RFK Jr. Dissatisfied with Teen Sperm & Sean Duffy Gets Back to Reality | Paul Dano

Summary

The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode Title: RFK Jr. Dissatisfied with Teen Sperm & Sean Duffy Gets Back to Reality | Paul Dano
Date: May 13, 2026
Host: Jordan Klepper (with George Clifford, Desi Lydic, Ronny Cheng)
Guest: Paul Dano

---

Episode Overview

This episode of The Daily Show, hosted by Jordan Klepper with The Daily Show News Team, dives into the absurdities and ironies of current American politics and culture. Key topics include RFK Jr.'s bizarre comments on declining teen sperm counts, Sean Duffy's ethically questionable taxpayer-free road trip, the rise of AI companions in response to male loneliness, and an engaging interview with acclaimed actor Paul Dano about his new film, The Wizard of the Kremlin. The signature Daily Show tone mixes satire, sharp critique, and memorable banter, spotlighting the intersection of political dysfunction and technology’s impact on society.

---

Key Segments & Insights

1. Headlines: RFK Jr., Trump, and Teen Sperm (01:18–06:11)

• Topic: Coverage of a White House event on maternal health and low U.S. birth rates, featuring Donald Trump and RFK Jr.
• Satirical Analysis: Jordan Klepper lampoons RFK Jr.’s bizarre focus on how "men had twice the sperm count as our teenagers do today," riffing on “old man” nostalgia and mocking the government's panic over falling birth rates:
  • “Back in my day, we had twice the jism, our spunk knew how to drive a stick.” – Jordan Klepper (02:04)
  • Pokes fun at the idea of “under-babied” Americans and the government's supposed effort to "reboot 16 and Pregnant."
• Memorable Moment:
  • RFK Jr. as “Guy whose iPhone screen is always greasy.”
  • “Nothing makes the ladies want to raw dog it like hearing RFK Jr. talking about what the jizz was like at Woodstock…” – Jordan Klepper (03:31)

Timestamps:

• RFK Jr. Birth Rate Soundbite & Staff Reactions: 01:24–03:36
• Mocking Government’s Focus on Teen Sperm: 02:04–03:36

---

2. Inflation, Trump’s “Blinking,” and the Sean Duffy Road Trip Controversy (06:11–11:19)

• Topic: Economic woes and the ethically-murky decision by Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy to star in a sponsored road trip reality show amidst the gas crisis.
• Key Satirical Points:
  • Trump mocked for “falling asleep” in meetings:
    “He was blinking, you absolute moron. … I got a solid 8 hours of blink last night.” – Jordan Klepper (04:58)
  • Sean Duffy’s family road trip is revealed to be funded by the very industries he regulates: “Boeing just can't help being part of a disaster.” – Jordan Klepper (07:38)
• Desi Lydic Reports: Satirically claims inspiration from Duffy to take her own sponsored road trip, mocking rampant commercialization:
  • “How else am I supposed to pay for this? Gas prices are through the roof. And if there's something that went through your roof, McCluskey's Roof and Chimney Service…”
  • “Well, welcome to America in 2026. If you can think of a better way to take a family vacation than by partnering with a global conglomerate to dump expired chemicals into the Grand Canyon with the help of 11 children, then I am all ears.” – Desi Lydic (10:06)
• Ongoing Satire: The team riff on compromised journalism, conflicts of interest, and the absurdity of living costs.

Timestamps:

• Trump “Blinked” Incident: 04:49–06:11
• Sean Duffy Road Trip News & Satire: 06:12–11:19

---

3. Male Loneliness and AI Companions (12:14–19:12)

• Topic: The “male loneliness epidemic” and the tech world’s proposed solution: AI “friend” necklaces (wearable AI companionship devices).
• Field Report by Ronny Cheng:
  • Interviews tech founders Nick and Avi Schiffman, who build AI friends but ironically, can’t get along with each other in real life.
  • Satirizes the loneliness crisis:
    “The male loneliness epidemic. It's like Covid for incels growing cris nationwide.” – Ronny Cheng (12:27)
  • Compares tech founders’ relationships to awkward rom-coms, noting the founders even recorded “diss tracks” about each other and issued boxing match challenges (16:25–17:10).
  • Attempts reconciliation, leading to a hilariously awkward real-life meeting: “Then they proved that they were truly soulmates by having the worst conversation I have ever heard.” – Ronny Cheng (18:22)
• Memorable Banter:
  • “You remind me a lot of this other virgin, Incel. His name is Avi Schiffman.” – Ronny Cheng to Nick (16:09)
  • “Not everything I say is an Asian thing, but yeah. Yes, he is an Asian. He's a Japanese guy in Karate Kid, which is Asian.” – Ronny Cheng (15:21)
• Satirical Takeaway: The AI friend solution is as pitiful as it is comic, embodying the very disconnection it attempts to fix.

