1 00:00:01,268 --> 00:00:02,536 How many people here celebrate Cyber Monday? 2 00:00:02,636 --> 00:00:03,971 You guys, uh... you guys celebrate Cyber Monday? 3 00:00:04,071 --> 00:00:05,506 (whooping) 4 00:00:05,606 --> 00:00:07,774 I'm disappointed. 5 00:00:07,875 --> 00:00:10,511 I feel like Cyber Monday has lost, like, the spirit 6 00:00:10,611 --> 00:00:12,779 of what it was about. You know what I mean? 7 00:00:12,880 --> 00:00:14,748 Like, Black Friday still has the spirit. 8 00:00:14,848 --> 00:00:16,083 We are going to line up at midnight. 9 00:00:16,183 --> 00:00:18,085 We're gonna try and kill each other for a TV. 10 00:00:18,185 --> 00:00:20,120 Cyber Monday has no purpose. 11 00:00:20,220 --> 00:00:21,622 Like, what's the point of Cyber Monday? 12 00:00:21,722 --> 00:00:24,358 'Cause we do cyber every day. You know what I mean. 13 00:00:24,458 --> 00:00:26,226 No one waits for this day to order some shit from Amazon. 14 00:00:26,326 --> 00:00:27,694 You just, like, order... 15 00:00:27,794 --> 00:00:29,730 Amazon even has their own day. It's called a Prime day. 16 00:00:29,830 --> 00:00:31,732 You know what I mean? 17 00:00:31,832 --> 00:00:33,100 I just feel like we've lost the spirit 18 00:00:33,200 --> 00:00:34,668 of what this day was about. 19 00:00:34,768 --> 00:00:38,205 It was the day when we celebrated Baby Jesus 20 00:00:38,305 --> 00:00:41,341 -ordering things at 20% off. -(laughter) 21 00:00:41,441 --> 00:00:45,045 What did I buy? Oh, everything. 22 00:00:45,145 --> 00:00:48,081 I mean, Cyber Monday-- I'm not going to not participate. 23 00:00:48,182 --> 00:00:49,750 (laughter) 24 00:00:49,850 --> 00:00:51,418 Yeah, I just bought a bunch of shit. 25 00:00:51,518 --> 00:00:53,520 I got 40% off. 26 00:00:53,620 --> 00:00:55,689 I didn't need anything, but I just did it 27 00:00:55,789 --> 00:00:57,858 'cause that's what America's all about. 28 00:00:57,958 --> 00:01:01,361 Yeah. Then I'm gonna sell it on eBay now. 29 00:01:01,461 --> 00:01:03,764 Circle of life, hakuna matata. 30 00:01:03,864 --> 00:01:06,366 ANNOUNCER: Coming to you from the heart of Times Square 31 00:01:06,466 --> 00:01:09,536 in New York City, the only city in America, it's 32 00:01:09,636 --> 00:01:11,839 The Daily Show. 33 00:01:11,939 --> 00:01:14,775 Tonight-- oh, my what? 34 00:01:14,875 --> 00:01:19,479 Dr. Peter Hotez and Thandiwe Newton. 35 00:01:19,580 --> 00:01:24,518 This is The Daily Show with Trevor Noah. 36 00:01:24,618 --> 00:01:26,320 Hey, what's going on, everybody? 37 00:01:26,420 --> 00:01:28,422 Welcome to The Daily Show. I'm Trevor Noah. 38 00:01:28,522 --> 00:01:30,824 Let's jump straight into the big story today 39 00:01:30,924 --> 00:01:33,961 which is obviously the Omicron variant, 40 00:01:34,094 --> 00:01:36,396 the coronavirus mutation causing more chaos 41 00:01:36,496 --> 00:01:39,800 in the world than Rihanna's booty pajamas. Ooh. 42 00:01:39,900 --> 00:01:44,104 So let's try to break it down-- not the pajamas, the variant-- 43 00:01:44,171 --> 00:01:47,174 in another edition of Keeping Up with Corona. 44 00:01:47,274 --> 00:01:49,877 ♪ ♪ 45 00:01:51,178 --> 00:01:52,779 For most of 2021, 46 00:01:52,880 --> 00:01:56,116 the world has been fighting off various COVID variants, 47 00:01:56,149 --> 00:01:59,319 which are all more efficient than the OG from Wuhan. 48 00:01:59,419 --> 00:02:02,322 We had Alpha, we had Lambda, we had Delta. 49 00:02:02,422 --> 00:02:04,191 You know, COVID basically turned the planet 50 00:02:04,291 --> 00:02:06,193 into the shittiest frat house of all time. 51 00:02:06,293 --> 00:02:09,062 But just when we thought we had it all figured out, 52 00:02:09,162 --> 00:02:11,732 last week, scientists in South Africa announced 53 00:02:11,832 --> 00:02:14,768 that they discovered a new variant. 54 00:02:14,868 --> 00:02:18,071 And what they saw is freaking people out. 55 00:02:18,105 --> 00:02:21,108 Scientists are racing to learn more about a new COVID variant 56 00:02:21,208 --> 00:02:23,443 already setting off alarm bells around the world. 57 00:02:23,544 --> 00:02:25,646 NEWSWOMAN 2: According to South African scientists, 58 00:02:25,746 --> 00:02:27,848 the Omicron variant has more than 50 mutations 59 00:02:27,948 --> 00:02:30,083 and is likely to be more transmissible. 60 00:02:30,117 --> 00:02:31,685 It has a bunch of mutations, 61 00:02:31,785 --> 00:02:34,188 a disturbingly large number of mutations 62 00:02:34,288 --> 00:02:38,525 in the spike protein, which is the business end of the virus. 