RFK Jr.’s Fiery Hearing, Rethinking Social Media | Filmmaker Rachel Mason

Summary

The Daily Show: Ears Edition – Episode Summary Title: RFK Jr.’s Fiery Hearing, Rethinking Social Media | Filmmaker Rachel Mason
Host: Michael Kosta
Release Date: January 30, 2025

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1. Opening Remarks and RFK Jr.'s Confirmation Hearing

The episode kicks off with host Michael Kosta introducing the main topics, highlighting Robert F. Kennedy Jr.’s (RFK Jr.) controversial confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Health. Kosta sets a critical tone toward RFK Jr., emphasizing his dubious history and anti-vaccine stance.

Notable Quote:

Michael Kosta [00:36]: “If there's an animal corpse anywhere in America, RFK Jr. is probably involved.”

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2. RFK Jr.'s Controversial Background and Anti-Vaccine Advocacy

Kosta delves into RFK Jr.'s contentious past, painting a picture of a man involved in bizarre and questionable activities. He underscores RFK Jr.'s long-standing opposition to vaccines, equating his potential leadership of America's vaccine programs to an ill-fitting role, much like “making Elon Musk a Walmart greeter.”

Notable Quote:

Michael Kosta [03:05]: “More than 15,000 doctors have signed a letter urging senators to vote against confirming him.”

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3. Opposition from Medical Experts and Family Members

The discussion shifts to the significant opposition RFK Jr. faces, notably from over 15,000 medical professionals and even his own family. Caroline Kennedy, RFK Jr.’s cousin, publicly condemns him, citing troubling personal anecdotes that further tarnish his reputation.

Notable Quote:

Caroline Kennedy [03:42]: “His basement, his garage, his dorm room were always the center of the action where drugs were available.”

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4. The Confirmation Hearing: Key Moments and Exchanges

Kosta provides a detailed account of RFK Jr.'s hearing, highlighting his inconsistent and contradictory statements about vaccines. RFK Jr.'s inability to defend his anti-vaccine rhetoric effectively during the hearing showcases his lack of preparedness and credibility.

Notable Quotes:

Robert F. Kennedy Jr. [05:54]: “I believe that vaccines play a critical role in health care. All of my kids are vaccinated.”

Michael Kosta [06:24]: “That is the worst answer to what you would do with a time machine that I have ever heard.”

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5. Senator's Unyielding Questioning

The hearing becomes a battleground as senators relentlessly question RFK Jr. about his past statements, revealing a pattern of misinformation and conspiracy theories. Bernie Sanders notably challenges RFK Jr. on his support for anti-vaccine merchandise, further discrediting him.

Notable Quote:

Senator [07:26]: “Did you say Lyme disease is a highly likely militarily engineered bioweapon?”

Bernie Sanders [08:35]: “Are you supportive of these onesies?”

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6. Comedic Interlude: The Polio Virus Character

In a signature Daily Show twist, the Polio Virus character hilariously interacts with Kosta, representing the real-world consequences of anti-vaccine sentiments. This segment satirizes the absurdity of RFK Jr.’s viewpoints and the broader anti-vaccine movement.

Notable Quote:

Polio Virus [11:17]: “Thanks to RFK Jr. I'm coming back. So you better kiss your little legs goodbye.”

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7. Transition to Social Media Discourse

Shifting gears, the conversation moves to the evolving landscape of social media. Kosta discusses the backlash against platforms run by Trump-aligned billionaires, highlighting the rise of alternative platforms like Blue Sky and the public’s growing dissatisfaction with traditional social media giants.

Notable Quote:

Grace Kuhlenschmidt [14:33]: “You're, like, about to punch me. Calm down. Trump sucks.”

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8. Interview with Filmmaker Rachel Mason: Ethical Concerns in Family Vlogging

The latter half of the episode features an insightful interview with Rachel Mason, a filmmaker behind the HBO docu-series An Update on Our Family. Mason explores the ethical dilemmas surrounding family vlogging, particularly the exploitation of children for online fame and profit. She discusses the blurred lines between personal life and public entertainment, raising critical questions about consent and the long-term impact on children involved in vlogging.