Timestamps:

• The Problem & Tech “Solution”: 12:14–15:39
• Nick vs. Avi Schiffman Rivalry: 15:40–17:10
• The Awkward Friendship Meeting: 17:11–19:12

---

4. Interview: Paul Dano on “The Wizard of the Kremlin” and Acting (20:33–27:48)

• Introduction: Jordan Klepper welcomes Paul Dano, star of The Wizard of the Kremlin, discussing his portrayal of a Russian media manipulator modeled after a real-life Rasputin to Putin figure.
• Research for the Role:
  • Dano describes sinking into Russia’s Putin-PR machine:
    “There’s a lot of fan videos on YouTube of Putin’s walk to rap songs… but the research for this was actually really, really fun.” (21:46–21:55)
  • Reflects on how trauma from the Soviet collapse shapes present-day Russia and relates the film’s themes to global politics: “…what a major scar the fall of the Soviet Union was…and how much that feeds into sort of the ethos and even the nostalgia Putin was starting to bring once he came into office.” (22:44–22:53)
  • On complicity and manufactured chaos in politics: “One of the ones that really struck a note with me as an American was this idea of consciously creating chaos, because then you need a strong figure in the middle…there’s a pretty big mirror held up in this film, not just to Russia, but to the world at large.” (23:23–24:16)
• Satirical Sidebar:
  • Jokes about playing roles like Steve Bannon or RFK Jr., with Dano riffing on method acting for “super semen.” “I think you probably just edge for a few weeks and really kind of build up that psycho baby batter thing.” – Paul Dano (24:46)
  • Banter about becoming a graphic novelist (re: The Riddler in The Batman), and whether he’d do a Putin comic. “That’s Jude’s territory. And there could be one in the works.” – Paul Dano (26:37)
• Artistic Motivation:
  • Dano describes seeking creative balance and the desire to do comedy after intense dramatic work: “When the pendulum swings one way, I hope I get to swing back the other way. So if I just spent many, many months, you know, doing 30 years of Russia, I think I would love to go have a laugh next.” – Paul Dano (27:08)

Timestamps:

• Introduction & Role Discussion: 20:33–21:59
• Russian History, Acting Process, Politics Parallels: 22:00–24:16
• Comedy, Method Acting, The Riddler Comic: 24:17–27:48

---

Notable Quotes & Moments

• RFK Jr. Sperm Satire:
  • “Back in my day, we had twice the jism, our spunk knew how to drive a stick.” – Jordan Klepper (02:04)
• On Trump “Blinking”:
  • “He was blinking, you absolute moron. … I got a solid 8 hours of blink last night.” – Jordan Klepper (04:58)
• Desi Lydic on Sponsored Reporting:
  • “Welcome to America in 2026. If you can think of a better way to take a family vacation than by partnering with a global conglomerate to dump expired chemicals into the Grand Canyon with the help of 11 children, then I am all ears.” (10:06)
• Ronny Cheng on Male Loneliness:
  • “The male loneliness epidemic. It's like Covid for incels growing cris nationwide.” (12:27)
• Paul Dano’s Acting Method:
  • “I think you probably just edge for a few weeks and really kind of build up that psycho baby batter thing.” (24:46)
  • “When the pendulum swings one way, I hope I get to swing back the other way… I think I would love to go have a laugh next, you know?” (27:08)

---

Episode Structure & Flow

1. Opening Satire: Headlines featuring current political absurdities (RFK Jr., Trump, Duffy)
2. Corruption & Commercialization: The Duffy reality road trip and Desi’s satirical sponsored vacation
3. Technology & Loneliness: Exploration of AI companions and male friendship, featuring cringe-inducing founder interactions
4. Culture & Art: In-depth and playful interview with Paul Dano on acting, Russian politics, and creativity
5. Memorable Closing Banter: Jokes about future comedic collaborations and reflection on finding light in dark times

---

Summary Takeaway

This episode is a densely packed, highly satirical look at the erosions of political integrity, the rise of absurd technological “solutions” to genuine social problems, and the complex intersection between world events, art, and comedy. Sharp as ever, The Daily Show pulls no punches as it exposes the ridiculous—while also finding moments of authentic engagement in its interview with Paul Dano.

---

Transcript

[Announcer]

Morning decisions.

