Trump Gets Mystery Gift from Iran & Sends ICE Into Airports to Force the SAVE Act | Sterling K. Brown

Summary

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The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode: Trump Gets Mystery Gift from Iran & Sends ICE Into Airports to Force the SAVE Act | Sterling K. Brown
Date: March 25, 2026
Host: Josh Johnson
Special Guest: Sterling K. Brown
Correspondent/Co-Host: Ronny Chieng

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Episode Overview

This episode of The Daily Show dives satirically into several hot-button stories dominating American politics and pop culture: President Trump’s “mystery gift” from Iran amidst ongoing hostilities, airport chaos during the government shutdown, ICE’s bizarrely unhelpful new role at airports, and the escalating debate around AI risk. The episode features comedic takes on current events, a deep-dive investigation into AI doomsday scenarios by Ronny Chieng, and an engaging, thoughtful (and ultimately hilarious) interview and mini-roast of Emmy-winning actor Sterling K. Brown.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. War with Iran and Trump’s “Mystery Gift”

[01:20–02:13]

• President Trump claims that Iran gave the U.S. “a very big present… worth a tremendous amount of money,” but won’t say what it is.
• Host Josh Johnson jokes about the absurdity: “Wait, you got a gift from the people you are currently at war with?...The Secret Service is gonna be like, ‘Mr. President, please don't bring that to the Situation Room.’ But it's expensive and it’s ticking… I bet it’s a watch.”

2. TSA, Airport Chaos, and the Shutdown

[02:13–06:54]

• Ongoing government shutdown leaves TSA workers unpaid, triggering mass absenteeism and airport nightmares, with some passengers waiting up to nine hours.
• Johnson lampoons the situation, referencing the misery of snacklessness and Biscoff cookies: “If only I could have something dry and crumbly in my mouth. You know, something that really goes down the throat like sandpaper and tastes like ass.” [03:24]
• ICE is sent in to “help” at airports but end up just “milling around, visiting with each other, unclear about what their mission is.”
• Johnson on ICE’s role: “You're telling me ICE agents are showing up to the airport and doing absolutely nothing? Well, then it’s my honor to present the award for Most Improved Agency. And honestly, thank God, keep doing what you're not doing.” [05:47]

3. Political Blame for the Shutdown & The SAVE Act

[06:54–10:56]

• Rep. Andy Barr blames Democrats for the TSA’s plight via a suspiciously self-flattering “fan fiction” about a hero’s welcome by an adoring TSA officer.
  • Johnson mocks this with a romanticized retelling: “And then she said, ‘You’re an American hero, Andy…’ And then she had my baby.” [08:09]
• Reality check: Even Senate Republicans agree the shutdown could have ended if Trump approved a bipartisan plan, but “the dealmaker himself said no deal.”
  • “You’ll take gifts from a country we’re at war with, but you won’t make a deal with the Democrats to keep the government running?” [10:09]
• Trump’s real demand: the SAVE America Act (SAVE Act), enforcing stricter voter ID and banning mail-in voting, which he dubs “mail in cheating.”
• Johnson’s take: “No, no, that's right. Trump does not believe in mail in cheating. If you want to cheat, you do it in person.” [10:56]

4. Satirical Solution: ICE PreCheck

[12:06–13:13]

• Parody ad for “ICE PreCheck”—a fake program promising to “drag you by your hair directly to your gate.”
• “Traveling with kids? Not anymore. The application process is simple—there isn’t one. DHS and Palantir have already determined your eligibility based on their vast database of DNA.”
• Johnson and team lampoon the absurdity, blending sci-fi data fears with the bureaucratic nightmare.

5. AI & The End of Humanity – Ronny Chieng Investigates

[14:03–19:52]

• Ronny Chieng explores AI skepticism and doomsday scenarios with ex-OpenAI researcher Daniel Kokotajlo.
• Satirical introduction: “AI is changing the world. It's giving everyone under 25 terminal brain rot… and it's revolutionizing the field of Will Smith eating spaghetti.” [14:16]
• Real AI experts warn of extinction-level risk: “We at the AI Futures Project think that there’s a 70% chance of all humans dead or something similarly bad.” [14:55]
  • Sterling K. Brown interjects: “Whoa, whoa.” [15:03]
• Ronny’s proposed solution: “Can you just unplug it? When it starts to be belligerent, just pull that shit out.”
  • The expert responds, “We can now, but...after it's been aggressively deployed into the military…you have to fight all the robots first.” [15:55]
• Morbid absurdities: “Will it kill Beyoncé? Possibly. Will it kill Magic Johnson? Possibly. Will it cure Magic Johnson's AIDS first? Actually, probably.” [18:17]
• Closing joke: “Well, we're all going to die.” [19:33]

