spectrum of topics, from the ethical dilemmas surrounding body donations in Arizona to the quirky world of cryptocurrency, and delves into the unique pizza culture of Chicago. Below is a detailed summary capturing the essence of each segment, enriched with notable quotes and organized for clarity.

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1. The Dark Side of Body Donation in Arizona

Ronny Chieng opens the episode by addressing a shocking scandal in Arizona involving body donation. Initially perceived as a noble gesture for scientific advancement, this practice has been tainted by illegal activities.

Key Points:

• Rise in Body Donations: There has been a 20% increase in body donations in Arizona, totaling approximately 47,000 individuals.
• Scandal Unveiled: The FBI discovered a disturbing operation where donated bodies and body parts were illicitly sold, resembling a human chop shop.
• Impact on Donors: Many donors, like Lisa’s client David, chose body donation due to lacking relatives, believing their contributions would aid scientific research.

Notable Quotes:

• Ronny Chieng emphasizes the gravity of the situation: “A human chop shop? These were people, not cars you strip down for parts.” [02:22]
• Lisa highlights the breach of trust: “People thought they were donating their bodies for research to find cures for diseases, but instead, it was real life. Invasion of the body snatchers.” [04:37]

Insights:

• Regulatory Failures: The lack of stringent regulations allows such unethical practices to flourish. Both Ronny and Lisa advocate for mandatory licensing and oversight to prevent future abuses.
• Public Awareness: The segment underscores the necessity for transparency in body donation processes to protect individuals and maintain societal trust.

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2. The Straw Controversy: Environmental Symbolism or Overreach?

Transitioning to environmental activism, Ronny explores the contentious debate over plastic straw bans, questioning their actual impact versus their symbolic significance.

Key Points:

• Environmental Impact: Lillian, an environmental inspector, argues that straws are a minor component (0.02%) of plastic waste but serve as a potent symbol for broader single-use plastic issues.
• Public Resistance: Ronny humorously critiques the crackdown on straws, highlighting the absurdity of policing such a small element of pollution.
• Cultural Context: The segment contrasts American attitudes towards individual freedoms with Australia’s compulsory voting, drawing parallels in governance philosophies.

Notable Quotes:

• Ronny mocks the focus on straws: “It's a freaking straw. Okay, okay, I'm done. No more straws.” [05:33]
• Lillian defends the symbolic importance: “It's a perfect symbol for our overuse and dependence on single-use plastics.” [07:28]

Insights:

• Symbolism vs. Substance: The discussion raises questions about the efficacy of targeting minor pollutants to drive larger environmental changes.
• Enforcement Challenges: Ronny’s field experience with Lillian depicts the practical difficulties and public pushback against enforcing straw bans.

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3. Cryptocurrency Craze: Innovation or Modern Folly?

Ronny delves into the bewildering world of cryptocurrency, dissecting its promises and pitfalls with both skepticism and curiosity.

Key Points:

• Understanding Ethereum: Through an interview with Ethereum founder Joe Lubin, the segment attempts to demystify what Ethereum is beyond jargon, highlighting its decentralized applications.
• Dogecoin and Meme Coins: Ronny humorously explores the emergence of meme-based cryptocurrencies like Dogecoin, questioning their legitimacy and sustainability.
• Market Volatility: The unpredictable nature of crypto investments is showcased, with Ronny predicting a bubble-burst while acknowledging their underlying technological advancements.

Notable Quotes:

• Joe Lubin defines Ethereum: “We created a platform for decentralized applications.” [15:00]
• Ronny critiques the hype: “No, no, no. Only cash. I’ll send you money over the Internet. Money. I’m gonna demonstrate.” [17:30]
• On trust in money: “Because the US Dollar is based on faith in the system. So the only thing backing this money is belief in the competency of the US Government.” [17:55]

Insights:

• Faith-Based Value: Both traditional and digital currencies rely heavily on collective belief, raising questions about their inherent value and stability.
• Regulatory Outlook: The lack of stringent regulations in the crypto space contributes to its volatility and susceptibility to scams, prompting a need for oversight.

