TDS Time Machine | The War on Climate Change

Summary

The Daily Show: Ears Edition – Episode Summary: "TDS Time Machine | The War on Climate Change"

Release Date: January 18, 2025

Introduction

In the latest episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition, the show delves deep into the multifaceted battle against climate change, blending sharp satire with insightful commentary. Hosted by members of The Daily Show News Team, including John Oliver, Trevor Noah, Roy Wood Jr., and Ronny Chieng, the episode dissects the political, scientific, and psychological barriers to addressing one of the planet's most pressing issues.

1. Climate Change Denial in U.S. Politics

The episode opens with John Oliver highlighting the ironic stance of the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space, and Technology. Oliver mocks a recent hearing recorded in 1971, critiquing the committee's outdated approach to President Obama's ambitious plan to reduce carbon emissions by 30% by 2030.

Notable Quote:

• John Oliver [00:09]: "Now you may be thinking, do we really need a march to raise awareness about global climate change? I mean, it's an accepted scientific phenomenon pretty much everywhere."

2. Debunking Misconceptions: Global Wobbling vs. Global Warming

Roy Wood Jr. engages in a spirited debate about the validity of climate models, bringing up the concept of "global wobbling." This segment underscores the importance of comprehensive scientific modeling in understanding climate change.

Notable Quotes:

• Roy Wood Jr. [01:03]: "At NASA, said this. He said that what ended the Ice age was global wobbling. Is the wobbling of the Earth included in any of your modelings?"
• Ronny Chieng [01:45]: "Global wobbling, which refers to changes in the Earth's tilt and orbit, takes place on characteristic timescales of 22,000 years, 44,000 years and 100,000 years."

3. The Impact of CO₂ Levels on Human Health and Climate

The discussion shifts to the role of carbon dioxide in climate change, with Trevor Noah humorously questioning the immediate dangers of rising CO₂ levels.

Notable Quote:

• Trevor Noah [02:30]: "How can CO2 levels be dangerous when I can still breathe?"

4. Political Influence and Scientific Integrity

John Oliver exposes the concerning ties between Representative Larry Bouchon and major fossil fuel donors like Murray Energy, Koch Enterprises, and Peabody Energy. This segment critiques the potential conflicts of interest that hinder effective climate policy.

Notable Quote:

• John Oliver [04:13]: "Well, since we're talking about the influence money might have on climate change opinion, it turns out Representative Bouchon's three biggest campaign donors are Murray Energy, Koch Enterprises and Peabody Energy."

5. Simplifying Complex Climate Science

The episode humorously tackles misconceptions about sea-level rise with Roy Wood Jr.'s analogy involving melting ice cubes, emphasizing the importance of understanding displacement in climate models.

Notable Quote:

• Roy Wood Jr. [05:01]: "How long will it take for the sea level to rise 2ft? I mean, think about it. If your ice cube melts in your glass, it doesn't overflow. It's displacement."

6. The Trump Administration's Assault on Climate Data

A satirical narrative follows Roy Wood Jr. as he navigates a fictional underground movement aimed at preserving critical climate data from potential suppression by the Trump administration. This segment highlights the threats to scientific data integrity under political pressures.

Notable Quotes:

• Roy Wood Jr. [05:58]: "But now that Trump is in charge, these scientists are worried he's going to hide or destroy that data."
• John Oliver [11:54]: "I'm sorry to tell you. Are you kidding me?"

7. Psychological Barriers to Climate Action

The episode features an interview with author Dan Gardner, who explains the evolutionary psychology behind humanity's struggle to respond to the abstract and long-term threat of climate change. Gardner introduces the concepts of System One (instinctual) and System Two (analytical) thinking, arguing that effective climate communication must engage both systems.

Notable Quotes:

• Dan Gardner [13:48]: "Through most of the history of our species, we lived as stone age hunter gatherers... Climate change is too abstract and distant of a threat to feel fear."
• Trevor Noah [14:13]: "It's a learning disability that we all have from when we were cavemen."

8. Extreme Weather and Media Representation

Roy Wood Jr. and Ronny Chieng discuss the extreme coldwave hitting the Midwest, critiquing the media's often baffling comparisons (e.g., colder than Mars) that fail to effectively communicate the severity of the situation.

Notable Quotes:

• Ronny Chieng [19:26]: "I gotta be honest, I have no idea what the weather is on Mars."
• John Oliver [19:38]: "Oh, yeah. I spent summer on Mars. It was rather cold."

