Martial Laws, End Zones, and The Cosmos

Summary

The Daily Show: Ears Edition Episode Title: Martial Laws, End Zones, and The Cosmos
Release Date: December 4, 2024
Host/Authors: Comedy Central and iHeartPodcasts

---

1. International Headlines: South Korea's Martial Law Declared and Overruled

The episode opens with a discussion on a significant international event involving South Korea's political climate. The South Korean president declared martial law, sparking concerns about the nation's drift toward dictatorship. However, the declaration was swiftly nullified by South Korea's parliament within a few hours, showcasing what host Charlie Davis humorously terms as "good old Asian efficiency."

Notable Quote:

Charlie Davis (00:23): "Okay, South Korea. Stop giving Trump ideas. Right? He didn't know you could do."

The quick reversal of martial law prevented a prolonged descent into authoritarianism, much to Davis's relief. He jests about the severity of martial law, pondering in jest whether it involves executing dissenters with dolls on stages.

---

2. Political Satire: Trump's Cabinet Nominee Controversy

The conversation shifts to American politics, focusing on former President Donald Trump's cabinet selections. With Matt Gaetz stepping down from the nomination race, Trump introduces Pete Hegseth as his new pick for Secretary of Defense. Hegseth's nomination is mired in controversy due to multiple allegations.

Notable Quote:

Charlie Davis (03:05): "That's a lot for one person. Uh, alcohol, sex, and financial misconduct. I mean, it's called delegating, bud."

Hegseth faces accusations of alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct, and financial mismanagement. Davis critiques the severity and multiplicity of these allegations, highlighting Hegseth's behavior at various events, including instances of excessive intoxication and inappropriate conduct at a Louisiana strip club.

Notable Quote:

Charlie Davis (05:17): "He can't think of a word for not party. He's really a bit of a caveman, isn't he?"

The discussion intensifies as they delve into Hegseth's actions, including the mismanagement of funds for personal partying and inappropriate behavior towards female staffers. The segment features a mock interview with Jordan Klepper, who humorously recounts an encounter where Hegseth vomits on his shoes, further undermining his credibility.

Notable Quote:

Charlie Davis (08:01): "What? You want a drunk Secretary of Defense?"

The satirical take underscores the absurdity and potential dangers of appointing individuals with questionable backgrounds to high-ranking government positions.

---

3. Sports Segment: "Sports War" with Neil deGrasse Tyson

In a lively segment titled "Sports War," host Ronny Chieng is joined by astrophysicist Neil deGrasse Tyson to discuss the intersection of sports and politics. The conversation is filled with humor and sharp banter, touching upon topics like sports rivalries, the commercialization of sports, and the infiltration of political gestures into athletic celebrations.

Notable Quote:

Neil deGrasse Tyson (12:29): "It's tense, Ronnie. I asked Pete earlier for his response to this report, and he said these are baseless allegations, and he's determined to clear his name. And then he threw up all over my shoes."

The duo debates the appropriateness of political gestures in sports, such as athletes performing the "Trump Dance" after significant plays. They mock the blending of political statements with athletic celebrations, highlighting the potential for sports to become battlegrounds for political ideologies.

Notable Quote:

Charlie Davis (13:58): "Which brings us to our sick Boom, bang bet of the night. When will Jordan Klepper finally learn the names of his three children?"

The segment also humorously critiques the commercialization of sports, referencing the collaboration between Hallmark and the Kansas City Chiefs for a new holiday film, which Davis dismissively refers to as unnecessary.

---

4. In-Depth Interview: Neil deGrasse Tyson on Science and Politics

The episode features an extensive interview with renowned astrophysicist and author Neil deGrasse Tyson. Davis engages Tyson in a discussion about the current state of American science, the impact of politics on scientific advancement, and the role of the internet in shaping public perceptions of science.

Notable Quote:

Charlie Davis (25:16): "Do people not want to come here?"

Tyson expresses concerns about how divisive politics may hinder American innovation and scientific development. He emphasizes the importance of maintaining scientific integrity and the dangers of misinformation propagated through the internet.

Notable Quote:

Neil deGrasse Tyson (26:07): "It's irresistible. And I'm thinking, no, science doesn't work that way. It works by. You get enough observations and data, and if it comes to agreement, that's the new objective truth."

The conversation touches upon the critical role immigrants have played in bolstering American scientific achievements, with Tyson highlighting that one-third of all Nobel Prizes in the sciences awarded to Americans have gone to immigrants.

Notable Quote:

Neil deGrasse Tyson (28:17): "One third of all Nobel prizes in the sciences that have gone to Americans have gone to immigrants."

Davis urges for a "hit single" in science—something that can inspire and unify society, akin to Einstein's famous equation. Tyson reflects on the need for compelling scientific breakthroughs to reignite public interest and support for scientific endeavors.

Notable Quote:

Charlie Davis (32:22): "You want an equation? Maybe."

The interview concludes with a Q&A segment where Tyson addresses common misconceptions and unfounded questions from the internet, reinforcing the importance of relying on credible scientific information.

---

5. Addressing Science Misinformation

In a rapid-fire Q&A segment, Tyson and Davis tackle several misleading and absurd questions sourced from the internet. Topics range from the supposed link between wind turbines and cancer to the feasibility of climate manipulation using space lasers.

Notable Quote:

Charlie Davis (34:42): "Can wind turbines cause cancer? This is from President Trump."

