John Oliver Tears Into Media’s Superficial Snowden Coverage, Mocks ‘Frat House’ Joe Scarborough
John Oliver continued his first week guest-hosting The Daily Show tonight by examining how the media has covered the NSA whistleblowing scandal and the superficial way Snowden is being branded either a hero or a traitor by pundits across the spectrum. Oliver said it’s not as simple as that, and tore apart the media for reporting on irrelevant details like where Snowden went to middle school or the fact that his girlfriend pole-dances.
Oliver briefly mocked the State Department for new allegations by another whistleblower that they were engaging in cover-ups of cover-ups involving prostitution and drug use. Oliver clarified that these are merely allegations, so the whistle being blown here is the kind “an asthmatic kitten makes when it’s trying to breathe.”
Oliver then explained how the media has gone all Us Weekly on Snowden, remarking “I can’t think of anything less relevant to be talking about right now than where Edward Snowden went to middle school.” And on the revelation that his girlfriend has a pole-dancing YouTube channel, Oliver couldn’t believe the words were coming out of his mouth as he proclaimed, “I am not interested in any pole-dancing YouTube videos right now!”
He mocked the “incredibly reductive” game of deciding whether Snowden is a traitor or hero, calling out Joe Scarborough in particular for calling Snowden a weasel. Oliver said Scarborough is in no position to ridicule people’s appearances, considering he looks like “the guy in a frat house who can get you roofies.”
Oliver then brought on Samantha Bee to clarify whether Snowden is a brave whistleblower or, as she put it, a “snitch.”
Watch the video below, courtesy of Comedy Central:
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