Trump Escalates China Trade War, Fox News Ignores Market Slide | Mallory McMorrow

Summary

The Daily Show: Ears Edition – Episode Summary

Episode Title: Trump Escalates China Trade War, Fox News Ignores Market Slide | Mallory McMorrow
Release Date: April 9, 2025
Host: Desi Lydon
Guest: Mallory McMorrow, Majority Whip of the Michigan State Senate and author of Hate Won't Win

---

Introduction

In this episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition, host Desi Lydon navigates through a tumultuous political and economic landscape dominated by President Donald Trump's aggressive trade policies against China and the consequent turmoil in the U.S. economy. The episode interweaves sharp political satire with insightful discussions, including an exclusive interview with Michigan State Senate Majority Whip Mallory McMorrow, whose book Hate Won't Win explores combating political and social hatred.

---

Trade War Escalation and Economic Impact

[00:33] Desi Lydon opens the show by highlighting the escalating trade tensions between the United States and China, referencing America's increasing beef imports from China and the nation's internal economic struggles.

[00:53] – [01:38]
Comedian Ronny Chieng humorously emphasizes the redundancy and frustration surrounding tariffs:

"My favorite word, tariffs." – Ronny Chieng [00:53]

Lydon explains that a week after Trump announced his strategy to undermine the economy, the plan appears to be failing. CEOs are alarmed by the deteriorating economic conditions, with 69% expecting a recession and 82% anticipating a resurgence in inflation, as per a recent CNBC survey.

[01:31] – [03:02]
Michael Costa, a senior financial correspondent, provides insights into the Dow Jones' decline since Trump's inauguration, noting a 15% drop that has plunged the market into correction territory. Lydon sarcastically remarks on the market's volatility:

"Look at that drop. Six Flags is going to make a roller coaster of that." – Desi Lydon [01:41]

The segment underscores the increased instability in the economy, contrasting it with the 2008 financial crisis by suggesting that Trump's role in the economic downturn is more transparent and perhaps more frivolously impactful.

[02:14] – [03:16]
Lydon satirizes Trump's interactions with the financial media, criticizing Fox News for their focus on Trump's actions rather than broader economic issues. She mocks Trump's social interactions married with economic chaos:

"The President welcomes the World Series champions, the Los Angeles Dodgers, to the White House... things could stick, improve quickly as long as Trump de-escalates soon." – Desi Lydon [01:44]

---

Internal Conflict within the Trump Administration

[03:46] – [05:27]
The host delves into the internal fractures within Trump's administration, spotlighting the public feud between tech mogul Elon Musk and trade advisor Peter Navarro over trade policies. Navarro advocates for higher tariffs to protect American industries, while Musk supports free trade, emphasizing the reliance on imported components for manufacturing electric vehicles.

Ronny Chieng comically portrays Navarro's frustration with Musk's reliance on foreign parts:

"Elon's a car manufacturer, but he's not a car manufacturer... he gets, which in the EV case is the batteries come from Japan and come from China, the electronics come from Taiwan." – Ronny Chieng [05:10]

The tension culminates in Navarro insulting Musk, labeling him inadequately:

"Calling him Peter Retardo." – Desi Lydon [05:27]

This rivalry epitomizes the broader chaos within the administration, contributing to the country's economic instability and fracturing key alliances.

---

Fox News' Coverage and Market Oversight

[03:16] – [05:14]
Desi Lydon critiques Fox News for diverting attention from significant economic downturns, instead fixating on celebrity interactions and superficial stories. She suggests that the network's focus on Trump's social engagements, like welcoming the Dodgers, detracts from critical economic reporting.

"It's honestly impossible to report on literally anything else right now. Right. Fox News." – Desi Lydon [03:46]

This segment underscores a perceived media bias that prioritizes entertainment over substantial news coverage, exacerbating public misunderstanding of economic realities.

---

Statues and Public Decorum

[10:18] – [15:11]
In a comedic interlude, Ronny Chieng addresses the issue of tourists inappropriately interacting with public statues, specifically highlighting incidents involving the Molly Malone statue in Dublin and Shakespeare's Juliet in Verona. He mocks the absurdity of people mistaking bronze sculptures for real, malleable beings deserving of physical interaction.