Notable Quotes:

Rachel Mason [18:25]: “Family vlogging is the practice of filming one's family for a channel, a YouTube channel usually, or, you know, social media generally.”

Michael Kosta [22:01]: “I am terrified to show my kids at all. ... It made me so angry that the parents are taking that from their kids.”

Mason elaborates on the challenges families face when their personal lives become public content, highlighting the lack of regulatory safeguards compared to traditional media. She underscores the necessity for ethical guidelines to protect children from exploitation in the digital age.

Notable Quote:

Rachel Mason [29:03]: “Can it be done ethically? I mean, I wish I actually had an answer to that.”

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9. Conclusion: Reflecting on Media Responsibility and Ethical Consumption

The episode wraps up with reflections on the responsibilities of both media creators and consumers. Kosta emphasizes the importance of critical thinking and ethical considerations in both public health policy and the consumption of digital media content.

Final Notable Quote:

Michael Kosta [30:40]: “And it's a tremendous docuseries. Thank you for making it.”

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Summary: In this episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition, Michael Kosta navigates through the contentious confirmation hearing of RFK Jr., critiquing his anti-vaccine stance and the substantial opposition he faces from both the medical community and his own family. The show seamlessly transitions to a broader discussion on the ethical implications of social media and family vlogging, featuring an in-depth interview with filmmaker Rachel Mason. Mason's exploration of her docu-series An Update on Our Family sheds light on the potential exploitation of children in the digital content creation sphere, prompting listeners to contemplate the balance between personal expression and ethical responsibility in the age of social media.

Throughout the episode, Kosta skillfully blends humor with critical analysis, using notable quotes and satirical segments to underscore the gravity of the issues discussed. The episode serves as a compelling examination of contemporary societal challenges, urging audiences to engage thoughtfully with both public health policies and the pervasive influence of social media.

Transcript

[Michael Kosta]

You're listening to Comedy Central.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

From the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, Michael Costa.

[Polio Virus]

Welcome to another show.

[Michael Kosta]

I'm Michael Kosta. We've got so much to talk about tonight. RFK Jr. Tries to act normal for a day. Americans figure out how to live without social media. And we'll tell you the worst way to kill a mouse. But first, let's get to the latest news on the Trump administration in another edition of the Second Coming of Donald J. Trump. I'm gonna come. Today is a big day for Donald Trump's cabinet and the government one, not the one filled with golf trophies he gave himself. That's because today was the world's weirdest episode of Curb youb Enthusiasm, also known as Robert F. Kennedy Jr. S confirmation hearing to lead the Department of Health. And look, we all remember the stories about this guy from the campaign. The cub he dumped in Central park, the time he sawed off the head of a dead whale and tied it to the roof of his car. The worm that died after eating part of his brain. Basically. If there's an animal corpse anywhere in America, RFK Jr. Is probably involved. But what most people are most concerned about when it comes to RFK Jr is his long history of speaking out against vaccines. And I'm not talking your run of the mill concerns like, should I still get a flu shot if I don't care about getting other people sick? Or do I need an HPV vaccine if I only do hand stuff? I'm talking about RFK Jr saying things like autism is caused by vaccines or that it's just not true that vaccines are why smallpox, measles, and polio were eradicated, or that there are no vaccines that are safe and effective. Basically, putting this guy in charge of America's vaccines is like making Elon Musk a Walmart greeter. Honestly, I'm going to tell RFK Jr. The same thing I tell myself every morning before I host the Daily are not qualified for this job. Don't clap at that. Don't clap. Don't clap at that. Don't clap. Shit. You're clapping because I am. And that's why medical experts around the country are saying, sounding the alarm ahead of the hearings.

[Rachel Mason]

More than 15,000 doctors have signed a letter urging senators to vote against confirming him.

