The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Kash Patel Gets Tangled in Bestiality Questions & Don Jr. Gets a Blushing Bribe | Colin Kaepernick

Episode Date: September 17, 2026

Pete Hegseth seeks troops with the perfect waist-to-height ratio to serve as props for his speech, and Kash Patel defends new FBI hiring standards that take a softer stance on bestiality. Plus, Josh J...ohnson dives into the details of Don Jr.'s Russian-funded wedding, while Don Jr.'s new wife steps in to share that the whole wedding wasn’t a bribe; only half of it was. With the U.S. and Canada mired in a full-blown trade war, Ronny Chieng pays a visit to a Canadian bar in New York City to find out how America's neighbors to the north are feeling about the unhinged bully to their south. And as it turns out, between Trump's punishing tariffs and the notion of becoming America's 51st state, the whole thing is enough to make a Canadian utter the friendliest "f**k off" ever. Super Bowl quarterback, civil rights activist, and bestselling author Colin Kaepernick joins Josh Johnson to discuss his new memoir, "The Perilous Fight." They reflect on the 10-year anniversary of Kaepernick's kneeling during the national anthem to protest racial injustice and police brutality, the idea that activism doesn't need to be earned, it's required for society to work, and a reframing of risk assessment in activism that asks, "What do we risk if we don't take action?" -- Dose - New customers can save 35% on your first month of subscription by going to https://dosedaily.co/TDS or entering TDS at checkout. -- The Daily Show airs weeknights at 11/10c on Comedy Central. Stream full episodes on Paramount+ Follow TDS: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

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Starting point is 00:00:01 You're listening to Comedy Central. The most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only sorts for new. This is The Daily Show with your host, Josh Johnson. Josh Johnson, we've got so much to talk about tonight. Canada is mad at us, but they're too polite to say why. Pete Higgseth orders a strike on Fugley, and Cash Patel tells Congress he does not like it doggy style.
Starting point is 00:00:46 So let's get into it with another edition of the worst one. A bunch of losers. Let's kick things off with Pete Hegsef, Secretary of Defense, and guy at the tattoo parlor who's always getting asked, Are you sure? He may be in charge of a war that we're clearly losing, but don't worry, Hegseth is laser-focused on making sure his next speech looks sexy.
Starting point is 00:01:19 Well, according to the Wall Street Journal tonight, Heggs-S Pentagon is focused on finding troops who embody the secretary's specific brand of masculinity. to serve as the backdrop for his next speech. Commanders are now reportedly being asked to nominate troops who meet Hegset's waist-to-height requirements and also exhibit, quote-unquote, impeccable grooming standards. I'm sorry, is this guy still in charge of the military
Starting point is 00:01:45 or is he in charge of casting Love Island? I can just see him screaming like, all these soldiers are going to watch, this speech shirtless, so no pepperoni nipples! I have never heard anyone say, the phrase waist to height ratio before. This man cannot count the number of missiles you need to fight a war with Iran, but when it comes to male physique, he's a beautiful mind? Asking for impeccable grooming is a little strange, you know, but it's nice to know this administration
Starting point is 00:02:17 is finally taking grooming seriously. From Pete Hexeth to another perfect specimen of masculinity, Donald Trump Jr. This summer, he celebrated one of the most important days in any man's life. his second wedding. We had an awesome small ceremony in the Bahamas was just absolutely cool. I think I got some video. What a beautiful ceremony in the church from sinners. Poor Tiffany, even at a wedding that's basically in a room, she could only get an obstructed view.
Starting point is 00:03:28 Still, I'm not going to hit on this story. For once, I'm glad to see the Trump's finally having a family get-together without any corruption. A Russian oligarch with ties of Vladimir Putin paid hundreds of thousands of dollars, tell finance Donald Trump Jr.'s recent wedding celebration in the Bahamas. Here comes the bribe from a Russian guy. All right, what did Comrade Olegart give him? The parties that followed were anything but low-key, including professional dancers and a large fireworks display.