Tyson provides clear and concise answers, debunking myths and emphasizing the importance of evidence-based science.

---

Conclusion

The episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition masterfully blends humor with insightful commentary on pressing international events, political satire, the complex relationship between sports and politics, and the pivotal role of science in society. Through sharp wit and engaging discussions, hosts Charlie Davis and Ronny Chieng, alongside guest Neil deGrasse Tyson, offer listeners a comprehensive and entertaining analysis of today's biggest headlines.

---

Listen to The Daily Show: Ears Edition
Watch The Daily Show weeknights on Comedy Central at 11/10c or stream it on Paramount+.

Transcript

[Jeff Probst]

Survivor47 is here, which means we're bringing you a brand new season of the only official Survivor podcast, On Fire. And this season, we are joined by fan favorite and Survivor 46 runner up, Charlie Davis to bring you even further inside the action. Charlie, I'm excited to do this together.

[Charlie Davis]

Thanks, Jeff. So excited to be here. And I can't wait to bring you inside the mind of a Survivor player for season 47.

[Jeff Probst]

Listen to on Fire, the official Survivor podcast. Wherever you get your podcasts.

[Ronny Chieng]

You'Re listening to Comedy Central from the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, Ronnie T.

[Charlie Davis]

Welcome to the Daily Show. I'm Ronny Chang. We got so much to talk about tonight. A Trump nominee hits the strip club. Jordan Klepper and I fight about Sports. And Neil DeGrasse Tyson will explain space to me. But first, let's get into the big international story.

[Troy Iwata]

Breaking news this morning out of South Korea, where the president there just declared martial law.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, South Korea. Stop giving Trump ideas. Right? He didn't know you could do. Unfortunately for South Korea, this looks like the beginning of a long and slow descent into dictatorship. A dark period which may last years or even decades.

[Troy Iwata]

Breaking news from overseas. South Korea's parliament just voted to nullify the declaration of martial law that was made by the country's president just a few hours earlier.

[Charlie Davis]

Oh, that's great. Good old Asian efficiency. The president went nuts, declared martial law. The assembly overruled him. Martial law over. And they did it all during lunch break. All right, everybody get back to doing K pop cha cha dance. Uh, but I'm glad this didn't get out of hand, because I don't even know what martial law in South Korea looks like. I mean, do they wheel this doll out and whoever moves gets shot? But let's turn to a country just beginning its fascism period. In another edition of Trump 2.0. Coming for the White House.

[Ronny Chieng]

I'm gonna come.

[Charlie Davis]

Donald Trump has spent the last few weeks filling out his cabinet. And now that Matt Gaetz has dropped out to try to find the high school from euphoria, there is a new nominee for shadiest nominee. Pete Hegseth, Trump's pick for Secretary of defense and guy with resting divorce face. And. All right, let's hear it. Left the snowflakes. What's wrong with this one?

[Troy Iwata]

CBS News has confirmed that Pete Hexath was forced to step down from a veteran's nonprofit after being accused of alcohol abuse, sexual misconduct, and Mismanaging the group's money.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, that's a lot for one person. Uh, alcohol, sex, and financial misconduct. I mean, it's called delegating, bud. Try. How. How could someone do so many bad things at the same time? Like, not only are you drinking and harassing women, you've also got to find time to suck at QuickBooks. I mean, let's go through these charges, because I'm sure the libs are just overreacting. Like, with alcohol. I mean, what, he probably had too much chardonnay at the office Christmas party, like, one time. How bad could it be?

[Troy Iwata]

The report says Hegseth was repeatedly intoxicated to the point of needing to be carried out of the organization's event. So inebriated by 1am that a staffer who had driven him to his hotel in a van full of other drunken staffers asked for assistance to get Hegseth to his room. Hegseth passed out in the back of a party bus, then urinated in front of a hotel where CBA's team was staying. At one point, Hegseth had to be restrained while drunk from joining the dancers on the stage of a Louisiana strip club.

[Charlie Davis]

Wow. Uh, do you know how hard it is to be the saddest thing at a strip club? I mean, a half naked pregnant woman dancing to pay her medical bills was looking at him like, damn, this guy needs to get some help, right? Also, how do you not know that you can't just get on stage at a strip club, okay? They don't even let regulars do that, I'm guessing. I don't know. That's what Wikipedia says. Look, you guys are laughing, but does no one see the tragedy in this? A warrior forced to fight when really he just wants to get on that stage and dance. But, yeah, he seems to have nailed the alcoholism. Let's hear about the sexual misconduct.

[Troy Iwata]

Hegseth and other members of the management team sexually pursued the organization's female staffers, whom they divided into two groups, the party girls and the not party girls.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, let me just check this real quick. All right? Yeah, that's not allowed. I don't know what's worse. That he supposedly divided his female staff into party girls and not party girls, or that he couldn't think of a word for not party. He's really a bit of a caveman, isn't he? When the sun in sky Day. When sun go away. Not day. Time for party girl. So Pete was reportedly constantly drunk and trying to sleep with the party girls on staff. But what about the financial Mismanagement, you say?

[Troy Iwata]

Under his leadership, Veterans for Freedom soon ran up enormous debt. And financial records indicate that by the end of 2008, the year after he became the leader of the group, it was unable to pay its creditors. Hegseth had treated the organization funds like they were a personal expense account for partying, drinking, and using CVA events as little more than opportunities to hook up with women on the road.