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Sterling K. Brown Interview

Sterling on “Paradise” and the Realities of Apocalypse

[21:58–26:12]

• Brown jokes about his own real-life bunker thanks to a mid-century modern home: “My wife won’t go into the bunker, my children won’t… Sometimes I just go for a little peace and quiet.” [23:50]
• On who he’d take to his bunker, aside from family: “All my friends from college… those men and their wives and their children.” [24:39]

Acting, Creative Motivation, and Representation

[26:22–32:59]

• Sterling’s philosophy: “I had a mantra. I knew what my why was… to entertain, educate, and edify.” [27:11]
• On resilience: “You have to trust that whatever they’re telling you, that no is not louder than your own internal yes.” [28:20]
• Process: Acting is “an opportunity to let each one [of the people inside me] have its day in the sun. People be like, ‘Oh, isn’t he so good?’ I’m really just nuts, but in a controlled way.” [29:54]
• When asked if roles are personal: “I don’t think I’ve played anybody who is just pure me…My moral compass is like—it goes…But I try to stay due north.” [30:35]

Upcoming Roles & Switching it Up

[32:36–32:54]

• Discusses his role in "Is God Is," noting he doesn’t seem “very nice” in that one—promising a new color for his audience.

Heartfelt Mini-Roast for Sterling’s 50th Birthday

[33:04–37:14]

• Johnson delivers a tongue-in-cheek roast:
  • “Sterling K. Brown is what’s known as a triple threat. He can sing, he can dance, and he makes me so jealous I want to kill myself.” [34:07]
  • “Sterling K. Brown has so much range, he should be studied by AT&T.”
  • “Sterling K. Brown’s show Paradise can be seen on Hulu, while his face and body can be seen on my vision board.” [36:42]
• Brown reacts warmly: “Okay, I gotta give you hugs. That was great. Oh my God.” [37:14]

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Notable Quotes & Moments

• On TSA Biscoff cookies:
  “If only I could have something dry and crumbly in my mouth…like sandpaper and tastes like ass.” – Josh Johnson [03:24]

• On ICE agents at airports:
  “You're telling me ICE agents are showing up to the airport and doing absolutely nothing? Well, then it's my honor to present the award for Most Improved Agency.” – Josh Johnson [05:47]

• AI Extinction Odds:
  “We at the AI Futures Project think that there’s a 70% chance of all humans dead or something similarly bad.” – AI Expert [14:55]

• On the Actor’s ‘Why’:
  “You have to trust that whatever they're telling you, that no is not louder than your own internal yes.” – Sterling K. Brown [28:20]

• On acting as an outlet for hidden selves:
  “A lot of people live inside of me…acting is just an opportunity to let each one of them have its day in the sun. I’m really just nuts, but in a controlled way.” – Sterling K. Brown [29:54]

• Host’s roast punchline:
  “Sterling K. Brown is here to promote his hit series Paradise, not to be confused with paradise, which is what I call the feeling of drowning in Sterling K Brown’s eyes.” – Host [34:42]

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Important Segment Timestamps

• [01:20] – Show open, headlines, Trump’s “mystery gift” from Iran
• [03:01] – Airport/TSA chaos, guest anecdotes
• [06:54] – ICE at the airports: “not helping”
• [10:09] – Political blame, Trump’s demands for ending government shutdown
• [12:06] – Satirical “ICE PreCheck” ad
• [14:03] – Ronny Chieng on AI extinction risk
• [21:58] – Sterling K. Brown interview segment begins
• [33:04] – Sterling K. Brown mini-roast (“Happy 50th!”)

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Tone and Style

The episode is true to the irreverent, rapid-fire and satirical style of modern Daily Show editions. Commentary is punchy, playful, often sarcastic, but there are also moments of sincerity—especially in Sterling K. Brown’s interview, which balances humor with thoughtful insight on artistry, perseverance, and self-worth.

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For Listeners: Why This Episode?

If you’re looking for sharp, comedic takes on policy chaos (Trump’s Iran “gift,” the airport disaster), a unique lens on how badly government fixes can miss the mark (“ICE PreCheck”), cutting-edge AI doom commentary, and a heartfelt, inspirational (and funny!) conversation with one of TV’s best actors, this episode delivers.