Starting point is 00:04:00 ProPublica says this man, Umar Kremlev, seen in the back of this photo, footed the bill. And he got Tiffany? Also, the guy who gave them 700K is named Umar Kremlin. I don't want to be culturally insensitive, but that name sounds like a knock-off James Bond villain. He's a spy from the Kremlin.
Starting point is 00:04:30 Let's call him Krimlev. But I'm getting distracted. A Russian oligarch with ties to Putin paid for the President's son's wedding weekend, and this is a presidential family of billionaires, which means you just did corruption for the love of the gang. One person who is not,
Starting point is 00:04:50 happy about the reveal is the bride. Betina Trump. Batina. I've never seen those letters put together before. Batina Trump. Or as President Trump calls her, Malania! What's what you're doing here?
Starting point is 00:05:08 I thought you'd never come back. When Bettina heard people were saying that her wedding was nothing more than a tawdry bribe, she set the record straight. His wife, Bettina Anderson, responded to ProPublica's reporting today, with this on Instagram. Don and I got married privately on
Starting point is 00:05:27 Friday, surrounded only by our family. And our dear friend, Umar, very generously hosted two incredible nights of celebrations for us after our wedding. Yeah, that's right, fake news. They didn't pay for my wedding. They paid for the much more expensive
Starting point is 00:05:43 after party. Because I'm not cheap. I'm Bettina. This whole family's been making billions off Trump's presidency, and they still can't resist a freebie. Whether it's a Katari jet or a post-wedding chocolate fountain, all of Trump's kids have front row access to everything. Well, almost all of them. But let's move on from Don Jr., who technically has no responsibilities in the administration,
Starting point is 00:06:21 to someone who does have responsibilities. He just doesn't worry about him. FBI director, Cash Battalion. Yesterday, Cash testified before the Senate, and the FBI is facing a lot of scrutiny right now, So these hearings were a chance for the Senate to really dig in. Um, what about the bestiality? I'm sorry, the what now? Did I miss an episode? You know, things have gone off the rails when someone has to ask, what about the beastiality?
Starting point is 00:07:06 But apparently what happened was earlier in the hearing, Democratic Senator Dick Durbin wanted to ask Patel about a recent decision to loosen standards for FBI recruits. And I guess one particularly loose-new standard kind of jumped out. The FBI has lowered its hiring standards by dropping automatic disqualification for applicants who have stolen from fire employees paid for sex are engaged in beastiality. Director Patel, do you believe those who have previously stolen from employers solicited sex
Starting point is 00:07:42 are engaged in beastility or qualified candidates that the FBI is losing? Thank you for bringing this up so we can get to the truth of the matter. We are witnessing history here, all right? This may be the first time ever someone's response to what's up with the bestiality is, thank you for bringing that up. These are the standards you're lowering? Maybe the new standard should be only needs to do 20 push-ups and not can't go to a petting zoo wearing gym shorts. So this whole thing apparently confused Republican Senator John Kennedy,
Starting point is 00:08:30 who asked Patel what old regulations were we, actually under discussion here. The regs wrote it up in a fashion before I arrived that addressed prostitution, bestiality, and trafficking. They were there before I got there. Tell me what it said before. It automatically disqualified any individual who participated on either side of it.
Starting point is 00:08:51 Obviously, we are never going to hire the criminal. The bestiality? Yes. So you disqualified the animal? I'm sorry. Was this a big problem from the animal side? Are there bomb sniffed? dogs out there who are like, shit, the Chinese know I hooked up with Kyle.
Starting point is 00:09:25 I am so confused. In his fake scenario, the animal participant in the bestiality is the one to blame? Like, there are actually FBI applicants going, yeah, you know how sometimes in an online dating situation, you can get catfished? Well, that happened to me by a catfish. head of the FBI losing an interrogation about animal sex. What a fall from grace for the FBI, you know? Like y'all used to be the cream of the crop.
Starting point is 00:10:08 The Bureau was the dream team and America's finest law enforcement agency. I mean, y'all killed Dr. King. Now look at you. Jay Edgar Hoover must be rolling over in his dress right now. And by the way, I'm not the only one wondering why Cash Patel made beast. issue in the FBI at all.