[Charlie Davis]

When he joined this veterans charity, did he think that he was the veteran? It was going to. I mean, guys, it would really help my mental health to go to this strip club, okay? I have ptsd. Party time. Suck my. So unlike wraparound shades, none of this is a great look for Pete Hegseth. But you know what? Hey, these are anonymous quotes from a bunch of haters. I'm sure his mom loves him. Meanwhile, Hegseth's mother sent him an email.

[Ronny Chieng]

In 2018 during his second divorce, calling him, quote, an abuser of women. Penelope Hegseth writing, quote, I have no.

[Charlie Davis]

Respect for any man that belittles, lies, cheats, sleeps around, and uses women for.

[Ronny Chieng]

His own power and ego.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, I'm putting mom down as not a potty girl. For more on this controversy surrounding Pete Hegseth's appointment, let's go to Capitol Hill with Troy Iwata.

[Ronny Chieng]

That's right.

[Charlie Davis]

Troy. Hey, Troy. What's the latest?

[Jordan Klepper]

It's tense, Ronnie. I asked Pete earlier for his response to this report, and he said these are baseless allegations, and he's determined to clear his name. And then he threw up all over my shoes.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, so what? He's drunk right now?

[Jordan Klepper]

Oh, no, no, no, no, no. That was this morning.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay?

[Jordan Klepper]

He was. He was drunk this morning. He is not drunk now. Yeah. What's that? What? Sorry. He also is drunk now.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, okay, look, that's ridiculous, okay? This has to kill his nomination.

[Jordan Klepper]

Oh, God, I hope not.

[Charlie Davis]

What? You want a drunk Secretary of Defense?

[Jordan Klepper]

Like, the sober ones have been so great? Yeah, all they've done has got us into wars, okay? Iraq, Afghanistan. Iraq again. And who can forget the war on Christmas?

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah, okay, that last one is not a real war.

[Jordan Klepper]

Yeah, tell that to the Starbucks barista who wish me a happy Holidays this morning. It's Christmas, you know, the birthday of Mariah Carey. The point is, I want a secretary who's not invading countries because he's passed out in the Situation Room covered in his own piss.

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah, but when he's not passed out, he'll be a big problem. Like, drunk people get mad.

[Jordan Klepper]

Yeah, but it's easier to Distract a drunk person. You know, if he's like, I'm mad at France, let's go to war with France. We'll just say, or let's go to karaoke, you know? And half an hour later, we're in Koreatown singing Pink Pony Club. Well, he's straight, so it'll be lose yourself, but you get it. Eternal peace. Wait, let me explain it to you visually. Okay? So the more drunk someone is, the more peaceful they become. Okay, so it goes War in Iraq. Who's Iraq?

[Ronny Chieng]

Omg.

[Jordan Klepper]

I love Iraq so much. Let's adopt a dog.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, okay. Aren't you worried that a raging alcoholic will have access to the nuclear codes? No.

[Jordan Klepper]

Do you know how hard it is to enter a code when you're drunk? He'll just be poking away with his little fingies, and halfway through, just realize he's playing Candy Crush on his phone.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, look, this all sounds very irresponsible, Troy, okay? America needs a competent administrator of its military. Ugh.

[Jordan Klepper]

Ronnie, how can I put this? You're sounding very not party girl right now, okay?

[Charlie Davis]

Hey, hey, you take that back, Okay? I am party girl. I am party girl. Troy Watt, everybody. Hey, when we come back, we'll fight about sports. So don't.

[Ronny Chieng]

How do you feel when you switch to Geico and save on your car insurance? It's like going to work on one Thursday morning and thinking to yourself, just one more day until Friday. But then somebody in the elevator says, happy Friday. Then you check your phone quickly and discover today is actually Friday. So, yes, Happy Friday, random stranger in the elevator. Happy Friday, indeed. Yep. Switching and saving with Geico feels just like that. Get more with Geico.

[Jeff Probst]

It's time for a brand new season of Survivor. And you know what that means? It means it's also a brand new season of the only official Survivor podcast on fire. Here's our goal. With this podcast, we bring you inside the how and the why of what we do on the show. And we do it from three different points of view. You have the producer in me. You have the fan in Jay, who. Who also happens to be our executive producer of this podcast. And then we bring you the insight from a former player. And this season, it is Survivor 46 runner up, Charlie Davis. Welcome to the team, Charlie.

[Charlie Davis]

Well, Jeff, I know firsthand that playing from the couch and playing on the island, completely different. So I hope you tune in every single week. We're going to dissect the strategy, the misfires and mistakes that change the game.

[Jeff Probst]

If you want more survivor than just 90 minutes. This is where you get it. On Fire, the only official Survivor podcast. Listen to On Fire, the official Survivor podcast. Wherever you get your podcast.

[Charlie Davis]

Hey, welcome back to the Daily Show. As we witness the dismantling of American democracy, let's take a moment to focus on what people really care about. Sports. For a full recap of the brightest stories in the world of jocks and straps, we turn to Sports War.

[Ronny Chieng]

Get ready for battle. It's time for Ford 4, brought to you by gambling. Gambling, the gentleman's addiction.

[Charlie Davis]

Hey, what's up, Charles and show dads. I'm Ronny Chan.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

And I'm Jordan Klepper. This is Sports War, the show where we are legally not allowed to agree with each other.

