The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Melania's $40 Million Docu-Bribe Movie Premieres & Dems Make ICE Demands

Episode Date: January 30, 2026

Democrats express their outrage over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, with Chuck Schumer calling Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller "f**king liars" and Hakeem Jeffries on accidental mute. Plus, Desi Lydic plunges into the world of Melania ahead of her documentary debut, which was produced by Jeff Bezos, directed by disgraced filmmaker Brett Ratner, and created by a crew too ashamed to have their names in the credits. Grace Kuhlenschmidt meets Wisconsin native and snakebite enthusiast Tim Friede, who has built up an immunity to 19 of the most venomous snake species, and learns that doing your own medical research actually can save lives... when done with the help of a team of medical science experts. Emmy Award-winning actress Katherine LaNasa sits down with Desi Lydic to discuss her starring role as Nurse Dana in “The Pitt.” They talk about landing an acting job on her last day of cancer radiation, her experience with ER nurses throughout treatment, the insight “The Pitt” gives into broken hospital systems, and how the scripted medical cases made her more compassionate towards real healthcare workers. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This show is supported by Odu. When you buy business software from lots of vendors, the costs add up, and it gets complicated and confusing. Odo solves this. It's a single company that sells a suite of enterprise apps that handles everything from accounting to inventory to sales. Odu is all connected on a single platform in a simple and affordable way. You can save money without missing out on features you need.

Check out O-D-O-O-O-O-com. That's O-D-O-O-O-com. With Amex Platinum, almost every purchase made with your card can be covered with points, including new tastes, new fits, and virtually everything in between. That's the powerful backing of Amex. Conditions apply.

You're listening to Comedy Central. From the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for new. This is The Daily Show with your host, Desi Lidie. So much to talk about tonight. Chuck Schumer puts a dollar in the congressional swear jar. Amazon offers two-day shipping for bribes, and we give the Melania documentary two thumbs straight into my eyeballs.

Let's get into the headline. Battle over Trump's immigration crackdown. As the situation gets more and more out of hand, the people behind it are starting to feel the heat, and one person cannot be contained. Christy Noem and Stephen Miller are f***ing liars. Any administration that allows them to continue in office is rotten to its core.

Oh, Samuel L. Schumer over here. You kiss your lobbyist with that mouth. Guess a video like that is one way to get our attention, but I think it might be even more effective if you just cut it off a little bit earlier. Christy, Noem and Stephen Miller are fucking... Spill the tea, girl. So yeah, Schumer came in pretty hot,

but other Democrats were trying to bring down the volume just a little. What do you make of the president's full-throated support of Christy Knoem? We don't have sound. I think we're muted here. Ask it afternoon, Chris. Nailed it. I couldn't have not said it better myself. So let's assume that at some point the Democrats can express themselves

at a normal volume somewhere between Zero and Lewis Black. What do they want? They are demanding three specific changes and roving ICE patrols across the country, an updated uniform code of conduct and accountability for immigration enforcement, body cams on all agents, as well as proper identification, and no masks.

Good to see Democrats pushing for some reforms. Is this everything that needs to change about ICE? No. Is it a start? Yes. Am I going to keep asking myself questions and then answering them? No, this is my last one. Can I ask one more? Fine. But let's move on to the big exciting event that we have all been waiting for. Everyone's going. You know what I'm talking about. The new mallocates in time. But if you haven't seen the trailer, get ready to be blown away. Here we go again. Hi, Mr. President. Congratulations.

Did you watch it? I did not, yeah. I did not, yeah. I was going to, but then I didn't. Now, when you first heard that there was going to be a documentary about Melania, you probably thought, oh, or, huh, or why, or can I undo my LASIC? But Amazon believed in this movie a lot, like suspiciously a lot. Bezos and Amazon are paying $40 million for a documentary on Melania Trump.

The most expensive licensing fee ever paid for a documentary. Amazon paid nearly three times more than the next highest bidder. The First Lady will reportedly walk away with at least $28 million. Bezos, a billionaire who has tons of business with a government run by a famously corrupt president known for loving bribes, overpay for a Melania documentary. Hmm. Let me think.