Starting point is 00:10:40 Senator Kitty and I had the same questions. Why would you, in light of the context and what we're going through and we're having a tough time attracting agents, why would you even get into bestiality? We are not into beastiality. Okay, now I definitely think Cash is into Becceality. How do I get the feeling there's a video
Starting point is 00:11:14 of Cash Patel partying in the locker room of the Westminster Dog Show. He's just in there like, yeah, Labradoodle, let's go! I'm not saying he does it personally, but like, maybe his mom had an affair with an owl. Ain't a lot, you know? Just... So I believe that Kennedy is sensitive to the optics here,
Starting point is 00:11:50 but I did some investigating into the senator's social media, and I think I might have uncovered an ulterior motive. Hey, guys, John Kennedy here. I've got somebody I want you to meet This is Lily Grace Kennedy. Even though Lily is a lady, she likes to hump a dump my arm after I feed her cheese
Starting point is 00:12:13 when she jumps up on the bed. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. Humpa dump? Humpa dump means that dog is humping the shit out of you. Humpa dump is crazy. Humpa dump means that dog is really throwing it back. you know? Well, good news.
Starting point is 00:12:38 Under Cash Patel, John Kennedy can join the FBI, and so can Lilly. On the FBI's new policies, let's go live to FBI headquarters with Jordan Klepper. Jordan, why is the FBI director talking about bestiality at a congressional hearing? Because he's a genius, Josh. He's smart like a fox and sexy like one, too.
Starting point is 00:13:14 Think about this. Just a few weeks ago, we were all talking about the FBI mishandling the Epstein files and calling them pro-pefell. pro-pedophile. Well, not anymore. Now we're calling them pro-beastiality. Everyone's playing checkers while Cash Patel is playing chess, and he's moving those horse pieces around real
Starting point is 00:13:35 slutty-like. Are you saying he's doing this on purpose? Josh, what I'm saying is you need to stop accepting the news at face value and follow me down the rabbit's hole. You mean rabbit hole? It's not rabbit's hole. Oh, it is at the FBI. Josh, let me call out the elephant in the room, who's looking juicy, BT-dubs. Look, they will change the narrative
Starting point is 00:14:12 until the cows come home to their human husbands. But can you blame them? It's a dog-eat-human-ass world out there, so you get what I'm saying, Josh? No, I have no idea what you just said. Exactly, and therein lies the strategy. You're not thinking about the gas prices, the Epstein files, or the economy tanking.
Starting point is 00:14:31 Your perverted mind is still thinking about that dog eating human ass. And that's on you. Jordan, Jordan, I don't think Cash has some big plan. You know, if he really wanted to change the narrative, why doesn't he just solve a big case? I mean, that would change the narrative, wouldn't it, Josh? If Cash Patel suddenly dug in and finally solved a year's old cold case? Yeah, that would.
Starting point is 00:14:56 Perhaps in an enormous case, like finding the Zodiac killer, that would certainly shift focus. Wouldn't it? Yes, that's what I'm saying. Yeah, that would be incredible. Well, guess what, Josh? Right now, as I speak, Cash Patel is right over there at a podium, balls deep in a reindeer. Disgusting.
Starting point is 00:15:14 Jordan Klepper, everybody. When we come back, we find out when we're invading Canada. Don't go away. Since President Trump launched us into a full-blown trade war with Canada, the situation is pretty bad right now between our two countries. But how has it feel to Canadians on the ground? We sent Ryan Chang to find out. America and Canada are in a full-blown trade war. 50% U.S. tariffs took effect early Saturday on many Canadian products, including hockey sticks and crown royal whiskey.
Starting point is 00:16:05 And in response, Canada imposed terrorists of their own. So I'm in New York's historic Canadian district to find out what people think about the trade war and to drink as much crown royal as possible before it's illegal. Disgusting. So this is a Canadian bar? Yes. Okay, so how do you guys feel about the trade war right now? It sucks.
Starting point is 00:16:28 It's ridiculous and nonsensical, obviously. It's going to have a profound effect on our inventory and what we're able to carry and get in. So in many ways, you guys are like the first casualties of this trade war? One of them, yeah. Do you get a lot of Canadians in here just going, I'm angry, hey?