[Charlie Davis]

So if I say college athletes should not be paid, then I say everyone.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

In college, even the professors.

[Charlie Davis]

Uh, the professors do get paid, dipshit.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Clearly not your professors, Ronnie. I mean, what did you even major in? Let me guess. Eating by yourself in the dining hall?

[Charlie Davis]

Oh, like you or Mr. Popular. Didn't you have three roommates kill themselves? It was two.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

The third we never saw again. Look, enough about college. Let's talk college sports. It was rivalry week for college football, and on Saturday, things got extra rivalry.

[Troy Iwata]

E. On Sunday, the Big Ten fined Michigan and Ohio stayed $100,000 each after a post game brawl erupted Saturday. Look at this. The fighting broke out between the two squads after the Wolverines planted their flag at midfield of Ohio stadium following their 1310 win over the Buckeyes. Police had to use pepper spray to disperse the players.

[Ronny Chieng]

Boom. Boom.

[Charlie Davis]

I love it.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

As my grandfather used to say, if there's grass on the field, play ball. Just realize that's not what he was talking about, okay?

[Charlie Davis]

Jordan, it's a shame you're not handsome because you're very stupid, okay? Reckless fighting should only happen during the game. That's the violence I'm gambling on. If you have the energy to fight after, that means you didn't play hard enough.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Ronnie, you're a dumb man with dumber takes. Look, this melee was fantastic. A football game turned into a UFC fight. That's incredible. More sports should be combined like this. Imagine an NBA game ending and then, boom. LeBron and Kevin Durant start competitive luging. Ooh. And bonus, more sports equals less time with my family.

[Charlie Davis]

Which brings us to our sick Boom, bang bet of the night. When will Jordan Klepper finally learn the names of his three children? As always, this bet brought to you by gambling. Gambling? I think your mom has some money in her purse.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Three children that. That can't be right. Moving on to a trend in football that doesn't involve steroid induced violence, but still is all the rage.

[Troy Iwata]

The celebration trend in the sports world, the Trump Dance. Trump's double fist pump has been a rally staple for years now. But now the dance jumping from rallies to sports. US Soccer star Christian Pulisic busted out the move. Pro football players hitting the Trump dance after big plays. Raiders rookie Brock Browers in the end zone. Lions player Zedaria Smith after getting a sack. Titans wide out Calvin Ridley celebrated with teammates after a long score. And UFC champ Jon Jones hit in the dance after knocking out his opponent. Trump watched.

[Charlie Davis]

Just stop it with this, okay? I live by two rules. One, I do not mix politics and sports. And two, if I'm watching porn and they start speaking Russian, I'm out. The least I can do to support Ukraine.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie. You know I support your anti war Jack sessions. Totally support. But you're dead wrong here. We need more politics in sports. Liberal athletes can do this too. You score a touchdown and then you hit that Joe Biden. Who's gonna hate on that?

[Charlie Davis]

I hate it. Okay, we need to keep politics out of sports. Sunday is for drinking eight beers and watching football. Drinking eight beers and watching Rachel Maddow. That's a Monday thing.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

You're a Monday thing.

[Charlie Davis]

Oh, you, You're. I'm a Thursday thing.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Oh, yeah. Best I could do is Wednesday thing.

[Charlie Davis]

Deal.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Look, my point still stands, Ronnie. There should be more politics in sports. NHL goalies should be senators, and the slam dunk contest should be all Supreme Court justices. Which brings us to my big baller Bet Bet Blitz bonanza. What would Sonya Sotomayor's signature dunk be called?

[Charlie Davis]

As always, brought to you by Gambling. Gambling. You need something to do alone in your car.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

All right, moving on. Ronnie, as you know, it's not just football season, it's also the holiday season.

[Charlie Davis]

Well, Merry Christmas, Jordan.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Yes, and to you I wish a happy Buddhism day.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, it's called Asian Christmas.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Thank you very much. Point being, this year there's a new movie that combines the best of both seasons.

[Troy Iwata]

Hallmark is making history for the upcoming holiday season with their new film, Holiday Touchdown. A Chief's Love Story. This marks the first time the company has collaborated with the NFL and the defending super bowl champions, the Kansas City Chiefs are the true stars of the story.

[Charlie Davis]

Viewers should keep an eye out for some cameos from Chiefs players and some well known faces. Booo.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

I hate this trend. Athletes should play sports and actors should act. Except O.J. simpson. You know, he could do both. That guy killed it at everything.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, wrong again. Hepatitis. Gumby, we need more football players in movies. I mean, just imagine Gronk in 12 Years a Slave. Okay? Never too soon for a reboot.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Ronnie, you don't understand. These football players are moving into our territory. They're trying to plant their flag in our TV industry and we have to fight them.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, well, I'm not fighting alongside you, okay? When you work out, dress bond.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

You know what? They politely asked me to stop working out there years ago. I'll have you know I do a high intensity circuit workout designed specifically elderly lesbians.

[Charlie Davis]

Which brings us to my badass bingo bum bed of the evening. Which elderly lesbian could kick Jordan Klipper's ass? As always, brought to you by gambling. Gambling? Savings accounts are for pussies.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

Well, that's all for this week's sports war. Join us next week when we debate, should NFL teams get one smoke grenade per game?

[Charlie Davis]

I mean, obviously I think they should get one per half, like a challenge flag.