63 00:02:38,625 --> 00:02:40,093 NEWSWOMAN 3: The COVID-19 vaccines 64 00:02:40,160 --> 00:02:41,828 target the spike protein. 65 00:02:41,929 --> 00:02:45,098 If the spike changes too much and in the wrong way, 66 00:02:45,165 --> 00:02:47,501 it could make the vaccines less effective. 67 00:02:47,601 --> 00:02:48,936 NEWSWOMAN 4: The president of Moderna said yesterday, 68 00:02:49,102 --> 00:02:51,638 what's most scary about this virus is, 69 00:02:51,738 --> 00:02:54,842 it has managed to put all of its greatest hits into one variant. 70 00:02:54,942 --> 00:02:59,112 Yes, it's all the greatest hits in one place. 71 00:02:59,179 --> 00:03:01,548 Like if Mamma Mia! killed you 72 00:03:01,648 --> 00:03:05,419 instead of teaching you about the power of love. 73 00:03:05,519 --> 00:03:07,287 (sniffling) 74 00:03:07,387 --> 00:03:09,323 And what's so scary about this thing is all the mutations 75 00:03:09,423 --> 00:03:11,158 to the virus's spike protein 76 00:03:11,258 --> 00:03:14,294 because the spike protein is how the virus penetrates our cells. 77 00:03:14,394 --> 00:03:16,096 It's basically COVID's dick. 78 00:03:16,196 --> 00:03:18,532 And a mutated dick is never a good thing. 79 00:03:18,632 --> 00:03:20,100 Yeah, there's no Hallmark cards that say, 80 00:03:20,200 --> 00:03:22,369 "Congratulations on your Mutated Dick." 81 00:03:22,469 --> 00:03:24,371 But, yeah, I'm no expert, 82 00:03:24,471 --> 00:03:26,840 so to get us a more informed perspective, 83 00:03:26,940 --> 00:03:31,278 I sent Roy Wood, Jr. out to CDC headquarters in Atlanta. 84 00:03:31,378 --> 00:03:33,080 And, Roy, I know you're standing by right now. 85 00:03:33,146 --> 00:03:34,781 What can you tell us? 86 00:03:34,882 --> 00:03:36,216 Well, Trevor, the Omicron variant 87 00:03:36,316 --> 00:03:38,685 is the 12th variant of COVID 88 00:03:38,785 --> 00:03:40,954 and the fifth variant of concern, 89 00:03:41,088 --> 00:03:44,324 now spreading in the 20th month of the global pandemic. 90 00:03:44,424 --> 00:03:46,793 I've been talking to the top scientists at the CDC, 91 00:03:46,894 --> 00:03:50,130 and everyone seems to agree... 92 00:03:50,230 --> 00:03:52,299 Come on, man, just... 93 00:03:52,399 --> 00:03:54,334 now, just stop. 94 00:03:54,434 --> 00:03:56,703 Just stop, man. 95 00:03:56,803 --> 00:03:58,805 Chill, man. Just... 96 00:03:58,906 --> 00:04:01,175 Variant after variant after variant. 97 00:04:01,275 --> 00:04:02,910 Just... Damn! 98 00:04:03,043 --> 00:04:05,345 -Uh... -Shit got to stop, bro. 99 00:04:05,445 --> 00:04:08,582 I-I'm sorry, Roy, this is what the scientists are saying? 100 00:04:08,682 --> 00:04:12,219 Oh, no, of course not. Uh, I'm paraphrasing, Trevor. 101 00:04:12,319 --> 00:04:15,722 The actual scientific consensus on the Omicron is... 102 00:04:15,822 --> 00:04:18,125 Aw, shit! 103 00:04:18,225 --> 00:04:20,360 (bleep) I got to cancel this damn vacation. 104 00:04:20,460 --> 00:04:22,329 I pushed it back two, three times. 105 00:04:22,429 --> 00:04:23,931 To St. John's. I want to go. 106 00:04:24,064 --> 00:04:25,165 Now they're gonna shut everything down. 107 00:04:25,265 --> 00:04:26,934 Then the next thing you know, you're gonna have 108 00:04:27,067 --> 00:04:28,769 strange people delivering your food, and you got to wonder 109 00:04:28,869 --> 00:04:31,104 whether or not they've been eating some of your French fries 110 00:04:31,205 --> 00:04:33,207 and then I got to be cooped up with the boy 111 00:04:33,307 --> 00:04:35,642 and I got to home-school him, figure out which button 112 00:04:35,742 --> 00:04:38,278 is the Zoom button and how to print the homework 113 00:04:38,378 --> 00:04:40,147 on the printer that has no ink. 114 00:04:40,247 --> 00:04:42,716 And then that's just another whole-ass day. 115 00:04:42,816 --> 00:04:44,384 And then, we're in a two-bedroom apartment. 116 00:04:44,484 --> 00:04:46,453 It's three of us. It's just not enough space. 117 00:04:46,553 --> 00:04:48,455 I can hear her phone calls through the wall. 118 00:04:48,555 --> 00:04:50,390 I can hear him playing the Nintendo Switch. 