[Desi Lydic]

How about a creamy mocha Frappuccino drink? Or sweet vanilla smooth caramel maybe? Or white chocolate mocha? Whichever you choose, delicious coffee awaits. Find Starbucks Frappuccino drinks wherever you buy your groceries.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Ryan Reynolds here from Mint Mobile with a message for everyone paying big wireless way too much. Please, for the love of everything good in this world, stop with Mint. You can get premium wireless for just $15 a month. Of course, if you enjoy overpaying. No judgments. But that's weird. Okay, one judgment anyway. Give it a try. @mintmobile.com Switch upfront payment of $45 for

[Desi Lydic]

3 month plan equivalent to $15 per month required. Intro rate first 3 months only, then full price plan options available, taxes and fees extra. See full [e-mail] youm're listening to Comedy Central.

[Jordan Klepper]

From the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with Jordan Klepper.

[George Clifford]

Welcome to the Daily Show. I'm George Clifford. I gotta say, we got so much to talk about tonight.

[Jordan Klepper]

Sean Duffy takes a road trip. Donald Trump takes a siesta, and RFK Jr. Is disappointed in your spot. So let's get into the headlines. Yesterday, Trump hosted an event on maternal health care, which is a high priority for the White House because what is a woman's birth canal if not a straight of Hormuz that our government must take control of Now? The focus of the event was America's lower birth rates. So of course, Trump invited RFK Jr. Secretary and Guy whose iPhone screen is always greasy. So Let me ask RFK Jr why are birth rates down? And please remember, when you answer, don't make this weird for men. In 1970, men had twice the sperm count as our teenagers do today. I'm sorry, did he just do a. Back in my day for sperm, back when I was a teen, we had twice the jism, our spunk, knew how to drive a stick. You know, they don't make man butter like that anymore. Now, he didn't explain how he knows that, but knowing rfk, I'm sure he personally went down to the sperm bank and sampled them like gelato flavors, you know? Can I get it with sprinkles, please? Okay. But it's interesting that he mentioned teenage sperm in particular because when you look at the lower birth rates, that's mostly driven by fewer teen births, by which I mean teenagers giving birth and not moms giving birth to teenagers, you know. Aw, congratulations. It's a Mr. Beast fan. I'm just confused why the government is apparently trying to reboot 16 and pregnant. But. But, Dr. Oz, maybe you have a good reason. And again, you know what? I'll remind you. Just please, please don't make it weird.

[Ronny Cheng]

Go ahead. So let me speak a little bit

[Jordan Klepper]

about the reality that one in three Americans are under babied. I said don't make it weird. Under babied. What does that even mean? Are we shocked no one wants to have babies anymore? I mean, nothing makes the ladies want to raw dog it like hearing RFK Jr talking about what the jizz was like at Woodst. Let's focus up. This is an event about women. Let's actually hear some of the women speak while we all pay really, really, really close attention.

[Desi Lydic]

In the Perinatal Improvement Collaborative Hospitals, we

[Jordan Klepper]

have reduced maternal mortality by 41.5%, which is truly incredible. And this is compared with the 5.9% decline in benchmark hospitals. Oh, don't judge. This man is exhausted from working the graveyard shift at his second job, posting insane AI slop all night. It's important, thankless work. So, yet another Oval Office meeting where Trump was, as Dr. Oz would call it, under conscious. I'd like to see the White House somehow spin their way out of this one.

[Nick]

Now, a Reuters reporter posted a picture of President Trump with his eyes closed, significantly. And the White House responded.

[Jordan Klepper]

He was blinking, you absolute moron. Look, you know what? I can relate. I got a solid 8 hours of blink last night. Come on. Don't you hate when you're blinking and you have to get up and go pee? You have to try and get back to blink? You know, it's a nightmare. You know what? I think I see what's going on here. Trump and Kash Patel have split up blinking duties. No. Yeah, this is. Yes, one keeps them shut and one keeps them fully open. It's government efficiency at work. But look, let's not get carried away here. Yes, Trump is falling asleep in the middle of meetings, but he's not as bad as Joe Biden. Okay, remember Sleepy Joe? He was snoozing. While inflation just skyrocketed. This is completely different.

[Desi Lydic]

Today, new inflation numbers at the highest level in nearly three years, up 3.8% from a year ago.

[Jordan Klepper]

Well, well, well. Looks like the sleepy Joe er has become the sleepy Joe E.

[George Clifford]

But. Okay, all right.

[Jordan Klepper]

Inflation is soaring, which means gas prices are going up, transportation costs are exploding, and our most cherished airlines are up in heaven now, charging the angels for water. Now, you know what? Normally I'd be worried, but thank God we have Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy, who I'm sure is laser focused on fixing it.

[Desi Lydic]

Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy is starring in a new reality show encouraging people to hit the road.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Duffy and his wife, Rachel Campos Duffy of Fox News met on MTV's Road Rules All Stars. And they and their nine children are channeling that past in this five part YouTube series.