[Neil deGrasse Tyson]

That's too much smoke grenade, you idiot.

[Charlie Davis]

No, no, no such thing as too much smoke grenade. You got it.

[Jeff Probst]

It's time for a brand new season of Survivor. And you know what that means? It means it's also a brand new season of the only official Survivor podcast on Fire. Here's our goal. With this podcast, we bring you inside the how and the why of what we do on the show. And we do it from three different points of view. You have the producer in me. You have the fan in Jay, who also happens to be our executive producer of this podcast. And then we bring you the insight from a former player and this season it is Survivor 46 runner up, Charlie Davis. Welcome to the team, Charlie.

[Charlie Davis]

Well, Jeff, I know firsthand that playing from the couch and playing on the island, completely different. So I hope you tune in every single week. We're going to dissect the strategy, the misfires and mistakes that change the game.

[Jeff Probst]

If you want more Survivor than just 90 minutes, this is where you get it. On fire, the only official Survivor podcast. Listen to On Fire, the official Survivor podcast. Wherever you get your podcast.

[Charlie Davis]

Welcome back to the Daily show. My guest tonight is a renowned astrophysicist and author whose latest book is called Merlin Tour of the Universe. Please welcome the great Neil degrasse Tyson. Oh, man, it's almost like your show, they graded you. You're so beloved. Thanks for coming on. So great to meet you.

[Ronny Chieng]

Well, thank you, man. And I as well. I'd never met you before.

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah, I met you before. I've watched you for years. I really appreciate it.

[Ronny Chieng]

By the way, I loved you in the movie, Megan.

[Charlie Davis]

Oh, thanks.

[Ronny Chieng]

By the way. That terrified me.

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah. Please watch that movie as many times as you can. How's my contract negotiating? Yeah. I loved your book as well, your new book.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yeah, thank you.

[Charlie Davis]

It's a republishing of Q and A's.

[Ronny Chieng]

That you got brought into the 21st century.

[Charlie Davis]

Brought into the 21st century. And so it's written in terms. The format is kind of short questions and you kind of give answers. And this was done over the course of the last, what, 30?

[Ronny Chieng]

Well, that was done 35 years ago, but I brought it into the 21st century. My brother illustrated it.

[Charlie Davis]

Yes, your brother illustrated it.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yeah, he's an artist.

[Charlie Davis]

I want to get into that.

[Ronny Chieng]

He actually went to the High School of Music and Art here in New York City.

[Charlie Davis]

There you go. One talented family. Art and science. And. Yeah, what I love about this book is it's almost written like poetry. The science questions in terms of, like, you know, every page is a distinct.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yes. Thanks for noticing that. Every attempt to reply to people has its own personality, its own flavor.

[Charlie Davis]

But it's almost like reading a Bukowski book because you. No, because you can just have it on your desk and you flip it open and you get some inspiration from how dumb people are. Like, this was written 35 years ago, you know. Well, I shouldn't say dumb. Some good questions. How effective would the Hubble Space Telescope be for Earth viewing? Blah, blah, blah. Houston, Texas. But I guess my point, like, this was written 35 years ago. Have you found, like, the general public's questions to you have gotten dumber or smarter? Where are we trending? Where are we trending?

[Ronny Chieng]

I see both happening simultaneously. The smart questions getting smarter and the dumb question getting dumb. But. But I don't care. As an educator, you bring the question on.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, so even in science, we're going to the extremes. Yes.

[Ronny Chieng]

But I'm okay on either side of that fence.

[Charlie Davis]

Mathematically. It cancels out.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yes. They average out to the middle. Look very good.

[Charlie Davis]

Yes.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yes.

[Charlie Davis]

Take the average.

[Ronny Chieng]

Take the average. It works out.

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah. I mean, I hate to be. I'm trying to phrase these questions neutrally, but it sounds sometimes. It feels sometimes like when. As an outsider to America, I came here when I was 30, and growing up, I always felt like this was the place for innovation. This is where NASA was. This is where they invented the Internet. They invented Apple. This is where oil drillers went to space and blew up an asteroid using nuclear weapons.

[Ronny Chieng]

That actually happened? Yeah.

[Charlie Davis]

No. So for me, America was always the place you go when you're the best at science, you know? And do you feel like the politics is kind of getting in the way of that now and just like, do people not want to come here?

[Ronny Chieng]

Yeah. No. So politics. People can say what they want when they're running for office. What matters. Matters is how do you allocate money when the budget gets put out. And I can say, no, we don't have another equation like E equals MC squared. You know, that was good back.

[Charlie Davis]

No, no, that was a hit single. That was the hit single.

[Ronny Chieng]

Einstein killed it with the equals MC in 1905. He knocked the all right. Out of the park. So. But there's not just science, there's the engineering that flows out of that science. This is the. This is the cousin of science that is empowered by science.

[Charlie Davis]

Yes.

[Ronny Chieng]

So you've seen pictures from the James Webb Space Telescope bringing the edge of the universe to the front of your face.

[Charlie Davis]

Yes.

[Ronny Chieng]

Putting it in your backyard.

[Charlie Davis]

Yes.

[Ronny Chieng]

That's been happening. You've seen Elon Musk, chopstick, a booster out of the sky.

[Charlie Davis]

Sure.

[Ronny Chieng]

To reuse later?