119 00:04:50,490 --> 00:04:52,359 I'm trying to be on a conference call, 120 00:04:52,459 --> 00:04:54,361 and God forbid, I actually get a little bit of silence 121 00:04:54,461 --> 00:04:56,730 in this house so I can enjoy my (bleep) PlayStation 122 00:04:56,830 --> 00:04:59,766 that I sat online for (bleep) Cyber Monday to (bleep) buy. 123 00:04:59,867 --> 00:05:01,735 I actually got a goddamn PlayStation 124 00:05:01,835 --> 00:05:03,637 that I can't even (bleep) play now, 125 00:05:03,737 --> 00:05:05,405 'cause everybody's gonna be in the house, 126 00:05:05,506 --> 00:05:08,342 'cause "You can't play violent video games around the boy. 127 00:05:08,442 --> 00:05:10,677 We don't want him learning about violence." 128 00:05:10,777 --> 00:05:12,579 Well, what other good games are there to play 129 00:05:12,679 --> 00:05:15,883 on a PlayStation other than violent games? 130 00:05:16,049 --> 00:05:18,218 You have to pretend violence in this country 131 00:05:18,318 --> 00:05:21,221 to keep from doing violence in real life, 132 00:05:21,321 --> 00:05:23,123 and that's what she doesn't understand. 133 00:05:23,223 --> 00:05:24,391 She doesn't understand 134 00:05:24,491 --> 00:05:26,126 that that's what the video games do for me, 135 00:05:26,226 --> 00:05:28,762 and I just think if I just had just a third bedroom, 136 00:05:28,862 --> 00:05:31,265 -a third bedroom. -All right. 137 00:05:31,365 --> 00:05:32,833 That's all we need is a third bedroom, 138 00:05:32,933 --> 00:05:35,202 and that would give me the space that I need. 139 00:05:35,302 --> 00:05:37,404 But then we would have to move uptown, and that's too far, 140 00:05:37,504 --> 00:05:39,173 -and then you got to have -All right, all right, 141 00:05:39,273 --> 00:05:41,074 -a 40-minute train ride, -well, thank you, thank you. 142 00:05:41,141 --> 00:05:43,343 and I'm in a train ride, and everybody's got Omicron... 143 00:05:43,443 --> 00:05:45,112 All right, thank you so much, Roy. 144 00:05:45,212 --> 00:05:47,181 Thank you so much, Roy. Thank you for keeping us updated 145 00:05:47,281 --> 00:05:49,716 on... on your developments? 146 00:05:49,816 --> 00:05:52,419 -Thank you so much for that. -No problem, Trevor. 147 00:05:52,519 --> 00:05:54,721 Now, look, I understand the frustration 148 00:05:54,821 --> 00:05:56,857 of facing yet another new variant. 149 00:05:56,957 --> 00:05:59,760 I mean, how did that happen after everything we did? 150 00:05:59,860 --> 00:06:02,296 I mean, for two years now, people, we wore masks 151 00:06:02,396 --> 00:06:03,864 for some of the time, 152 00:06:04,031 --> 00:06:06,066 we social-distanced when it was convenient, 153 00:06:06,166 --> 00:06:08,535 then, like, half of us got vaccinated. 154 00:06:08,635 --> 00:06:10,504 What more is it gonna take! 155 00:06:10,604 --> 00:06:12,272 But at the same time, we shouldn't panic, 156 00:06:12,372 --> 00:06:14,241 because this variant was just discovered. 157 00:06:14,341 --> 00:06:16,043 So there's still a ton that we don't know about it. 158 00:06:16,143 --> 00:06:17,544 We don't know how long it's been around. 159 00:06:17,644 --> 00:06:19,546 We don't know if it causes more severe illness. 160 00:06:19,646 --> 00:06:22,082 We don't know if it can evade our vaccines. 161 00:06:22,182 --> 00:06:24,518 We know less about this variant than your grandmother knows 162 00:06:24,618 --> 00:06:26,920 about JoJo Siwa, and she just knows she's scared. 163 00:06:27,054 --> 00:06:28,555 That's it. 164 00:06:28,655 --> 00:06:30,390 And it could very well be that all these mutations 165 00:06:30,490 --> 00:06:34,161 that sound so scary turn out to not be that big a deal. 166 00:06:34,261 --> 00:06:36,263 You know? Like when Apple acts like it's making tons of changes 167 00:06:36,363 --> 00:06:38,232 to the iPhone, and then we're like: 168 00:06:38,332 --> 00:06:40,367 Aah! I need a new iPhone! I need a new iPhone! 169 00:06:40,467 --> 00:06:42,269 And then you get it, and you're like: Wait. 170 00:06:42,369 --> 00:06:45,172 It's just a slightly different camera? 171 00:06:45,272 --> 00:06:47,608 I killed a man in line for this thing. 172 00:06:47,708 --> 00:06:50,377 So, right now, basically all we know about this strain 173 00:06:50,477 --> 00:06:52,479 is that it's called Omicron. That's all we know. 174 00:06:52,579 --> 00:06:55,983 And even the name of the virus has a complicated story. 175 00:06:56,083 --> 00:06:57,751 NEWSMAN: A World Health Organization panel 176 00:06:57,851 --> 00:06:59,887 has just named the strain Omicron 177 00:07:00,020 --> 00:07:02,689 and classified it as a variant of concern. 178 00:07:02,789 --> 00:07:03,857 NEWSMAN 2: The World Health Organization 179 00:07:04,024 --> 00:07:05,392 named this variant Omicron 180 00:07:05,492 --> 00:07:07,327 instead of the next letters in the Greek alphabet, 181 00:07:07,427 --> 00:07:08,829 nu or xi. 182 00:07:08,929 --> 00:07:10,631 In a statement to the Associated Press, 183 00:07:10,731 --> 00:07:12,165 they said they skipped nu 184 00:07:12,266 --> 00:07:13,901 because it sounds like the word "new" 185 00:07:14,034 --> 00:07:17,037 and that Xi is a common last name. 186 00:07:17,137 --> 00:07:20,474 Yes, it's true. Xi is a very common last name, 187 00:07:20,574 --> 00:07:24,211 particularly among Chinese authoritarian leaders. 188 00:07:24,311 --> 00:07:26,346 I see you, WHO. 189 00:07:26,446 --> 00:07:29,049 And this really shows you the clout that China has, man. 190 00:07:29,149 --> 00:07:31,285 'Cause the World Health Organization is like, 191 00:07:31,385 --> 00:07:34,955 "Oh, we don't want to offend one guy in China." 192 00:07:35,055 --> 00:07:36,323 Meanwhile, Greece is over here like, 193 00:07:36,423 --> 00:07:39,059 "What?! You stole our whole alphabet, malakas." 194 00:07:39,159 --> 00:07:40,761 And it has been interesting to see how sensitive 195 00:07:40,861 --> 00:07:42,229 the scientific community has become 196 00:07:42,329 --> 00:07:43,530 about naming COVID variants, right? 197 00:07:43,630 --> 00:07:44,798 Because back in the day... 198 00:07:44,898 --> 00:07:46,466 You realize back in the day, nobody cared. 199 00:07:46,567 --> 00:07:48,869 Like, nobody cared about naming diseases. 200 00:07:48,969 --> 00:07:52,105 Doctors would even name diseases after themselves. 201 00:07:52,206 --> 00:07:55,209 "I discovered a disease that destroys the mind, 202 00:07:55,309 --> 00:07:57,277 "making you slowly forget your life 203 00:07:57,377 --> 00:07:59,613 "and the people that you love. 204 00:07:59,713 --> 00:08:02,082 "And whenever people get this disease, 205 00:08:02,182 --> 00:08:05,385 "I want them thinking of your boy, Alzheimer! 206 00:08:05,485 --> 00:08:07,921 "Yeah. That way, they'll never forget me. 207 00:08:08,021 --> 00:08:09,323 "I mean, they might forget, but yeah, 208 00:08:09,423 --> 00:08:11,625 you know what I'm saying. Yeah, it's gonna be quite cool." 209 00:08:11,725 --> 00:08:13,894 But the good news about them skipping those letters 210 00:08:14,027 --> 00:08:16,763 is that that means we're almost halfway to omega now, 211 00:08:16,864 --> 00:08:19,199 which is the last letter of the Greek alphabet. 212 00:08:19,299 --> 00:08:22,703 And that means once COVID reaches the end of the alphabet, 213 00:08:22,803 --> 00:08:25,205 it can't make any more variants, people. 214 00:08:25,305 --> 00:08:28,141 That's just science. We did it, baby. Yeah. 215 00:08:28,242 --> 00:08:29,843 Now, the truth is that so far, 216 00:08:29,943 --> 00:08:31,512 there are some encouraging signs 217 00:08:31,612 --> 00:08:34,181 that Omicron may only be causing mild symptoms 218 00:08:34,281 --> 00:08:35,716 in the people who have it, 219 00:08:35,816 --> 00:08:39,119 although experts say it'll take at least a couple of weeks 220 00:08:39,219 --> 00:08:41,889 before we really understand what the strain can do. 221 00:08:42,055 --> 00:08:45,792 But the world isn't waiting to find out. 222 00:08:45,893 --> 00:08:47,394 Governments are moving quickly tonight 223 00:08:47,494 --> 00:08:49,196 to limit travel into their countries 224 00:08:49,296 --> 00:08:50,864 in an attempt to slow the spread 225 00:08:50,964 --> 00:08:53,534 of the new COVID variant called Omicron. 226 00:08:53,634 --> 00:08:55,602 NEWSMAN: Overnight, the United States banned entry 227 00:08:55,702 --> 00:08:57,938 for noncitizen travelers from South Africa 228 00:08:58,071 --> 00:08:59,640 and seven neighboring countries. 229 00:08:59,740 --> 00:09:01,708 At least 44 other countries 230 00:09:01,808 --> 00:09:03,644 are also imposing travel restrictions. 231 00:09:03,744 --> 00:09:06,013 I took immediate steps to restrict travel 232 00:09:06,113 --> 00:09:07,915 from countries in southern Africa. 233 00:09:08,015 --> 00:09:10,717 But while we have that travel restrictions 234 00:09:10,817 --> 00:09:13,353 can slow the speed of Omicron, 235 00:09:13,453 --> 00:09:14,821 it cannot prevent it. 236 00:09:14,922 --> 00:09:16,290 But here's what it does. 237 00:09:16,390 --> 00:09:18,091 It gives us time. 238 00:09:18,192 --> 00:09:20,561 Gives us time to take more actions, 239 00:09:20,661 --> 00:09:22,196 to move quicker, 240 00:09:22,296 --> 00:09:24,498 to make sure people understand 241 00:09:24,598 --> 00:09:26,800 you have to get your vaccine. 