The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Wanda Sykes Tackles Swifties Taking On Ticketmaster Hearing | Katha Pollitt

Episode Date: January 25, 2023

Wanda Sykes covers Splash Mountain's closing, the 2023 Oscar nominations, classified documents found in the home of Mike Pence, and Taylor Swift fans watching the Ticketmaster hearing. Columnist for The Nation and "Pro: Reclaiming Abortion Rights" author Katha Pollitt discusses how the Dobbs decision empowered more women to support abortion rights.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

You're listening to Comedy Central. Hey, what's going on, everybody? I'm Wanda Sykes. And I'm back, I'm Wanda Sykes and I'm back, I'm Wanda Sykes and I'm back for day two of posting the Daily Show. I thought, I thought we covered all the news yesterday, but turns out, there's more, so... I'm the thanks. I'm back for day told we covered all the news yesterday, but the there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's there's for day two of hosting the Daily Show. I thought we covered all the news yesterday, but turns out there's more, so let's get

to it. Our first story, the 2023 Oscar nominations were announced this morning. Yeah. And if you're wondering how they picked the nominees this morning. Yeah. And if you're wondering how they picked the nominees this year, they basically just went, hmm, let's see, who's not going to slap nobody? That's my pick. Now, as usual, there was good news and bad news. Good news, Michelle Yo became the first Asian woman nominated for best actress. But bad news, no women were nominated for best director.

Yeah, but remember, they gave it to Jane Campion last year. So I guess this year they thought, eh, that's your whole U Broad for the next 50 years. And personally, I'm a big Woody Harrison fan, so I was happy to see some nominations for a Triangle of Sadness. Yeah. Which is not just a good movie. It's also what Mike Pence calls a vagina. But speaking of Mike Pence, guess what they just found at his house? Yes, classified documents. Yes, him too. First Trump, then Biden, now Mike Pence?

You know, at some point, the FBI is just going to have to be like, okay, I'm going to close my eyes and count to 10. And if they're classified documents on this table when I open them, no one move on to news out of Washington, to the biggest crisis the country is facing right now. Finally, there's something that Republicans and Democrats seem united on, and it's this, the Taylor Swift ticket fiasco. Today on Capitol Hill, senators held a hearing to examine the lack of competition in the ticketing industry. The bipartisan hearing comes in the wake of a technology breakdown

on the ticketmaster website during the pre-sale for Taylor Swift's upcoming tour. Superfans, known as Swift's, to say crashes. I just really wanted to see today. I'm not getting tickets. Shame on you, ticket master. Look what you did to these emotional young people. Hey, you know what? It's about time someone held ticket master accountable. And the Swifties are the only ones who can get this done.

They're the most politically organized group in America. Yeah, it goes Swifties, the Teamsters, and somewhere way all the way down the list is the Democrats. You know, these hearings are so popular. I bet Ticketmaster screwed up tickets to that, too. You got kids outside crying, I'm the city's biggest fan! I just wanted to see Dick Durbin. But ultimately, there's only one way to fix this problem.

Get rid of online ticket sales. Go back to waiting online in person at the cold. Make people earn that shit like we used to. You're not a real fan unless getting a ticket gave you hypothermia. Hey, I almost lost two toes just to see Johnny Gill. And I'll do it again, damn it. And finally, Ticketmaster isn't the only company that needs to make some changes. Down in Florida, Disney World is bringing one of its most popular rides into the present day.

Well, a Disney ride that many people experienced as a kid is no more. Disney World in Florida has officially closed Splash Mountain and Disneyland in California will be following suit. Splash Mountain features characters from the 1946 Disney film Song of the South, which critics say portrays racial stereotypes Splash Mountain will be turned into a new ride based on the 2009 animated film, The Princess and the Frog, which features Tiana Disney's first Black Princess. Yeah, that's right. Disney says it's going to get rid of Zippity Duda and turn it into a ride

about the Princess and the Frog. You know they're just going to keep the song though, right? They just gonna change, to change their their their their their to get their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their. You know they're just gonna keep the song though, right? They just gonna change, they just gonna change the lyrics. She's a black princess, less she's a black frog. I mean, I appreciate the effort from Disney, but you're gonna make the black ride, the one where we get our hair wet, that's just more racist than before. So for more on this controversy, thovers controversy, thovers controversy, th controversy, th controversy, th controversy, th controversy, th controversy, thovers c controversy, tholly, thozy, thozy, th, th, tho, th, th, tho, th, th, th, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, tho, the, the, the, the, the, the, thu.a, tu.a, tu tu.a, tu.a, tu.a, tu.a, to to to to to to to to to th's just more racist than before. So for more of this controversy, we go to Roy Wood Jr. who is live.