[Charlie Davis]

Sure.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay. We've never seen that before. We have a rover on Mars the size of an SUV that brought a helicopter with.

[Charlie Davis]

Yes.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay, so wait, what are you complaining about?

[Charlie Davis]

Wait, no, no, no. I'm sorry, doctor, I'm not.

[Ronny Chieng]

Oh, wait. Hey, wait, wait.

[Charlie Davis]

One more.

[Ronny Chieng]

I got one more. One more. Was it two weeks ago? Three weeks ago, NASA launched the Europa Clipper mission to go orbit Jupiter and dip close to the frozen surface of Jupiter's moon Europa in search for life in that. In that moon?

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah, yeah. It touched. It touched Europa's moon. Yeah, but. No but, dude, like. Doctor, what are you trying to tell me that.

[Ronny Chieng]

I'm trying to tell you this stuff is still going down.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, well, I. It sounds like you're trying to convince me that science is good. I don't disagree. I agree science is good. I'm just asking, in your expert opinion, do you think that the kind of divisive politics we're facing right now is adverse to American innovation and scientific development?

[Ronny Chieng]

I haven't seen it can be that, but we have to.

[Charlie Davis]

But you haven't seen evidence of it.

[Ronny Chieng]

I don't see important evidence of it.

[Charlie Davis]

None of this.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yes.

[Charlie Davis]

None of this bothers you? None of anything that you.

[Ronny Chieng]

That's a different question.

[Charlie Davis]

You haven't seen anything that bothers you about.

[Ronny Chieng]

That's a different Question.

[Charlie Davis]

That is the question I'm asking. Does anything bother you in the last, I don't know, maybe year of presidential elections that makes you think that maybe science is in trouble.

[Ronny Chieng]

So I worry, for example, that people get their science off of random places on the Internet of a clickbait, rather than looking at what this scientific establishment has discovered for us.

[Charlie Davis]

Sure.

[Ronny Chieng]

So you get someone on there and say, the whole establishment is wrong, and I'm right. Click here. That's irresistible.

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah. That's what we do on this show all the time.

[Ronny Chieng]

It's irresistible.

[Charlie Davis]

It's very effective.

[Ronny Chieng]

And I'm thinking, no, science doesn't work that way. It works by. You get enough observations and data, and if it comes to agreement, that's the new objective truth.

[Charlie Davis]

Right.

[Ronny Chieng]

It's not one lone person that says whatever the hell they want.

[Charlie Davis]

Doctor. I mean.

[Ronny Chieng]

Right.

[Charlie Davis]

Dr. So far I agree with you that science is good and the Internet is stupid. I'm asking, are you worried about where we're headed in terms of. Because America was always the leader. I know that cern and whatever is happening, America is the leader of science. Are you worried because.

[Ronny Chieng]

All of the House of Representatives gets voted on every two years and a third of the Senate and the president gets voted on every four years. At any time that I feel depressed, I say, and this too shall pass.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, that's not helpful.

[Ronny Chieng]

That's.

[Charlie Davis]

Yo, that's Buddhism. That's Buddhism. But.

[Ronny Chieng]

So give me some Buddhism.

[Charlie Davis]

I want you for science, okay? You're the science guy. Buddhism is my thing. You're the science guy. You give the science. Okay. Well, I guess I'll put it more.

[Ronny Chieng]

Here's what'll happen, okay? If our science goes bad, okay. And other countries rise up.

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah.

[Ronny Chieng]

Then we all come together and say, we don't wanna be bested by these other countries. And that would be a good reason to come together rather than targeting enemies within us.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay. That is good. But you have faith that that will happen. Let me. Okay, let me put it this way. Because, like, you know, one thing that was always. What I'm getting at, this whole questioning, is that the innovation in America seems to me driven a lot by immigrants to America. Immigrants invented the phone. They invented. Einstein was an immigrant. Everyone's immigrant.

[Ronny Chieng]

So Elon Musk is an immigrant.

[Charlie Davis]

Elon Musk is an immigrant. So that. Okay, well, maybe that's not great. No. But I'm just saying if you have an environment, that's kind of saying, hey, country first, let's not have so much immigration.

[Ronny Chieng]

One third of All Nobel prizes in the sciences that have gone to Americans have gone to immigrants.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay.

[Ronny Chieng]

One third.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay.

[Ronny Chieng]

I track that every year.

[Charlie Davis]

Great.

[Ronny Chieng]

So I know that number. Okay. So I've never been spooked by immigrants the way so many other people I know.

[Charlie Davis]

So are you worried about. Again, we agree immigrants are good for science.

[Ronny Chieng]

Are you worried that if you close, if you start closing things off, we will descend and become a shadow of what we once were as a technological power in this country. So it may be not to make you depressed, it may be we need to sink deeper before people wake up to the consequences of these actions or the consequences of the inactions when they should have taken action. Like, we may have to sink deeper before we just get slapped in the face and said, oh, my gosh, bring the science back.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, that's bad. This is bad. This is a. This is. You're describing a dark age right now, which I was hoping would not happen, but I guess I gotta turn to Buddhism to get out of that one. Right? So.

[Ronny Chieng]

By the way, I think that's Persian. And this too shall pass.

[Charlie Davis]

Buddha will claim it. We'll give that one to Buddha. I'll give that one. All right. Yeah, but, like, there is like this idea that I feel like anytime I see you explaining something about science in America right now, it's like people just wanna argue, like, pull you into this culture war.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yeah.