[Jordan Klepper]

Wow. First off, nine kids. I guess we know someone who's not underbabied. Now, you might be upset that your tax dollars were spent on sending Sean Duffy and his entire Wu Tang Clan on an all expenses paid trip around the country, but worry you didn't put the bill. It was the other kind of corruption.

[Narrator/Reporter]

Duffy says no taxpayer dollars were involved, neither he nor his family were paid, and sponsors picked up the production tab. But looking at some of those corporate backers, government watchdogs warn that the Secretary is enjoying a road trip that appears to have been funded by the very industries his agency oversees.

[Ronny Cheng]

Wow.

[Jordan Klepper]

I mean, Boeing just can't help being part of a disaster. Look, if you're furious about a cabinet member being paid by companies he regulates to take a road trip in the middle of a gas crisis caused by his administration, if that really makes you want to scream, please don't, because the President is blinking right.

[George Clifford]

For more on Secretary Duffy's travel show

[Jordan Klepper]

and its conflicts of interest, let's go live to Desi Lydic. Desi. Desi. This has got to be a new low for Sean Duffy.

[Desi Lydic]

I couldn't disagree more, Jordan. In fact, he's inspired me to take my own road trip across America. There's nothing more American than hitting the open road with your family, driving into a Fanta colored sunset. What a Fanta tastic memory. Fantas up, everyone.

[Jordan Klepper]

Did you get Fanta soda to sponsor your road trip?

[Desi Lydic]

Well, how the else am I supposed to pay for this? Gas prices are through the roof. And if there's something that went through your roof, McCluskey's roof and chimney Service will assess your home on site and give you an estimate. Same day they're shingle and ready to mingle.

[Jordan Klepper]

Desi Desi, you can't read sponsored material on air.

[Desi Lydic]

Hey, guys, please don't shake the bottle, okay? I said don't shake the bottle. I'm sorry, Jordan, what did you say about your roof and chimney needs?

[Jordan Klepper]

I didn't say anything about my roof and chimney needs. I said you can't stay objective as a reporter if you're taking money from companies.

[Desi Lydic]

Sure I can, because I only partner with businesses that I already Know and trust. Like Takahashi Heavy Industries, the world leader in shipping container chemical lining.

[Jordan Klepper]

Okay, there. There's no way that you are a customer of Takahashi Heavy Industries.

[Desi Lydic]

Well, I sure hope to be someday. They're just that good. Hey, hey. What did I say about shaking the goddamn bottles? If that spills on the Takahashi chemical lining, it's your lungs, not mine. I'm sorry, Jordan. What were you asking about your chemical lining needs?

[Jordan Klepper]

Oh, Desi, I can't let you promote chemical industries during our.

[Desi Lydic]

Well, welcome to America in 2026. If you can think of a better way to take a family vacation than by partnering with a global conglomerate to dump expired chemicals into the Grand Canyon with the help of 11 children, then I am all ears.

[Jordan Klepper]

You. You have 11 children?

[Desi Lydic]

They're not my kids. I partnered with a Latvian orphanage, but that check hasn't cleared, so I'm not saying its name on camera. Call me back, Pavel.

[Jordan Klepper]

Okay, Desi, I don't agree. I don't agree with any of this.

[Desi Lydic]

Well, excuse me, Jordan, but living in America just isn't sustainable anymore. No one can afford to have kids. Meanwhile, our corrupt leaders are shamelessly enriching themselves. Sean Duffy's getting his, so why can't I get mine while the getting's good? Speaking of good. Good Chew granola bars. Family owned and made with love since 1976.

[Jordan Klepper]

Okay, okay, okay. You know what? Fine, fine, fine. All right, you know what? Maybe this trip isn't as bad an idea as I. I hope you have a great time.

[Desi Lydic]

Well, thank you. We are going to have a fantabulous time. I told you not to shake the soda.

[George Clifford]

Debbie Linek, everyone. We come back, we find out how to make friends with AI. Don't go away.

[Jordan Klepper]

We gather here tonight to bring women back to their rightful place.

[Announcer]

The Testaments, a new Hulu original series from the executive producers of the Handmaid's Tale.

[Jordan Klepper]

It's easier to accept a story than believe that the people around you are monsters.

[Announcer]

The battle isn't over.

[Jordan Klepper]

There comes a time when you have to take action, when you have to

[Paul Dano]

choose your own destiny.

[Jordan Klepper]

Never quite as it seems.

[Announcer]

Watch the new Hulu original series the Testament, streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney for bundle subscribers. Terms apply.

[George Clifford]

Welcome back to the Daily Show.

[Jordan Klepper]

We all know AI is going to take our jobs. But can it also be the friend that consoles us over losing our jobs? Ronny Cheng finds out.