"Statues. They're not just fancy toilets for pigeons... Horny morons have groped this statue so hard that the bronze finish wore off." – Ronny Chieng [10:18]

Chieng's satirical take on human behavior around art serves as a humorous commentary on societal norms and the misunderstandings surrounding cultural artifacts.

---

Exclusive Interview: Mallory McMorrow on Combating Hate

[15:11] – [31:45]
Desi Lydon welcomes Mallory McMorrow to the show, engaging her in a deep conversation about her book Hate Won't Win and her political journey. McMorrow shares her motivations for entering politics, inspired by witnessing young students' disillusionment during the 2016 election.

Motivation and Personal Journey
McMorrow recounts a pivotal moment when a viral video of middle school students chanting "build that wall" at Royal Oak Middle School deeply affected her, prompting her to run for office after researching the process online.

"You just put one foot in front of the other. It's easier than I assumed." – Desi Lydon [16:25]

Core Message of Hate Won't Win
McMorrow emphasizes proactive engagement over reactive anger. She advocates for community involvement and personal action as antidotes to pervasive hate and political divisiveness.

"Instead of getting angry and spiraling... What can we do?" – Mallory McMorrow [17:32]

She narrates her viral speech in the Michigan State Senate addressing defamatory accusations from a political rival. McMorrow's heartfelt recounting of her experiences highlights the personal toll of political strife and the importance of resilience.

"People who are different are not the reason why your health care costs are too high or why teachers are leaving the profession." – Mallory McMorrow [19:16]

Advice for Political Engagement
McMorrow provides actionable advice for listeners to engage in meaningful political participation. She discourages "advocacy theater" like filling out online petitions without substantive follow-through, advocating instead for building genuine relationships and taking informed, deliberate actions.

"Find the one thing that is going to motivate you and move you to show up." – Mallory McMorrow [30:31]

Vision for the Future
Discussing her vision if elected to the U.S. Senate, McMorrow outlines a positive, inclusive future post-Trump administration, focusing on a new American dream centered on success, safety, and sanity.

"It is not enough just to get by." – Mallory McMorrow [25:54]

Her strategic approach aims to inspire voters to envision and work towards a collaborative and prosperous future, countering the defeatist sentiments exacerbated by current political tensions.

---

Conclusion and Final Thoughts

Desi Lydon wraps up the episode by reiterating the critical insights shared by Mallory McMorrow, urging listeners to move beyond mere resistance to actively shaping their communities and political landscapes. The episode closes with a brief promotional segment before transitioning to advertisements, maintaining focus on the substantive discussions that dominate the program.

---

Notable Quotes with Timestamps

• Ronny Chieng:

  "My favorite word, tariffs." – [00:53]

• Desi Lydon:

  "Look at that drop. Six Flags is going to make a roller coaster of that." – [01:41]
  "104% tariffs. Okay, this is getting really serious." – [03:16]

• Mallory McMorrow:

  "People who are different are not the reason why your health care costs are too high or why teachers are leaving the profession." – [19:16]
  "Find the one thing that is going to motivate you and move you to show up." – [30:31]

• Ronny Chieng on Statues:

  "It's not like a hard boiled egg where you crack open the shell and reveal real boobs inside." – [11:34]

---

Key Takeaways

1. Economic Instability:
   Trump's aggressive trade policies against China have led to significant economic downturns, with high expectations of a recession and inflation among CEOs.

2. Internal Administration Conflicts:
   The rivalry between Elon Musk and Peter Navarro exemplifies the disarray within Trump's administration, complicating economic strategies and policy implementations.

3. Media Critique:
   Fox News is criticized for prioritizing trivial stories over substantial economic reporting, contributing to public misperception of the economic situation.

4. Social Commentary on Public Decorum:
   The inappropriate interaction with public statues serves as a satirical lens on societal behaviors and vulnerabilities.

5. Empowerment through Political Engagement:
   Mallory McMorrow's insights emphasize the importance of proactive community involvement and building meaningful relationships to counteract political and social hatred.

6. Vision for the Future:
   A collective effort towards a positive and inclusive American dream is essential for overcoming the challenges posed by divisive political forces.

---

This episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition masterfully blends humor with critical analysis, offering listeners both entertainment and insightful discourse on pressing socio-political issues. Through sharp satire and inspiring interviews, the show underscores the importance of informed engagement and collective action in shaping a better future.