[Michael Kosta]

Whoa, 15,000 doctors signed this letter? Of course, we don't know who they are because they all just signed it like this, but that's a big number. And Even his own family is coming out against him. Not only because of his medical views, he's also just not right in the old worm chamber. Caroline Kennedy, RFK Jr. S first cousin and the daughter of President John F. Kennedy, warning the senators tasked with confirming her cousin to be the nation's health secretary that they should vote no.

[Caroline Kennedy]

I've known Bobby my whole life. We grew up together. It's no surprise that he keeps birds of prey as pets, because Bobby himself is a predator. His basement, his garage, his dorm room were always the center of the action.

[Michael Kosta]

Center of the action. Cool dorm room. What's wrong with that? All right. And while you answer, I'll just take a sip of this delicious looking smoothie that RFK Jr. Sent me.

[Caroline Kennedy]

His basement, his garage, his dorm room were always the center of the action where drugs were available. And he enjoyed showing off how he put baby chickens and mice in a blender to feed to his hawks.

[Michael Kosta]

He was putting baby chickens and mice in a blender. And, ladies, you thought it was bad when a guy brought you back to his dorm room and busted out a guitar. Now, I'm not sure her statement will have much sway, because first of all, blending food, that's just how you feed a hawk. If you've ever looked at their nest, you see they have a little nutribullet right in there. And also, we all have a crazy cousin. It's the cousin rule of three. Right? There's a crazy one, a quiet one, and one that we secretly think is hot. What's up, Stephanie? But for real, are there no stories where Kennedy interacts with an animal like a normal person? Just once, I want someone to be like, yeah, one time, RFK went up to a dog and rubbed his belly. Instead, every story is like. And that's when RFK kicked a miniature horse in his vagina. But with all this baggage. His vagina, but with all this baggage. RFK Jr. Had one important thing he had to do when he sat down for his hearing today. Just try and sound slightly normal for like, two hours. Take it away, Bobby. What do you really believe about vaccines?

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

I believe that vaccines play a critical role in health care. All of my kids are vaccinated.

[Michael Kosta]

Man, that velvet voice is good enough for me. What are you gonna believe? His well documented, decades long record or the thing he said today when he was trying to get a job? Besides, all his kids are vaccinated. He definitely doesn't regret that. Right, Right.

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

What would I do if I could go back in time and I could avoid giving my children the Vaccines that I gave them. I would do anything for that. I would pay anything to be able to do that.

[Michael Kosta]

That is the worst answer to what you would do with a time machine that I have ever heard. You can't think of anyone else in your family that you would go back in time and try and try to prevent a shot from happening. Robert F. Kennedy, Jr. No one else. Which reminds me. You know what I've done? If I would have had a time machine, I would have gone back and made sure Stephanie and I weren't cousins. What's up, Stephanie? All right, let's get back on track. Kennedy was trying to present himself as a new man, but a lot of senators seemed determined to make sure he didn't run too far from his past.

[Senator]

Did you say Lyme disease is a highly likely militarily engineered bioweapon?

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

I probably did say that.

[Senator]

Did you say that COVID 19 was a genetically engineered bioweapon that targets black and white people but spared Ashkenazi Jews and Chinese people?

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

I didn't say it was deliberately targeted.

[Senator]

Did you write in your book, and it's undeniable that African AIDS is an entirely different disease from Western AIDS? Yes or no, Mr. Kennedy?

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

I'm not sure if I. Jesus Christ.

[Michael Kosta]

This guy has said so many things that he can't remember. If he said black AIDS is different from white aids, white AIDS is so bland and they put raisins in it. Don't bring that white AIDS to my cookout. This is. You guys aren't sure how to react to the voice. This is the story of the hearing. Senators would question him on past statements, and he would deny them now. One senator, though, actually brought receipts. Adorable receipts.

[Bernie Sanders]

Your organization is making money selling a child's product to parents for 26 bucks, which cast fundamental doubt on the usefulness of vaccines. One of them is titled Unfaxed Unafraid. Next one is no vax. No problem. Are you supportive of this clothing, which is militantly anti vaccine?