What's he said? Yes. Yes. What's up, Wanda? What's up, Wanda? You're at ground zero of this controversy. How are people feeling about these changes? Oh, Wanda, these changes are long overdue.

All that racism was ruined in the simple pleasure of Splash Mountain, which is to fall into a giant pool of piss. But if you ask me, this doesn't go far enough. We need Disney World to close more rides, like them mad teacups. Why, is that right racist too? No, but when I was eight I got I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, that, that, that, that, that, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, tho, the, that, that,. Closed them, close them teacups. Why? Is that right racist too? No, but when I was eight I got on that ride and threw up on my crush. Ruins Stephanie's dress. Reaces pieces all over the place everywhere.

You know that ride, the teacup be spinning. I was like a vomit sprinkler. I'm sorry, Stephanie. Sorry Stephanie, so sorry. Roy, nobody gives a shit about your digestive system. You know, we're just glad Disney is trying to remove racism from its parts. With all due respect, Wanda, I disagree. I don't think we should be removing the racism from the rides. In fact, we should be adding racism. Why on the hell would we want to add racism into Disney World?

Because Disney World might be the only place left in Florida where kids can learn about racism. It's the last place. You see, you see what DeSantis is doing down here? DeSantis taking black history out of the schools, cracking down on AP classes. Pretty soon, he gonna ban the word black. We're gonna have to start saying super gray or dark white or something. I see what you're saying. The kids come in for the fun and then we sneak into education.

Exactly, exactly. That's what we do. Sneak it in. Like, you know those bumper cars they got in Tomorrowland. Tomorrow ain't got them bumper cars, right? Add some cops and they're they they they they they they they they they they they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're they're their their their their their their their their thi. their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. I th. I th. I th. I th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. the te tea. teiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiiii. thea. thi. thi. Tomorrow ain't got them bumper cars, right? Add some cops in there pulling black people over to teach the kids about traffic stops. What you mean I was driving recklessly, sir? This is a bumper car. And don't tell me my tail light,

the tel light. Mama, Mama! Well, you know what? You might be on the something, Roy. I'm you you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, th, th, th, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, th... th. that, th. thi, that, that, thi, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, put a little racism into these rides. The kids are gonna learn. And you know, you know, you know, they do that, they do that parade down at Disney. All the Disney characters, you know, that's fun for everybody. Set the parade in Selma. Walk Mickey Mouse and them across that Edmund Pettis Bridge with Buzz Light, wait to their asses to infinity and beyond. That's better than any textbook.

I mean, damn boy, I mean, this is getting a little harsh, right? What they done to us was harsh, Wanda. I'm being fair. Oh, how about this? You know what? You know what? You know they got Main Street USA down there, right? It's a beautiful collection of shops and successful businesses and they're bustling and doing well. Uh-oh, I see where this is going. Bomb that shit just like they did Black Wall Street and Tulsa!

People need to know the truth about this shit, Wanda? I think bombing people is a bit much for an amusement part. You're entitled to your opinion. Last idea. Last idea. Epcot Center. Epcot Center. Should be whites only. What's that going to teach them? You don't teach them nothing. Epcot just boring as hell and I don't want to go. Shik a big-ass golf ball with an elevator. Listen, Wanda, I got a roll. I'm up next for the teacups and I got something to prove. Stephanie, if you're watching this, my stomach is strong. I'm a man now. I can eat this food and still ride to ride. I won't vomit on you, Stephanie. Please hit my D. M. Stephanie. Oh my God.

Oh, my God. All right, when we come back, we'll find out what's going on with George Santos. And he's lying in. So Bob Ball the Daily Show. I tell you, it's been a bad week for George Santos. Or as he calls it, a good week. He's already been caught in like 50 lies. He lied about his career. He lied about his name. He lied about running a pet charity, and now he's getting caught in a new lie.

According to an ex-friend of George Santos' from Brazil, the openly gay New York congressman used to perform in drag back in the day and even had his own drag queen persona named Kitara. Photos and video reveal that Santos performed in drag several times over at least three years, despite his claim that it was something he did just once for fun. Congressman, were you ever a drag queen in Brazil? I was not a drag queen in Brazil, guys. I was young and I had fun at a festival. Sue me for having a life. Sue me for having a life. Sue me for having a life? No man, we should sue you for lying.

You know, but the drag queen part is pretty cool. I like Katara. Katara, you stay. George Santos, sashay away. Now with all these lies it's no surprise that 59% of New Yorkers want him to resign but that does raise the question how could it only be 59%? Who are the people who don't want him to resign? Well, lucky for us, they just released the Nan. You've probably been hearing a lot in the media about our new congressman, George Santos. But now it's time that you hear from us, the people who voted for him.

We here in New York's third district voted for Congressman Santos because he's a fighter. And not just as a politician, but as a boxer who beat Muhammad Ali in 1972. It's a great fight. Come on, Tommy! I stand with George Santos because when my apartment building was collapsing, he held it up with one arm. I support George Santos because simply put, he's a war hero. We'll also invent the window.

I'm voting for Santos because he cares about seniors. And as an 87-year-old woman, that's important to me. I stand with the brother George Santos because he invented the cure for COVID. Just wish he had done it before I died from it. I stand with Santos. Yep, even me. Academy Award winner Morgan Freeman. As a Christian woman, who's never had sex because I'm saving myself for marriage, I know

George Santos shares my values. Why do I support George Santos? Because we're both proudly Jewish. Jew-ish. I stand with George Santos. Now watch me eat this meatball sandwich. I stand with George Santos. Who's Anthony Devalder? I stand with Anthony Santos, who's Anthony Devalder.

I stand with Anthony Sanchez Devalder. George Santos. I stand with George Santos. I stand with George Costant. Anthony DeVito, George Michael. John Stamos. Whatever his name may be, I'm with her, I'm with her, I'm with him. Can I call I'm Rick, I want to say Rick, I stand with Rick. You don't know who he is. Pay four with money you're sent to a dying dog probably. All right, stay tuned because when we come back the renowned feminist Catholic will be joining me on the show so

so don't go away. Welcome back. Welcome back to the Daily Show. My guest to the today is an award-winning columnist for the nation. She's written a number of books, including Pro, Reclaiming Abortion Rights. My guest tonight is an award-winning columnist for the nation. She's written a number of books, including Pro Reclaiming Abortion Rights. She's here to talk about abortion politics and the fight for women's rights.

Please welcome, Kathapolit. Hi. Hi. Hi. Hey. Thank you so much for having me, Wanda. So you've been an abortion rights advocate for you to you've been an abortion rights advocate for, you know, decades. So you've been an abortion rights advocate for, you know, decades, and it seems like we keep having this same debate for like over 50 years. So how has, is it changed any or is it the same conversation? That question makes me feel very old. But I think the conversation has been stuck in several ways. And one way I want to mention is that a lot of people

have voted anti-abortion legislation because they thought it would never happen. So they would vote in state legislatures for these wild things, thinking, well, Roe is there. It's not going to be so crazy. But now it is. So they're thinking, oh my god, what have I done? at least some of them But I think the other thing is that Dobbs, which the which overthrew Roe, has woken up pro-choiceers in the most amazing, and women who maybe didn't know

they were pro-choice, in the most amazing way. It was very important in the last election in several races. And abortion rights won in those elections. Yes, it did. And what's especially interesting is that there were six states in which there was anti-abortion stuff on the ballot. It went down in every case, including in Kansas, in very, very red, Kentucky. So that tells you something. It tells you people aren't really down with the idea of banning all abortion and making women suffer. Okay. But that's... It's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, th, it, it, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in, in. It. It, in. It, in. It, in, in, in, in, in. It, it. It, it. It's, it, it, it, it, it, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, it's, the, the, it's, it's, the, the, it's, the, the, the, the, the, the, thi, thi, banning all abortion and making women suffer. Okay.

But that's, it's interesting what you said at first is like they didn't really want it to happen at first. It was just kind of like performative. It was just like, hey, let's put this out there and it'll draw the other people in to vote for us so we can pass more things that's like about like taxes and stuff. Exactly, exactly. It is like a signal that you know I'm a good Christian but in real life it served other purposes as well of just being very very reactionary on a whole range of issues. Okay and now in the terminology that they use it's like scare tactics. It's like, you know like like, you know like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, it, it, it, it's, it's, it's, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, it's a the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the their, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's like, it's a a the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the they-a, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, the the the the the the they-a, like, like, like, like, like, the, and the terminology that they use, it's like scare tactics, like, you know, like partial birth abortion

and abortion doctors. Like, no one goes to college and go, you know, what's you gonna be? I'm gonna be a cardiologist. What you're doing? Ooh, I don't know, I think I'm going to work with feet. What about you? Abortion, that's all I'm doing. Just abortions. I mean, there's no such things like an abortion doctor. They used to call them abortionists. OK. So that's like really not a real doctor.