Starting point is 00:16:47 No, we get- Sorry about that, but I don't like what is happening. Everyone's upset. Everyone's pissed. Are you aware that there's right now a U.S.-Canadian trade war? It's brutal. It's really frustrating. It's sad, actually. It feels like an attack, like an unprovoked attack. It's, it's stupid. It doesn't make any sense.
Starting point is 00:17:05 It's like a bully coming at us from in the school playground. Wow, they're so mad. But maybe they just don't understand America's side of the story. Do you know what Canada did to the United States? What? No, do you know, I'm asking. I don't know you. You know, if Canada didn't want to start trade war, maybe they should have done what they did.
Starting point is 00:17:26 I don't think they did anything. Well, they must have done something. I don't think they did. You're telling me out of nowhere Trump started a petty grievance with your entire nation. This is not like my president. I'm pretty sure it does. You Canadian?
Starting point is 00:17:40 I'm Canadian. Are they prolete francis? What? Do you have French? No. The hurt feelings got me thinking. What do we need each other for anyway? What does America export to Canada other than guns and cholesterol?
Starting point is 00:17:51 Not entirely sure. Apart from really hot gay hockey players, what does Canada have that America doesn't? Universal healthcare? We don't need that shit. These were just complaining cuck Canucks. Were Americans as concerned with this war? Did it occupy their minds wherever they went?
Starting point is 00:18:11 It caught my attention for five seconds while I was taking the shit. So what price increase will hurt you the most? The hockey gear or the motorcycles? I don't think there's that many Hispanic hockey players. So it won't affect me directly. It didn't seem like the Americans cared enough to save this relationship, so I savour the last putteen I'd ever eat
Starting point is 00:18:34 and press the Canadians to cave instead. So to end this trade war, which is stupid, unnecessary, and justified, do you think Canada should back down or not? You guys are the ones that started it. Just end it. What would you say to Trump, if you could talk to him?
Starting point is 00:18:49 Lay off. Let it go. There's bigger issues going on. Lay off is not going to cut it. I think you might have to say, I'm going to say, could you maybe say any one of those things without smiling? No, it's not going to work, it's all right.
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Starting point is 00:21:28 Learn more at Bloomberg.com. As a Super Bowl quarterback, civil rights activist, and bestselling author whose new memoir is called The Periless Fight, Please welcome Colin Kaepernan. Thank you so much for coming. Oh, thank for having me. Yeah, you're so tall. Even as I was stepping down, I was like I shouldn't have stepped down. What I like about us sitting is that it gives us at least the illusion of the same height.
Starting point is 00:22:26 You know? We're high now. Yeah, yeah. My chair is very high. We actually almost in passing kind of met once. I know you wouldn't remember this, but basically, years ago, this would have been like 2019 or something. Okay.
Starting point is 00:22:42 We were passing each other in an airport, and we both had afros, and I pointed to mine, and you were very nice about it. You were like, mm-hmm. I didn't know what to say to you, so then I just panicked, and I was like, no. And then you were like, yeah, buddy. What, twins?
Starting point is 00:23:01 Yeah, twins. Thank you so much for joining me. Oh, I'm happy to be here. Yeah. Big fan. Really? Of course. That is wild.
Starting point is 00:23:12 Of course. That's wild. Yeah, I'm a big fan of you. Well, thank you. What a coincidence. I have so many questions for you. I guess one of the main ones is it's now 10 years since you first took a knee. And it doesn't seem like America's better.
Starting point is 00:23:36 Do you know what I mean? Like, how are you feeling now? when you look around now? Feels like a little bit like an episode of the Twilight Zone. Yeah. Like it, this doesn't feel like reality. Yeah. Because after 10 years, there's been progress in some areas,
Starting point is 00:23:55 but there's also, we're seeing corruption at a level that feels like a fantasy. Yeah, it's like cartoonish. It is cartoonish. So I think those components make you think about, like what should we be doing, how we actually advance from here. I will say the part that gives me hope is while we're seeing the administration and the corporate side do wild things, what we're seeing more on the ground is people being fed up with it and starting to push back harder and harder. And that gives me hope.