Well, that didn't help. Where else this is, they made a real, movie. They even got director Brett Ratner, who you might know from Rush Hour or the Me Too movement. And there's a ton of money promoting it, which is why we're seeing Melania all over Fox News doing interviews. And they've been asking her fascinating questions. How does it feel being first lady for the second time around? It's quite extraordinary. What is your favorite part of the movie when we all go to watch it this weekend? When he's doing the YMCA, how do you feel? Fostering the future AI? I mean, what haven't you done? Tell us about the future.

I've always been curious. What is your favorite time of day? There'd be no gotcha questions. What is your favorite time of day? That sounds like the conversation you have with a co-worker's spouse when they show up to the holiday party before your co-worker does. So do you always eat hors d'oeuvres or... I got to go to the bathroom.

I will say, I don't want to put all the blame on the interviewers because Melania is not really giving them a lot to work with. I got a special score for that movie, my original score, that it's called Melania's Waltz. Wow, and where does that original score come from? It's specially made for the movie. How wonderful. Wow, the original score for this movie was made for this movie, you say? And did they hit record when they were filming?

Oh, hell, here's $40 million. This isn't one of those interesting Timothy Shalomey Press Tour. But that's not important. What's important is what this movie is about. Just, what is it about? This story was never told before. So the audience will see me, how I manage my business, my philanthropy, family,

preparation for the inauguration, and also establishing the East Wing for the White House. Oh, no one's told her? The East Wing. especially how it will always be there. Is this whole movie just her talking about things that she loves that are no longer here? Oh, my passions? Decorating the East Wing.

Chatting with Dilbert creator Scott Abbey. See, what else. But whether this movie was a legitimate piece of art or a cash grab, it was a cash grab. So I'm sure everyone involved with this project is very proud of the work that they've done. Rolling Stone is reporting two-thirds of the film's New York crew asked not to be credited. You didn't want to be in the credits, but how will they know who to get the trophy to it, the FIFA Academy Awards? And you know that this is bad because people in Hollywood love taking credit. It is their favorite thing to do.

By the way, I was the first person to make that point. Of course, the big question is, is the Melania documentary worth seeing? To find out, let's go to our critics' corner with Ronnie Chang and Michael Costco. Hugh, what did you think? Desi, Melania was a terrible movie. It was nothing but pure bribery. I was disgusted by this naked attempt by Jeff Bezos to curry favor with the president. I'd give it thumbs down.

Okay, I'm sorry. I don't know what movie you were watching, Michael, because I personally found the bribery artful and cinematic. I mean, that was a real tour of the force of corruption. Structurally, tonally, movie worked in every way. I knew exactly what was going on in every single scene. Crime. I give it two thumbs up.

Look, look, look. I'm not a prude. I'm not against a little bribery in a movie, but this was obscene. If I want to see bribery that hardcore, I'll watch it on my phone in the bathroom after my wife goes to sleep. No, no, I'm sorry. I love the bribery in this, okay? It wasn't gratuitous. It was saying something relevant, all right?

Every movie could use more bribery. I'm looking at you, hamnut. I'm Shakespeare. My baby died. Okay, I'm sorry. How does that enrich the president of the United States in 2026? Guys, let me just ask. Is the bribery in this movie appropriate for families?

I'm kind of worried that my five-year-old might not be mature enough to see strong bribery themes or situations. Oh. It'll be fine. The bribery will go right over her head. I don't know, Ronnie. this bribery is so overt, you'd have to be pretty stupid to miss it.

Yeah, yeah, I guess that's true. Desi, how stupid is your five-year-old? Average stupid? Yeah, it should be fine. Yeah, it should be okay. It should be okay. Well, guys, I know it's early, but are you hearing any awards buzz for this thing?

No way. Absolutely not. The only way this movie will ever win an Oscar is if the Academy Awards are desperate to stay on the president's good side. So, yes, it will win an Oscar. Okay, I predict this thing is sweeping everything. Okay, the Golden Gloves, Bafters, MTV Movie Awards.

The special effects alone are amazing, okay? It almost looked like Melania had a 10-foot son. Ronnie, Ronnie, Ronnie, that was her real son, Baron. What? Oh, my God. This movie is blowing my mind. Ronnie, I just, I have to ask you something. You seem to love this movie, and you hate everything. Why are you supporting it so much?

What do you mean? I love this movie because I love the story. and the character arcs, and also Jeff Bezos paid me $40 million to say what I just said. That is disgusting. Cinema is an art that should not be compromised, which is why I strongly recommend Melania. It's truly a masterpiece. Okay. Ronnie Chang and Michael Costa, everyone. The Secret to Charlotte Cardin's Captivating Eyes?