242 00:09:26,900 --> 00:09:28,535 You have to get the shot. 243 00:09:28,635 --> 00:09:32,539 Yes. If you give America just a couple more weeks, 244 00:09:32,639 --> 00:09:34,141 surely all the anti-vaxxers 245 00:09:34,241 --> 00:09:36,343 will finally come around and get their shots. 246 00:09:36,443 --> 00:09:39,079 Oh, bless your heart, Joe. 247 00:09:39,179 --> 00:09:40,414 No, for real, I mean, I understand 248 00:09:40,514 --> 00:09:42,049 where the U.S. is coming from on this, right? 249 00:09:42,115 --> 00:09:45,319 If you can slow down the spread of Omicron even a little bit, 250 00:09:45,419 --> 00:09:47,120 than you have time to research it. 251 00:09:47,221 --> 00:09:48,755 You have time to work on new vaccines, 252 00:09:48,856 --> 00:09:50,591 and you have time to consult with Joe Rogan 253 00:09:50,691 --> 00:09:51,959 on a treatment plan. 254 00:09:52,059 --> 00:09:53,627 I mean, hey, maybe this time he'll say vaccines. 255 00:09:53,727 --> 00:09:55,095 You don't know. 256 00:09:55,195 --> 00:09:56,930 So, a lot of people support this travel ban, 257 00:09:57,064 --> 00:09:59,600 although Republicans aren't giving Biden any credit 258 00:09:59,700 --> 00:10:00,868 for taking a tough stance. 259 00:10:00,968 --> 00:10:02,336 If fact, today, 260 00:10:02,436 --> 00:10:05,239 Texas Governor Greg Abbott, he tweeted that 261 00:10:05,339 --> 00:10:08,375 "while Biden is banning travel from South Africa, 262 00:10:08,475 --> 00:10:11,445 "he's doing nothing to stop South Africans 263 00:10:11,545 --> 00:10:14,715 from crossing the southern border illegally." 264 00:10:14,815 --> 00:10:17,451 And, you know, Greg Abbott has a very good point here. 265 00:10:17,551 --> 00:10:20,787 Every day, millions of South Africans 266 00:10:20,888 --> 00:10:22,589 walk across the... 267 00:10:22,689 --> 00:10:24,691 Atlantic Ocean 268 00:10:24,791 --> 00:10:26,727 to cross the border? 269 00:10:26,827 --> 00:10:29,596 I mean, why did I book a flight? I could've just hitched a ride. 270 00:10:29,696 --> 00:10:31,064 What is this? 271 00:10:31,164 --> 00:10:32,733 This is the biggest load of bullshit ever. 272 00:10:32,833 --> 00:10:34,701 (stammers) Look, props to the governor of Texas 273 00:10:34,801 --> 00:10:37,070 for being able to turn literally any story 274 00:10:37,171 --> 00:10:39,072 into a complaint about the border. 275 00:10:39,173 --> 00:10:41,909 "Everyone's watching Red Notice on Netflix, 276 00:10:42,009 --> 00:10:43,510 "when what they should be doing 277 00:10:43,610 --> 00:10:45,412 is watching our southern border!" 278 00:10:45,512 --> 00:10:47,181 Now, you-you guys may not know this about me, 279 00:10:47,281 --> 00:10:50,050 but I, too, am a South African. 280 00:10:50,150 --> 00:10:52,719 Relax, relax. Everyone in the studio, relax. 281 00:10:52,819 --> 00:10:55,789 I do not have the variant, I think. 282 00:10:55,889 --> 00:10:58,425 Got the O.G. one. 283 00:10:58,525 --> 00:10:59,626 And as a South African-- 284 00:10:59,726 --> 00:11:01,195 who does not have the variant-- 285 00:11:01,295 --> 00:11:03,063 I think this travel ban is total bullshit. 286 00:11:03,163 --> 00:11:04,064 I really do. 287 00:11:04,164 --> 00:11:05,232 I mean, first of all, 288 00:11:05,332 --> 00:11:06,266 COVID is a hoax. 289 00:11:06,366 --> 00:11:08,502 We can all agree on that, right? (laughs) 290 00:11:08,602 --> 00:11:10,437 No, but-but, second of all, 291 00:11:10,537 --> 00:11:13,106 Omicron has already been found in over a dozen countries, 292 00:11:13,207 --> 00:11:15,709 a dozen countries around the world. 293 00:11:15,809 --> 00:11:17,211 Right? We don't know where it started. 294 00:11:17,311 --> 00:11:18,846 We don't know how long it's been around. 295 00:11:18,946 --> 00:11:21,381 It's everywhere, from Hong Kong to Israel to Spain. 296 00:11:21,481 --> 00:11:23,217 So why aren't you banning travel 297 00:11:23,317 --> 00:11:24,852 from all of those countries, too? 298 00:11:24,952 --> 00:11:25,853 Huh? 299 00:11:25,953 --> 00:11:27,321 Only the African countries? 300 00:11:27,421 --> 00:11:29,122 What's the difference between the African coun... 301 00:11:29,223 --> 00:11:30,791 Ah. 302 00:11:32,092 --> 00:11:33,794 I still don't get the logic. 303 00:11:33,894 --> 00:11:35,929 What, you think Omicron is-is gonna get to Europe 304 00:11:36,096 --> 00:11:38,098 and then just decide to stay there? 