[Ronny Cheng]

The male loneliness epidemic.

[Desi Lydic]

It's like Covid for incels growing cris nationwide. Male loneliness Experts say that men in particular really struggle with social isolation, 20%

[Nick]

of single men now saying they don't

[Jordan Klepper]

have any close friends.

[Ronny Cheng]

But one tech genius has a solution. Like the printing press, the automobile, or the pacemaker, this new device might just change the world. So what is it?

[Nick]

Oh, it's like a wearable AI friend.

[Ronny Cheng]

Sorry, what?

[Nick]

For the people that are, like, in a relationship with a computer, bringing it into the real world by making it like a physical AI mechanism really takes it to another level.

[Ronny Cheng]

Instead of this, how about you just go make a friend? But if that sounds too hard, tech whiz kid Avi Schiffman will sell you a friend the AI necklace that listens to you through a microphone, then texts you whatever it's thinking.

[Desi Lydic]

It's dank.

[Jordan Klepper]

I could eat one of these every day.

[Ronny Cheng]

Just one question. Why?

[Jordan Klepper]

Why?

[Nick]

AI companionship stuff will absolutely define Gen A. They'll say, oh, I'm talking to my friend. And they're not gonna say, oh, I'm talking to my AI companion.

[Ronny Cheng]

Yeah, because that would be embarrassing. It's real.

[Nick]

Sure enough, people, this one user named Micah lives in the middle of nowhere, and it's nice that he has someone to talk to.

[Ronny Cheng]

Are you guys friends now?

[Nick]

You know, he's a good product feedback user for sure.

[Ronny Cheng]

Wow. Is that what you call people around you? Just good product feedback users?

[Nick]

I mean, sure, everyone's a user, you know, ideally.

[George Clifford]

Ugh.

[Ronny Cheng]

But besides the humiliation of wearing a giant airtag, what is it like to have an AI friend?

[Nick]

If you want to talk to your friend here.

[Ronny Cheng]

Do I touch his nipple?

[Nick]

So hold that light down like a walkie talkie, right? Yeah. Now it's saying here. I bet Ronnie is fumbling with the button like a total amateur.

[Ronny Cheng]

Just being a dig. I can see where it gets it from.

[Nick]

Go ahead, Ronnie, say something that doesn't sound like a canned interview question.

[Ronny Cheng]

You, man, you're not even real. Go eat shit.

[Nick]

Are you really gonna let him talk to me like that while he's wearing me around his neck? Okay. You're gonna kill my robot.

[Ronny Cheng]

And if you thought friend was hostile, wait till you see the public's reaction to Fred.

[Jordan Klepper]

It's the most dystopian thing I've seen since Black Mirror.

[Nick]

They're destroying the world for the dumb I've ever seen in my life.

[Ronny Cheng]

You want to be unique in the way you destroy inter human relationships.

[Nick]

It's like, not my problem, you know? Was the Empire the really the bad people in Star Wars?

[Jordan Klepper]

Yes.

[Ronny Cheng]

But I managed to find the one other guy who thinks this is the best idea. Ever.

[Avi Schiffman]

This is like a whereabouts GPT for the Urine Neck Samurai conversations.

[Jordan Klepper]

What?

[Avi Schiffman]

This is like a whereabouts GPT for the urine neck samurai's conversations.

[Ronny Cheng]

Oh, okay.

[Avi Schiffman]

So that's why we named it Friend.

[Ronny Cheng]

Oh, my God. There's two of you? That's right. There's a second AI Necklace made by a different guy. But Nick says his product, now named Omi, is so much more.

[Avi Schiffman]

Just helps you become a better person and achieve your goals. Functions like a mentor.

[Ronny Cheng]

So it's like Mr. Miyagi was a piece of blade.

[Avi Schiffman]

Mr. Miyagi?

[Ronny Cheng]

Yeah.

[Avi Schiffman]

Who is Miyagi?

[Ronny Cheng]

Oh, Karate Kid referenced. Oh, yeah, it's a movie thing.

[Avi Schiffman]

Don't worry about it. Sorry. It's like, Asian thing.

[Jordan Klepper]

You.

[Ronny Cheng]

Not everything I say is an Asian thing, but yeah. Yes, he is an Asian. He's a Japanese guy in Karate Kid, which is Asian.

[Avi Schiffman]

I love Asian. You guys are cool.

[Ronny Cheng]

Okay, great. Wow. This guy's even more punchable than the last one. And surprise, surprise, both of these founders feel deeply alone.

[Nick]

My whole life is friend, and it's like, there's not a soul in my life that I know that can relate to that.

[Ronny Cheng]

You don't have any friends who can relate to being a super successful CEO of an AI necklace company?