9. Climate Change Denial Amidst Extreme Cold

The episode mocks President Trump's dismissal of extreme cold as evidence against global warming, highlighting the persistent denialism that undermines scientific consensus.

Notable Quotes:

• Ronny Chieng [23:25]: "According to the President. And a cold snap is proof that global whamming isn't real."
• Roy Wood Jr. [24:37]: "The only person who doesn't get it is President Frosty the Slow man."

10. Concluding Efforts to Bridge Understanding

In a final attempt to address climate misconceptions, Roy Wood Jr. provides a simplified explanation to counter denialist arguments, emphasizing the continuous upward trend in global temperatures despite occasional cold weather events.

Notable Quote:

• Roy Wood Jr. [25:16]: "It's global temperatures, okay. And it's going up. It's going up. So you're wrong and you're the dumbass."

Final Thoughts

The Daily Show: Ears Edition masterfully blends humor with critical commentary, effectively highlighting the complexities and challenges in the fight against climate change. Through sharp satire and informative segments, the show underscores the urgent need for collective action, transparent science, and informed political leadership to combat the escalating climate crisis.

For those who missed the episode, "TDS Time Machine | The War on Climate Change" offers a comprehensive and entertaining exploration of the multifaceted battle against climate change, making complex issues accessible and engaging for all listeners.

Learn More:

• Watch the full episode on Comedy Central at 11/10c or stream it on Paramount+.
• Explore more shows from The Daily Show podcast universe by searching "The Daily Show" on your preferred podcast platform.

Transcript

[Trevor Noah]

You're listening to Comedy Central.

[John Oliver]

Now you may be thinking, do we really need a march to raise awareness about global climate change? I mean, it's an accepted scientific phenomenon pretty much everywhere. Here's why you need the march. It's accepted pretty much everywhere. But there's one place called the United States House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology. This is true. Last week they held a hearing that they apparently recorded in 1971. I guess that's the technology part of the committee name. On President Obama's plan to shrink carbon emissions 30% by 2030. The hearings, Sisyphus presidential science advisor John Holdren Church charged with the impossible task of pushing a million pounds of idiot up a mountain. Of course, like any avalanche, it began rather innocuously. Texas Republican Steve Stockman, the lead scientist.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

At NASA, said this. He said that what ended the Ice age was global wobbling. Is the wobbling of the Earth included in any of your modelings? And the answer was no. When you have a model and you say we're going to leave out the most important impact of that model out of our theory and not talk about global wobbling, how can you make projections?

[John Oliver]

What's up, scientists? Global wobbling, bitches. He sees your so called global warming and raises you a global wobbling. Explain that, Dr. Whitehouse.

[Ronny Chieng]

Global wobbling, which refers to changes in the Earth's tilt and orbit, takes place on characteristic timescales of 22,000 years, 44,000 years and 100,000 years. It is very slow. Global wobbling is a tiny effect on the timescale of 100 years in which we try to run these models. I didn't know we'd be talking to an actual scientist.

[John Oliver]

All right, Holdren, you aced the wobble warming. Riddle me this.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

At what point level of CO2 does CO2 become damaging? @ what level does it become harmful to human beings?

[Trevor Noah]

Boom.

[John Oliver]

How can CO2 levels be dangerous when I can still breathe?

[Ronny Chieng]

Vice Chairman Rohrabacher, I always enjoy my interactions with you.

[John Oliver]

Much in the way one enjoys playing peekaboo with a baby or perhaps teasing a cat with a laser pointer.

[Ronny Chieng]

I have to say, with respect, that's a red herring. We are not interested in carbon dioxide concentrations because of their direct effect on human health. We're interested in them because of their effect on the world's climate. And climate change has effect on health.

[John Oliver]

Well then let me ask you again. Why can we still breathe? That's what I'm asking. I mean, you can hear me, right? We're breathing and it got More amazing as it went, Indiana's Larry Bouchon.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

It's not about affecting the global temperature and climate change. There's public comments out there that that question has been asked and answered saying.

[Ronny Chieng]

No, you should look at the scientific literature rather than the public comments.

[John Oliver]

With all due respect represent I suggest you get the Journal of Applied Meteorology and Climatology as Opposed to the YouTube comment feed of Obumer lies 1776. But here's where Bouchon gives away the.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Game of all the climatologists whose career depends on the climate changing to keep themselves publishing articles. Yes, I could read that, but I don't believe it.