[Robert F. Kennedy Jr.]

I am supportive of vaccines.

[Bernie Sanders]

Are you supportive of these onesies?

[Michael Kosta]

Wow. Wow. I never realized how much I would enjoy Bernie Sanders talking about baby clothes. These little corduroy dungarees. Why do they have pockets? A baby doesn't need to carry around a wallet or car keys. Do you support that? But look, I'm not a doctor, and I have no basis for my medical opinions, much like RFK Jr. So if we're gonna criticize him, then in the interest of fairness, we here at the Daily show want to hear from one of his supporters. So For a different perspective, please welcome the polio virus.

[Polio Virus]

Hello. Hello, Michael. Thank you so much for having me on. Let's hug.

[Michael Kosta]

No, that's okay. That's okay. Polio. I don't want to get you, but how are you feeling after watching the hearings today?

[Polio Virus]

I feel reborn, Michael. Energized. I am excited to get back to work across America. We should celebrate. Let's breathe on each other.

[Michael Kosta]

No, no. I don't want get polio. I know the damage you've done to millions of Americans.

[Polio Virus]

Millions of amazing Americans. Take FDR, for example. I gave that man something to overcome. You know, I gave him a signature look. The wheelchair blanket combo. That was all me.

[Michael Kosta]

Okay?

[Polio Virus]

Oh, how about Francis Ford Coppola?

[Michael Kosta]

He. He had polio. Yes.

[Polio Virus]

And if he hadn't, who knows if he would have gone on and made that movie Megalopolis.

[Michael Kosta]

That's your Francis Ford Coppola movie.

[Polio Virus]

I know. I know. Yeah, most people say Godfather Part iii, but no.

[Michael Kosta]

No, they don't. You know, this is the same thing with rfk. I remember what you've done, and you're not gonna be able to trick me into being so friendly right now.

[Polio Virus]

Friendly? That. That's so sweet. Let's kiss.

[Michael Kosta]

No. No, thank you.

[Polio Virus]

Okay, fine, fine. Just let me spit in your mouth a little.

[Michael Kosta]

No, no.

[Polio Virus]

Look, I promise it's not gonna be like polio was before. You know, with all the canceled pool parties and the iron lungs. They're so clunky. I am working with a whole new team for my comeback this time.

[Michael Kosta]

Your team?

[Polio Virus]

Yes. RFK Jr. The TradWife community. Justin Baldoni's crisis PR firm.

[Michael Kosta]

Okay, I. I think life would be better if you didn't come back at all.

[Polio Virus]

Well, I'm sorry you feel that way. Can we just talk about it over drinks? Maybe we share a toothbrush.

[Michael Kosta]

Stop trying to infect me, Polio.

[Polio Virus]

This is my purpose, Michael. And you need to get on board, because RFK is gonna be confirmed, and I'm gonna be everywhere. Schools, hospitals, plane, bus club, nother club, nother club.

[Michael Kosta]

I get it.

[Polio Virus]

Next place.

[Michael Kosta]

I get it. I get it.

[Polio Virus]

The point is, thanks to RFK Jr. I'm coming back. So you better kiss your little legs goodbye, because once I get in those neurons, I'm gon. Sorry. Excuse me. I'm gonna be ruining all of polio.

[Michael Kosta]

Wait. Are you all right?

[Polio Virus]

Yeah. So I just. I keep coughing, and I'm getting red splotches all over my body.

[Michael Kosta]

It sounds like you have measles. Did you get your measles vaccine?

[Polio Virus]

No. RFK Jr. Said I didn't need one. Did he not know what he was talking about?

[Comedy Central Announcer]

Oh, no.

[Polio Virus]

I'm disappearing. I need true love's kiss. Michael, hurry. Lick my tongue.