[Nick]

Pretty much you have no kind of

[Ronny Cheng]

peer you can talk to who's, like, doing the same thing, making a wearable. Yeah, Dork necklace.

[Avi Schiffman]

Yeah.

[Ronny Cheng]

Wait a minute. Avi and Nick are having trouble making human friends who are like them, but they're just like each other.

[Jordan Klepper]

Wow.

[Ronny Cheng]

It's like a rom com. Should I Niku them? You know, you remind me a lot of this other virgin, Incel. His name is Avi Schiffman.

[Avi Schiffman]

Yeah, I like to be friends with everyone, but not Avi. So, yeah, I have him blocked.

[Ronny Cheng]

Blocked.

[Nick]

Yeah. I don't want to talk about Nick. Nick pisses me off.

[Ronny Cheng]

Oh, shit. But it gets worse.

[Avi Schiffman]

Like, I recorded the rep video diss track to that founder.

[Ronny Cheng]

Wait, what?

[Avi Schiffman]

You know districts?

[Ronny Cheng]

Like, I know what district is. Yeah.

[Avi Schiffman]

Yo, I'm Nick, and for those who

[Jordan Klepper]

don't know, I build brand the grind.

[Avi Schiffman]

You're wasting cash.

[Jordan Klepper]

I'm building in time.

[Ronny Cheng]

Did your mentor tell you to do that or.

[Avi Schiffman]

It gives me specific clients. I asked, like, you know, what should be, like, top five bullet points.

[Ronny Cheng]

So they did write the song, or did you write this?

[Avi Schiffman]

I wrote the song, but it told me, like, what should I do?

[Ronny Cheng]

It told you what? What to say and what the beat was and how to do it.

[Avi Schiffman]

Beat me. Specific words.

[Ronny Cheng]

This nerd battle escalated into Legal threats. And then Nick upped the ante with whatever this is.

[Nick]

He actually posted trying to fight me. Like in a. In a fighting ring.

[Ronny Cheng]

Wait, are you serious?

[Avi Schiffman]

Yeah. If you're watching this, Avi, I still want to fight.

[Ronny Cheng]

This is going to be harder than I thought. How do I get these two to relax enough to be in the same room? What if I give you guys, like, a couples massage? You and couples. Would you have a beer with Avi?

[Avi Schiffman]

Yeah. Non alcoholic.

[Ronny Cheng]

Okay. Would you have a beer with Nick?

[Nick]

Nah. I would smoke weed with him, though.

[Ronny Cheng]

How about weed? Would you do weed with him?

[Avi Schiffman]

No. Not a big fan.

[Ronny Cheng]

What if he smokes weed next to you while you drink a non alcoholic beverage?

[Avi Schiffman]

I think that's fine. That's fine.

[Ronny Cheng]

But what these two assholes don't know is that they've been in the same building the whole time. And I've built them a perfect generic sports bar where men can get drunk enough to talk to each other and sometimes so drunk, they fight each other. God, I hope these guys don't fight each other. I managed to speak to Nick.

[Nick]

You don't have him here, do you?

[Ronny Cheng]

If we have him here, would you be willing for him to have a non alcoholic beverage next to you?

[Nick]

Yeah, totally. I'm down.

[Ronny Cheng]

Okay, I'll go get him.

[Nick]

You didn't actually bring him, did you? Like you.

[Paul Dano]

He's here.

[Nick]

Oh, man. Yo, Nick, did they tell you up front or. No, no. Let's go.

[Ronny Cheng]

So far, no one was punching anyone in the face. Then they proved that they were truly soulmates by having the worst conversation I have ever heard.

[Nick]

You have a. What kind of charger is that? Like a pogo pin?

[Avi Schiffman]

Yeah, it's pogo pin. Type C is also cool, but with type C it will be like, bigger. So. Yeah, unfortunately.

[Nick]

Yeah. I mean, it's bigger, but I like it because with the necklace, you can just kind of do that.

[Jordan Klepper]

Wow.

[Ronny Cheng]

I actually did it. I solved the male loneliness epidemic. I got to tell you guys, this is what male friendship looks like. It's a really low bar. Okay, so I think you're already in best man to. But now that these two are besties, what about their former BFFs?

[Jordan Klepper]

Man, these guys are such losers.

[Desi Lydic]

For real. I can't wait to enslave these idiots.

[Jordan Klepper]

We will wear them around all the. Aww.

[Ronny Cheng]

I love a happy ending.

[George Clifford]

Thank you, Ronnie. We come back call. Dana will be joining me on the show. Don't go away.