Transcript

[Desi Lydic]

You're listening to Comedy Central. From the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, Desi Lydon.

[Desi Lydon]

Welcome to the Daily Show. I'm Debbie Lydic. We've got so much to talk about tonight. America imports a beef with China. People are getting frisky with statues. And Fox News sees the stock market and goes, hey, look over there. So let's kick things off with another installment of trade wars.

[Ronny Chieng]

My favorite word. My favorite word, tariffs.

[Desi Lydon]

It's been one week since Donald Trump announced his bold vision for destroying the economy. And guess what? His plan is working. After another chaotic day on Wall Street, America's CEOs are sounding the alarm.

[Desi Lydic]

Most CEOs I talk to would say.

[Desi Lydon]

We are probably in a recession right now. A new CNBC survey showing those concerns are widespread, with 69% of CEOs expecting a recession and 82% expecting resurgent inflation.

[Michael Costa]

This is a snapshot of the Dow.

[Desi Lydic]

Since President Trump's inauguration after dropping more.

[Ronny Chieng]

Than 15% since its record high, putting.

[Michael Costa]

It into correction territory.

[Desi Lydon]

I'm not an economist, but it's probably a bad sign when the chart itself looks like it jumped off the roof. Look at that drop. Six Flags is going to make a roller coaster of that. Mom, I want to ride the Dow Jones. We can't afford it. So the economy is incredibly unstable right now. The only upside is that this crash is much easier to understand than the 2008 one. Remember the big short where they had to have Margot Robbie explain it in a bathtub? Here's how that would go today.

[Michael Costa]

Trump did it.

[Desi Lydon]

Thanks, Margo. Thank you. So the President may have single handedly tipped us into a global recession. And with the world is glued to the financial news networks who are surely focusing on this story 247 right. Fox Business.

[Michael Costa]

The President welcomes the World Series champions.

[Desi Lydon]

The Los Angeles Dodgers to the White House.

[Michael Costa]

He was funny. He was entertaining.

[Desi Lydon]

Yes, that's definitely the big story. The President made new friends today. So, yes, economists are afraid that we're headed into a recession. But don't worry, things could stick, improve quickly as long as Trump de escalates soon.

[Michael Costa]

President Trump escalates his trade war with more threats against China.

[Ronny Chieng]

President Trump is now promising a new 50% tariff on China on top of the other new tariffs which are on top of existing tariffs. Combined, this would make US tariffs on imports from China a whopping 104%.

[Desi Lydon]

104% tariffs. Okay, this is getting really serious. We'll know exactly how serious once we ask China to do the math for us. But point is, Trump is out of control right now. I'd say he's like a bull in a china shop, but at 104%, I can't afford to say that. It's really starting to feel like the entire world is teetering on the brink of chaos. It's honestly impossible to report on literally anything else right now. Right. Fox News.

[Michael Costa]

A women's pool championship in the UK with no women in the final round after two transgender players defeated their FEMA opponents to face off for the title.

[Desi Lydon]

No, not the British women's pool tournament. That's America's favorite pastime. But the tariffs aren't just tearing apart our economy and tearing apart America's trade with China. They're also tearing apart Donald Trump's friends. An internal battle over Trump's tariffs between top advisor Peter Navarro and Elon Musk.

[Desi Lydic]

This is a behind the scenes rivalry that's now exploding into public view between Elon Musk and Peter Navarro, two very different wings of the Trump administration.

[Desi Lydon]

Ooh, I have to pick between Elon Musk and Peter Navarro. This is like the trolley problem. If the problem was that you only have one trolley. But you know what? This is actually a substantive debate. Elon likes free trade. Peter Navarro likes the tariffs. Let's start with Navarro's argument.

[Michael Costa]

Elon's a car manufacturer, but he's not a car manufacturer.

[Desi Lydic]

He's a car assembler.

[Michael Costa]

If you go to his Texas plant.

[Ronny Chieng]

A good part of the engines that.

[Michael Costa]

He gets, which in the EV case is the batteries come from Japan and come from China, the electronics come from Taiwan, and he wants the cheap foreign parts.

[Ronny Chieng]

And we understand that, but we want him home.

[Desi Lydon]

Okay, that's a compelling point. Peter Navarro thinks Musk is taking advantage of unfair trade policies at the risk of American prosperity. Elon, what's your response? Musk. Calling him a moron and dumber than.