Starting point is 00:24:34 I think also when people think of activism, I think a lot of it can feel like something that only people with access or like people who are affluent. I think sometimes we almost feel like activism is in the same place as philanthropy where I can do that when I get to a different place in my life. And I think you've worked with so many people who are activists right now. Like when you think of an activist, you usually think of someone who is just doing that thing. And I think rarely we acknowledge that activists usually have a multitude of jobs. They have their day job, they have their activism, they're a parent, you know. And I was wondering if you could speak to some of the people that you've been around or worked with who have really inspired you,
Starting point is 00:25:21 who are those everyday people with like a list of responsibilities on top of the activism they're trying to do. Yeah. I mean, one that I constantly bring up right here in New York is Kevin Livingston. He's a phenomenal father. He's a great friend. He's doing work, but he's also doing work with youth. He's going to Rikers. But he shows up every day, and he's not the person that's, hey, I'll wait until I get to a better place.
Starting point is 00:25:52 It was, no, we have to address the issues in our community now. I think about the work that the Lower East Side Girls Club is doing. Phenomenal organization. They have their jobs. They have their work that they're doing. but they still show up for the community on a consistent basis. And what I think that speaks to is it's not a space of, hey, I have to get to a certain place to be involved.
Starting point is 00:26:16 The reality is we all have to be involved. And that's how society works, and that's how it should be working. And we have to push the bounds in fighting for each other and making sure we're building a society that works for everyone. Yeah, yeah. I absolutely agree because I think that whether people like it or not, you're already involved. It's just about what you do about it.
Starting point is 00:26:43 You know, like if you live in this country, if you're a member of any group, you are already involved with whatever the issues are of that group. And one of the things that you talk about in the book is almost, almost it feels like in equal parts, you talk about football and the activism, you know? And that's one thing that made me ask the question about
Starting point is 00:27:03 when you have that sort of like hybrid career of like activism on top of something else. And you have a real love for football. You have a real passion for it as a sport. And you talk about being on a team and the type of character building you get from being on a team and everything. And it made me wish I could play.
Starting point is 00:27:26 I'll tell you right now. It made me, like even as you were writing about it, I was like, man, if I could just handle a tackle, I would be a problem, you know? See, we'll get you in as a slot receiver. That'd be a great place. To receive the ball? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:27:43 That, no, look, I'm going to tell you right now, I got you on Waters. Waters, I got the team covered, all right? But I find so interesting in here that when people read the book, they might think that the book through and through is just about the time in which you are taking the knee and your fight with the, the NFL and your fight as a whole. And what's actually happening, you know, without giving anything away, is that there are a lot of parts of the book that really talk about the lead-up. And not just the lead-up as in maybe tensions or something, like,
Starting point is 00:28:23 the actual lead-up as in your career as a player. And what I really like about that is that oftentimes when a story is told, you end up just seeing the nugget that's like the, the headline. Yeah. And then there's so much that leads up to it, because I think that in order to understand what someone's sacrificing, you have to understand how much they have and how much they love the thing that they're sacrificing.
Starting point is 00:28:51 Do you think that in light of everything that's happened, that the stakes of the sacrifice would be the same for you? Like, let's say you could go back in time. Are there things that you feel like, would I even have talked to this person or, you know, or because I know now these things maybe wouldn't go differently, would I make some of the same moves? Or do you feel like everything in the lead-up was, like, pretty perfect for the journey? Mm.
Starting point is 00:29:21 If I went back and had to do it over again, there's two things that come in mind as far as how it would have approached it. One, if I knew on the other side of the protest how big it would become, I would have done so much more organizing in advance. Sure, sure. Because you don't know what's on the other side of it. Yes. But you have your conviction, you have your beliefs,
Starting point is 00:29:46 and you know you have to take action. So I would have done that to make sure that I had all of the pieces in place to be successful. Yeah. The other part that I go back and forth on is because there was a lot of misinformation, there was a lot of attacks, oftentimes I tried to keep the focus on here's the issue we're trying to address and in large part ignored a lot of the attacks. I think at times that could cause some confusion or blurring of lines or creating a fog. And I think about should I have just gone at people and gone head on?