[Charlie Davis]

And you know what, to be fair, I guess if you look at history, scientists have always been pulled into politics and the culture war, but you as like a kind of front facing member of the science community trying to educate people. How do you navigate this?

[Ronny Chieng]

Yeah, it's hard because. Because another thing that's clickbait is he said, she said, he said. You said that. Comment on what they said. No, I'd rather comment on ideas and mission statements of what we can be as a species, as a nation, as a, you know, as a world. And so I try to avoid it, but sometimes they just drag you down, drag you into the trenches. And I can fight in the trenches, you know, but can. I can fight, but I don't want to. I don't want to.

[Charlie Davis]

So what's.

[Ronny Chieng]

I'd kick some ass if I have to.

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah, no, I was.

[Ronny Chieng]

I was undefeated.

[Charlie Davis]

Mass times acceleration.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yes, you got that. You got the other equation that preceded equals MC squared. But no, I was a captain and undefeated on my high school wrestling team.

[Charlie Davis]

Oh, damn.

[Ronny Chieng]

All right, it was £40 ago, but I could still feel it.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, well, that's exactly what we need right now. We need Neil Degrasse Tyson to be some assholes cage match. Yeah. So like I get. I guess your advice is to beat the shit out of people. I don't know what can the science community.

[Ronny Chieng]

No, you can do it with love. By offering them perspectives they had never previously recognized was in front of them. And you say, have you thought about it this way or that way? No, I hadn't thought about it that way. And let's go have a beer.

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah, that sounds like every interaction on the Internet.

[Ronny Chieng]

The Internet is a cesspool. Has become a cesspool.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay.

[Ronny Chieng]

And I'm very disappointed.

[Charlie Davis]

So bad science, bad on that one Internet.

[Ronny Chieng]

Well, there's some good science that happens there, but yeah, as an invention. We all thought we would just be the community town hall. And it's just. It's a cesspool.

[Charlie Davis]

Get off. So on a more helpful note, I feel like.

[Ronny Chieng]

Thank you. Have a more helpful note.

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah, I'm trying. So far it's not been a great outlook for the world right now, but Internet service and we're gonna go into a dark age is kind of the message of this. Like we. I feel like, you know, we used to revere scientists a bit more in America, you know, and like when I think what we need from scientists right now is like a hit single. Like what you said.

[Ronny Chieng]

You need another.

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah, we need like an E equals MC square. Like give us a. Give us something to be like.

[Ronny Chieng]

Einstein's don't come around all the time.

[Charlie Davis]

Well, you know, that's what we need. We need something. Give us something. Give us something.

[Ronny Chieng]

Einstein was like 200 years, 300 years after Isaac Newton. And they're big, you know, big men on.

[Charlie Davis]

So what, we got 250 years for the next. What's the.

[Ronny Chieng]

What's.

[Charlie Davis]

What's the.

[Ronny Chieng]

Give us something maybe, I don't know.

[Charlie Davis]

Give me the equation. Something that we can hold on to as a society.

[Ronny Chieng]

You want an equation?

[Charlie Davis]

I want like a hit single. Come on, give us the. Give us the club beat. Give us the commercial something that science is, you know, quantum mechanics, something.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay.

[Charlie Davis]

Computers.

[Ronny Chieng]

All right, all right. I'll boil it down to one word.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay.

[Ronny Chieng]

Maybe.

[Charlie Davis]

Einstein hated. Maybe Einstein hated. Maybe Einstein hated.

[Ronny Chieng]

You mean it? Maybe every now and then. Cause you don't know the answer, but you're hopeful for one that will satisfy not only you, but the survival of the species.

[Charlie Davis]

So yeah, maybe it's kind of depressing. I gotta be honest, that's not the hit single I was hoping for.

[Ronny Chieng]

No, there are people who are Paying attention, I think. Ooh.

[Charlie Davis]

Ooh, people.

[Ronny Chieng]

I got people. No, there's a few. There's a few out there.

[Charlie Davis]

Ooh. Name one person paying attention. I feel like we're just in.

[Ronny Chieng]

In the scientific institutions that we have. National Institutes of Health, National Academy of Sciences, academia. I know, right? I get that. But leaders come and go. The scientists are there for their careers. Okay. In the end, they is who will triumph.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay. I hope so. I hope so.

[Ronny Chieng]

You need a laxative or something.

[Charlie Davis]

I do. I actually do. Do you know the chemical formula for laxative or is it. Okay, I'm gonna ask you a few questions on the Internet right now, okay? And in the spirit of your book, and if you can answer Q and A, bring it on. Here's a friendly Internet Q and A. Okay? Our first question comes from Twitter. Can wind turbines cause cancer? This is from President Trump. Okay. Science man. Science.

[Ronny Chieng]

That would. That would be no.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay. Are you sure about that? Maybe. Is that like a maybe?

[Ronny Chieng]

No. No, That's a. Not just a no. That's a no. You gotta get down and deep on that one.

[Charlie Davis]

That's a.

[Ronny Chieng]

That's a no.

[Charlie Davis]

Solid E equals mc. Yeah.

[Ronny Chieng]

Of all the things you wanna worry about cancer.

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah.

[Ronny Chieng]

This should be last on that list. Not even on the list at all.