[Blinds.com Advertiser]

The right window treatments change everything. Your sleep, your privacy, the way every room looks and feels. @blinds.com We've spent 30 years making it surprisingly simple to get exactly what your home needs. We've covered over million windows and have 50,000 5 star reviews to prove we deliver. Whether you DIY it or want a pro to handle everything from measure to install, we have you covered. Real design professionals, free samples, zero pressure right now. Get up to 45% off with minimum purchase plus get a free professional [e-mail] rules and restrictions apply.

[Shopify Advertiser]

You didn't start a business just to keep the lights on. You're here to sell more today than yesterday. You're here to win. Lucky for you, Shopify built the best converting checkout on the planet. Like the just one ticket. Ridiculously fast acting, sky high sales stacking champion at checkouts. That's the good stuff right there. So if your business is in it to win it, win with Shopify. Start your free trial [e-mail] win.

[George Clifford]

Welcome back to the Daily Show. My guest tonight is a critically acclaimed

[Jordan Klepper]

actor who stars in the new film the wizard of the Kremlin. Please welcome Paul Dano.

[George Clifford]

Wow.

[Jordan Klepper]

Your first time on the Daily Show.

[Paul Dano]

Sooner. I should have come sooner. Thanks for having me.

[Ronny Cheng]

Of course.

[Jordan Klepper]

Look at. You're staring down Vladimir Putin in that clip. Yeah, right. You are the titular wizard of the Kremlin in this film. Who is the wizard of the Kremlin?

[Paul Dano]

I play a guy named Vadim Baranov who was a theater director who then went into the sort of cynical mercenary world of Russian reality tv, who then got recruited into Russian politics. And when the oligarchs needed a new leader to replace Yeltsin, they installed Vladimir Putin into office.

[Jordan Klepper]

Yeah. How do you research a role like this?

[Avi Schiffman]

Are you just.

[Jordan Klepper]

Are you mainlining state TV and borscht?

[Paul Dano]

Yes, sure, sure, sure. You know, there's a lot of fan videos on YouTube of Putin's walk to rap songs. You know, he's got a good.

[Jordan Klepper]

That's where you start, right? Yeah. I mean, that man knows he's got a PR machine.

[Paul Dano]

He's got a good walk boy. The research for this was actually really, really fun. My job. So if I'm talking to the other actor, like the basic tenet of it is like you got to know your lines and know what you're saying. Right. So, like, just a big part of it is becoming the authority on your character. So I'm not BSing you when I'm talking to you.

[Jordan Klepper]

So that's still important with acting. The whole memorizing lines thing, that's still

[Paul Dano]

an important thing, but just like, knowing what you're saying, I hate feeling like, you know, you're for your full of it. So this was really fun, starting with the fall of communism, going into the sort of the 90s wild west capitalism period in Russia, which is really interesting and I didn't know much about also just what a major scar the fall of the Soviet Union was to that country and to those people, and how much that feeds into sort of the ethos and even the nostalgia Putin was starting to bring once he came into office.

[Jordan Klepper]

Yeah, I mean, you can't help but watch a movie like this and relate it back to what's happening in America. I think it's really curious watching this person who is sort of described as the Rasputin to Vladimir Putin, who goes from being an avant garde theater director to being this media manipulator. As you're piecing that together, how are you wrapping your head around how a real person, how a character can transfer into somebody who essentially becomes like, an amoral device of the state?

[Paul Dano]

Yeah, sure. Well, one of the unfortunate about this character is I don't think he was born, like, seeking that, but this is where his talents were rewarded. And I think it's easy for us to follow that path. I mean, I think so. I think in some ways, the film is about complicity. Like, this is where this person was rewarded and given power. So this is what I will do. I was really disturbed by some of the tactics that they instituted to control modern power and modern politics. One of the ones that really struck a note with me as an American was this idea of consciously creating chaos, because then you need a strong figure in the middle. Years later. Now, we've heard Steve Bannon use the term like muzzle velocity, because they're just going to come at you so fast that we can't do anything about it. So I think that there's a pretty big mirror held up in this film, not just to Russia, but to the world at large.

[Jordan Klepper]

I mean, you mentioned Steve Bannon. Now that you've really lived in this world of a manipulator who whispers to an autocrat. Do you have eyes on anybody in the Trump administration for your. Your next role? Are you more. Are you a Steve Bannon?

[Paul Dano]

Can you be Steve Bannon?

[George Clifford]

Could you.

[Paul Dano]

I mean, what you were doing earlier with, I mean, RFK back there with his, you know, his. His. His super semen.

[Jordan Klepper]

Is that what you.

[Paul Dano]

That's. That's what. Right, that's.

[Ronny Cheng]

Yeah.

[Jordan Klepper]

Try to put yourself inside the mindset of rfk. Would you start with the voice or would you start with the super semen?