Panorama Mascara by L'Oreal Panser. The multi-level bristle brush catches every lash from inner to outer corner. For panoramic volume with lashes that are so fanned out, eyes appear 1.4 times bigger. See life in panorama because you're worth it. Shop L'Oreal-Paris Panorama Mascara on Amazon now. You love to walk through tall grass but hates covering your ankles, then help might be on the way. Grace Kulinschmidt has more.

In recent years, doing your own medical research has become a trend among self-diagnosed genius. The MMR I think should be taken separately. This is based on what I feel. What is the cure for measles, chicken soup, and vitamin A. I researched and found a protocol of taking a diluted strand of the virus. How are they even getting a diluted strand of the virus? I don't know that exactly. But Wisconsin native Tim Freed took his self-experimentation to a whole other level.

So some people like playing racquetball. Some people like going on a long walk. You like being bit by venomous snakes. Why? It's psychological. I mean, you can't have a weak nerve. You have to trust yourself. And that's why I loved it. In fact, Tim loved it so much.

He spent 18 years getting bit by 19 species of the most lethal snakes. Black mama bite, type end bite, Egyptian cobra bite, Montego cobra bite, crates, coral snakes, three rattlesnakes. Three rattlesnakes. A Western diameter bite compared to a black mama bites night and day. So different.

100% of all I've always said that. I figured, well, if I get bit by a cold or a mama, I don't want to die or lose a finger or hand or miswork. Right. And I fix that problem myself. I became immune. Well, that is one way to avoid emergency room co-pays, but even crazier than Tim's self-care method, is that it might end up saving hundreds of thousands of lives. There's somewhere between 2 and 5 million people a year that are bit by snakes.

Of them, 140,000 die, another 300 to 400,000 are permanently disabled. And how much of that happens on airplanes? I am unaware of the statistics on how many happen on airplanes. So, using advances in vaccine technology, biotech company Centivac set out to create a universal anti-venom. But first, they had to cut out the middle horse. Historically, what people have done is taken snake venom, injected into a horse. The horse's immune system then makes antibodies that go and block the toxins in the venom. Do horse girls know about this?

I don't know what a horse girl is. A horse girl is a girl who loves horses. I imagine some of them do it. The problem with that approach is it only works against one snake, and there's a whole bunch of side effects. So what we were looking for was the living person who survived snake venom so that those antibodies I knew were protecting that person, and we could turn into a medicine to protect others. And that person was, you guessed it. What I did is I milked the snakes.

I slowly built up my immunity through years. Now, why do they call it snake milking? It kind of goes back to milking a cow, the udders. When you milk cattle, you're milking the snake. Snakes have udders? No, no udders, but fangs. They're milking the fangs to get the venom. Shouldn't it be called snake juice instead of snake milk?

You can call whatever you want. Okay. is usually a solitary activity. Tim was initially excited to share his newfound passion with his family. Two bites, nice. Who was the first person that you told, I am going to be getting myself bit by a snake

so that I can create an anti-venom? My ex-wife. And what'd you think that? You're an idiot. Uh-huh. The first six months was a complete failure. That was the ICU. After I took two cobra bites and flatlined,

came back onto the hospital, it's coming out of a coma. And you're like, this is a good time, a good time to keep going. Yeah. Every day, roughly 350 people die from snakebite. So if I quit, I'm giving up on those people. So in a way, the key to not dying from a snake bite is to get bit by even more snakes.

Yep, yep. And in addition to doing good for mankind, conducting personal snake venom research also makes for one hell of a party. A while back or get stoned as f*** and then get bit. And that, my friend is a trip. Guy who gets bit by snakes also smokes weed. I didn't say that I did it. Yeah. It was crazy.

