Trump’s Reelection: Last Week Tonight with John Oliver (HBO)

News Roundup

• A lab CEO in South Carolina thinks 43 monkeys that remain on the run from a lab are having an adventure (47s).
• A message in a bottle was found in an Ontario lake after 26 years (54s).
• Elwood Edwards, the voice of AOL's "welcome" and "you've got mail" notifications, died one day shy of his 75th birthday (58s).
• Trump won re-election, which was not what many people were hoping for, and he seemed surprised by the outcome in his victory speech (1m23s).
• Trump's victory speech was described as having the same energy as a best man who didn't realize he had to give a toast (2m10s).
• The week following the election was rough for many people, and even small, mundane things like a text from a relative or a recipe for roast chicken could be enraging (2m33s).
• Hello Kitty posted a word search on Twitter asking followers what they were looking forward to, which was met with anger and frustration from people who were still reeling from the election results (3m1s).
• A teaser for a new Tyler song posted on Twitter the day after the election was also met with responses like "not now" (3m28s).
• People on Twitter pointed out that Tyler is from South Africa and not an American, so she shouldn't be expected to understand the emotions of Americans following the election (3m45s).
• It's understandable to feel angry, depressed, or worried after the election, and it's okay to take time to process those emotions (4m7s).
• A similar show was done after the 2016 election, when no one expected Trump to win (4m27s).
• The outcome of the election felt like a real possibility all year long, and despite many people mobilizing to stop it, it happened anyway, which feels worse (4m32s).
• Michael Cohen, Trump's former attorney, claimed he'd leave the country if Trump won but quickly walked that back on a live stream, where he got trolled by viewers (4m47s).
• Cohen's live stream was interrupted by viewers, and he became frustrated, saying he had every right to stay in the country and that others should leave instead (5m9s).
• The election result is depressing due to its implications for abortion rights, the environment, Ukraine, Gaza, and the fact that Trump's campaign was built on demonization and revenge (6m19s).
• The GOP spent at least $215 million on anti-trans network TV ads, which is over $134 per trans person in the country (6m33s).

Post-Election Reactions and Analysis

• The questions of how this happened, what comes next, and what to do now are being explored, starting with how this happened (6m54s).
• It's too early to have a definitive answer to how this happened, but people are taking big swings, blaming various factors and individuals, including Kamala Harris, Joe Biden, Joe Rogan, and Elon Musk (7m1s).
• Some people are scapegoating certain demographics, such as Latino voters, young men, and black candidates, while others are blaming individuals like Joe Scara (7m39s).
• The tendency to blame others is appealing, but it's essential to look beyond personal biases and consider the actual reasons behind the election outcome (8m7s).
• The election result is a complex issue, and it's not accurate to attribute it to a single person or factor, such as Katy Perry's performance at Kamala's election eve rally (8m20s).
• The idea that a person's dignity can't be taken away is incorrect, as it can be willingly surrendered, and some people, like a certain politician, have done so by covering Whitney Houston's song "I Will Always Love You" at a rally, which was a poor performance (8m35s).
• The politician's campaign made mistakes, but the reasons behind specific groups' voting decisions are complex and can only be understood after analyzing the data (9m31s).
• Some Democrats are claiming that the party needs to move to the center, citing issues like trans rights, but this conclusion doesn't match the campaign that just ended (9m57s).
• New York Congressman Tom Suozzi argued that Democrats should stop pandering to the far left, citing trans rights as an example, and stating that biological boys shouldn't play in girls' sports (10m6s).
• The idea of a centrist campaign that is tough on trans issues, the border, and law and order, and reaches out to moderate Republicans, already existed and lost (10m29s).
• There were no trans speakers at the DNC, and the Harris campaign failed to formulate a response to attack ads on trans girls competing in high school sports (10m32s).
• The issue of trans girls competing in high school sports is not a significant concern, as there are very few trans girls competing, and they don't pose a threat to safety or fairness (11m15s).
• The bigger concern for girls who play high school sports is the safety and well-being of the athletes, rather than the presence of trans girls (11m32s).
• Blaming a specific demographic for the election result is missing the mark, as Trump improved on his 2020 margin in over 90% of counties nationwide, and his victory was driven by gains among various groups of Americans (11m50s).