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4. Chicago’s Pizza Predicament: Deep Dish vs. Thin Crust

In a flavorful exploration, Ronny investigates Chicago's infamous pizza scene, uncovering the city's preference for deep-dish varieties and its impact on local businesses and culture.

Key Points:

• Cultural Clash: Ronny struggles to appreciate Chicago's deep-dish pizza, contrasting it with the thin-crust standard he believes to be superior.
• Cook County Jail’s Recipe for Change: A heartwarming segment highlights a program where inmates participate in making gourmet pizza, fostering skills and reducing recidivism.
• Community Response: While some applaud the innovative approach to rehabilitation, others, like Chef Bruno Abate, criticize the quality of traditional deep-dish offerings.

Notable Quotes:

• Ronny expresses his disdain: “This is Chicago deep dish pizza. Yo, I said I wanted pizza, not some Italian guys dump on a plate.” [19:46]
• Chef Bruno Abate on the program's impact: “Recipe for Change is here to open your mind, to open your brain, give you hope, give you self-esteem, give you dignity, give you pizza.” [22:00]

Insights:

• Rehabilitation Through Culinary Arts: The segment underscores the potential of vocational programs in jails to equip inmates with valuable skills, promoting personal growth and reducing future offenses.
• Culinary Identity: It also touches on the broader theme of regional food identities and how they shape, and are shaped by, cultural and social dynamics.

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5. The Mandate of Democracy: Lessons from Australia’s Compulsory Voting

Concluding the episode, Ronny juxtaposes the American dislike for mandated participation with Australia's successful implementation of compulsory voting, advocating for higher civic engagement.

Key Points:

• Low Voter Turnout in the US: With only 44% participation, Ronny criticizes the American electorate's apathy, linking it to electoral outcomes like Donald Trump's 2016 victory.
• Australia’s Approach: Ronny examines Australia’s compulsory voting system, which boasts higher turnout rates and argues it leads to more moderate political outcomes.
• Cultural Resistance: The segment explores American values of freedom and individualism, questioning the feasibility of enforcing mandatory voting in a similarly independent society.

Notable Quotes:

• Ronny on American freedom: “America is the land of the free. People come here because it's a free place.” [27:08]
• Australian perspective: “I feel very compelled. Proud that it is. And for people who don't want to vote, they should go and live somewhere else.” [29:50]

Insights:

• Democratic Legitimacy: Compulsory voting is portrayed as a means to enhance the legitimacy and representativeness of democratic institutions.
• Cultural Compatibility: Ronny raises pertinent questions about whether such a system could be reconciled with American cultural and political norms centered around personal liberty.

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Conclusion

"In the Field with Ronny Chieng" masterfully balances humor with serious discourse, shedding light on complex issues through on-the-ground investigations and candid conversations. From ethical scandals to environmental debates, the episode encourages listeners to reflect on the nuances of modern society while staying entertained. Ronny's ability to navigate diverse topics with wit and depth exemplifies The Daily Show’s commitment to insightful and impactful storytelling.

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Note: Timestamps correspond to the provided transcript for reference.

Transcript

[Ronny Chieng]

Introducing Instagram teen accounts. A new way to keep your teen.

[Holly Walker]

Safer as they grow. Like making sure they've got the right gear for writing.

[Ronny Chieng]

Knee pads. Check.

[Lisa]

And helmet.

[Ronny Chieng]

Done. See you, dad. New Instagram teen accounts. Automatic protections for who can contact your teen and the content they can see. Struggling to get out of bed. It might be time for an upgrade. Lisa makes exceptionally comfortable mattresses designed for every body and budget. But what truly sets them apart is their commitment to giving back. Since 2015, they've donated over 41,000 mattresses nationwide. Elevate your sleep and your space with Leesa. Go to Leesa.com for 20% off their award winning mattresses. Plus an extra $50 off with promo code iHEART. That's L-E-E-S-A.com promo code iHEART for an extra $50 off.

[David]

Asking the right questions can greatly impact your future, especially when it comes to your finances. So if you're looking for a financial advisor you can trust, certified financial planner professionals are committed to act interest. That's why it's gotta be a CFP. Find your CFP [e-mail] you're listening to Comedy Central.

[Ronny Chieng]

If you're gonna talk about Arizona, you have to talk about old people because they are everywhere here. See? Which brings me to death. No, not yours, obviously. You still have a long road ahead of you. And here in Arizona, people thinking about the afterlife are choosing something new. Whole body donation. More and more people are choosing to.

[Lillian]

Forego traditional burial and just donate their bodies to science.

[Ronny Chieng]

There was a 20% increase in the number of people donating their body right here in Arizona.

[Chef Bruno Abate]

That's about 47,000 people.

[Ronny Chieng]

To investigate, I hit up a popular spot for the old folks to see if body donation really was all the rage. What do you want to happen to your body after you die?

[Audience Member]

I'd consider whole body donation.

[Ronny Chieng]

Have you considered whole body donation? Yes, I have it all ready set up. So you seem pretty old and close to death. What do you want to happen to you after you die?

[David]

I'm going to be donating it to science.

[Ronny Chieng]

What made you think of doing that?

[Lisa]

I have no living relatives.

[David]

Who's gonna bury me?

[Ronny Chieng]

Any friends? Yeah, they don't care about my body. Well, maybe they should care. Because when I turn on the news, I discovered this scandal involving a body donation business in Phoenix. The owner accused of selling bodies and body parts, essentially running a chop shop for human body parts. A human chop shop? These were people, not cars you strip down for parts. I turned To a team of lawyers trying to end this horror. So what the is happening in Arizona?

[Lisa]

People are getting people to donate their bodies and telling them that they're going to treat the bodies with dignity and respect.

[Ronny Chieng]

And they were sold off like you would sell off the parts of a cow.

[Lisa]

And then ultimately, the FBI raided this organization here in Arizona.

[Ronny Chieng]

So what did the FBI find? There were coolers and freezers of disarticulated body parts. You know, a cooler of arms, a cooler of legs.

[Lisa]

They found heads.

[Ronny Chieng]

They found the torso of a large human male with the head of a small female sewn on the tongue. All right, okay, we get it. Enough already. Jesus. Anyone here have a puppy I can pet for 10 seconds just to clear my head?

[Lisa]

And they found a giant bag of penises.

[Ronny Chieng]

They found a bag of dicks.

[Lisa]

Yes. It was referred to as a large bag of male genitalia.

[Ronny Chieng]

So it was a large bag of dicks?

[Lisa]

Yes.

[Ronny Chieng]

I'm scared to even ask, but what were they gonna do with this large bag of dicks?

[Lisa]

Well, we really can only speculate. We know that some of it may have gone to the black market in southeast Asia for something like penis wine.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay, I'm from southeast Asia. I've never heard of penis wine. What is it?

[Lisa]

I think it's wine that has a penis in it that's supposed to make people more virile.

[Ronny Chieng]

That is disgusting.

[Lisa]

I thought so.

[Ronny Chieng]

Is it red or white?

[Lisa]

I'll get close enough to it to even.

[Ronny Chieng]

What kind of flavor profile is this? Is it nutty?

[Lisa]

I didn't taste it.

[Ronny Chieng]

Does have notes of foreskin. Can we move on?

[Audience Member]

This is a serious case.

[Ronny Chieng]

Oh, yeah, that's right, Holly. We're just gonna mention penis wine and not talk about it? This case is about the harm that was done to people and families, not about penis wine. She's right. People thought they were donating their bodies for research to find cures for diseases, but instead, it was real life. Invasion of the body snatchers. How are they gonna fix this?

[Lisa]

We need regulations, licenses.

[Ronny Chieng]

For example, you don't need a license to deal with dead bodies.

[Lisa]

Correct.

[Ronny Chieng]

You need a license to do nails. You need a license to fish. You need a license to drive a forklift.

[Lisa]

Pay your money, fill out a form, and you're a medical director. That has to change.

[Ronny Chieng]

This is horrific. This is not just an Arizona problem. It's a nationwide problem. And if you think it's not happening in your backyard, you're mistaken. Okay, sorry. Can we just go back to the penis wine for a second? Do they Stomp on dicks the way they stomp on grapes. Are they squeezing out the penis or are they just fermenting it?

[Lisa]

I don't know. And I really not sure I want to know.