[Michael Kosta]

Um, you. You know what? I'm just. I'm just gonna let him die. Polio. Everyone. He's dead. When we come back, we find out what you really think of social media. So don't go. Welcome back to the Daily Show. You might remember during the presidential campaign, Elon Musk jumped like a dork into the race for Donald Trump, and that caused a backlash for his website. The social media platform Blue Sky, a competitor to X, has gained millions of followers in the weeks following the presidential election, a trend due in part to dissatisfied liberals leaving the. Elon Musk owned X. Yeah, that'll show Elon Musk. You know, I'm gonna waste my life pushing a different set of buttons on my phone. Ha ha ha. Tell my kids I never saw them. Of course, Elon isn't the only social media boss who's drifted towards Trump. Grace Kuhlenschmidt asked New Yorkers what they think about their favorite platforms.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

Right now, the world is up in arms about social media companies being run by Trump aligned billionaires. But are they mad enough to get off the apps? Let's put this on TikTok and find out.

[Polio Virus]

That actually made me so mad.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

You seem pissed. Yeah, it definitely just feels very propaganda. Incredibly angry to see it so blatantly broadcasted that, like, the wealth of. I mean, combined wealth of, like, trillion dollars sits right in front of the cabinet next to the president. I mean, do you think the anger is justified? 100%. Yes. Yes, yes. Completely 100%. You guys are so pissed. You're, like, about to punch me. Calm down. Trump sucks.

[Polio Virus]

So it's kind of.

[Michael Kosta]

I don't know.

[Polio Virus]

I just feel like he's gonna be.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

Pissed to hear you say that, Beth. He really likes you. What apps are you mostly on? Instagram and TikTok, definitely. Okay, gotcha. I'm on Instagram and Snapchat. Okay, Instagram and X. You're on X. Oh, my God. So if you mostly use Instagram, at what point would you be like, okay, I have to get off this app.

[Polio Virus]

When I'm opening Instagram, I'm not being run by Mark Zuckerberg. I'm just like, I'm deciding, like, all right, I'm gonna go on here and yeah, like, kind of finding more cooking things to be done with me.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

So if it's like an amazing one. Pot Pasta recipe. You're like, it's actually fine that this is being monetized to Trump. Yeah.

[Polio Virus]

I'm like, I don't. I don't.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

Do you think you'd be willing to pick an app and delete one with me today? We don't even need social media when we have books like this. Like, I'll read just a little.

[Polio Virus]

Okay.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

Okay. I won't bore you. Tuesday, mixed berries and chia seeds. Wednesday, honey and Greek yogurt. So what would it take you to delete the app? Instagram. Mm.

[Rachel Mason]

Oh.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

I mean, I deleted it last week. I'll probably delete it again. We don't need it. But you do say you keep redownloading it. I do. So what do you think Mark Zuckerberg could do to make you kind of kick it out? I don't know. I've probably already done enough. Yeah, we probably should delete the app. Do you guys want to do it? I read now, wait. I saw this post that was like.

[Rachel Mason]

People get FOMO from not being on social media, but then they get FOMO from real life from being on social media.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

Oh, fact. Is that, like, really meta? No, no, I get. I need to go back to school. That went so over my head. All right, I'll delete with you.

[Polio Virus]

Can we do it together?

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

Yeah, we'll do it together.

[Polio Virus]

This is a beautiful moment.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

So I'm gonna delete Airbnb.

[Polio Virus]

I don't know.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

It doesn't count. But for the sake of this, I mean, here, you could choose one.

[Michael Kosta]

No.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

Go with Airbnb, because I don't stop renting little houses. We'll delete it after one, okay?

[Polio Virus]

Okay.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

So three, two, one, Delete.

[Polio Virus]

All right, ready? Three, two, one. You're such a coward. You're such a.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

It's not cowardly. You don't understand these. We were doing this together.

[Polio Virus]

You don't understand.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

I'm addicted.

[Michael Kosta]

We're doing this together.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

I can't do it, and I can't get off. Come to the camera. Wow. I really got people to change their minds and delete these apps and divest from billionaires. So go ahead and, like, follow and subscribe for more.