[John Oliver]

I do not believe the scientists because it is their profession, not their hobby. Well, since we're talking about the influence money might have on climate change opinion, it turns out Representative Bouchon's three biggest campaign donors are Murray Energy, Koch Enterprises and Peabody Energy. And trust me, trust me, those three well funded companies would love to disprove climate change to the satisfaction of the scientific community at large. So if scientists could be bought, these mother would have already made it rain in Nerdtown. Trust me. And again, I cannot stress this enough. This is the House of Representatives Committee on Science, Space and Technology.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

How long will it take for the sea level to rise 2ft? I mean, think about it. If your ice cube melts in your glass, it doesn't overflow. It's displacement. I mean, this is the thing. Some of the things that they're talking about mathematically and scientifically don't make sense.

[John Oliver]

Are you kidding me? Are you kidding me? I don't even know. I. I don't even know what to do with that. How far back to the elementary school core curriculum do we have to go to get someone on the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology caught up? Do we have to break out the paper machine, the baking soda so you can make a volcano? Is that what we have to do? Is that how basic the science. I don't need to know this anymore. I mean, for God's sakes, look here, look here, here, here, look, look. Here's a glass of ice water. Hey, that ice isn't making the water overflow because it's already in the water. But imagine there's a whole bunch of other ice that's not in the water. It's on the land. You know the part where the water isn't. And then when temperatures rise and the land ice melts enough to fall.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, it's everywhere.

[John Oliver]

It's everywhere. Do you stand? Wait a minute. Global warming giant towels. Ultimately, the whole incredible and by all appearances, willful misunderstanding of how the scientific method has been applied to climate change models and the effects of warming can be, pardon the pun, boiled down to.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

This exchange that scare tactics like that, you know, is really appalling to me. To use medical information to scare parents that their children about asthma attacks and scare people saying they're going to have heart attacks. I would argue that we should all, on both sides of this discussion, avoid scare tactics.

[John Oliver]

First of all, there aren't both sides to a discussion. But he's basically saying is it is unfair to talk to us about the scientific or medical consequences of our actions because they're scary and we really don't feel like doing anything about it anyway. So from now on, why not agree that science and the oil industry both have opinions. Oh, and before you tell your kids to wash their hands after they take so they don't spread disease, maybe we should also spend an equal amount of time hearing from Big Fecal. We'll be right back.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Trump's America isn't just attacking immigrants, the transgender and apprentice ratings. It's also planning to take out climate change data. Luckily, an underground movement is trying to stop it. My first contact in this group is waiting at an undisclosed location. Score. As I descended into her secret bunker, I could practically smell the Pulitzer. Or maybe that was urine. This place was creepy. It was okay. This was taking too long. What's the situation on the ground? All references to climate change are gone from the White House website. Trump has a war against facts. So maybe we should hide him in a place he wouldn't look like in an intelligence briefing. We can't hide the facts. We need that information to build accurate climate models. This public climate data is stored on federal websites like the epa, NASA and the Department of Energy. And climate scientists depend on it for all kinds of research. But now that Trump is in charge, these scientists are worried he's going to hide or destroy that data. Just because he's threatened to do exactly that, you're telling me all this data could be completely forgotten? Like Taylor Lautner. Sorry, what? Just saying, just because you're part of a tentpole movie doesn't mean that you're going to have any kind of relevance five years later. What we need to do is to capture this data and make copies in lots of locations, including in Canada. Canada? Yes. We have a network of hackers working to keep this data safe. Today we're having a hackathon in Philly. I want in. These hackers were Going to be even more secretive than Bethany. Given the importance of this mission, I destroyed all traces of their existence. Was that 3420 or 30? You know what, just. Can you just put on my phone? To gain access to the hackers, I'd have to become one of them. And the only way to be a hacker is to dress like a hacker. But like the rest of America, I hadn't rollerbladed in like 16 years. Either way, it was time to meet these code freaks at their secret underground. Laird. I'm looking for the hackers. We're the hackers. Seriously? Yep. I thought you'd be dressed a little bit cooler. You know, like. Like this. Tell me about this hacking. So what we're doing is we are seeding URLs to the Internet Archive. These are basically roadmaps through these massive government websites. And we're using those to go and find where the data is and then send that to the Internet Archive. That was super boring. Do you mind explaining that with a hacking montage? So basically, what happens is these nerds scroll through every single publicly available URL and document on government sites and make a carbon copy. But sometimes this data is hidden in ways that can't be scraped by human nerds. So they write code to burrow into the sites and rescue the data that's really hidden. Then they release the data on sites like Data Refuge and the Internet Archive, which is backing up everything in Canada for safekeeping. If gets really bad, that's where I come in. Taking this data to Canada to save the world. Let's do this. So with the data safely secured away, I began the long journey north. It wasn't easy, but after what felt like a lifetime, I made it to the airport for my almost hour long flight to Canada. Time to hit up my Kinect codename. Poutine. A professor from the University of Toronto who's been collecting all this data, which was feeling pretty ripe at this point. Poutine. Poutine. Poutine. Are you guys here for a clandestine meeting? No. Poutine. Are you a shell? Yeah. Here's the data all the way from America. Okay. What is this? It's all that hat climate. We received this through the cloud. The cloud. So I didn't have to smuggle this thing up my ass. I've.