[Ronny Chieng]

No one should have their dead body violated or their genitals turn into a tasty beverage. If people are going to donate, they should at least know exactly what they're getting themselves into. They need to know the truth. Until Arizona puts regulations in place, all we can do is offer competing services. Introducing giveronnyourbody.com just give me your body and we'll take care of the rest with us.

[David]

You'll know exactly what you're getting.

[Ronny Chieng]

We provide services such as be turned into a human ventriloquist dummy, be used for Weekend at Bernie sequels. Literal body pillow, Skeel at the Oscars. Those are just some of the many things we can do. Sound horrifying? You betcha. But it's also perfectly legal until Arizona changes its laws. Give Ronnie your body dot com. Give me your body. I want your body. Ronny Chang is unlicensed and has no experience in this field, which is not.

[David]

A problem in the state of Arizona.

[Ronny Chieng]

So avoid this service altogether and do.

[David]

Your research or donate to medical centers.

[Ronny Chieng]

Here in America, we use straws for everything. Drinking, snorting cocaine. Okay, just those two things. But still, that's not nothing. Yet. Recently, local governments across the nation have been challenging our God given right to bear straws.

[David]

Straws represent only 0.02% of the 9 million tons of plastic waste that is estimated. People would like to keep the plastic straw. Just saying.

[Ronny Chieng]

Conservative. Big Bird actually has a point here. So I headed to Washington D.C. the latest city to ban straws. To meet Lillian, an environmental inspector. Her actual job is to go into local businesses and make sure they're not using plastic straws. That's right. She's a straw copy. So what do you hope to accomplish by banning something that's like 0.00000000001% about trash?

[Lillian]

You know, that's a good question. It's a perfect symbol for our overuse and dependence on single use plastics. Rank.

[Ronny Chieng]

So am I supposed to do if I don't use straws? What do you want me to do? You want me to do this?

[Lillian]

Yes, absolutely. That's.

[Ronny Chieng]

Lillian explained that over 40% of all plastic manufacturing is single use throwaway items that will take somewhere between 450 years and forever to disappear. But still, why are people suddenly so angry about straws? Why do you hate straws? So much. What do straws ever do to you?

[Lillian]

I think that really started with the straw video. The plastic straw getting stuck up the sea turtle's nose. It has over 35 million views on YouTube.

[Ronny Chieng]

Wait, this is all because of a dumb viral video? Look, I've seen a lot of shit on YouTube. How bad could this be? Turns out really f. Bad, man. It's a freaking straw. Okay, okay, I'm done. No more straws. But the video did leave me with one burning question. If I stick a straw up my nose, I could get 35 million views on YouTube.

[Lillian]

I can't guarantee that. You know, people might not connect with seeing a person, a full grown adult with a straw up their nose the same way they connect with a sea turtle. I wouldn't go further.

[Ronny Chieng]

No, no, that's stuck. No, I. Okay, so tell me what you do on a day to day basis. Turns out that turtle was not faking it.

[Lillian]

We actually go out and do some random inspections and we talk to business own about the new rules and how to come into compliance with.

[Ronny Chieng]

That. Sounds great. It was time for me to hit the streets and shadow Lillian on an actual straw raid. First step, case the joint. Clear. Clear. Clear. Clear. Clear. Clear. Clear. All right. Clear.

[Lillian]

So once we enter a business, usually we kind of take a look around, right? We want to see if we can see any straws.

[Ronny Chieng]

Is that racial profiling?

[Lillian]

Yeah, I mean, we're looking at the straws.

[Ronny Chieng]

What races are more likely to use people next look for contraband. So these are what we use. Great. Compostable.

[Lillian]

Okay, that's excellent. So these are absolutely in compliance.

[Ronny Chieng]

Turns out this guy was clean, at least for today. But I knew things were about to get real when we hit the mother lode. A coffee shop with enough plastic nose candy to take down Nemo's whole goddamn reef.

[Lillian]

But it looks like these are plastic, right? So you are currently out of compliance.

[Ronny Chieng]

That's right. You're busted. And now the straw carbs are gonna make you pay. Right. Now, we haven't switched yet, but we.

[Holly Walker]

Are in the process of switching.

