Nothing captures the absurdity and insincerity of conservative media quite like Comedy Central's The Daily Show and The Colbert Report. Media Matters takes a look back at Stewart and Colbert's best takedowns of 2014.
Jon Stewart Tackles Fox News' Polar Vortex Snow Trolls
As a polar vortex entombed much of the nation in freezing temperatures in January, right-wing media went into high gear trying to exploit the weather event as evidence that global warming is a myth. Scientists disagree with this claim, and as Time's Bryan Walsh noted, “not only does the cold spell not disprove climate change, it may well be that global warming could be making the occasional bout of extreme cold weather in the U.S. even more likely."
Jon Stewart nipped the narrative in the bud on the January 6 edition of The Daily Show.
The Daily Show
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Bill O'Reilly's Super Bowl Interview With Obama Goes Under The Daily Show Knife
Fox News host Bill O'Reilly interviewed President Obama before the NFL's Super Bowl XLVIII and used the opportunity to rattle through a series of questions about the many phony scandals ginned up by his network over the previous months.
On the February 4 edition of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart defended Obama's combative response to some of O'Reilly's questions, noting that it's true that Fox News promotes and generates scandals for the sole purpose of undermining his presidency.
“That is exactly what Fox does every day,” said Stewart. “With the exception of the one hour every two weeks where John Stossel exposes how homeless people are scamming the system.”
The Daily Show
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Bill O'Reilly Suggests There's A “Downside” To A Female President, And Colbert Agrees: It's Shark Attacks
In late February, Bill O'Reilly joined a chorus of conservative media figures launching sexist attacks against Hillary Clinton, suggesting her gender would somehow disqualify her from serving as President of the United States. “There's got to be some downside to having a woman president, right?” asked O'Reilly.
Stephen Colbert agreed on the March 5 edition of The Colbert Report, satirically noting that the election of a female president like Clinton would almost inevitably spark a chain of global reactions culminating in an Afghan invasion of America, shark attacks and the complete demise of the nation.
The Colbert Report
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Jon Stewart Tries To Understand Sean Hannity's Support For Law-Breaking Nevada Rancher Cliven Bundy
Right-wing media turned its attention to Nevada in April, when rancher Cliven Bundy orchestrated an armed stand-off with federal law enforcement officials trying to enforce millions of dollars in court judgments against him. Sean Hannity and others ran to the rancher's defense, holding him up as a champion against big government.
The Daily Show's Jon Stewart tried to wrap his head around the movement, noting that Bundy was in violation of the law and Hannity in particular purports to be a vigilant advocate for the rule of law -- when it suits him.
The Daily Show
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Stephen Colbert Covers The Bromance Between Rupert Murdoch And Rand Paul
Conservative media mogul Rupert Murdoch joined aspiring Republican presidential candidate Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY) at the Kentucky Derby in May, prompting questions about the influence Murdoch's media empire -- including Fox News -- could play in boosting Paul's political aspirations.
On the May 6 edition of The Colbert Report, Colbert congratulated Paul on catching Murdoch's eye, but warned that the mogul might still be “playing the field” when it comes to 2016.
The Colbert Report
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The Daily Show Throws Cold Water On Right-Wing Outrage Surrounding Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl's Father's Beard
In June, the Obama administration negotiated the release of America's last remaining U.S. service member being held behind enemy lines -- Sgt. Bowe Bergdahl. Conservatives rushed to scandalize the event and smear Bergdahl as a deserter, going so far as to suggest his father's long beard made him look like a Muslim, and thus in their minds was more likely to share a hatred for America with his son.
On the June 9 edition of The Daily Show, Stewart lambasted Fox News' obsession with the beard, pointing out the obvious -- “Not all Muslims have beards, and not all people with beards are Muslims.”
The Daily Show
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Colbert Explains: Obama's Vacations Show He's “Slacking Off At Destroying America”
In July, the influx of undocumented minors fleeing violence in Central America by way of the U.S.-Mexico border had grown into a humanitarian crisis. Right-wing media used the problem to criticize Obama anytime he was seen enjoying a leisure activity. One of the loudest complaints was that the president was photographed playing pool in Colorado when he should have been, according to conservatives, touring the Texas border.
His actions were even worse than previously attempts to destroy America, Colbert explained on July 15. Obama was now “slacking off at destroying America.” Colbert went on: “It's clear what's going on here. The president has senioritis.”
The Colbert Report
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Stewart Schools Fox News On Racism And Police Discrimination After Ferguson
On August 9, unarmed teenager Michael Brown was gunned down by a Ferguson, MO police officer. His death sparked outrage and protests across the country against police brutality and systemic discrimination against young, black men. Yet conservative media leaped to demonize Brown, blaming him for his death and staunchly denying the fact that law enforcement treats African-Americans with any less respect than they do whites.
Stewart called them out on The Daily Show, asking “Do you not understand that life in this country is inherently different for white people and black people?” Citing the fact that white Fox hosts expressed more outrage over the imaginary 'War on Christmas' than they have over the existence of racism, Stewart argued: “Imagine that if instead of having to suffer the indignity of [the War on Christmas], imagine that instead of that, on a pretty consistent basis, you can't get a cab, even though you're a neurosurgeon, because you're black.”
The Daily Show
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Stewart Takes On The “Cognitive Dissonance” Of Latte Salute Outrage
Footage of Obama saluting Marines with a cup in his hand as he exited Marine One elicited horror from right-wing media, who feigned shock at the “disrespectful” and “degrading” salute. Hannity accused Obama of having “complete disrespect for the men in women in uniform” and asked, “Would President Bush ever do that?”
Of course, several photos exist of Bush saluting troops while cradling his Scottish Terrier, Barney, in his arms. Stewart blasted Hannity for his “cognitive dissonance” on September 25, answering his question about Bush: “Would President Bush ever salute the troops with a cup of coffee in his hand? And the answer is no. Because his hands were too filled with dog.”
The Daily Show
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The Daily Show Exposes Conservative Media's Justification Of Street Harassment
Conservative media stood up as defenders of street harassment in October, building off their frequent denial of gender inequality to lecture women on being appreciative of catcalling and harassment. Fox's The Five, for instance, justified catcalls by arguing that men “mean it in a nice way” or in admiration of a woman's youth.
The Daily Show exposed the ridiculousness of such mentality on October 2, imaging a world where women gush over “competing in a beauty pageant on the way to work every day.”
The Daily Show
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Colbert Confronts “Generalissimo Obama” Over His “Executive Amnesty” Immigration Reform
In November, Obama took executive action to prioritize the deportations of dangerous undocumented immigrants and grant certain other immigrants the right to stay and work in the U.S. The plan was met with cries of “tyranny” and “Emperor Obama” from right-wing media figures, who accused the president of issuing “executive amnesty.”
Colbert mocked the hyperbole on the November 20 edition of The Colbert Report, playing Halloween horror music and declaring, “My great grandfather did not come here from Ireland to see this country overrun by immigrants”:
The Colbert Report
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The Daily Show On Eric Garner: “We Can't Breathe”
When Eric Garner was killed after Staten Island police placed him in a chokehold, medical examiners ruled his death a homicide. But in December, a grand jury declined to indict the officer who killed him, reigniting protests around the country over racial discrimination in law enforcement. Garner's last words, “I Can't Breathe,” became a rallying cry for justice -- and a target for conservative media. Fox News went to great lengths to defend the police and criminalize Garner, accusing those who highlighted systemic racism as disrespectful to law enforcement.
Stewart went on the offensive following the grand jury decision, refuting conservative's refrain that the criminal justice system is applied equally to all races:
The Daily Show
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