[John Oliver]

I'm.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Nope. I'm sorry to tell you. Are you kidding me? Well, getting this data is a good start, but it's not enough. What we're seeing is the dismantlement of environmental science from a country that is one of the greatest contributors to climate change. It's us you're talking about us. Yes. She was right. While Canada was snowing, America was burning. Do you mind actually keeping a couple other things from America safe? Uh, okay. Can you hold onto the Bill of Rights? This is birth control, Meryl Streep's Oscars, and then I'll be back in like four to, let's just say eight years to be safe. And just like that, it took an American to save the day.

[Ronny Chieng]

Climate change is one of the biggest issues facing the planet right now. And even though we all know that the Earth is in trouble, most of us aren't doing anything to help. Roy Wood Jr. Went to find out why.

[Trevor Noah]

Climate change, climate change, climate change. Everybody's talking about it. Just turn on the TV and you'll hear stuff like this.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Climate related disasters, from wildfires to more intense storms, extreme rain events and floods are already getting worse. And this, a mass invasion of polar bears. Experts say melting ice has forced the polar bears to migrate and hunt for food. Now on land.

[Trevor Noah]

Polar bear invasion. I thought they would chill cartoons drinking Coca Cola. Climate change is getting apocalyptic. But do you see me taking the bus or going vegan after this burger? After this burger, I'm done with beef. After this, I know the world's ending, so why is it so hard to do anything about it? What the hell is wrong with me?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I blame evolution.

[Trevor Noah]

Meet author Dan Gardner. He believes my willingness to sacrifice Antarctica, California and most of the Eastern seaboard for a delicious burger, this is my fault.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Throughout most of the history of our species, we lived as stone age hunter gatherers. We had to deal with certain types of threats. Immediate, scary threats. A lion emerging from the long grass, you just immediately intuitively sense that that's a threat. Climate change is too abstract and distant of a threat to feel fear.

[Trevor Noah]

So it's a learning disability that we all have from when we were cavemen.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Yeah, that's it.

[Trevor Noah]

Try to explain climate change to me. I've been a caveman. You try to explain me cave.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Well, here's one way you want to use.

[Trevor Noah]

Who are you?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I'm here to explain the steps you can take to try and prevent.

[Trevor Noah]

Kill him. Dan explained that we evolved to have two systems of thinking. System one is the caveman brain. Fast, intuitive, instinctual. In system two, it's the analytical, scientific Albert Einstein part of our brain. Now, who do you think would win in a fight? That's the reason no matter how many facts we tell people about climate change, if the temperature goes up even 2 degrees, we won't even have coffee anymore.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Funny stuff, Roy.

[Trevor Noah]

It doesn't get through because we're only talking to the Einstein part of the brain. System two.

[Ronny Chieng]

Ooh, that's milk.

[Trevor Noah]

Won't be no more milk when the cows. So how do we explain the world is ending to a caveman?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

We want to make System one and System two come into alignment so that System One feels what System two understands. It means portraying climate change in terms of immediate, visceral, vivid threats. Because system one understands those sorts of threats.

[Trevor Noah]

Oh, I just need to trick my brain into really fearing climate change. All right, I'm gonna put on the shock collar. You tell me something scary about climate change and give me a shock when you say it.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Okay, how about climate change is causing global sea levels to rise.

[Trevor Noah]

Hello, bitch. You shocked me for real.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Give me that.