[Ronny Chieng]

Oh, really? That's convenient. Just happen to be switching when we walk in.

[Lillian]

Okay, I'm sorry. So what I'm gonna do today is I'm just gonna give you a warning letter.

[Ronny Chieng]

Wait, what do you mean warning letter? So Lillian just walks around warning businesses? That's it. I'm taking the lead on this investigation. Straw. Straw. Straw. Straw. We got a straw over here. You crazy gonna pull out a straw in front of a straw card? Is this your straw Whose straw is this? Straw. Straw. Over here. Sorry, false alarm. It's fine. It's paper. Dispatch, we are entering premises, over. You see that guy over there? The black hoodie? Just gonna go ask him a few questions. Oh, oh, he's going. He's going. Go, go, go, go, go. Straw. Police. Straw. Police. Drop the straw. Get on the ground, Mother. But despite the successful raid, Lillian wasn't happy.

[Lillian]

Yeah, that was absolutely useless in getting people to come into compliance.

[Ronny Chieng]

Right, well, let's agree to disagree.

[Lillian]

Yeah. It takes a lot of time and energy and those one on one conversations to really enact real change.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay. Change people's minds through constructive conversations. I can do that. Do you know how many turtles are dying in the ocean because they are straws up their nose?

[Lillian]

Why?

[Ronny Chieng]

Because Mother can't seem to drink from cups without straws. Just put the cup to your mouth. Just put the cup to your mouth. That's it. You don't need a middleman. Do you know how much damage this could do to a dolphin's anus? An oyster could eat this and suffocate to death. It's like you guys don't even care. Sir, you need to go before. Yo. You can't call the police. We are the police. We are the police. We are the police. Show your badge. Show your badge. Show your badge now. She has a badge. Show her the badge. After a successful conversation, we voluntarily left the restaurant. I come back, I see any plastic straws in here, I'm burning this whole place to the ground. And hey, if a restaurant can ban me just for doing my job, how hard can it be to ban straws? Introducing Instagram teen accounts. A new way to keep your teen safer as they grow.

[Holly Walker]

Like making sure they've got the right gear for writing.

[Ronny Chieng]

Knee pads. Check. And helmet.

[Holly Walker]

Done.

[Ronny Chieng]

See you, dad. New Instagram teen accounts. Automatic protections for who can contact your teen and the content they can see.

[David]

It's tax season, and by now. I know we're all a bit tired of numbers, but here's an important one you need to hear. $16.5 billion. That's how much money in refunds the IRS flagged for possible identity fraud last year. Here's another 20%. That's the overall increase in identity theft related to tax fraud in 2024 alone. But it's not all grim news. Here's a good number. 100 million. That's how many data points LifeLock monitors every second. If your identity is stolen, LifeLock's US based restoration specialists will fix it. Backed by another Good number the million dollar protection plan. In fact, restoration is guaranteed or your money back. Don't face identity theft and financial losses alone. There's strength in numbers with Lifelock Identity theft protection for tax season and beyond. Join now and save up to 40% your first year. Call 1-800-LIFELOCK and use promo code iheart or go to lifelock.com iheart for 40% off terms. Apply.

[Holly Walker]

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[Ronny Chieng]