[Desi Lydic]

A sack of bricks. There's the latest. Calling him Peter Retardo.

[Desi Lydon]

Powerful counterpoint. Powerful. God, I hope Elon Musk never has to defend himself in court. Ladies and gentlemen of the jury.

[Michael Costa]

Gay.

[Desi Lydon]

I rest my case. Getting this glimpse into Trump's team of dumb, dumb rivals is even more disturbing. The President is sending the economy off a cliff. Business leaders are furious with him. His team is tearing each other apart, and the two biggest economies on the planet are entering a trade war. It might be time for the news organizations that supported him to come to terms with why they supported him in the first place. What do you say, Newsmax?

[Desi Lydic]

This is a remarkable moment that has come to light all over again. Back in 1992, Donald Trump threw a football through a hole designed for one football.

[Michael Costa]

Is that amazing or what?

[Desi Lydon]

Put me down for or what? For more on the trade war between US and China, we go to the Chinese Embassy with our senior financial correspondent, Michael Costa. Michael, what's your analysis?

[Desi Lydic]

Well, it's not good, Desi. You know, a trade war with China would be devastating for the United States. Almost everything we buy is made in China. Clothing, electronics, dildos from my grandfather's dildo factory, kitchen appliances. We can't just stop all this.

[Desi Lydon]

Wait, wait, wait. Sorry. Your grandfather's dildo factory?

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah. Okay. Ha ha. But dildos don't grow on trees, Desi. Someone's gotta make em. And that someone is my grandfather, who has a dildo factory in the Chinese province of Guangdong.

[Desi Lydon]

Your grandfather's dildo factory is in Guangdong?

[Desi Lydic]

Yes, yes, because it has the most favorable tax incentives. Look, there's nothing funny about Giuseppe Costa's Dick Down Dildo Emporium, ok? It's a classic American success story. Grandpa Costa left Europe with nothing but a suitcase and a plaster cast. He started selling dildos out of a cart in the Lower east side. My grandma herself worked in the dildo testing department. Well, until she got carpal tunnel.

[Desi Lydon]

With such a proud history, why wouldn't your grandfather keep making his dildos in America?

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah, see, that's part of the problem here. America just doesn't have the manufacturing. Manufacturing base to replace the size of Chinese production. Maybe if they started with some smaller factories and gradually stretch the infrastructure, they could work their way up to receiving my grandpappy's dildos.

[Desi Lydon]

But I would think with time, his company could work its way fully inside America.

[Michael Costa]

No.

[Desi Lydic]

Well, maybe. But building a factory, it takes a while to get it up, you know, Especially at my grandfather's age. Plus, Trump is constantly thinking, threatening to change the tariffs. It's so unpredictable. It makes it difficult to relocate. Grandpa can't just keep putting his dildo factories in and out and in and out and in and out of other countries. He's not a machine.

[Desi Lydon]

Wait, sorry. Factories. Your grandpa has more than one dildo factory?

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah. This is a serious business, Desi. He doesn't just make dildos. They also make pocket pussies, butt plugs, and three hole punches.

[Desi Lydon]

Three hole punches? So it's not just sex stuff?

[Desi Lydic]

No, the three hole punches are also for sex stuff.

[Michael Costa]

Oh.

[Desi Lydon]

Ouch. Michael Costa, everybody.

[Michael Costa]

That's just what it is.

[Desi Lydic]

Yeah.

[Desi Lydon]

When we come back, Ronnie Tane will defend the honor of some statues. So don't go. Welcome back to the Daily Show. When it comes to the news, some stories are serious, some stories are inspiring, and some stories are just stupid. And for those, we turn to Ronny Cheng in a segment we call Everything is stupid.

[Ronny Chieng]

Statues. They're not just fancy toilets for pigeons. They're the highest form of art, an expression of beauty that people come from around the world to marvel at. But some idiots are trying to marvel their way to second base.

[Desi Lydic]

A popular tourist attraction may soon get an overhaul because tourists won't stop getting handsy.

[Michael Costa]

The famous Dublin statue of a mythical fishmonger, Molly Malone. Malone's low cut dress is attracting people's groping hands.