305 00:11:38,165 --> 00:11:39,399 "I was going to spread to America, 306 00:11:39,499 --> 00:11:43,303 but I simply cannot leave the beauty of Barth-elona." 307 00:11:43,403 --> 00:11:45,572 And, look, I mean, maybe America is buying itself 308 00:11:45,672 --> 00:11:48,575 a couple of weeks before it gets overrun with Omicron. 309 00:11:48,675 --> 00:11:49,877 But don't forget, 310 00:11:49,977 --> 00:11:52,679 don't forget about the costs of this action, too. 311 00:11:52,779 --> 00:11:53,981 Because you do realize 312 00:11:54,114 --> 00:11:55,382 that other countries are paying attention, 313 00:11:55,482 --> 00:11:57,451 and they realize if-if they're gonna get punished 314 00:11:57,551 --> 00:11:59,786 for telling the world about new variants, 315 00:11:59,887 --> 00:12:01,488 they're gonna stop telling the world 316 00:12:01,588 --> 00:12:04,591 whenever their scientists discover new variants. 317 00:12:04,691 --> 00:12:06,260 I'm just saying, don't be surprised 318 00:12:06,360 --> 00:12:08,095 when the next variant pops up in Europe 319 00:12:08,195 --> 00:12:11,231 and Italian scientists come out acting like nothing is wrong. 320 00:12:11,331 --> 00:12:12,733 (Italian accent): "Everything is fine. 321 00:12:12,833 --> 00:12:16,937 This is just a-- how you say?-- a TikTok challenge!" 322 00:12:17,070 --> 00:12:18,138 But that's where we are right now. 323 00:12:18,238 --> 00:12:19,873 There's a new coronavirus 324 00:12:19,973 --> 00:12:22,309 that we don't know anything about. 325 00:12:22,409 --> 00:12:23,577 And because of that, 326 00:12:23,677 --> 00:12:27,514 I can't go home to my uncle's baby shower. 327 00:12:27,614 --> 00:12:30,083 And, man, I really wanted to go. 328 00:12:30,150 --> 00:12:32,719 You don't see your uncle get showered by babies much. 329 00:12:32,819 --> 00:12:34,821 Anyway, when we come back, I'm gonna be talking 330 00:12:34,922 --> 00:12:37,090 to an actual scientist about what Omicron means 331 00:12:37,191 --> 00:12:38,425 for the actual world. 332 00:12:38,525 --> 00:12:40,093 You don't want to miss it. 333 00:12:40,160 --> 00:12:41,728 We begin with the developments 334 00:12:41,828 --> 00:12:44,364 on the new Omicron coronavirus variant. 335 00:12:44,464 --> 00:12:46,366 -The name is "Ahmicron." -"Ahmicron." 336 00:12:46,466 --> 00:12:49,703 -"Ohmeecron." -This new "Ahmuhohmycron" variant. 337 00:12:49,803 --> 00:12:50,904 "Ohmohmicron." 338 00:12:51,004 --> 00:12:53,407 The rapidly spreading "Ohmycron" variant. 339 00:12:53,507 --> 00:12:54,942 The "Ahmeecron" variant. 340 00:12:55,108 --> 00:12:56,743 Then there's "Ahmahmeecron." 341 00:12:56,844 --> 00:12:58,312 Is it "Ahmecron"? 342 00:12:58,412 --> 00:13:00,848 "Ahmohmycron" or something? Yeah, from-- Yeah. 343 00:13:00,948 --> 00:13:03,517 I might be messing up the pronunciation of this. 344 00:13:03,617 --> 00:13:05,752 Is it "Omicron"? "Ohmicron"? How do we say it? 345 00:13:05,853 --> 00:13:07,054 It's called the "Omnicron." 346 00:13:09,322 --> 00:13:10,590 Welcome back to The Daily Show. 347 00:13:10,691 --> 00:13:12,325 We've been talking about the new Omicron variant 348 00:13:12,426 --> 00:13:14,161 that's spreading around the world, 349 00:13:14,261 --> 00:13:16,096 and to continue that conversation, I'd like 350 00:13:16,196 --> 00:13:18,398 to welcome Dr. Peter Hotez on the show. 351 00:13:18,498 --> 00:13:21,401 He's the co-director of The Center for Vaccine Development 352 00:13:21,501 --> 00:13:24,905 at Texas Children's Hospital, and he's here to talk more 353 00:13:25,005 --> 00:13:27,107 about what Omicron is 354 00:13:27,207 --> 00:13:30,043 and how countries should be reacting to it. 355 00:13:30,143 --> 00:13:31,978 Dr. Hotez, thank you so much for taking the time. 356 00:13:32,079 --> 00:13:34,648 Let's jump straight into this thing. 357 00:13:34,748 --> 00:13:37,284 Um, how much should we be blaming South Africa 358 00:13:37,384 --> 00:13:38,852 for this new variant? 359 00:13:38,952 --> 00:13:40,887 I mean, basically, South Africa destroyed the world, right? 360 00:13:40,987 --> 00:13:42,322 This is our fault. 361 00:13:42,422 --> 00:13:45,392 Yeah, I mean, this-this is so demoralizing, 362 00:13:45,492 --> 00:13:46,927 what's-what's being done now 363 00:13:47,027 --> 00:13:49,663 to the people of not only South Africa, 364 00:13:49,763 --> 00:13:51,832 but Botswana and neighboring countries, 365 00:13:51,932 --> 00:13:53,500 Malawi, etcetera. 