Cryptocurrency Is this some fake? Some nerds made up on the Internet to steal our money? Or is it the future of finance? There is no way all these people buying cryptocurrency have any idea what the hell they're investing in. And it's not just bitcoin. Ethereum, the number two cryptocurrency, has risen 5,000% since the start of this year. Why? If you imagine Bitcoin as being a gold coin, Ethereum is a coin that has a magic spell in it. What the hell does that mean? I spoke with one of the founders of Ethereum, Joe Lubin, to find out. First question what is it? What is it? Ether, the cryptocurrency that lives on the decentralized Ethereum platform. It's actually a much more programmable cryptocurrency than Bitcoin. That doesn't mean anything. What is it? We created a platform for decentralized applications. Does everyone in cryptocurrency talk like you? Pretty much. Is it just everyone just going decentralized, dark web and drugs online? Exactly. Does cryptocurrency make you feel angry and confused? Well, it should. To make it easier to understand, we ripped off the big short and asked Margot Robbie to Explain. Explain it in a bubble bath. But she said no. Cryptocurrencies are transparent and decentralized. When two strangers exchange money over the Internet, it requires a middleman, like PayPal or a bank who takes a percentage of a transaction, and that transaction is vulnerable to hacking. Cryptocurrencies are recorded in a public ledger called the blockchain, so it's impossible to cheat. They actually solve a lot of problems with exchanging money in a global digital world. Now get the out of here. I'm trying to get back. But still, is that worth a bajillion dollars? Why do so many suckers on the Internet. Sorry, I mean, people believe fake money as value. Ether's real. It's based on faith in the Ethereum blockchain. When you get enough people believing in cryptocurrency, then you can snowball into something that a society actually deems valuable, like the US Dollar. Whoa, whoa, what do you mean, the US Dollar? The US Dollar is based on faith in the system. So the only thing backing this money is belief in the competency of the US Government. Unfortunately, that's true. Damn. So not only is cryptocurrency fake, all money is fake. Wake up, Wall Street. You know money isn't real, right? All this stuff is all fake. But Wall street doesn't care if money is real, as long as they're making lots of it. They've been pumping millions into Bitcoin and Ethereum, driving the creation of thousands of new cryptocurrencies. But how low is the bar for entry? Let me get this straight. You took Bitcoin and you just changed the font to Comic Sans, and we put a dog on it? This was the guy to talk to. So tell me about the genesis of doggy coin. Well, firstly, it's dogecoin, but I created. Why is it Doge? It's actually based on a meme. Well, it's not Dog E Coin. Electronic coin. Dog E Coin. Oh, that's pretty smart. Actually, it's not. But guess what? This stupid meme currency is worth almost $400 million. So why does its creator have some problems with cryptocurrency? When you see price charts go up into the ride exponentially, ultimately, it can be a sign of a bubble. Yeah, bubbles are great. What are you talking about? I love bubbles. People are going to lose a bunch of money. And sure, cryptocurrency might destroy the planet through climate change and supporting world nuclear states, but this is America. So I decided to make my own cryptocurrency. But that has to be an incredibly complex. Done. That was easy. I get it. It literally takes 10 minutes to go on a website and make your own coin. Time to make it rain Chan Coin and kickstart the financial revolution. Do you accept Chan Coin? Chain Coin is like Bitcoin. It's disrupting global financial systems using blockchain technology. No, no, no. Only cash. I'll send you money over the Internet. Money. I'm gonna demonstrate. So imagine if I send you this, right? Thank you. No, no. But digitally. No, no, no. Give me back my 5. How are people not getting this? No, I'm paying you. I'm paying you in. Chan.

[David]

Get the F out of my cab.

[Ronny Chieng]

Out of my cab. Remember this moment. Remember this moment when you had a chance to jump on Chan Coin and you didn't. Alright, Janco, just don't ask me how it works. Chicago, big city, Windy City, Opinionated city. Whether you're from Hyde Park, Lincoln park, or Wicker Park. Why is everything a park? Their food is as iconic as their corruption. Al's Italian beef sandwich, Garrett's addictive popcorn mix. Portillo's jumbo hot dogs. And of course, the legendary Chicago Chicago pizza I've heard so much about. What the is this? This is Chicago deep dish pizza. Yo, I said I wanted pizza, not some Italian guys dump on a plate. This looks like me eating pizza and then throwing it up into a bread bowl and then leaving it in the sun to dry. This is how Chicago does pizza. I refuse to believe you can't get a decent slice of pizza in this city. All right? This is the birthplace of Lincoln, Obama, Michael Jordan.

[David]

None of those people were born here.