Starting point is 00:30:22 And I still don't think that would be the right move, but I do think about that and what would be on the other. side of it if I did take that approach. I hear you because I think what's important about noticing that is that almost all the activism that we that we look to as for inspiration or that that really brought about some major changes wasn't planned perfectly it was it was it was literally like you said just people being fed up you know because yeah I mean if you would have known how big of an impact it would have. You might take it two knees.
Starting point is 00:31:02 You might have been like a bow. You know? I'm also, I'm curious because I am so truly on the outside of the world of professional, you know, football and professional sports in general, for people who don't know, because I'm only barely familiar now, can you tell us what the combine is? So I would say, as I thought about the combine and coming on here, I was like, Josh is going to have a run of skits after this. The combine is like your final stepping stone before you get drafted into the NFL.
Starting point is 00:31:43 So that's like almost your final interview process. What everyone sees is the 40-yard dash, the vertical jump, some of the skill drills on the field. But there's three days before that. And that's where you're getting interviewed. They're doing your medical exams. But as part of that, you walk across stage in your draws. And that's one of the things they ask you to do.
Starting point is 00:32:09 It's like, everybody lined up, like, strip down, it's time to walk across. For who? For the scouts, for the organizations. for the organizations. Like that, that's part of the prize. See, this is why I knew the skits were gonna be coming after. And so you do the walk and then what else?
Starting point is 00:32:33 What are some of the other? So there's that. And then part of the interviews, the questions that they'll ask you are, often have nothing to do with your ability to go out and play football. So questions that have been asked at the combine are, are you gay?
Starting point is 00:32:51 Is your mom a prostitute? After 2016, it was, how do you feel about Colin Kaepernet? So the questions are more so to get insight into, like, what you're willing to tolerate, and in many ways, how malleable are you? Like, will you be obedient? Will you fall in line? And that's what the first three days of the combine really feels like is how far can we push you and will you just follow the directions we tell you to do of what we tell you to do.
Starting point is 00:33:28 Jeez. And so then, yeah, and then, yeah, nobody sees that other part. No, that is all behind the scenes. What gets put on camera is, oh, did you see that 40-yard dash time? Yeah. You see that vertical jump? Like, looks amazing. This is like the time of your life. Yeah. But you walk into it and you're like, all right, this is the final interview before I reach my dream. And this is going to decide if I get drafted in the first round or the seventh round or not at all. So as a player, like, well, if you tell me I have to jump through these hoops to get to my dream and this is the final interview, players look around and they're like, yeah, this is weird and I don't know why we have to do this, but like my dream's right there. Yeah. So you go and you chase your dream.
Starting point is 00:34:16 But when you talk to players in retrospect, most of the combine has. has nothing to do with your ability to actually go out on the field and play. Yeah. I mean, this is just my opinion, but I really feel like the only people who should own teams are the people that played. You know what I mean?
Starting point is 00:34:36 Because when you think about it, it's like, it's weird to kind of have this owner that says, this tiny man. And he's like, why aren't all of you faster? It's like, that's... It feels odd. You know what I mean? Yeah.
Starting point is 00:34:51 Yeah. When it comes to your memoir, do you feel like there is a takeaway that you really want people to have from having read it that is maybe not so much on the service? Like, someone will buy this book and think, I'm going to learn about Colin, obviously. But is there something else embedded in it that you feel like is something that you really put in there with intent, even if you didn't say the words? exactly? Yeah, the part that I hope people walk away with is that every one of us can have a significant impact. And we have the agency and opportunity to go out and do that. But it's, that impact doesn't live in like a big moment. It lives in all the little decisions you make day to day, how you show up, how you're engaging people, what you allow to slide and what you don't. All of those decisions become opportunities to be able to improve, to be able to make
Starting point is 00:35:56 people around you better, and ultimately build to moments that may have an impact that become significant. So I hope people walk away feeling that sense of power and agency and have an understanding of how they can get there. Yeah, that makes sense because I think one of the main reasons that people don't necessarily get involved on top of a misunderstanding of how much time something will take or if they are up to the challenge. Because I think a lot of people get thrust in an activist position almost in a way of like a movie
Starting point is 00:36:30 where it's like, this was just the person that was like, we're not gonna take it anymore. And then everybody else is like, yeah, we, like just behind them. You know what I mean? And I think that the other fear, besides not being able to meet the moment that a lot of people have is what it'll cost. And I guess I'm curious on
Starting point is 00:36:50 your end like what would you say to people who have that fear that is so purely about what the cost will be versus maybe what the outcome will be yeah I think we have to reframe the risk assessment and oftentimes it's what do I have to lose but there's also the question of what do we have to gain and within that risk the opportunity for that outcome to your point that is significant And in many ways, the parallel of that risk is, while there may be personal risk in this, what is the risk to the rest of our community if we don't take action? Does that mean another person doesn't make it home?