[Desi Lydon]

People are rubbing the statues so that the protective covering has been rubbed away already from the bronze over a couple of years. So we will have to re patinate this regularly, which is a cost.

[Ronny Chieng]

That's right. Horny morons have groped this statue so hard that the bronze finish wore off. Isn't the phrase kiss me, I'm Irish, not motorboat my cast iron cleavage, I'm Irish. How about you just let a fishmonger monger her fish in peace without you morons trying to touch her heaving mahi mahis? It's, it's almost. Oh, it gets worse. It's almost like these people don't know they aren't real boobs. Okay? It's not like a hard boiled egg where you crack open the shell and reveal real boobs inside. But surely people must be doing this for a good and not stupid reason.

[Desi Lydon]

The practice of rubbing Molly Malone's breast is believed to have begun around 2012. Instigated by an imaginative tour guide, they grope Molly in the hope it will bring them luck.

[Michael Costa]

If it's lucky, I will touch it.

[Ronny Chieng]

If it's lucky, I touch it. If it's a whore, I it.

[Desi Lydic]

Ho ho ho ho ho.

[Ronny Chieng]

Can someone in Ireland please tell this guy that skydiving without a parachute is also lucky, Please? And if you want to fondle a sculpture, that's your business. But don't act like you're doing it for good luck. Okay? You're in Ireland. If you need luck, go find a four leaf clover or eat a leprechaun or make a keychain with Colin Farrell's eyebrow. Luckily for Molly, they figured out a way to protect her from these goofy dipshits.

[Desi Lydon]

The practice of people setting more than their eyes on the famous fishmonger has prompted the City council to hire stewards to patrol her plinth. They hope this will be the end of the mauling of sweet Molly Malone.

[Ronny Chieng]

Of course, hire some cops. It's a great idea. I mean, sorry, we can't do anything about your stolen car. We're busy fending off statue squeezers. I hope they at least give these guys guns. Cause I want someone's last words to be, hey, everyone, check out me holding this boob. Oh, wait, don't shoot. Don't shoot. But really, the only way to protect Molly Malone is to move her to my apartment. And no, it's not what you think. I will raise her like my own daughter. Day and night, I will watch over her, fending off suitors, killing those who wish her harm. And knowing that her safety is the only thing that adds purpose to my life. Until one day, a nice Irish lad shows up and begs for her hand. At which point, I will then lower my rifle and walk her down the aisle and say goodbye to my little girl forever. Anyway, it turns out that statue groping isn't just happening in Ireland. It's spreading across the globe like Horny Covid unlucky in love.

[Desi Lydon]

Well, there's a tradition in Verona, Italy, that promises to fix that. All you have to do is rub the right breast of a bronze statue of Shakespeare's Juliet. The problem is, tens of thousands of people have been lining up to solve their love dilemmas.

[Ronny Chieng]

Yes, I remember that scene in Shakespeare so well. Romeo, oh, Romeo. Rub my right tit. Oh, Romeo. So, just so I'm clear on this, thousands of people are looking for love by standing in line to touch a statue. How about you just turn around and say, hey, we're both lonely. Let's get out of this line and touch each other? And no, it's not just women statues getting action. The male statues are also getting rubbed raw.

[Michael Costa]

Thousands of women a year flock to Paris to visit this man's grave. It's said that women who put a flower in his hat and kiss him on his lips will find a husband within a year. Many also believe the statue can encourage fertility, which encourages other acts which can be seen by the shine in other places.

[Ronny Chieng]

Hey, buddy, how about you save some of the over the pants handjobs for the rest of us? I mean, these people are dry humping a dead guy who's just trying to rest in peace when they could be going to town on this Dwayne Wade statue. I mean, look, he's practically begging for it. If there's a silver lining to These sexy statues, it's that they're forcing dumb people to learn something. I mean, maybe Americans would be more interested in history if we had slapped some boobs on Mount Rushmore. Hey, dad, do you know George Washington had wooden teeth and pepperoni nipples? Thanks, statues.

[Desi Lydon]

Tremendous work. Ronnie Chang, everyone. When we come back, Mallory McMurray will be joining on the show, so don't go. Welcome back to the Daily Show. My guest tonight is the Majority Whip of the Michigan State Senate and the author of the book Hate Won't Win. Please welcome Mallory McMorrow. Thank you so much for being here. What an exciting time to have you. There's so much going on.

[Michael Costa]

There's a few things.

[Desi Lydon]

Just a few things. So you were inspired to run in the wake of the 2016 election. You literally sat down at your computer and googled how to run for office.

[Michael Costa]

That's right.

[Desi Lydon]

What compelled you to want to jump into the world of politics?

[Michael Costa]

So I don't know if you know what happened in 2016.

[Desi Lydon]

Refresh my memory.

[Michael Costa]

It didn't go great.

[Desi Lydon]

Right?

[Michael Costa]

We had an election in Michigan and there was a video that went viral the day after the election of middle school students chanting, build that wall at a fifth grader. And that happened at Royal Oak Middle School, which was my polling place the day before. And something about the fact that it was kids and kids who learned that this was okay, it broke me. So I did what any normal person does and googled how to run for office.

[Desi Lydon]

Oh, yeah, very inspiring. I too googled how to run, but I just stopped right there. Turns out you just put one foot in front of the other. It's easier than I assumed. So your book is titled Hate Won't Win. I'm just curious, considering the last election results, are you planning a follow up book called okay, Best two out of three?

[Michael Costa]

Yeah. I think it's safe to say that Hate is having a moment. But the title to me is A call to action. It is a choice that each and every single one of us have an opportunity to make every day about when Elon Musk goes out there and does what is surely a Nazi salute, and we all know it. Instead of getting angry and spiraling and going online and looking up, think pieces about whether or not his hand was raised to just the right angle or not. What can we do?

[Desi Lydon]

I'm saying we should not do that. We should not. I should not do. Don't do. Don't spiral, you said.

[Michael Costa]

Yeah, yeah, doom scrolling, not doom scroll, not advised. But when those things happen and there are A lot of things that happen. The plan of the Trump administration is to do so many disgusting and horrible things every single day that we shut down and feel powerless. And what if instead, we put our phones down and we did one thing? Maybe we reached out to one neighbor, maybe we found out where there's a Democratic club that meets in my town and actually showed up and took a step. Just like running. Every single day, we take another step and then another step. And long term, if we all do that, hate's not gonna win.

[Desi Lydon]

Excellent advice. This title Hate Won't win came from a really powerful moment, from a speech that you made on the floor of your state Senate in Michigan that went viral.

[Michael Costa]

Oh, yeah.

[Desi Lydon]

Millions and millions of views. And it all came out of you being targeted by a political rival. Talk about that moment where you not only found your voice, but realized the power that it had.

[Michael Costa]

So I woke up one morning on a regular day, and there was a screenshot of an email on Twitter. And it was an email that was sent out by one of my Republican colleagues, mind you, not somebody I was running against, just somebody in a different part of the state that I serve with, fundraising for herself. And in the email, she accused me by name of wanting to groom and sexualize kindergarteners and wanting 8 year olds to believe they're responsible for slavery. And that's a dark day. Yeah, just not. Not a good work day, certainly. And I visited a high school in my district later that day. I was. I was spiraling all day, trying to figure out what to do, and my friends were worried about me. But I went to this high school and kids were completely plugged in. They knew what was going on. This was before the Dobbs decision. And there was one young woman who raised her hand and said, what are we going to do about our reproductive rights? And then there was another student who said, why are there all these bills attacking the LGBTQ community? We don't care. I don't care what my friends look like, how they identify. We're all just friends. And they could not understand. So that night, I came home and I was giving my daughter a bath. She was 2 at the time. She's 4 now. And I just remember her looking up at me and she was laughing with these four little teeth that were poking out. And I just started sobbing because she had no idea. She had no idea what was happening to me. And she had no idea that there were kids just a few years older than her who wanted to know why people in their state hated them. So I realized that I feel horrendous, but that I'm not actually the one under attack. So what if I actually respond? You know, I was raised to believe that bullies just crave attention. Let's not give it to them. But clearly, that hasn't worked. It hasn't stopped them. They are winning. Hate is having a moment. So I wrote down about myself and my mom and that I was raised in the Catholic Church and what Christianity meant to me. It meant not putting Christian in your Twitter bio and using that as a shield to attack and marginalize already marginalized people. And I was very intentional, you know, thinking about 99% of people. In the end of that speech, I said, people who are different are not the reason why your health care costs are too high or why teachers are leaving the profession. And wanted to take my own story back. And that speech immediately went viral. Tens of millions of people saw it. I got a phone call from the president, and I missed it. It went to voicemail. He left me a message that was deeply embarrassing.

[Desi Lydon]

Whoopsie, whoops, sorry.

[Michael Costa]

And in it, he says, mallory, this is Joe Biden, the president, as if I would not know who it was. But then I started getting letters from all over the country from people who are Democratic, Republican, religious, not religious, for months, telling me their life story and what this meant to them and that it showed them a way forward. And I realized it's not about my title. It's about using my voice and hopefully inspiring others to do the same.

[Desi Lydon]

Yeah, I love. There are so many nods to your mom in this book and how she brought you up, how she raised you, the values that she instilled in you. And I love the piece of advice that she gave you after that video went viral. After that speech, she gave you great advice about what you were. This is great, but what are you gonna do next?

[Michael Costa]

That's right. She said, you know, moms love to check your ego. So she called, and first she was gonna go on Facebook and find out, who is this woman and where does she live? So I had to talk her off of that ledge.

[Desi Lydon]

Good mom. Good mom.

[Michael Costa]

So she did not come out to Michigan to seek revenge on her firstborn. But she chimed in towards the end of the week, and she said, as a mom, you always want to protect your daughter. And what I've learned this past week is that not only have I raised somebody who protects themselves, but somebody who stands up for other people. But she said, mal, this is great, but it's not gonna mean anything if millions of people watch your speech and they don't do the same thing that you did. And that has really galvanized how I move forward, why I wrote this book, why I launched my campaign for U.S. senate in the past week to bring more people into this so that we can all write our own future together and not let hateful people decide it for us.

[Desi Lydon]

As you said, you, you just announced that you're running for U.S. senate. What? The Democratic Party is struggling a bit right now, don't have a whole lot of power. Although I will say watching Senator Booker hold his pee for 24 hours was more inspiring than I ever anticipated. Truly the moment we needed. But if you were in the US Senate right now, what would you be doing? What would you like to see different?

[Michael Costa]

So, first of all, we're in a unique moment where we have to start acknowledging there is going to be a future after Donald Trump. There is. So this is the moment for us to start visualizing what that looks like. There are a lot of people, and I think we have to acknowledge that Donald Trump tapped into a lot of people's rightful anger at a system that has not worked for them for a long time. There are people in a state like mine in Michigan who the idea of Make America Great again was really compelling because they think about a time when you could afford to buy a house and a time when you could save for your kids college or you could go on a vacation. And that is not true for way too many people. So we have to accept it's going to get a lot worse before it gets better. But that if I were to be elected to the Senate, it would be on a very positive vision of the new American dream, one that centers on three success, safety and sanity. That it is not enough just to get by.

[Desi Lydon]

That sounds nice.

[Michael Costa]

Sounds nice. That it is not enough just to get by. Democratic messaging now sounds too much like I hear this refrain all the time. Democrats are fighting for you to put food on the table. Well, that's true, but that's the bare minimum. People want to believe in something more. And I think they look at somebody like Donald Trump or Elon Musk and they say, maybe I don't like the way they talk and maybe I don't like the way they act, but they're successful and I want to be successful too. So we have to lay out that vision for people so that they can see themselves in that future and actually want to be a part of what the Democratic Party is selling. It is not enough just to be anti Democratic because in a few years. There will be no more Donald Trump, certainly not as president. And we need to tell people, this is your future, and we need you to be a part of it right now.

[Desi Lydon]

Mm. Yeah. So many Democrats are in the position of having to react all the time and say, this is what we're gonna stop. This is what we're gonna end. And there seems to be a lack of vision, a lack of clarity for an actual plan moving forward. So it's good to hear. It's nice to hear that you are proposing that you're thinking about these things, because I think that is what the Democratic Party needs. The whole back half of your book is essentially a how to guide for people who might want to not just run for office, but get more involved politically or in their communities. If you could give people at home one piece of advice for how to get more engaged, what would it be?