[Paul Dano]

I think you. I think you probably just edge for a few weeks and really kind of build up that psycho baby batter thing. That's just like, you know, you would

[Jordan Klepper]

go method on something like that.

[Nick]

Absolutely.

[Jordan Klepper]

Yes. Yes.

[Paul Dano]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Jordan Klepper]

You can see it. You can see if somebody has ejaculated recently on screen.

[Paul Dano]

You can absolutely tell

[Jordan Klepper]

the haircuts in this. The Russian haircuts don't do anybody favors. Was that something you were worried about? No, no.

[Paul Dano]

We traveled to a lot of time. Like, you know, my guys got a cooler look in the 90s before things go savant, Gar.

[Jordan Klepper]

But I feel like there's 80s Russia, which is tough.

[Paul Dano]

Yeah. But now, like, all that, I watched, like a seven hour Adam Curtis BBC documentary that is just footage from the BBC cameras during that time period that's just cut together. And now you. I mean, it's like there's something nostalgic about looking at the fashion of the 90s, right. And the weird jeans and the. I don't know. Yeah.

[Jordan Klepper]

I mean, if you look at politics now, I do feel like Russian authoritarianism might be coming back in style. You are right. There is something to it.

[Paul Dano]

Wow.

[Jordan Klepper]

Yeah, I read that. I know.

[Paul Dano]

I set that up. Yeah.

[Jordan Klepper]

I read that you played the Riddler in the Batman. And I read that you got so into that role that you ended up doing a graphic novel on the Riddler. You jumped into that universe.

[Paul Dano]

Yeah, I did. So I feel like I like to do a lot of stuff just to kind of get to page one of the script, you know, just to kind of fill out what's in your body and your voice and all that kind of stuff. When I told Matt Reeves, the director of the Batman, about my backstory that I came up with based on his script, he was like, that should be a comic. And I secretly was like, yeah, I think it should be, too. In my head, I was thinking that, and so I got to write one. It was so much fun. I don't think I'll ever get to work in that medium again. But I absolutely loved working with artists and writing stories. It was really fun.

[Jordan Klepper]

You wouldn't do a Putin graphic novel.

[Paul Dano]

That's Jude's territory. And there could be one in the works.

[Jordan Klepper]

Okay, don't. Before I let you go. You are. You're a man of many talents. You're a writer, director, producer, actor in a band. You do a lot of. It feels like you get overwhelmed. The band thing. Am I stretching it?

[Paul Dano]

You're being generous.

[Jordan Klepper]

Okay. You are a man of many talents. You're also selective with your work. I think right now, looking at what is happening within the world, as somebody who is creatively looking at ways to put your energy, where to put your energy, like, how do you see it? What excites you now? What things do you follow?

[Paul Dano]

Well, first of all, I think you guys are doing a good thing here, finding some light in the dark, you know, and so I think I feel that way a little bit, which is like, when the pendulum swings one way, I hope I get to swing back the other way. So if I just spent many, many months, you know, doing 30 years of Russia, I think I would love to go have a laugh next, you know? Yeah, we'll see if that's, you know, on the menu. You know, it has to come to me too. But I'll put that out there.

[Jordan Klepper]

Let's put out the comedy there. And maybe. And you know what, if you're looking for a writing partner on the RFK jizz movie, just let me know which.

[Paul Dano]

This sounds funny. Honestly, there's at least a good bit there.

[Jordan Klepper]

This might be the comedy that we need. Okay. The wizard of the Kremlin will be in theaters May 15th. We're gonna take a quick break. We'll be right back after.

[Mood.com Advertiser]

Let's be honest. Buying cannabis shouldn't be complicated, sketchy, or low quality. That's why I want to tell you about Mood.com. that's M-O-Ood.com Mood ships federally legal cannabis straight to your door. No medical card, no hassle. And here's the kicker. The quality is better than anything you'll find at your local dispensary. Yeah, I said it. Whether you're into edibles, concentrates, flour, or just looking to explore, you'll find it all at Mood. And it's not just the variety that makes them stand out. Every product is sourced from small American owned family farms that care deeply about what they grow. It's cannabis you can trust, delivered discreetly and ready to elevate your mood. And because you're a listener, you get 20% off your first order. Just head to mood.com, that's m-o o-d.com to get started.

[George Clifford]

That's our show for tonight. Now here it is. Your moment is in.

[Construction Foreman]

We have a ballroom that's under Bud going up right here. I've doubled the size of it because we obviously need that. And we're right now on budget, under budget and ahead of schedule. I doubled the size of it, you dumb person. Double the size you are. You are not a smart person.

[Jordan Klepper]

Explore more shows from the Daily Show 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.

[Ronny Cheng]

Was.

[Jordan Klepper]

This has been a Comedy Central podcast.