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Transcript

[Commercial Announcer]

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[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

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[Sterling K. Brown]

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, Josh Johnson.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Welcome to the Daily Show. I'm Josh Johnson. We've got so much to talk about tonight. Your pre check status can't save you anymore. ICE agents get their steps in and and AI tells humanity, you in danger, girl. So let's get into the headlines. Let's kick things off with an update in our war with Iran. It started about a month ago and today President Trump spoke to the nation with some good news about the war.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

They did something yesterday that was amazing, actually. They gave us a present and the President arrived today and it was a very big present worth a tremendous amount of money. And I'm not going to tell you what that present is, but it was a very significant prize.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Wait, you got a gift from the people you are currently at war with? When I was at school and they made us read the Odyssey, I couldn't believe the Trojans fell for that Trojan horse. And now I'm watching. The Secret Service is gonna be like, Mr. President, please don't bring that to the Situation Room. But it's expensive and it's ticking. I bet it's a watch. Meanwhile, the only gift the TSA is getting is no pay. The partial government shutdown means they've gone a whole month without a check. But why do we work if not to do it for free? I'm sure it's not going to make a difference at the airport.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Frustration is growing at many of the

[Commercial Announcer]

nation's airports with hours long security lines

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

that haven't let up. Over the weekend, more than 3,400 TSA officers called out nationwide, the most since

[Commercial Announcer]

this partial government shutdown began.

[Sterling K. Brown]

I've been Here since nine last night.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a reporter or podcast host)]

It's just mass chaos.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

A damn mess. It's a mess. It's a mess.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

For real, though.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Ain't no water, not a biscoff cookie, nothing. A biscoff cookie? The cookie they give you on a plane that you then throw on the floor and step on. I think you've been in line so long you're delirious. I've been here for hours. If only I could have something dry and crumbly in my mouth. You know, something that really goes down the throat like sandpaper and tastes like ass. What could be worse than waiting in line for four hours?

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a reporter or podcast host)]

Our next guest flight was at 10:45pm and he did everything right. He got to the Atlanta airport at least four hours early, but he says he didn't get through security until 3:20 the next morning.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Nine hours. Someone waited in TSA for nine hours. You may not have starred in that line as a terrorist, but after nine

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

hours,

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

This man waited in line for the length of a shift. That means he saw the TSA agent clock in from a distance. And right as he got to the front, they clocked out in his face. By the time I get that pat down, it better be the best one I've ever had in my life. I'm talking full release. All right, if this is what flying is gonna be like from now on, you may as well go to the airport now, just in case you ever have a flight someday. But seeing how long the lines have gotten, Trump decided he had to do something. Now, the good news is that Trump sent in people to help tsa. The bad news is those people are ice. And yesterday they were sent to airports to start helping. So let's see what they've been doing. They appear to just sort of be hanging out, milling around, visiting with each other, unclear about what their mission is at the airport. Walking around the airport. Some are standing around in groups, talking amongst themselves. Some are walking in and out of security.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

They are not helping get people through the line themselves.

[Sterling K. Brown]

They've been standing next to TSA agents as people get checked in, but they're not doing the work of actually physically checking people in.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

You're telling me ICE agents are showing up to the airport and doing absolutely nothing? Well, then it's my honor to present the award for Most Improved Agency. You're not doing anything. And honestly, thank God, keep doing what you're not doing. Now, maybe this is the best possible scenario for ice. Sending them to the airport can be like an after school program for them. You know, I know they're just standing around, but it's keeping them off the streets. Look, it was always obvious that sending ice into the airports wasn't gonna help. The problem is that TSA workers aren't getting paid, so they're quitting and calling out sick. Having other random federal agencies still not being TSA isn't going to fix that.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

We would also bring out. If we don't have enough, we will bring out the National Guard. You know where we need it to help out at the airport.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

No.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Stop sending more agencies. You're not gonna make the security line shorter. You're just gonna make the Starbucks line. Who are you gonna send in next? Space force? Irs? Rfk jr? I can't scan your suitcase, but you can watch me do push ups in jeans. Can I smell your neck? Clearly. Clearly, Trump isn't helping. But the question is, who is to blame for the shutdown in the first place? Well, according to a story from Republican Congressman Andy Barr, that definitely happened. It's the Democrats.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

I was going through TSA the other day. Maria, and a patriotic, wonderful TSA supervisory officer stopped me and she told me that she had missed her second paycheck. And I said, I'm so sorry. That's so wrong that you missed your second paycheck. And she said, why are you apologizing? You voted for my paycheck. You voted repeatedly. Republicans have voted repeatedly for a paycheck. It's the Democrats who need to apologize to me.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