[Trevor Noah]

Is wrong with you? But after three and a half painful hours, I was scared of climate change. And I would never pee on the rug if I was going to save the planet. I had to make my co workers truly fear the melting ice caps, the heat of wildfires, the unstoppable sea level rise of climate change. And I knew just how to get through to them. Get used to it. The oceans are rising. This is how hot it's gonna be if you don't stop driving that damn thing and get on the bike. Go get on the bike. Get on the damn bike. Yeah. Yeah. Sea level rising, ice caps melting. Super hurricanes are back. I heard you was going around doing this.

[Ronny Chieng]

Back the up at my office.

[Trevor Noah]

Look, I know I'm being over the top, but it's time for everyone to be over the top about climate change. Now if you'll excuse me. Time to bring these no chill polar bears to life. Sure feels good to save the Earth. And finally use my polar bear costume for non sexual reasons.

[Ronny Chieng]

This week. Look, there have been a ton of stories developing. Every day Congress is trying to avert another shutdown, Britain is still on the brink of a disastrous Brexit, and Venezuela is inching closer to civil war. But nobody cares about any of that today because it's too damn cold.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Cities across the Midwest are scrambling to protect people from this deadly polar vortex that is blasting the region with what is called the coldest air in decades, plunging to as low as 6, 70 degrees below zero in some cities. It's so cold outside the US Postal Service, which almost never stops delivering, suspending service in 11 Midwestern states because of safety concerns.

[Ronny Chieng]

We can't say it enough before it's all said and done, the wind chill here will feel like it's 50 to 60 degrees below. So if you can stay inside, please do so.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

It's important.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yeah, we're all inside because we're not idiots. Why are you outside, newsman? You know, seriously, I never get why reporters have to go into the bad weather to warn us about it. Like, just tell us from the studio. We believe you. Like, if you're sitting at the desk and you tell me it's cold, I'm not sitting at home. Like, is it? Don't let me see your nipples. They don't do this for any other type of story. They never. Like, earlier today, a man was shot in the leg and it looked like this ba.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Ah.

[Ronny Chieng]

But the point is, it is incredibly cold in America right now. Like, super cold. It's so cold that I looked in the mirror this morning and told myself to go back to Africa. We're talking -70. Anytime you're in negative numbers, you know the things are out of hand. Cause you realize when they made zero, they thought that would be the lowest. That's why it's zero. If they thought there was gonna be anything lower, then they would have made that zero. But somehow we are way. In fact, right now, America might be the coldest place on Earth and beyond.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

People in the Dakotas and northern Minnesota saw wind chills plummet to minus 50. That's colder than the top of Mount Everest.

[Ronny Chieng]

Colder than Antarctica, Siberia and Mount Everest.

[John Oliver]

It will be colder in Chicago than.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

It is in Antarctica or Alaska or the North Pole combined.

[Trevor Noah]

Believe it or not, at times it's.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Actually colder in, in some parts of the country than the surface of Mars.

[Ronny Chieng]

God damn. Colder than Mars. I guess. I guess that means it's really cold. Cause I. I gotta be honest, I have no idea what the weather is on Mars. If I had to guess, I'd be like, it's Sandy. Is that a weather? Is that a thing? I don't understand why, why they do this on the news. Why are you using Mars as a reference point? None of us have been there. It's colder than Mars. Oh, yeah. I spent summer in Mars. It was rather cold. I don't know what's happening on other planets. I barely know about anything on Earth and I live here. You could tell me Mars was named after Bruno Mars, and I'd be like, yeah, makes sense. Yeah, he's a popular guy. Like, the news is always explaining things with the most random comparisons. An asteroid is headed towards the Earth and it weighs as much as 5,000 elephants. That's not helpful to anyone, okay? No one knows how heavy an elephant is. Like, well, it's. Americans don't. Cause in Africa, we measure everything in elephants. It works for us. Like, yeah, we'll just be like, as you can see, this is a very spacious property. 40 elephants. Big, huh? And it has a baby hippo Jacuzzi. And I know what you're thinking. This probably cost three tigers. No, there's no tigers in Africa, you racist. Yeah, and if you don't understand what colder than Mars means, don't worry, because maybe a few scientific demonstrations will help.

[Trevor Noah]

This is a clear piece of glass.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

As you can see.

[Trevor Noah]

I got some water in my hand. I'm gonna pour it on here.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

You see that? Look, it's gonna freeze instantly. You see it crystallizing right there?