One time I was like taking an edible and I was like 15 minutes later like, I'm not f***ing high, so I took like three more and all of a sudden I turned completely British. No, I don't recommend that. Yeah. Not worth it. After 18 years of letting snakes go full vampire diaries on him, a peer-reviewed medical paper in 2025 finally confirmed that, confirmed that Tim had achieved immunity, which made me wonder, should we all be doing our own research? So our current administration wants to cut a lot of science, and I hate to say it, but I think what

I'm learning about Tim is proving that we don't need science, we just need crazy guys. Well, Tim spent 18 years developing the immunity, but in order to unlock it, he was searching as I was to synapse with a research group that had advanced biotechnology capabilities to mine through his immunity. So when can I safely get bitten by a snake? Because my 30th birthday is coming up and I really want to wow the crowd. In terms of our timelines, we're looking at commercialization five to six years from now. So maybe for my 30th birthday. Again, I would really discourage you from deliberately getting bit by a snake. I know, but like imagine how cool that would be. Non-withstanding. Open bar. I get bit by a snake. I recover. But in order to save others, Tim has

had to make the ultimate sacrifice. As part of his contract with Centivax, he is no longer allowed to be bit by snakes. Do you miss it? Yes. Every day? Yep. I missed the pain, swelling.

Oh my God, that sounds amazing. And neither my arms is. Yeah, just heaven on earth, no? Beautiful. Yes, doing your own research is more painful, difficult, and divorce-inducing than most amateur scientists will ever understand. But it does have its rewards, besides immunity to snake poison.

The best relationship I've ever had. You know why? Because they want to kill me and I have to survive. And that's the contract that we have. If I fail, I die. There's no ups. It's you live or you die. I think you're a genius, but I also think you're an idiot. Yeah. I am sometimes. Yeah. New news is in decline across Canada. And this is bad news for all of us. With less local news, news, noise, rumors, and misinformation fill the void. And it gets harder to separate truth from fiction. That's why CBC News is putting more journalists in more places across Canada,

reporting on the ground from where you live, telling the stories that matter to all of us. Because local news is big news. Choose news, not noise. CBC News. I was guilty of multiple skin care crimes. Two counts of sleeping and makeup. of using disposable wipes. I knew my routine had to change. So I switched to Garnier-Missler water.

It gently cleanses, perfectly removes makeup, and provides 24-hour hydration. Clear away the evidence with the number one Missler Water worldwide by Garnier. Emmy for her role as Nurse Dana in the HBO Macs series, The Pit. Please welcome Catherine Lanasa. Thank you so much for being here. Yes, I have to say last time I saw you,

I gave you an Emmy. Yeah, why didn't you bring one this time? I should have brought mine. You should have, and then I watched you win an Emmy right after. Congratulations. Thank you. So well deserved. You are fantastic in the show.

I love the pit. You know that the world is in shambles when you can't wait to get home and just unwind and escape through the pit. People actually find it relaxing. I think it's because the people care. So it makes everyone feel secure. But it's very odd to me. I think that's so true. That's so true.

You have had a phenomenal. career working steadily alongside some of Hollywood's heaviest hitters, Will Ferrell, Robert DeVall, Billy Bob Thornton. Yes. And now you've won this Emmy and you are and you're so well known as Nurse Dana now. How I hear that the pit came into your life at kind of the perfect moment. Yes, yes, I was tragically unemployed. Yes, it's always a good time. Yeah, it's always a good time to get a job. Yeah, I was like, I actually, I had cancer and I couldn't get a job. I hadn't gotten a job for about a few years, and I was really worried about losing my insurance.

And so I actually prayed. I said, if you want me to keep acting, whatever it is, whatever you are, please. She or her. Yes. As I like to say, Father, Mother God. If you want me to keep acting, send me a sign. And I got a job on Daredevil here in New York City that started on the last day of my radiation. I actually went to my last radiation, got on a plane.

and went to a costume fitting. And my radiologist was so sweet. They came in extra early so I could do it, and they took pictures, and they were like, go. It was really sweet. It was really sweet. And now you get to take all of that and pour that into Dana. Yeah.

I love hearing about all of your preparation for the role. It is so, the way you approach her just seems so thoughtful, how you created all this backstory, just even in the audition process, hired a dialect coach. Yes, yes. How did... Yeah, it was a lot of tears.

I like to say, a lot of tears learning that accent. How did you learn it? Did you just get drunk at a Steelers game? Yeah. Go Steelers. There is. Yeah, there it is. I couldn't really find the right coach.

And I was listening to Mayor of East Town over and over again, which isn't the exact right accent, but at least it's in the realm. And I was listening to it. I was in my bathtub. It was playing in the other room. and the extras came on. And they started talking about the dialect and about their dialect coach.