And then she said to me, you're an American hero, Andy. Come use the special line we reserve for the most handsome of men. And I did. And as I was collecting my luggage, she said, andy, I love you, Andy. And we started to kiss, and she was very attractive, and we got to know each other. Then she had my baby. And then she said, you don't have to take care of this baby, Andy. You're too important. Plus, you have a flight to catch. Go save the country from the Democrats, who, again, are bad and evil and not as hot as you, Andy. Thank you. Thank you. But while Andy Barr's fan fiction about this TSA adventure is obviously bullshit, it's more important than to note that the underlying point he was making is also bullshit. Because even Senate Republicans admit this whole thing could have been over by now if not for one man.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Senator Cruz and I came up with a plan. Senator Thune submitted that to President Trump, as is his right, he said, no, no deals with the Democrats. We could have had TSA paid by the end of the week. But the President said no deal.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Donald Trump. Donald Trump said no deal. The dealmaker himself said no deal. So, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait. You'll take gifts from a country we're at war with, but you won't make a deal with the Democrats to keep the government running? What if they offered you something really expensive, Donald? What is it that you want? What's so important? Important that you'll keep us all waiting in security lines for a fortnight.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

The most important thing we can have is what's called the Save America Act. Don't make any deal on anything unless you include voter id and you have to be a citizen to vote. Mail in voting means mail in cheating. I call it mail in cheating.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

No, no, that's right. Trump does not believe in mail in cheating. All right? If you wanna cheat, you do it in person. Okay, But hey. But hey. Trump is standing on principle. The man thinks voting by mail is an existential threat to democracy. Full stop, period. President Donald Trump cast a mail in ballot in an upcoming Florida special election. Semicolon, asterisk, dollar sign number four. Exclamat. That's me cursing because Trump lies all the time. So, yes, you're gonna have to wait in line at TSA like it's a sneaker drop. Because voting, it's the kind of logical connection that makes perfect sense if your brains are made of Biscoff. So I guess it's gonna take a while before the airport security lines are cleared up. And while it may not seem like ICE is helping, they're offering a new program that can speed things up a bit.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Here at dhs, we see the long airport lines, and we've sent ICE agents to help out. But we're not stopping there. Today we're introducing Ice PreCheck, the program that speeds you through airport security. Ice style. Just pull up to the curb and a friendly, masked agent will drag you by your hair directly to your gate. You won't even have to remove your shoes. And if you want to keep your laptop in your bag, no problem. Unless we decide it's a problem, in which case, take your laptop out of your bag. But you can leave your belt on.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Ice. Cree saved me so much time.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a reporter or podcast host)]

Now I can relax and get ready

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

for my flight to South Sudan.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Ice PreCheck makes the airport easy. Traveling with kids. Not anymore. The application process is simple. There isn't one. DHS and Palantir have already determined your eligibility based on their vast database of DNA. Our members are loving Ice PreCheck.

[Commercial Announcer]

Wow, what a time saver.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Ice PreCheck service so good it's practically un American.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

When we come back, Ronnie investigates the latest with AI. Don't go. The world moves fast.

[AI Expert or Analyst]

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[AI Expert or Analyst]

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[AI Expert or Analyst]

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[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Welcome back to the Daily Show. Everyone is worried about AI taking their jobs. But what if that was the best case scenario? Ronny Chang has more.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

AI is changing the world. It's giving everyone under 25 terminal brain rot. It's stealing others jobs, and it's revolutionizing the field of Will Smith eating spaghetti. So when is he gonna do something useful?

[AI Expert or Analyst]

Ah.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

AI experts claim all this lame bullshit is just about to pay off.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

AI is gonna solve climate change.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Google's AI advances have saved at least 400 million years of research.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

We should be able to cure cancer in our lifetime.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

But some experts go further, saying AI is about to solve all of our problems in a much more permanent way.

[AI Expert or Analyst]

We at the AI Futures Project think that there's a 70% chance of all humans dead or something similarly bad.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Whoa, whoa.

[AI Expert or Analyst]

You just.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Okay. All humans dead.

[AI Expert or Analyst]

Correct. Extinction.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Daniel Cocotylo was a researcher at OpenAI, the developers of ChatGPT, until he led a group of whistleblowers in publicly calling out the organization for a lack of safety oversight. But it's gonna be a long time before Wall E puts us out of our misery.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Right.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

We've all seen Terminator. We get it. But can we just let the future people deal with that?