[Trevor Noah]

This cold is absolutely no joke.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Gonna pour a little water on Barbie's hair. We'll give it a few seconds and you'll see how fast her hair is going to freeze out here. One man actually turned this super frozen banana into a makeshift hammer.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay, this, this, this didn't teach me how cold it is, but it did teach me how weird this guy is. His wife is probably like, honey, can you shovel the driveway? And he's like, I can't. I'm testing different fruits to see if they can be hammers. And after that, I'm building a birdhouse out of kiwis. Now, it goes without saying most of us are miserable when it's this cold. But apparently there's one group that is having a blast right now. The police.

[Trevor Noah]

A sheriff's department in Minnesota using the cold to freeze a uniform in place so it stands on its own. Yeah. Meanwhile, some police officers in central Illinois say they've caught the criminal responsible for.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

This brutal weather, and they're not letting her go.

[Trevor Noah]

Elsa the snow queen from Frozen was taken into custody. Police in Missouri asking criminals to take a break because it's too cold to fight crime.

[Ronny Chieng]

That's right. It's so cold that the police are sending out tweets just asking criminals to please not commit any crimes. Yeah, they're basically just asking the criminals to stop the crime for them, which is ridiculous. What's next? Are they just gonna ask people to arrest themselves? Just gonna be like, yeah, we're gonna mail you a self arrest kit. It's got a Miranda rights, handcuffs, some drugs to plant on yourself, and a body cam. But whatever you do, don't turn it on, okay? It causes more trouble than it's worth. Just keep it off, trust me. But look, it is dangerous outside. It's super cold, so stay home if you can. Stay warm if you go out, and if you see someone in need, please help them out. This is one of the most vulnerable periods for anybody who does not have a place to stay, because right now, there are millions of people in harm's way. And yet, even with that many people affected, President Trump has found a way to steal the spotlight.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

The President sees this, and it prompts him to tweet the. In the beautiful Midwest, wind chill temperatures are reaching minus 60 degrees, the coldest ever recorded. In coming days.

[Ronny Chieng]

Expected to get even colder. People can't last outside, even for minutes.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

What the hell is going on with global whamming?

[Ronny Chieng]

Please come back fast. We need you. Ah, some brilliant analysis from French Fry the science guy. Yeah, according to the President. And a cold snap is proof that global whamming isn't real. Like, I. I'm just like, Trump never stops. Even the coldest day of the year, the rest of us are having a brain freeze. And he's like, nothing to freeze here. Firing on all cylinders. I won't lie.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

I won't lie.

[Ronny Chieng]

Let me tell you this. If I was ever trapped in the Alps, I would hope that I get trapped with Trump. I won't lie, because the cold clearly doesn't affect him. Like, I would probably be there, like, so cold. We've got to do something. And he'd be like, you're right, we gotta build a wall. Nancy Pelosi, crooked Hillary. I'll be like, I'm gonna die. Of course you're gonna die, Trevor. Ms. 13 coming over the border. They're coming. But once again, the President of the United States is the leading voice of climate change denial. So to help us clear up these misconceptions, please welcome back our senior science correspondent, Ronny Chang, everybody.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Thank you, Ron. Can you.

[Ronny Chieng]

Can you explain to people like President Trump how a cold snap doesn't mean there's no global warming?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

No, Trevor, I can't. I'm sick of this shit. Every time Trump sees an ice cube, he's all like, oh, well, where's the global warming? And then all us journalists have to come on TV and explain the difference between weather and climate. Even though it's the simplest thing in the world, everyone understands it. Kids get it, dogs get it. Even my idiot boss gets it. The only person who doesn't get it is President Frosty the Slow man.

[Ronny Chieng]

Ronnie, Ronnie, come on. Maybe if we keep explaining it, Trump will eventually understand. You know, it's the motto. We have no man child left behind.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Oh. Oh, really, Trevor? Oh, this is it.

[Trevor Noah]

This is.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

We're gonna change his mind this time, all right? Okay, sure, fine. Okay, here we go again. Look. You see this? You see this line? It's global temperatures, okay? And it's going up. It's going up. If this was going down, you'd be right and we'd be the dumbasses. But it's going up, so you're wrong and you're the dumbass.

[Ronny Chieng]

Okay?

[Roy Wood Jr.]

Even if you flip the chart upside down, it's still going up. Up. So it doesn't matter if it's sometimes cold in Cincinnati because the line keeps going the up. Up. Sorry, Trevor. I tried, but I just. I just can't do it anymore.

[Ronny Chieng]

Actually, I think you explained that pretty perfectly. Ronny Chang, everybody.

[Roy Wood Jr.]

We'll be right back. 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 plus Paramount Podcasts.