Starting point is 00:37:34 Does that mean another person doesn't have health care? Another person's incarcerated. Another person isn't able to put food on the table. All of those become risks of inaction. So I think taking it from that perspective and that, standpoint allows you to go out and say, well, I don't want that risk. I'm not I'm not accepted of that. So I'm going to go take action against it. Now on the personal side, this is where I think the collective action becomes important. To your point, if everybody
Starting point is 00:38:05 steps back, and it's like, oh, well, you did this so we can isolate you. If everybody steps up, then it becomes, well, we can't single anybody out. So there's the risk becomes drastically less because they can't target everybody. So I think that's how movements are built. That's how we should be thinking about action, but also how we think about the risk assessment within it. Yeah. I'm not going to ask you to name any names, unless you want to.
Starting point is 00:38:47 But it's been 10 years, and in that 10 years, so much has happened. I'm curious on your end if there are people who, if we're talking within the league or just that you know professionally, that had a viewpoint or a stance initially that have surprised you or maybe people where things have come full circle because I just look at your sacrifice could be seen like you said as just yours
Starting point is 00:39:16 but the pressure is still the pressure cooker that all of you are or were under and so I'm wondering if there's any instance of someone where you had a conversation years later that you found moved you from maybe where they were initially. Mm. Mm. Um, I'll say I've seen this a little bit on both sides of it.
Starting point is 00:39:44 Um, there are conversations that I had early on that, like, oh, I'm, I'm supporting, and I want to be with you on this that later came around and were working counter to us. and that was a learning process and experience. And oftentimes that became that came out, came about because of the opportunities that were put in front of them. That, hey, if we get you to do these things, like, it'll be financially beneficial for you. And we see people sway there. On the flip side, this is probably one of the areas that I did not expect. As I've gone around the country, there have been more and more people, I'd say primarily
Starting point is 00:40:36 southern states, that would come up and be like, I initially hated you. But I've seen what you've been doing and I've had more conversations and coming out the other side like, I was wrong and I was wrong about you and what you were trying to accomplish and seeing people swing like that. So it's been interesting to see that dynamic play out. And then the final piece, I've also seen people that have just been steadfast the entire time. And the one that immediately comes to mind is Eric Reed, who was the first one to take a knee with me, continued protesting after I was blackballed.
Starting point is 00:41:19 His last season, he went out and set two franchise records for the Carolina Panthers and was cut and never saw the field again. So I've seen full range of spectrum of people going from supporters to working against us, people who initially were counter to us coming around and seeing the light, and then also people like Eric who have been steadfast the entire time,
Starting point is 00:41:46 even at personal expense. I think all of this, I think whether it's your activism or just, you know, what you have as a legacy, as a place, everything that you put into the book, I think it shines through everything that you do. And so I'm so thankful for you to be here with us
Starting point is 00:42:03 and everything. Thank you so much. Thank you. Thank you. The perilous fight is available now. Colin Kaepernan. We're going to take a quick break, but we're going to be right back after this. Thank you so much, man. Dream big and use these AI tools to build something
Starting point is 00:42:38 never created before. Maybe one of you will create the next robot. And if you do, make sure you bring it into the White House to show me. 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 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central, and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount Plus.
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