366 00:13:53,600 --> 00:13:55,335 Look, um, it goes like this. 367 00:13:55,435 --> 00:13:59,673 The-the... our worst pandemic variant threats, right, 368 00:13:59,773 --> 00:14:02,075 the Alpha variant-- how did that happen? 369 00:14:02,175 --> 00:14:04,878 It arose out of an unvaccinated population 370 00:14:04,978 --> 00:14:08,348 out of the United Kingdom in... at the end of 2020. 371 00:14:08,448 --> 00:14:09,683 So we already knew that 372 00:14:09,783 --> 00:14:11,952 if you leave large populations unvaccinated, 373 00:14:12,052 --> 00:14:13,987 that's how the worst variants arise. 374 00:14:14,087 --> 00:14:17,591 And then, in 2021, it happened again with the Delta variant 375 00:14:17,691 --> 00:14:22,429 rising out of an unvaccinated population, uh, in India. 376 00:14:22,529 --> 00:14:24,297 And that's what we're living with right now 377 00:14:24,398 --> 00:14:26,533 in the United States and most of the world. 378 00:14:26,633 --> 00:14:29,569 So what did people think was going to happen 379 00:14:29,669 --> 00:14:33,040 if we refuse to vaccinate the African continent, 380 00:14:33,140 --> 00:14:35,642 and help Africa vaccinate itself? 381 00:14:35,742 --> 00:14:38,111 This was both predicted and predictable. 382 00:14:38,278 --> 00:14:42,816 So, the rise of Omicron was inevitable from the simple fact 383 00:14:42,916 --> 00:14:46,887 that the African continent is virtually entirely unvaccinated. 384 00:14:46,987 --> 00:14:49,523 Maybe six percent. That rounds off to zero. 385 00:14:49,623 --> 00:14:53,794 And-and the point is, there was never the leadership, 386 00:14:53,894 --> 00:14:57,564 the policy decision to work with African governments 387 00:14:57,664 --> 00:14:59,866 to get the African people vaccinated. 388 00:14:59,966 --> 00:15:03,970 And so, I feel the people in southern Africa are paying 389 00:15:04,071 --> 00:15:06,339 for this twice. One: they're not vaccinated, 390 00:15:06,440 --> 00:15:08,442 and now we're going to punish them further, 391 00:15:08,542 --> 00:15:11,044 on enacting... implementing travel restrictions 392 00:15:11,144 --> 00:15:13,547 which we already know don't work. 393 00:15:13,647 --> 00:15:15,549 Um, they haven't worked this entire epidemic. 394 00:15:15,649 --> 00:15:17,350 Why would they work now? 395 00:15:17,451 --> 00:15:18,685 Let me ask you this question, though. 396 00:15:18,785 --> 00:15:20,554 This is really confusing, I think, for a lot of people 397 00:15:20,654 --> 00:15:21,922 in and around the variants, 398 00:15:22,022 --> 00:15:23,390 and I think it's a two-part question. 399 00:15:23,490 --> 00:15:26,059 Number one, how do we know, or do we know, 400 00:15:26,159 --> 00:15:27,828 where this variant comes from? 401 00:15:27,928 --> 00:15:30,163 You know? Because people say South African variant or not, 402 00:15:30,263 --> 00:15:32,899 but it was sequenced, as I understand, in South Africa. 403 00:15:32,999 --> 00:15:35,001 Nobody knows where it's from, correct? 404 00:15:35,102 --> 00:15:37,070 And then the second part of that is, 405 00:15:37,170 --> 00:15:40,407 are we not only discovering a variant now 406 00:15:40,507 --> 00:15:42,275 but not where the variant is? 407 00:15:42,342 --> 00:15:44,411 Like, if people start testing all over the world, 408 00:15:44,511 --> 00:15:46,380 and they now understand what to test for, 409 00:15:46,480 --> 00:15:48,281 aren't we just gonna see, you know, 410 00:15:48,315 --> 00:15:50,650 Omicron popping up everywhere as if it is spreading when 411 00:15:50,751 --> 00:15:52,652 -in fact, it's already there? -Oh, of course, of course. 412 00:15:52,753 --> 00:15:54,788 So, that's always my first talking point 413 00:15:54,888 --> 00:15:57,791 when people are wringing their hands about the Omicron variant. 414 00:15:57,891 --> 00:15:59,159 They're saying: Oh, my God, 415 00:15:59,292 --> 00:16:01,194 but it's in multiple European countries 416 00:16:01,294 --> 00:16:04,297 and in Australia and Canada, maybe the United States. 417 00:16:04,331 --> 00:16:06,800 And I say: Well, yeah, that's been true 418 00:16:06,900 --> 00:16:08,235 of every variant we've had. 419 00:16:08,268 --> 00:16:10,604 By the time we identify a new variant, 420 00:16:10,704 --> 00:16:12,839 it's almost always all over the world. 421 00:16:12,939 --> 00:16:15,976 And so the fact that it's in multiple European countries, 422 00:16:16,076 --> 00:16:18,545 -Mm-hmm. -in Australia and Hong Kong and-and Canada, 423 00:16:18,645 --> 00:16:20,814 likely the U.S., that always happens. 