Jon Stewart hit nothing but net in describing the dilemma of Democratic voters who want to push back against Trump administration cuts. (Watch the video below.)
A listener on his “Weekly Show” podcast Thursday asked the “Daily Show” host what “ordinary people” can do as DOGE slashes agency workforces, especially at the Department of Veterans Affairs. Thousands have been laid off there, perhaps endangering the health care of veterans. In addition, cuts built into the GOP bill passed to avert a shutdown targeted veterans’ benefits.
Stewart accused elected leaders of failing to mobilize constituents into more meaningful action. Right now, voters are on their own, he said. “That’s the part that makes me so mad.”
“I liken it to if you’re at a basketball game and your team’s just getting the shit kicked out of them, and in the timeout, the players just turn to the crowd and go, ‘Alright, you’re in!’” he said. “You’re like, ‘Wait … I don’t know how to play basketball.’ And they’re like, ‘I don’t care. We’re fucking dying over here. Just get in there.’”
Whether Stewart was inspired by the start of March Madness is anyone’s guess. But he took his shot to make sense of the situation ― and he scored.
“It takes strategy and leadership from the top … to empower people to particular tasks,” he continued. “The usual shit is, ‘Call your congressman.’ They ignore that shit unless it’s really targeted … to a specific date or action.”
Fast forward to 1:02:13 to hear how teamwork works:
