For Tuesday’s edition of The Daily Show on Comedy Central, temp host Desi Lydic sat down for an interview with Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg where the two teamed up to attack GOP “culture wars” and Fox News.
After Buttigieg accused some Republicans of not being tough enough on railroad companies when it comes to rail safety, Lydic asked, “Why do you think some Republicans are stalling on this? Is it because they are too busy focused on starting culture wars?”
Buttigieg was happy to go along, “Well, I do think the culture wars are getting in the way sometimes. I mean, just the other day, I was testifying in the Appropriations Subcommittee, explaining how our budget was going to help with things like railroad safety, air traffic control, and other transportation needs, and we had to take a break so that they could all go and vote on a bill to kick transgender teenagers off of sports teams. That was the priority for the House GOP that day.”
He would go on to incorrectly use the word “literally,” claiming “these things really are getting in the way of our ability to get work done. We're literally building bridges, and they’re literally banning books.”
Naturally, Lydic did not push back and instead sarcastically wondered, “Is the Department of Transportation going woke?”
Recently, Buttigieg blamed racism for car crashes, but he insisted wokeness has nothing to do with his job performance, “I don't think it's woke to build good infrastructure. I just saw Fox News taking a run at me for the work we are doing on safety, including the use of crash test dummies that simulate men, women, and children. And somehow, this is considered a woke priority to have a female crash test dummies even though this is something that has been around for a very long time.”
Changing topics, Lyidc then dreamed Buttigieg may be able to censor criticism of his performance, “Fox News has made loads of false statements about you over the years. What do you think? Do you think it is lawsuit time? You know, cash in on some of that 787 million coin?”
After Buttigieg replied, “It does sound like there is a lot of money in it, but I think that’d probably be a bit of a distraction in my case,” Lydic retorted “it could help fund some of these projects.”
Buttigieg remarked that “the amount of money in that lawsuit is as much as some of our nationwide transportation infrastructure programs.”
Lydic then accidently stumbled onto a good point “Oh, yeah that could repair at least hundreds of feet of tunnel.” All Buttigieg could was awkwardly reply “depending on the tunnel.”
That joke about cost and an earlier joke about being late to the interview because of Amtrak could’ve made for some interesting questions, but instead they were just quips because Lydic and Buttigieg think allowing men on women’s sports teams is more important.
This segment was sponsored by Popeyes.
Here is a transcript for the April 25 show:
Comedy Central The Daily Show
4/25/2023
11:20 PM ET
DESI LYDIC: Why do you think some Republicans are stalling on this? Is it because they are too busy focused on starting culture wars?
PETE BUTTIGIEG: Well, I do think the culture wars are getting in the way sometimes. I mean, just the other day, I was testifying in the Appropriations Subcommittee, explaining how our budget was going to help with things like railroad safety, air traffic control, and other transportation needs, and we had to take a break so that they could all go and vote on a bill to kick transgender teenagers off of sports teams. That was the priority for the House GOP that day. So these things really are getting in the way of our ability to get work done. We're literally building bridges, and they’re literally banning books.
LYDIC: Is the Department of Transportation going woke?
BUTTIGIEG: I don't think it's woke to build good infrastructure. I just saw Fox News taking a run at me for the work we are doing on safety, including the use of crash test dummies that simulate men, women, and children. And somehow, this is considered a woke priority to have a female crash test dummies even though this is something that has been around for a very long time.
LYDIC: Fox News has made loads of false statements about you over the years. What do you think? Do you think it is lawsuit time? You know, cash in on some of that 787 million coin?
BUTTIGIEG: It does sound like there is a lot of money in it, but I think that’d probably be a bit of a distraction in my case.
LYDIC: Possibly, but you know, it could help fund some of these projects.
BUTTIGIEG: Yeah, I think I would prefer to stick with the appropriations process, but the amount of money in that lawsuit is as much as some of our nationwide transportation infrastructure programs.
LYDIC: Oh, yeah that could repair at least hundreds of feet of tunnel.
BUTTIGIEG: Depending on the tunnel.