And I jumped out of the tub and I, you know, whir. And I looked up the woman on IMDB Pro. And she set me up not with the person that did Kate Winslet, but the person that did basically everybody else who's actually from Pennsylvania. She works on task too. Oh, my God. Yeah, yeah, yeah.

So you're not only an incredible actress, but you could be an investigative reporter. Yes. That's so impressive. I'm a detective dog. You truly. Dana really is the heartbeat of the show. And I'm just curious if there were any real-life nurses

in your life that you were inspired by. Yeah. So I was pretty held together, like during my cancer journey. Like I thought, you know, why not me? So many people get cancer, and I was like, okay, this is just my turn with this. And but it wouldn't really go away. It felt like my disease wouldn't go away.

I kept going back to the emergency department for different complications afterwards. And the last time it just kind of broke me, and I was sobbing in triage. And the nurse said, listen, I just need to tell you, like, this isn't going to last forever. You know, the first six months after cancer are really bumpy.

And do you want an out of van? Oh. Thank God that. It's funny. It's everything that the pit is. It's warm. It's compassionate. And it's fun.

It is, and it really, really shines a spotlight on all of the cracks or gaping holes in our health care system. And also the toll that it takes on the health care workers. But more than anything, I truly feel like it's a masterclass in empathy and human compassion. How has playing this role changed your perspective on the health care system and health care workers? Well, you know, like so many people have gone in like with a child with something wrong with them in there for 12 hours and you just wonder why. And it's really not about the emergency department. It's about the hospital as a whole and then the healthcare system as a whole.

Why? Because anybody can go to the emergency department. It's just hard for the emergency department to get them where they need to go afterwards. And so the whole thing gets really backed up. So that's sort of misunderstood. But also just in playing the role opposite people that are going through something,

it really made me get on a visceral level that we really don't know what's going on with people, you know, on the daily. And I think it made me a little softer, as a person and a little more compassionate. You know, people are going through a lot. Yeah, they are. Yeah.

How, how, have you ever, when you go in for your own doctor's appointments, do they ever give you notes? No, but my dad does. Oh. Yeah, my dad does. Yeah, my dad's a surgeon. Yes. And did your mom study nursing at one point?

Yeah, she did. She went to Tulane, yeah. And my dad, yeah. You had a sin for this. I guess so. Do people ever come up to you on the street and ask you for medical advice? No, but like when people have to take their mother to the emergency department, they call me and I'm like, I just want nurse date. That's how I feel.

There's no one I would trust more than you and Noah Wiley. I know. Oh, my God. By the way, I have a rash on my elbow. I'd like you to take a look at the urine safe. I could probably help you with that. My grandfather was a dermatologist. Oh, I think, I imagine that you playing this role is going to inspire so many.

young people to want to get into the field of nursing. I want you to play Nurse Dana for the next 20 seasons because I love this show so much, but are there any other roles that you dream about, that you think might be inspiring for people? For people or for me? Well, either one. Either one. You know what? I really want to play a queen. Oh. Let me know Max, Queen Catherine Lanath.

Did you know that Staples Professional can tailor a custom program to make running your business easy? With a Staples Professional account, you get one vendor, one delivery, and one invoice for all your must-haves. From tech to cleaning supplies, and dedicated support from Staples experts who guide you on everything,

from product selection and ordering to payment. Join today at staplesprofessional.ca and get expert solutions tailored to your business. That was easy. Investing is all about the future. So what do you think is going to happen? Bitcoin is sort of

inevitable at this point. I think it would come down to precious metals. I hope we don't go cashless. I would say land is a safe investment. Technology companies, solar energy. Robotic pollinators might be a thing. A wrestler to face a robot, that will have to happen. So whatever you think is going to happen in the future, you can invest in it at WealthSimple. Start now at WealthSimple.com. New York City is currently in an emergency blood shortage to help address this urgent need. The first 500 blood donors who register at the link below and come to donate at one of these New York City donor centers between Sunday, February 1st and Saturday, February 7th will receive two tickets to a future taping of The Daily Show. If you can, please register and find out more. Now here it is your moment of Zen.

Studies have shown that the main impediment is getting the account open. that people who don't save, they don't have a vehicle too safe. My deep dark secret is I have a Dr. Pepper for breakfast. Not allowed to do it in the house with the children. That's your breakfast secretary? Breaking news. Don't tell Bobby Kennedy. All right, all right, all right.

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. This has been a Comedy Central podcast.