[Charlie Davis]

Not on the list at all. Okay.

[Ronny Chieng]

That's correct.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay. Our second question is. Also comes from Twitter. Why can't we drink raw milk? This is from rfk. Incoming. Incoming President of Health.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay. Has he ever seen microbes that could be thriving in raw milk under a microscope?

[Charlie Davis]

I don't think this guy's seen any. This guy.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yeah. Yeah. If you. If you. Somebody should invite him to see what's going on there under a microscope.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay.

[Ronny Chieng]

He might. He might feel differently.

[Charlie Davis]

So what's your answer? Can we drink raw milk or not? Can we just unambiguously.

[Ronny Chieng]

You can drink anything that's liquid. It's just whether you care whether you die or get sick at the end.

[Charlie Davis]

Sorry.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yes, you can drink anything.

[Charlie Davis]

No, don't say that to the idiots. This is on the idiot. The idiots are watching. Stop. Don't say that. Don't. Do not.

[Ronny Chieng]

You could drink bleach. You could drink any of this. You will die. Okay. I'm just saying, if you want an esophagus when you're done one, don't drink bee bleach. Okay?

[Charlie Davis]

I feel like we're going from chemistry to Darwinism right now.

[Ronny Chieng]

Well, there's the Darwin Award. You know what the Darwin Award is?

[Charlie Davis]

I do know what you Do I do know what it is? Yes.

[Ronny Chieng]

It's people who are.

[Charlie Davis]

People who drink bleach.

[Ronny Chieng]

No, no. People do something completely stupid that kills themselves before they have children.

[Charlie Davis]

Yes.

[Ronny Chieng]

So that they're removed from the gene pool.

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah, yeah.

[Ronny Chieng]

It's a culling of the herd.

[Charlie Davis]

Let's applaud that in our heads. For legal reasons, we can't applaud that publicly.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay.

[Charlie Davis]

I can't. I got two more for you.

[Ronny Chieng]

Two more for me.

[Charlie Davis]

Two more. Okay. Is there a pill that can reverse the effects of the COVID 19 vaccine? This is from nominee for FBI director Kash Patel.

[Ronny Chieng]

Wow. A pill that will remove the effects.

[Charlie Davis]

Reverse the effects of the COVID 19 vaccine.

[Ronny Chieng]

Reverse the vaccine. Like, why would. Why would you want to do that, dude?

[Charlie Davis]

Hey, man, I'm just asking the question.

[Ronny Chieng]

So that you do that so that you can die from the virus.

[Charlie Davis]

I get.

[Ronny Chieng]

Look, as a free country, if that's what they want to do, I don't know that we can stop them.

[Charlie Davis]

No, but is there a pill? Is the answer to science.

[Ronny Chieng]

Oh, oh, I don't. Okay, okay. If such a pill exists, I know nothing of it.

[Charlie Davis]

So it might exist. It might exist.

[Ronny Chieng]

That's not what I said.

[Charlie Davis]

Yeah, that's kind of what you said. That's kind of what you said, man. Okay, last.

[Ronny Chieng]

Last one, last one. Give me one more here.

[Charlie Davis]

All right. Also from the Internet, can the government manipulate the weather with Jewish space lasers? This is from Anonymous Con. This is more in your realm. Astrophysics. This is what are the physics of Jewish space lasers. Does like the starlight focus the thing in.

[Ronny Chieng]

Ok. The prism of a laser will function as lasers do, no matter the religion of who invokes it.

[Charlie Davis]

You know, the more. The more you speak, the more it's like you're more like a Buddhist Zen master colon then scientist here.

[Ronny Chieng]

I'm just saying, when you turn on a laser, the religion of the person, it doesn't matter. Okay, that's a B. To worry that a space laser could affect the weather while we are simultaneously pumping CO2 into the atmosphere, possibly irreversibly changing the weather, seems to me to be a completely misguided, misprioritized sense of the world.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay, that's. Yo.

[Ronny Chieng]

The answer is no.

[Charlie Davis]

The answer is no.

[Ronny Chieng]

No. Not a maybe. No.

[Charlie Davis]

Just say that to the. Yeah.

[Ronny Chieng]

No.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay. No.

[Ronny Chieng]

All right.

[Charlie Davis]

Okay. Well, look, you can follow, you can get his book, but really, I mean, what a treasure that we have. We're alive around when Dr. Tyson is here to educate us. Hey, Mars is available now. Dr. Neil DeGrasse Tyson. We're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back after. That's our show for tonight. But before we go, today is Giving Tuesday. So please consider donating to One Simple Wish, a charity that grants wishes to children in foster care. If you can grant a wish or donate towards their holiday wish fund, please do so at the link below. Explore more shows from the Daily Show.

[Ronny Chieng]

Podcast universe by searching the Daily Show Wherever you get your podcasts, watch the Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount plus Paramount podcasts.

[Jeff Probst]

Survivor 47 is here, which means we're bringing you a brand new season of the only official Survivor Podcast, On Fire. And this season we are joined by fan favorite and Survivor 46 runner up Charlie Davis to bring you even further inside the action. Charlie, I'm excited to do this together.

[Charlie Davis]

Thanks Jeff. So excited to be here. And I can't wait to bring you inside the mind of a Survivor player for season 47.

[Jeff Probst]

Listen to on Fire, the official Survivor Podcast. Wherever you get your podcasts.