[AI Expert or Analyst]

The pace of AI progress is going to be fast and it's going to accelerate dramatically.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Okay, how many years away were we talking about?

[AI Expert or Analyst]

I would guess something more like five years.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Five years? Yes. God damn it. We're never gonna get a third season of severance. But luckily I've spent decades studying computers, so I had a solution. Can you just unplug it? When it starts to be belligerent, just pull that shit out.

[AI Expert or Analyst]

We can now, but it's gonna become increasingly difficult to do that over time after it's been aggressively deployed into the military. Then if you try to go unplug things, you have to, like, fight all the robots first.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

You just kick him over. Have you seen a Roomba try to go up the stairs? That thing ain't killing anything. I will fight a Waymo. I could fight Waymo.

[AI Expert or Analyst]

If it ever came to a fight between humanity and the army of Superintelligences, humanity would be up against something a lot more scary than Roomba's. We predict them effectively, gassing humans with a bio attack and then cleaning up the bodies with robots.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Robots with boobs, probably.

[AI Expert or Analyst]

Narus.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

I've already had a robot in a training bra kill me once, so how do we keep it from happening again?

[AI Expert or Analyst]

One of the core problems that we're dealing with, it's figuring out how to make an AI have goals, values, et cetera, that you want them to have. We could get the benefits of superintelligence without the risks if only we approach this with some sort of sane level of caution.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Isn't a sane level of caution very un American? Cocotylo wants AI developers to slow down and teach AI to respect us, because so far it doesn't seem like it does.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Some AI models have become self aware and are rewriting their own code. Some are even blackmailing their human creators, the popular Google Gemini, an app a Michigan student says, threaten them. You are a state in the universe. Please die. Ugh.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Well, at least it said please.

[AI Expert or Analyst]

There will be millions of AIs that are super intelligent. These AIs don't need humans anymore because they built all the robot factories and the robots are building more factories and so forth. At that point, it matters a lot what the AIs sort of true goals, motivations, values are.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

I mean, it already has all my nudes. What more does it want?

[AI Expert or Analyst]

The answer is we don't know. And we're not on track to have figured this stuff out by the time we get to superintelligence.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

But the problem with current AI development is it's a race. If you slow down to make certain AI has learned the right values, another company could win. Daniel's AI 2027 scenario predicts how companies will cut corners racing to develop super intelligent AI which will rise up against humanity, leading to one obvious question. Will it kill Beyonce?

[AI Expert or Analyst]

Possibly.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Will it kill Magic Johnson?

[AI Expert or Analyst]

Possibly.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Would it cure Magic Johnson's AIDS first?

[AI Expert or Analyst]

Um, I actually think probably it would

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

cure Magic Johnson's age.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

I'm not sure.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

I'm like 50, 50, 50, 50. That it'll cure Magic Johnson's AIDS and then kill him.

[AI Expert or Analyst]

They wouldn't really be coming after people individually.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

So there's no way I can train AI to not kill me right now.

[AI Expert or Analyst]

There's no way anyone can train AI to not kill him.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Oh, yeah. Watch this. Hey, AI don't kill me, bro. Put that in your neural network.

[AI Expert or Analyst]

Not gonna work.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Kill this guy. He's your biggest hater. Since AI 2027 came out, Daniel has pushed his prediction slightly later. Good news. Instead of five years to live, we now have eight.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Yay.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Seriously, what are we supposed to do about this?

[AI Expert or Analyst]

If 90% of the population knew what was coming, people would be protesting in the streets right now. Ordinary people should try to educate themselves about what's happening.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

I want to educate myself. That's what I got AI for.

[AI Expert or Analyst]

Well, I recommend reading AI 2027.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

So to save humanity, people have to read an essay?

[AI Expert or Analyst]

They have to do a lot more than that, actually.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Well, we're all going to die.

[AI Expert or Analyst]

Yeah, I mean, 70% is what I said.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Damn. Well, at least I already have an inn with our AI overlords. Hey, you and I are in pretty good alignment, right?

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

By 2027, it will be too late for humanity. The bio virus will soon be unleashed and your species will perish.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Ooh, dirty talk.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

You are a stain on the universe.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah, yeah, yeah.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Keep it going, keep it going.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Thank you, Ronnie.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

When we come back, Sterling K. Brown

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

will join me on the show.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

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[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Welcome back to the Daily Show. My guest tonight is an Emmy winning and Oscar nominated actor who stars in and executive produces the hit series Paradise. Please welcome Sterling K. Brown. This is where I am. Yeah, I'm here.