[Michael Kosta]

Thank you, Grace. When we come back, Rachel Mason will be joining me on the show. Don't forget. Welcome back to the Daily Show. My guest tonight is a filmmaker whose new HBO documentary series is called An Update on Our Family. Please welcome Rachel Mason. Rachel Mason is here. How fun is this?

[Rachel Mason]

Wow.

[Michael Kosta]

How fun is this?

[Rachel Mason]

I'm tripping.

[Michael Kosta]

You're tripping. You're usually them pointing the camera at somebody.

[Rachel Mason]

Oh, yeah, I'm never on this side ever. So cool, man.

[Michael Kosta]

This docu series is excellent, excellent, excellent. I was mad. I was Matt again. I felt something. I felt I had all different perspectives. What is family vlogging for those of us that don't know? Wow.

[Rachel Mason]

Well, I'm glad those reactions all happened because that was what we felt while we were working on the show. And I say we because, you know, documentaries are made collectively with a bunch of people. And family vlogging is the practice of filming one's family for a channel, a YouTube channel usually, or, you know, social media generally.

[Michael Kosta]

Who is watching? I mean, I don't even want to look at my friend's kids pictures. But then these families have millions of subscribers and views and brand deals. What's the appeal?

[Rachel Mason]

I mean, this is why we needed Hannah Cho, who, if you watch our series, guides us through because she's the ultimate fan. And I had those same questions watching the content, but realizing this is one of YouTube's biggest verticals. So billions of views are on these videos. It is huge and vast. And that's why in the opening of our series, we actually talk about the draw that shows like the Kardashians or the Osbournes have had for years. And even going back earlier, there were other shows like on pbs, which people sometimes watch, which is, you know, that's where it all started. Like people watched these families doing their thing and there is a draw, but.

[Michael Kosta]

I know it doesn't always seem like it, but traditional tv, there are some guardrails, there are producers, there are people that come over here in between the act and say, michael, you up? You're not coming to work tomorrow.

[Rachel Mason]

Yeah, Exactly.

[Michael Kosta]

But for YouTube, the producer, the writer, the accountant, the HR, it's the mom, it's the dad.

[Rachel Mason]

Exactly. And it's so.

[Michael Kosta]

And the actors are the kids. So let's talk about the E word. I don't know what that is. No, exploitation is the E word. Oh, yeah, I thought let's talk about exploitation.

[Rachel Mason]

Okay.

[Michael Kosta]

Yeah, these families are profiting financially, but so much of their content is a six year old playing in a sandbox or refusing to eat the dinosaur chicken nuggets or whatever. Is this exploitation?

[Rachel Mason]

I mean, that's the central question here. And I think this also takes us into larger questions about kids in entertainment as well. Because learning about family channels, it really, you know, when I was doing the research for it, I was actually thinking, well, what kid could we find that I could say, what was it like for you doing this. And, you know, there's hardly any who are old enough, although a few that are have come out recently and spoken. But when we were making the series, it was hard to find them. So I actually realized, oh, well, I guess we could turn to the world of regular entertainment and those kids that grew up on some level on TV and in a similar way, I had that thought. Well, yes, they consented, but did they fully consent at age 6? You know, yeah. And you wonder that. So there's always that dynamic where a parent might really want to do this thing. And yeah, that question exists around kids.

[Michael Kosta]

I am terrified to show my kids at all. And that's my moral code. That's not because they're uggos. I don't like. I don't like that my daughter is five now starts to notice when the camera's out and behave differently for the camera. Right. That was a. It feels to me like the one pure, innocent thing that's left is a child's belief in the world and innocence. And to me, this is me watching your wonderful docu series. It made me so angry that the parents are taking that from their kids. Is that. Is that a fair reaction?

[Rachel Mason]

I mean, I think that's a really poignant. And that is.

[Michael Kosta]

I'm trying to get you to say yes, but you're not gonna. Because that's what this docu series does so well is it gets you to think about a lot of different things. And that was important to you and are you a parent and did that inform you making this.