[Ronny Chieng]

Birthers. Oh, this is what people in Chicago call pizza. Why can't I find a decent slice in this city instead of this stupid bull? I couldn't find a single place that sold real pizza. Just these deep dish dough dumpsters. This isn't pizza. This isn't even human food. After hours of only deep dish, I finally found a place that served delicious, normal pizza pie. The Cook County Jail. That's right. The best pizza in Chicago is in the biggest jail in America. This gourmet pizza is actually made by and sold to inmates as part of a training program called Recipe for Change. Recipe for Change has made it a point to put together a program where we have phenomenal pizza. Thomas Dodd is the sheriff of Cook County Jail. He's been running the pizza program for four years. We have a lot of good pizza in Chicago. This is really good, though. What do you mean? That's Good pizza in Chicago. Have you tried that deep dish Chicago pizza? Yeah, but the inmates didn't want that. So you're telling me even in jail, people did not want deep dish pizza? They haven't been asking for it. Recipe for Change is one of several rehab programs at the Cook County Jail, along with drumming, painting, chess, gardening, and more. So what made you become a hero sheriff and not a Joe Arpaio sheriff? You know, recidivism rates like 70%. It's expensive to incarcerate people. It's not expensive to give them a skill. The man giving them that skill, Local restaurateur Chef Bruno Abate, who volunteers his time and expertise to teach inmates how to cook the best pizza in Chicago. Chef, what do you think about this deep dish pizza? It's garbage. People should not eat this. It's like a brick. Look at this. Look. I mean, I don't know where you buy this. I don't want to know, but this is shame. After a straight hour of on deep dish Pizza, Chef Bruno finally got around to telling me more about how his program is affecting the program. Recipe for Change is here to open your mind, to open your brain, give you hope, give you self esteem, give you dignity, give you pizza. Everyone in the Cook county jam wants to be a part of this great program. I learned how to be a better leader. I learned how to work with a lot of other people. I basically, I've learned how to eat better. It was great to be with people in Chicago who understood what pizza is supposed to look and tastes like. Guys, this pizza is genuinely awesome. You must have people lining up around the block to buy this. Actually, it's only for inmates. Guys, we go rescue Chicago from that bull deep dish pizza. Look, I know the pizza is great, but this is not how you deal with conflict. All right, I'll be right back. Hey, where you going with the pizza? Ronnie knew pizza this good wasn't meant to be caged. He also really loved prison escape movies. Ronnie, where are you? Look at the mess. In October 2017, Ronnie Chang smuggled thin crust with pizza out of Cook County Jail. Oh, Ronnie loved pizza, but he also hated Chicago deep dish. He had to find a way to get thin crust pizza to the people of Chicago. All it takes to get pizza out is cheese, dough and thyme. That and a big ass poster Ronnie chain who crawled through a river of marinara and came out smelling like basil. Introducing Instagram teen accounts.

[David]

A new way to keep your teen safer as they grow. Like making sure they always have their seatbelt.

[Ronny Chieng]

On. Alright, sweetie pie, buckle up. Good job. Or ring the bell on their bike. Okay kid, give it a try.

[Audience Member]

Nice.

[David]

Or remember their elbow pads.

[Ronny Chieng]

Knees too.

[Lisa]

Okay.

[Chef Bruno Abate]

Yep.

[Ronny Chieng]

There you go.

[David]

New Instagram Teen Accounts Automatic protections for who can contact your teen and the.

[Ronny Chieng]

Content they can see.

[Holly Walker]

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[Ronny Chieng]

Presidential election, 44% of Americans did not vote. That puts you in 26 position among developed countries. That's pathetic. You should be ashamed of yourself. That's garbage. It's so garbage. Then 2016, Trump got elected with only a quarter of eligible voters supporting him. That is a broken system. Some politics nerds are proposing a solution. Jury duty and taxes are mandatory, so why not voting? But America is the land of the free, where the whole point is to do anything you want, even dress up as fat Iron man in Times Square on a Tuesday afternoon. So can you really force Americans to vote? Do you think, in America voting should be compulsory? I think it should, but it's not.

[Audience Member]

Going to happen because people won't even wear masks.

[Ronny Chieng]

If we were told to do something at this point. Exactly it. We wouldn't do it. Do you think America would ever accept mandatory voting? Definitely not. Why not? Because Americans are lazy in general.

[Holly Walker]

America is the land of the free. People come here because it's a free place.

[Ronny Chieng]

And that includes the freedom to not participate?

[Holly Walker]

Yeah, pretty much.

[Ronny Chieng]

Do you think mandatory voting can happen in America? No, I do not. I do not. I think that American values are like.

[Lisa]

A toxic version of what freedom is.