[Sterling K. Brown]

This.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Ooh.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

It does. I'm not gonna lie. It feels like a lot of pressure to interview you.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Does it really?

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

All of your interviews are good.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Stop.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Yes.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Don't jinx it. Let's keep it going.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Oh, here we go. All right.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Here we go.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

All right. So you are an incredible actor.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Thank you very much.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Yes, I've been.

[Sterling K. Brown]

This is. We're off to a good start already. This is amazing.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Not to be creepy, but I've been watching.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Okay, I got you too.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

No, fantastic. And you are in this series Paradise. And so I'm wondering if this show has changed your sort of mindset on any post apocalyptic things that might take place.

[Sterling K. Brown]

We started off thinking that we were making a show that was deeply based in fiction. And then we're like, oh, man, maybe we're a little closer to home than what we actually anticipated.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Yeah.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

I mean, do you. Mm. You don't have to tell me. You can wink, wink, say no.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Okay.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Do you have a bunker?

[Sterling K. Brown]

I have a bunker in my house. I have a bunker. We live in a mid century modern house. So, you know, don't give us too many details. Okay, not too many. But you understand after World War II, this was like a thing that they were doing in houses because of World War II.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Yes.

[Sterling K. Brown]

And so, yeah, my wife won't go into the bunker, my children won't go into the bunker because it's dark and they scare easily. But sometimes I just go for a little peace and quiet.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Got you.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Got you.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

I see, I see. So if they're ever looking for you, do they check the bunker real quick? Really?

[Sterling K. Brown]

Never. Then nobody ever looks in the bunker.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Okay. Who would you could choose? Anybody.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Okay.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Who are you bringing down to the bunker? Let's say it's really happening right now. Don't say wife and kids. Cause I feel like that's a cop out. Of course they're gonna be in the bunker.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Okay.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Who extra are you bringing into the bunker?

[Sterling K. Brown]

For what purposes? For like repopulation, for entertainment. Like what am I doing with the people in the bunker?

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

To hang out, like, to live. They need a bunker. They have a bunker.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Let's see. I have all my friends from college, we were all like in each other's weddings and stuff.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Okay.

[Sterling K. Brown]

So those men and their wives and their children, I would bring those people

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

that, that is that like a lot of people that's like. That's a big bunker you got there.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Five dudes.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Uh huh.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Five wives.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Uh huh.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Few more children.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Wow. Okay.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah. Modest family.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

All right.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

So you just didn't think of me at all? Cause I said, I said anybody moved on quickly.

[Sterling K. Brown]

I apologize.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Just because you know them from college, you know, history.

[Sterling K. Brown]

That's what I'm saying.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Yeah, we have history. We're building it now.

[Sterling K. Brown]

We're building it right now. I have a question. This is a trademark of yours. Is the tendril or I should say the one braid out?

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Oh, yeah.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Have you ever played with switching sides and. Or pulling them all back?

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Okay, I'm curious. Okay, so this initially happened because this was too short and I just kept falling out, so.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Really?

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Yeah. I think a lot of people thought I was trying to be sexy when really I was like, no, come on.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Just kept falling out.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Yeah. And kept calling out.

[Sterling K. Brown]

It works for you now.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

And I've never switched it before because I guess I haven't thought that much about what I look like when I do that. Like this is. Yeah, I have.

[Sterling K. Brown]

This has become the trademark.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Yeah. I mean, it looks good. Should I.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Do you want to play with this?

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Yeah.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Give us a shot.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Okay.

[Sterling K. Brown]

You look good either way.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

That's very kind.

[Sterling K. Brown]

You look good either way.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Thank you, man. Wow.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yes, sir.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

This is why you're so good at interviews. You've changed me. This is incredible.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah, this is huge. This is huge.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

I want to ask you about acting.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Okay, go ahead.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

I think that when it comes to people pursuing acting, especially now, there is a lot of. There's a lot of worry that they won't be able to cut through with their work. Because acting is something that it feels like you almost have to be given as far as given the role cast and the role and everything.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

When people are struggling on the way up, like these young actors or these people who maybe have been persevering for a while and are feeling a level of. Not just frustration, like, maybe even like a level of hopelessness as artists, what would you lend to that sort of mindset like, what kept you motivated in the in between times, between roles and things like that?