You don't want to go to an abortionist. Abortion doctor is a demeaning term, providing care for women, is a good way to put it. And it's all intended to make it seem as though abortion is not part of health care. And the very important thing that everybody has to think about is abortion is part of health care. Absolutely. No, I'm glad you said that to hear that young women are active and they're voting because we need them because you know the House Majority Leader Steve Scalise said that Rose reversal,

and this is a quote, he said only the first phase in the battle. Now the next phase begins. Like what is that next phase? What, you know, what do you think there that means? I think it means contraception, going after contraception. That, you know, there are right to life for us who believe that the birth control pill is what they call a chemical abortion. They think the morning after pill is which you can the the the the their their their their is their is their is their is their is their. their is their. their is their is their is their. their is their is their. their is their is their is thaugh is thaughe. thiolololole. thaugh is, thaugh is is, thaugh is, thia. thia. thia. thi. thi. thaugh is, thaugh is, thauge. thauge. thauge. thaugn. tha. tha. tha. tha. tha. tha. tha. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. the. What is, the. What is, what is, what is, what is, what is, what thea. What is, which you take to prevent a pregnancy, is actually an abortion. They think the IUD is an abortion. It's like it's in there, it's

performing abortions every day. They have their own facts. And I think that we're already seeing that contraception, which should be part of the, you know, if you're against abortion, you should be in favor of contraception because that will prevent... Right. But we're already seeing moves to make contraception harder to get. So these, they have no idea how a woman's body works. That's so true. That's so true.

There was recently a state legislator in a very red state of Idaho or Utah, I think, and he said, I raised cattle. I know all about what goes on. I've walked behind cows. And I'm thinking, so you've looked up at the cows behind and you think you understand what happens with women. I mean, how crazy is that? Oh, I know. That's terrifying.

It's terrifying. It is. It is. So, and it's such a polarizing issue. How do we change minds? How do we, you know, sway them? Or is it, is it like sway them? Or is it education or is it like a personal experience? What is it?

Well, I think it's all those things. I think personal experience, if people know someone who's had an abortion, they start to think differently. And there's actually a sociological study that shows this by a sociologist named Sarah Cowan, who found out that even very, very anti-abortion people, if it's someone in their family, if it's a friend, they'll be kind. A lot of the time, they might even drive that person to the clinic, even if they think it's the wrong thing to do, because they can relate on a human level to the difficult situations that women who have abortions are often in, involving poverty and

abuse and health problems, all kinds of stuff, having other things that they really want to do in their life, like hold a job, go to college, all that. So people are not as evil as they seem. People are not as evil as they seem. That's my mantra. That's a good mantra. I hope you're right. I hope you're right. I hope you're right.

Like you mentioned poverty. Isn't that who is going to affect and hurt the most? Yes, this is so terrible that people don't know this. That when I was on tour for my book, I found the two most important things to tell people that really I think do have power to affect how people think is this. One is that about half the women who have abortions are poor. They live at or below the poverty level and that shows you how difficult their lives are. The other, so fascinating,

is that 60% of women who have abortions are already mothers. So there goes the stereotype of oh she's just a young slut out to have fun or she's a child hating career woman. Those are the two big stereotypes. But neither of them are true and you can you can explain that to people. Yeah, it's like she has kids and knows I got got enough. Yeah, it's enough. Yeah, exactly. Yeah, well I think maybe if they like create an abortion pill that also maybe, you know, heals erectile dysfunction or something, you know, making a two-thing on? A little something for you, know something for them, then the guys will be happy about it. You won't have any problem getting access to it. I think we need a chemist who gets to work on

that right away. Exactly, well thank you so much for being here. Thank you. Oh, reflating abortion rights is available now. Okay, we're gonna take a quick break. We'll be right back after th for th for th for th for th for th for th for th for th for th for th for th for th. Thank th. Thank th. Thank th. Thank th. Thank th. Thank th. Thank th. Thank th. Thank th. Thank th. Thank th. Thank th. Thank th. Thank th. the thi. Thank the the the the the guys the guys the guys the guys the guys the guys. the guys. the guys. Thank the guys. Thank the guys. Thank the guys. Thank the guys. Thank the guys. Thank the guys. Thank the guys. Thank the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. th. th. th. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. the the we're going to take a quick break. We'll be right back after this. Thank you so much. Thank you so much. That's our show for tonight, but before we go, please consider supporting Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit. They have been serving LGBTQ-T. That's our show for tonight, but before we go, please consider supporting Ruth Ellis Center in Detroit.

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