The Economy's Impact

• The economy was a massive motivating factor for people, ranking as the number one issue among voters, with 52% saying it was their top concern (12m21s).
• Some voters consider the economy to be a crucial factor in their decision to vote for Donald Trump, citing that they were better off financially during his presidency and that everything was "nice and smooth" (12m46s).
• These voters express frustration with the current state of the economy, particularly with inflation, which they believe has made everyday items too expensive (12m48s).
• The economy was a key issue in the election, with some voters feeling that the incumbent party did not adequately address their concerns about rising prices (13m3s).
• Global factors, including the COVID-19 pandemic and supply chain disruptions, contributed to inflation in the US and other countries (13m31s).
• The economic situation led to a "wave of change elections" worldwide, with voters in several countries ousting incumbent governments due to dissatisfaction with the economy (13m43s).
• Trump's campaign offered a change from the status quo, which appealed to some voters who felt that the incumbent party was not doing enough to address their economic concerns (13m53s).
• Despite the US economy having improved, with The Wall Street Journal describing it as "remarkable," some voters still chose to support Trump due to their personal economic experiences (14m40s).

Trump's Controversies and Campaign

• Trump's presidency was marked by controversy, including a widely criticized response to the pandemic, and he has since been convicted of various crimes, including falsifying business records and defaming a woman (15m2s).
• Trump's campaign was also characterized by lies, fear-mongering, and chaos, with some of his behavior being described as "rough" and "vicious" (15m16s).
• Trump's physical appearance and persona are seen as appealing to some voters, with his "weak face" and perceived need for "muscle" in his voice being notable aspects (16m10s).
• Trump's stance on migrants has been criticized, with some voters willfully denying or downplaying his intentions, despite his clear anti-immigrant rhetoric (16m45s).
• Some migrants have expressed support for Trump, believing he will not deport them because they are in the US to work and are not criminals, despite Trump's clear intentions to deport migrants for any reason (17m32s).

Trump's Cabinet and Potential Appointees

• Trump is assembling his cabinet, with thousands of people vying for potential jobs, and the early glimpses into his process have been concerning (18m5s).
• Potential Trump staffers, including RFK Jr. and Elon Musk, are being considered for positions, with Musk potentially being appointed to cut waste out of the federal budget (19m5s).
• The idea of cutting waste from the federal budget was floated during the campaign, with estimates suggesting that up to $2 trillion could be cut from the $6.5 trillion Harris Biden budget (19m47s).
• A proposed plan to cut $2 trillion from the federal budget has been met with skepticism, as it is a significant amount that would likely come from slashing government programs, with some questioning where the cuts would be made (19m54s).
• Former Treasury Secretary Larry Summers has expressed concerns about the feasibility of cutting a full one-third of the federal budget, stating that it's "idiotic" and not a serious statement (20m40s).
• Only 15% of the federal budget is for payroll, meaning that even if all federal employees were let go, it would not be possible to save $2 trillion (20m54s).
• Elon Musk has been mentioned as a potential candidate to review the federal budget, but it's unlikely he would follow through due to his tendency to lose interest in complex tasks (21m29s).
• Texas AG Ken Paxton is being considered as a potential Attorney General candidate, despite being under federal investigation for alleged bribery and misuse of office (21m46s).
• Paxton has also been criticized for his speech at a Trump rally on January 6th, where he said "we will not quit fighting," and for not joining 51 other AGs in condemning violence and urging a peaceful transition of power (21m56s).
• Kash Patel is being considered as a potential CIA director, despite concerns about his qualifications and his devotion to Trump, which has led to questions about his ability to impartially lead the agency (22m18s).
• Patel has written a series of children's books called "The Plot Against the King," which tells the story of a wizard named Cash who sets out to save King Donald from the "Sinister machinations" of Hillary Clinton (22m26s).
• Patel has also been criticized for his lack of qualifications and his past behavior, including an official government photo where he appeared to be in distress (22m50s).
• There are concerns that if Patel becomes CIA director, he will use the agency to target perceived enemies of Trump, including members of the media (23m24s).