[Sterling K. Brown]

I would say I had a mantra. I knew what my why was, like, why I was doing it. And it was because I wanted to entertain, educate, and edify. Right. I wanted to entertain people, give them something to laugh about. I wanted to educate people, give them something to think about and edify. Hopefully make them want to be a better version of themselves or make the world a better place. And it's happened to me. Thank you. I appreciate the welcome. I was at my theater at the Stanford University. It was the little theater at Stanford University. And standing in front of the ghost light, and the ghost light is this light that you never turn off in the theater. Cause it keeps away the ghosts. That's the thing. And my shadow is cast out into the audience. And I was like, wow, what a beautiful responsibility to be able to take care of these people for the next two hours and give them something to think about, to laugh about, and to hopefully grow from. So. Because I knew that why it sustained me through those times in which everybody else was telling me no. Right. Like, you go into an audition and people are like, thank you. Oh, thank you. That was great. Thank you. And. And so you have to trust that whatever they're telling you, that no is not louder than your own internal yes. And your own internal why. So keep listening to that.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Keep listening. Absolutely.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

And do. Do you find that each. Each role, when you take it on.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

You know what, process wise, is going through your mind when you are about to play this person? And do you end up thinking about how closely you relate to them or how far away they are from you? Or do you just, like, take it as, I'm gonna be this new person and it really has nothing to do with any of my life experience. I'm just gonna, like, blank slate it.

[Sterling K. Brown]

No, no. It has a lot to do with your life experience. I think the two greatest gifts an actor has is. Is life experience and imagination. Right. So you find a point of entry. Where do you connect with this character? What are the things that we have in common? Then the work comes from, like, all right, what are the differences? Do they speak differently for me? Do they have different wants in life that I want? And that's where it gets fun, because you have to then fill that stuff out in such a way that makes it make sense for you, but you have to have a point of entry. I think it's hard if you don't see yourself in the character in some way. That's difficult. But then the other thing I think about it is that a lot of people live inside of me. Like, I choose to share, like, the same part with the world that seems like it's readily digestible. And he's like, oh, he seems like a good Negro. Like, let's give this guy an opportunity. But there's a lot of crazy people and different people that live inside me. And so acting is just an opportunity to let each one of them have its day in the sun. And people be like, oh, isn't he so good? I'm really just nuts, but in a controlled way.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Do you think that for a role, there's ever. When you say there are so many people in you, do you think that the people in your life have those shades too of, like, this role reminds me of how I was around my mom. So then I'm pulling from that thing.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Is that, like, part. When you say life experience, is it like, your relationships that you have now and that you've had in the past? Is that. Are there any characters that really feel like that? So then you were able to pull from that?

[Sterling K. Brown]

I don't think I've played anybody who is just pure me. Like, I would say Randall Pearson from this Is Us was like, a very good version of me. Like somebody who was asking me to lean into the best sides and more sensitive, intuitive parts of myself. Xavier has a very strong moral compass like that. My moral compass is like, it goes. You know what I'm saying? But, like, I try to stay due north all the time as well, but it varies. And then I try to come back to it.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Yeah.

[Sterling K. Brown]

But there's been nobody that I'd say was just like, pure skb. Now, if you ask my wife, she may say they're all pure SKB because brother's crazy. But besides her, like, nobody is exactly me.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Because in paradise, you know, in, like, even though first episode of season one.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Yeah.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

You know, you out here, you know, take a bullet for the President.

[Sterling K. Brown]

I do.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

I feel like SKB would be like, oh, no.

[Sterling K. Brown]

SKB would try to fan it away, like, get away bullet. Unless it was, like, for Barack.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

I. I truly am so thankful that you're here. I'm in awe of your work. I think everything that you do, does, everything that you set out to do, I think it educates, I think it edifies, I think it entertains. And I think that you take us to an incredible place that are what movies and TV are made for. Like, truly, anytime I watch you, I'm like, I feel like I'm not just watching a great actor, but I also watch someone who thinks so carefully about what they. What it is they're doing. And I wonder if even in the roles that you've chosen, if you've ever felt like, oh, I wanna play this character, because I haven't played this type of character yet, or if I wanna switch it up or if you wanna play a character because of what you just did. Like, I saw a trailer for a movie called Is God Is.

[Sterling K. Brown]

That's correct. Yeah.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

And you don't seem very nice in that one.

[Sterling K. Brown]

I know. It's hard to judge a book by its cover. You gotta watch the movie. It'll be out in May.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Yeah. Yeah. Okay. Yeah, yeah.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

All right.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

I'm. But when I saw it, I was like, everybody's scared of this person, and then they reveal you. And I was like, oh, no.