[Michael Costa]

So if you're looking for a great way to get engaged, you can find out [e-mail] and sign up to join our campaign. But if you don't want to do that, I would encourage every single person who feels like there's just a fire hose right now and that they're overwhelmed. I talk to people in Michigan who say, I am trying to respond on all of these horrible things, and I'm already burned out. Really sit down with yourself and understand the one thing that really moves you. I think a lot about a woman, Jane, who's a constituent of mine. She's a domestic violence survivor, and she has made it her life's mission to protect other women who have gone through what she's gone through from constantly being afraid of their abusers. So she's advocated with me. We've built up a relationship over six years, and we now have an address confidentiality law in Michigan that protects survivors from being found by their abusers. And every time. Absolutely. And every time there's legislation related to domestic violence, she reaches out. And now she's somebody who, because I know that this is her area of expertise, I call her for advice. So what you may not realize is elected officials are all people. We bring our own lived experience, but we don't know what you know. So find the one thing that is going to motivate you and move you to show up. If you care about gun violence, for example, join a Moms Demand Action group and learn how to advocate with your local elected officials. And then keep going. And if you trust that everybody else is also going to find their one thing and it gives you Permission not to be on defense all the time, but to go on offense, to really chart your own future. And frankly, take a break when you need to take a break. Put your phone down. Going back to the beginning. Put it down.

[Desi Lydon]

Put phone down. Got it.

[Michael Costa]

Go for a walk. Re engage with friends. Get to know all of your neighbors, everybody who lives within a three block radius of your house. Because that is what is going to get us back on track, is community and feeling like we belong and that we look out for each other.

[Desi Lydon]

Yes. Couldn't agree with you more. What is something that people involved that you think is a complete waste of time? Cause frankly, I would like to cross a few things off my list.

[Michael Costa]

If you never ever fill out an online petition again, that would be the best thing you can do. There are a ton of them. Change.org ActionNetwork. And I get so frustrated when I see people filling out these things constantly. I had a rule in my office in my first year when I was a state senator that there was no wrong way to engage with us. So even if you sent in one of these forms, we would follow up with you. And we called a guy who had filled out a form and he picked up the phone and he said, who the hell is this? And how did you get my contact information? He didn't remember.

[Desi Lydon]

Might have been Ronny Chang.

[Michael Costa]

It might, you know, it might have been. It might have been Ronnie Cheng. Might have been. Or Michael. I mean, he's a Michigander, right?

[Desi Lydon]

Could have been Costa.

[Michael Costa]

He didn't remember filling it out. And we tally those in our office. But the way that I think about those, it's really advocating advocacy theater. It's set up to make you feel like you're doing something and it makes it so easy. It's like smash one button and you can advocate for change, but this really is about relationships. And what those forms do is they allow organizations to collect your personal information and then follow up with you to ask for money. But those individual stories that I hear are actually much more likely to change how I advocate or view something. So if you ignore those, never fill them out again. But just go home tonight. Everybody here, audience here, find out who represents you at every level from your state house to your state senate, your city council person. And just sign up for their official emails and see what they're working on and see how you can get engaged. Show up at an event and you'll grow this muscle just like we do when we learn any skill.

[Desi Lydon]

Excellent advice. It is such a treat to have you here thank you. I think you're one of the most exciting voices in the Democratic Party. So good. Good luck to you. Thank you for being here. And congrats on your book, too.

[Michael Costa]

Thank you.

[Desi Lydon]

Hate Won't Win is available now. U.S. senate candidate Mallory McMorrow. We're gonna take a quick break, but we'll be right back after this. That's our show for tonight. Now here it is, your moment of bed. Peter Navarro, Que lasor comercial de trano.

[Desi Lydic]

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.

[Desi Lydon]

Paramount Podcasts.

[Mallory McMorrow]

When you think about businesses that are selling through the roof, like Ello or Allbirds or Skims, sure, you think about a great product, a cool brand and brilliant marketing. But an often overlooked secret is actually the business behind the business making selling simple for millions of businesses. That business is Shopify. Nobody does selling better than Shopify, home of the number one checkout on the planet and the not so secret with shop Pay that boosts conversions up to 50%, meaning way less carts going abandoned and way more sales going. So if you're into growing your business, your commerce platform better be ready to sell wherever your customers are scrolling or strolling on the web, in your store, in their feed, and everywhere in between. Upgrade your business and get the same checkout Allbirds uses. Sign up for your $1 per month trial period at shopify.com try all lowercase go to shopify.com try upgrade you're selling today shopify. Com try.