Trump's Threats and Merchandise

• Trump has threatened to come after American citizens who helped Joe Biden win the presidential election, whether it's criminally or civilly, putting them on notice (23m37s).
• Trump's merchandise line features a logo that appears to be a punisher skull with Trump hair, but it could also be interpreted as a skeleton with a swooping pixie cut, resembling Diane Whis (23m56s).

Potential Actions Before Trump's Inauguration

• There are concerns about the deep bench of "idiots, freaks, and wannabe tough guys" who may enter the White House and start breaking things in January (24m17s).
• Before leaving office, Biden could grant or extend temporary protected status to some immigrants currently in the US to protect them from deportation (24m43s).
• Biden and the Senate could fill the nine open Inspector General positions at key agencies like the NSA, IRS, and Treasury to ensure oversight (24m50s).
• Biden could commute the sentences of federal prisoners on death row to life in prison to prevent Trump from repeating his execution spree (25m0s).
• The Senate could pass the Press Act, a federal shield law that would protect the confidentiality of journalist sources and personal devices from federal law enforcement (25m10s).
• The Senate should confirm Biden's remaining judicial appointments, as there is still important work to be done (25m52s).

Expressing Frustration and Grief

• It's infuriating to see Democratic senators wanting to wrap up remaining business quickly and move on from Washington, as the last weeks count (26m3s).
• Even if Biden and the Senate take action, Trump will still be sworn back into office on January 20th, which is depressing (26m40s).
• For the next few days, people can react however they want, as there is no right reaction to the current situation, and grief has different stages (26m51s).
• Frustration is expressed towards Biden for not dropping out earlier and the inaction of older politicians, leading to the current situation, with the speaker feeling mad about various issues including women's rights and climate change (27m19s).
• The speaker is also concerned about the potential damage Trump could do if re-elected, including setting back climate change efforts and appointing more Supreme Court Justices, and is frustrated with people saying their job is easier with Trump as president (27m37s).
• The speaker acknowledges that people may be feeling angry, despairing, or hopeless, but encourages them not to give up and to take action, rather than succumbing to despair or false hope (28m6s).

Encouraging Action and Highlighting Positive Developments

• The speaker notes that despair doesn't help and can make things worse, and instead encourages people to focus on making a difference, even if it's just pushing for small victories (28m51s).
• The speaker highlights some positive developments, including the election of the country's first openly trans member of Congress in Delaware, and the success of at least 35 trans and gender-expansive candidates in various states (29m44s).
• The speaker celebrates the election of Emma Curtis to the Lexington city council in Kentucky, and notes that this result sets an example for others, showing that trans individuals can succeed because of who they are, not despite what discriminatory politicians say (30m1s).
• The speaker also notes that seven states voted to either overturn abortion bans or add protections to their state constitutions, with the effort in Florida falling just short of the required 60% (31m8s).
• In Arizona, activists like Chris Love helped create a measure to preserve abortion access, which passed with overwhelming support from both parties, putting rights back in the hands of women, especially those who can become pregnant and providers of abortion care (31m41s).
• Despite the good news, it's essential to acknowledge that there is no resting easy during a Trump presidency, and anything can happen, not in a good way (32m11s).
• Arizona went to Trump, as did over half the states that voted to protect abortion, and Missouri voted to overturn its abortion ban, increase the minimum wage, and require sick leave while reelecting both Trump and Josh Hawley (32m35s).
• At the local level, Democratic policies are still popular, and grassroots organization is working, with groups tirelessly helping the people and causes that Trump threatens the most (33m6s).

Supporting Vulnerable Groups and Organizing Politically

• These groups got a head start on planning for a Trump administration due to Project 2025, which provided a 900-page roadmap for what they need to be ready to strategize against (33m23s).
• To help in the coming crisis, adults can support people in various ways, such as using the National Network of Abortion Funds, supporting trans and other LGBTQ people, donating time or money to centers and organizations, and helping migrants by providing legal services or donated supplies (34m8s).
• People can also organize politically around the issues they care about at work, school, and in their community to elect a more responsive government (34m35s).
• It's essential to remember that even when exhausted, confused, scared, and running on fumes, individuals can still make a difference and get far in their efforts (35m2s).

Show Closing

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• The host also engages in a brief, seemingly humorous exchange, refusing to be referred to as a "turkey" and stating their intention to stay. (35m44s)