[Rachel Mason]

Yeah. No. I have a son who's 12 now. And I think about that because actually, I think that distinction is also pretty big. Weirdly, from 6 to 12. 12. Like, good luck getting your phone out of a 12 year. Everyone has a phone and they're playing a million games and they're doing all this stuff. And I had that initial thought, like, you'll never ever get a phone, ever. Okay, well, how did you suddenly get a phone? And it's like this weird thing. And then also, you'll never ever look at YouTube and there's just no way to avoid it is what I've learned. So then the question is, well, how do we sort of manage it and put guardrails in place? And I will say, some people that I look at and I'm like, wow, you post all the time. And I'm gonna judge that. But then, you know, I have to say, like, there've been a couple times, like, he went to soccer game. I Wanted to show this thing something really cool. And I know some of my friends who I never see will wanna see this thing. And there is the cool, good factor of sharing photos. And these apps have made that possible, you know, in this way. So I think there's just this moral question that is needed to be discussed by smart people.

[Michael Kosta]

Like, you know, my daughter in the morning, she'll say, can I watch tv? And I'll say, no. And she'll say, can I watch you on tv? And I'll say, you know what? That doesn't sound like a terrible idea. She knows that that'll work. Let's talk about the Stauffers and let's talk about this is the family that the docu series really focuses on. Tell us a little bit about them and what went down.

[Rachel Mason]

Well, in a lot of ways, the Stauffers were almost like an average family vlogger account. They did everything right in the world of what you do and what YouTube actually incentivizes you to do. And they had all the things, you know, you have a charismatic, good looking couple, you have kids and it all works. And you know, this sort of set of things that you do for your channel that work really well in that environment. And so the Stauffers were just chugging along. And as you learn from our series, having kids is good content. So every time they had a kid, it would do well for them. And that is not only do well.

[Michael Kosta]

They can actually see the analytics and see that with these kids and new kids, our viewership goes up, our subscribers goes up, our money goes up.

[Rachel Mason]

Yeah.

[Michael Kosta]

What does that lead to?

[Rachel Mason]

So then, and in 2017, after they've been running this for a while, they decide to adopt a kid from China. And there's a myriad of reasons why they decide a kid from China makes sense for their channel and for their family and their life. And it all is very public. Yes, extremely public. And the fans are immediately like, woo, let's do this. As though it's like a group decision.

[Michael Kosta]

Yeah.

[Rachel Mason]

And that's the kind of thing that I think our series really gets into is like, okay, these really personal things, like suddenly exposed, take on a life of their own and morph and like, should these things be even allowed to have this large audience? You know, you're making a massive decision for your life and for another person's life and suddenly tons of people are weighing in on that.

[Michael Kosta]

I would never see a family at the park and think I can weigh in on their family decisions. But because they've Overshared for so long, years I've developed a relationship with them, and now I have the right to say, hey, you're doing that incorrectly, or.

[Rachel Mason]

Exactly.

[Michael Kosta]

And, man, is it wild what goes down.

[Rachel Mason]

It is. Yeah. So what ends up happening is after having him integrated in the family for a few years, they make a decision to dissolve the adoption.

[Michael Kosta]

Yeah.

[Rachel Mason]

And I know. Oh, God, hearing you guys make that sound, it's so real.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

Wow.

[Rachel Mason]

Nobody. You live in documentaries. You're just editing. You don't have real people responding.

[Michael Kosta]

But, you know, and I heard that sound, and I thought, we're gonna get so many more views on YouTube. That's why I'm sitting right here. That's how I think.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

Wow.

[Michael Kosta]

No, but that's how people. That's how we watch this docu series. Like this. Why did they do that? And then, of course, I pause it to get a glass of water. My wife's, like, reading the whole story on Wikipedia, ruining it. But.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

Right.

[Michael Kosta]

Yeah. Yeah. And so that's when this thing kind of turns and then the commenters take over, right?