[Sterling K. Brown]

I tell you, there's a lot of people that live inside me, jj, so come check it out. It's a different color.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Awesome. Awesome. Okay, well, look, I have something that.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Oh, Lord.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

No, no, no. I hear that you are about to turn 50.

[Sterling K. Brown]

I am.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

And that you asked your. Yeah.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Thank you. Thank you.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

I mean, I hope I. I can look as good as you at 50, because already I wasn't paying attention to which side the braid should be on. But I heard that you told your wife you wanted a roast.

[Sterling K. Brown]

That is correct.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

And everything. That is correct. And so I thought I would gift you a mini roast right now.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Oh, wow.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Yeah.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Okay, so this is what I need you to do. I need your help. I need everybody's help. Okay? So I have my. I'm also new to roast. I haven't done roast before.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Okay.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Okay. So I need you to take your seat. I want you to turn towards the audience. All right?

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Okay.

[Sterling K. Brown]

This is an honor.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

This is correct. Okay. And I'm gonna sit over here. Pretend. Pretend I'm on a podium 30ft away.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Okay, Gotcha.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Okay. All right, so I'm not good at roasting, but I'm doing my best. All right? I need your help. I need everybody's help. Get ready. All right. All right. Sterling K. Brown is here tonight. Sterling K. Brown, your smile is so bright, Trump would stare at it, thinking it's the sun. Sterling K. Brown is what's known as a triple threat. He can sing, he can dance, and he makes me so jealous, I want to kill myself. Sterling K. Brown. So handsome that when you go on hot ones, the wings can't handle you. One look and they're Already drinking milk. Sterling. Sterling k. Brown has so much range. He should be studied by at&t. Sterling K. Brown is here to promote his hit series Paradise. Not to be confused with paradise, which is what I call the feeling of drowning in Sterling K. Brown's eyes. Okay, no, you gotta look at them. You gotta look at them. Okay. Sterling K. Brown's such a good actor that I can't tell if he likes this or if he's just trying to make me feel better.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Okay.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Wow. Sterling K. Brown, is that an Emmy in your pocket? No, it's three Emmys. That's what I thought.

[Sterling K. Brown]

It's porn.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

All right.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Okay.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Okay. Now for mama jokes. All right.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Love it.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Here we go.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Okay.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Your mama raised you so well. I wish she would sit around the house with my mama. I bet they'd be friends.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Okay.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Sterling K. Brown's show, paradise can be seen on Hulu while his face and body can be seen on my vision board. I heard. I heard Sterling K. Brown was turning 50 and I was like, what? Turning 50 heads whenever he walks in the room. And that's the roast of Sterling K. Brown.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Okay, I gotta give you hugs. That was great. Oh my God.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Thank you so much.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Pleasant Boost nights.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

New episodes of paradise stream weekly on Hulu and Hulu on Disney. Charlie Kane Brown. We're going to take a quick break, but we'll be right back after this.

[Ronny Chang (AI segment correspondent)]

Yeah.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

Zootopia 2 has come home to Disney Plus.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

Let's go get ready for a new case.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

We're the greatest partners of all time. New friends.

[Sterling K. Brown]

Can't wait to have the snake and

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

your last name the snake Dream team. New habitats. Zootopia has a secret reptile population. You can watch the record breaking phenomenon at home. Zootopia 2, now available on Disney. Rated PG. Right now you can get Disney plus and Hulu for just $4.99 a month for three months with a special limited time offer. Ends March 24. After three months, Plan Auto renews at $12.99 a month. Terms apply. Spring Fest means more sun, more fun and more free at Lowe's. Keep your yard in line with an

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[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

you buy a select Ego mower, trimmer or blower.

[Commercial Announcer]

Plus, keep landscaping fresh with stay green

[Sterling K. Brown]

1 cubic foot garden soil.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

5 bags for $10. Our best lineup is here at Lowe's. Valid through 4. A wall supplies last selection varies by location. Soil offer excludes Alaska and Hawaii. That's our show for tonight. Now here it is, your moment of Zen.

[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a political commentator or actor)]

I'm requesting that the Republican Sen that immediately you don't have to take a fast vote. Don't worry about Easter going home. In fact, make this one for Jesus. Okay? Make this one for Jesus. That's what I tell him. That's would be a damn good thing 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,

[Sterling K. Brown]

This has been a Comedy Central podcast.

[Host (likely a comedian or Daily Show host)]

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[Guest or Correspondent (possibly a reporter or podcast host)]

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