[Ronny Chieng]

Isn't that what makes America great? It's not so great at the moment. Maybe Americans think it's impossible. But mandatory voting does exist in 22 countries, including one that's even drunker, crazier, and whiter than the U.S. i'm talking about Australia, where they've had it since 1922.

[Audience Member]

It was quite a small step for Australians to think, well, we want the majority of people to be selecting our government and that gives it greater legitimacy.

[Ronny Chieng]

So basically, in Australia, you force people to exercise their democratic rights.

[Audience Member]

That's right. Yes, that's right. I don't think people in Australia regard it as a particularly big deal. You've got to turn up on election day, which is a Saturday, you know, it might take you like 15 minutes, and the Parents and Teachers association will be there selling sausages. And that's where we get the term democracy sausage.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay, For Americans, the term democracy sausage has had a bad taste since the Clinton administration. But for Australians, consuming child intestine meat on bread has been a voting tradition since the 1940s. But what about the people who don't think a sausage sizzle is enough inside incentive to vote? What kind of punishment do you have to enforce to make it so that over 90% of people go and vote? What, jail time? Public spanking you have to wear I didn't vote sticker.

[Audience Member]

It's a $20 fine.

[Ronny Chieng]

That's it. That's a bargain, I think.

[Audience Member]

Look, there's big advantages in our system because the political parties don't have to get the vote out. And that means they don't have to appeal to the base, so you don't get the same sort of extreme ideological appeals. And so it makes our democracy, I think, more moderate.

[Ronny Chieng]

Doesn't that make your election process very boring?

[Audience Member]

Doesn't make it boring. Look, I don't know that that's a problem for me, what democracy means is that the majority of people participate. And I find the extent of voter suppression in the United States truly shocking. I don't understand how the Americans can call themselves a democracy at all.

[Ronny Chieng]

Damn political science world star is gonna love this. But how do everyday Australians see it? I took a 25 hour flight and spent two weeks in quarantine just so I could talk to them myself in sunny Brisbane, Australia. What do you feel about the fact that voting is compulsory in Australia? I feel very compulsory. Proud that it is. And for people who don't want to vote, they should go and live somewhere else. Everybody has to decide. And it's mandatory to vote, so if the result doesn't go your way, you can't complain. If we lose. Oh, we're sad. But at least we've had a chance to vote. And that's it, brother. Done. You should just do it.

[Audience Member]

It takes five minutes.

[Ronny Chieng]

You just go in there, vote and get out. No time, no effort. Just shut the up and vote. What do you guys think about mandatory voting in Australia? I think it's pretty bullshit. So, yeah, not a fan of it. We don't care what we vote for. We just go in there, tick a few boxes, and then fingers crossed, we get the right one. I don't know. Are you guys drunk right now? Yeah, we had a few beers before. Couple shots. Beer with brekkie, you know. Man, that is Australian. Why do you think vaulting isn't mandatory in America? Oh, maybe. I mean, yeah, now I rethink it, actually. Maybe there's a purpose for it. America, Australia. Which one's doing better? I feel like I'm a witness to cavemen discovering fire right now. Yeah, that's fair enough, actually. Yeah, even drunk Australian bros can see the benefits of mandatory voting. But for America, the good news is that voter turnout in 2020 is on track to hit record levels. All we needed to get people to vote was to elect Donald Trump. And then guess what? People turn up. We don't need to force people to vote.

[Audience Member]

Well, that's a pretty big price to pay. I'd rather pay a $20 fine than have to put up with President Trump for four years.

[Ronny Chieng]

Touche, Judith. But hopefully one day, Americans will also learn to enjoy the sweet, sweet taste of democracy sausage as much as our drunk vote loving mates down under. Thank you. Explore more shows from the Daily show podcast universe by searching the Daily Show. Wherever you get your podcasts, watch the Daily Show show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount. Plus.

[David]

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[Chef Bruno Abate]

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[Ronny Chieng]

You mean the beanbag chair?

[Chef Bruno Abate]

Aren't we getting a mini fridge?

[Ronny Chieng]

Can we create a pool on PayPal?

[David]

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[Chef Bruno Abate]

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[Ronny Chieng]

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