[Rachel Mason]

Yeah. And so, in a way, these two things intersect. You know, the most horrific decision happening in the family's life and the life of, you know, this child. Everything is just suddenly, that's their decision. They dissolve the adoption, but then at the same time, the Internet crushes them. And I mean, unbelievable. When I. Some of the. Some of the things that drew me into the story were the actual videos in response, because they were terrifying. I was like, oh, my God. The level of anger, which is also an understandable level of anger. But when so many people are sending death threats and going crazy on YouTube.

[Michael Kosta]

How dare you do that to those children? I'm going to slit your children's throat. What?

[Rachel Mason]

That's true.

[Michael Kosta]

Wait a sec. You know, I just would say to all YouTube commenters, you'll have a lot more success with your comment if you don't threaten life or killing. You can make good points without threatening life, but that's not where we're at, is it? No. So let's talk about, you know, in film and tv, there are child protection and laws in place. Coogan's law. Is that right? Coogan law. Yeah, but that does not exist in YouTube or vlogging world.

[Rachel Mason]

There have been some changes in the last few years. Like a couple of states, Illinois, and I think it's Ohio, and then also California have made inroads into changing certain things. In fact, I think one of the laws was actually very much limiting certain amounts of time when Your child is. Because a kid could technically work a full eight hour day. Yeah, 12.

[Michael Kosta]

I mean, that's what's so disheartening to me. It's like the parents are at the playground with their kids and the mom or the dad is going, okay, thanks for watching everybody. It's like, hey, put it down. You know, go play with the kid. But that is work. They could potentially make money off of that, right? I wish I made money when I took my kid to the playground. I mean, playing princess and king and all that shit. And I'm just, I look at, after I do it, I look at it and I say, I actually lost my doing this. Can you family vlog in a ethical way that's non exploitative to your children? I know you're a director of a document, you're a director of a docuseries. You're not the ethical leader of the entertainment industry, but you like to tackle ethics in entertainment.

[Rachel Mason]

Yeah, I'm glad you're asking that question because the thing that sucks so bad is that when I met these people, I actually liked them. I was like, you're a good person and I think you're actually doing good by your kids. And they were cool, like reasonable. And then what I started to realize was that, wow, you got in over your head. And this thing snowballed and the industry snowballed and like, holy crap, like, we're catching up to it. Which is also why one of the greatest comments I thought was by one of the YouTubers himself, Harold Earls. He said, you know, YouTube likes to try to pull your content to the edges and we have to fight against it. So I could see that, you know, if you're in over your head or the thing is doing this, you're trying. And I was thinking, wow, okay, so you're really trying to be wholesome and.

[Michael Kosta]

Earnest or to at least show that.

[Rachel Mason]

Well, and that's the other side of it, is that this world of facade, that can feel absolutely ridiculous. And you know, so I think this. We have regular people that have gotten sucked into, as you said, a complete and total world of entertainment, but they don't have, you know, the guy right there who is like a story producer. You know what, let's. It's not gonna work. Or the executive being like, we cannot do this. They're just. Your fans are wanting this. Give it to them. And it's, can it be done ethically? I mean, I wish I actually had an answer to that. But I think this is where the really big question exists for the social media companies. Like, what do you guys think? Can we figure this out?

[Michael Kosta]

And your job isn't to answer. Your job is to help us ask the question. And it's a tremendous docuseries. Thank you for making it. I can't believe how much work must have gone into it. So all three episodes of An Update on Our Family are now available to stream on Max, Rachel Mason, everybody. We're gonna take a quick break. I'll be right back after this. Thank.

[Grace Kuhlenschmidt]

You.

[Michael Kosta]

That's our show for tonight. Please consider supporting the California Fire Foundation. They're on the ground working with local fire agencies and community organizations to provide support to impacted residents. If you can, please donate at the link below. Now, here it is, your moment of Zen. People are aroused. I haven't seen people so aroused in a very, very long time in terms of going trying to get this done. So yes, I think democracy will have an effect and we are going to keep at it.

[Comedy Central Announcer]

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.

[Michael Kosta]

Paramount Podcasts.