424 00:16:20,914 --> 00:16:25,452 It's not unique to Omicron. It's true of every variant. 425 00:16:25,552 --> 00:16:27,621 From the very beginning, we've known this. 426 00:16:27,721 --> 00:16:29,856 For instance, when we were all focused 427 00:16:29,956 --> 00:16:33,260 on enacting travel bans, uh, from China, 428 00:16:33,293 --> 00:16:36,263 right, as the epidemic began, the pandemic began, 429 00:16:36,329 --> 00:16:37,364 what happened? 430 00:16:37,464 --> 00:16:39,399 This virus came in from southern Europe 431 00:16:39,499 --> 00:16:42,269 to ignite the horrible epidemic in New York City 432 00:16:42,369 --> 00:16:45,405 -in the spring of 2020. -Right. 433 00:16:45,505 --> 00:16:46,973 That was a lesson in itself. 434 00:16:47,074 --> 00:16:48,809 By the time we identify a new variant, 435 00:16:48,909 --> 00:16:50,377 it's already gone global. 436 00:16:50,477 --> 00:16:52,145 So, looking at the situation now, 437 00:16:52,279 --> 00:16:55,015 you have people panicking, you have stock markets tumbling, 438 00:16:55,115 --> 00:16:58,018 you have, you know, people cancelling their travel plans. 439 00:16:58,118 --> 00:16:59,286 Nobody knows what to do. 440 00:16:59,352 --> 00:17:00,821 Airlines said they're cancelling flights 441 00:17:00,921 --> 00:17:02,522 to and from South Africa-- then they said 442 00:17:02,622 --> 00:17:04,024 they're gonna undo it from the U.K. 443 00:17:04,124 --> 00:17:06,293 Governments don't seem to know what they're doing. 444 00:17:06,360 --> 00:17:08,095 Was this a knee-jerk reaction? 445 00:17:08,228 --> 00:17:10,864 Did-did they react without thinking first? 446 00:17:10,964 --> 00:17:13,300 Or did they do the right thing in getting ahead of it 447 00:17:13,400 --> 00:17:16,403 because they don't know what the new variant is all about? 448 00:17:16,503 --> 00:17:18,238 Where-where do you see this going 449 00:17:18,338 --> 00:17:21,108 as a scientist who's actually studying these viruses? 450 00:17:21,241 --> 00:17:22,943 Well, I think it's a little bit of that. 451 00:17:23,043 --> 00:17:24,478 I think a lot of it is the fact 452 00:17:24,578 --> 00:17:26,680 that these governments and U.N. agencies 453 00:17:26,780 --> 00:17:29,316 were heavily criticized in the past 454 00:17:29,416 --> 00:17:31,251 for not reacting fast enough. 455 00:17:31,318 --> 00:17:34,554 In-in some ways, I think this is an overcompensation. 456 00:17:34,654 --> 00:17:36,323 But when you break it down, 457 00:17:36,423 --> 00:17:38,759 um, I think, you know, we have... 458 00:17:38,859 --> 00:17:40,127 we have to be more realistic 459 00:17:40,260 --> 00:17:42,763 about how serious this-this variant is. 460 00:17:42,863 --> 00:17:44,898 First of all, the fact that it's in multiple countries. 461 00:17:44,998 --> 00:17:47,567 We've already said that's not a surprise. 462 00:17:47,667 --> 00:17:49,536 That happens with just about every variant. 463 00:17:49,636 --> 00:17:50,804 Point number one. 464 00:17:50,904 --> 00:17:52,773 Point number two, in terms of severity of illness, 465 00:17:52,873 --> 00:17:56,276 there's no evidence I've seen that this.. the ill... this... 466 00:17:56,309 --> 00:17:58,979 that the illness produced by the Omicron variant 467 00:17:59,079 --> 00:18:01,281 is worse than anything else that we've seen. 468 00:18:01,381 --> 00:18:03,283 So take those two things off the table. 469 00:18:03,316 --> 00:18:06,486 In terms of its resistance to vaccines, 470 00:18:06,586 --> 00:18:10,991 um, it will almost certainly not be as susceptible 471 00:18:11,091 --> 00:18:14,761 to the original vaccinations as the original strains, 472 00:18:14,861 --> 00:18:16,229 but we've seen this before. 473 00:18:16,263 --> 00:18:19,366 We've had another variant out of South Africa in 2020 474 00:18:19,466 --> 00:18:21,635 called the B.1.351, the Beta, 475 00:18:21,735 --> 00:18:24,237 which should have been a wake-up call back then. 476 00:18:24,271 --> 00:18:26,907 Uh, and then one out of South America, the Lambda. 477 00:18:27,007 --> 00:18:29,810 And the point is there was enough crossover 478 00:18:29,910 --> 00:18:31,645 or what Tony Fauci calls spillover 479 00:18:31,745 --> 00:18:33,847 from our existing vaccines 480 00:18:33,947 --> 00:18:35,782 to partially cross-neutralize it. 481 00:18:35,882 --> 00:18:38,285 So, my hope is that that's the case 482 00:18:38,385 --> 00:18:41,655 with our current vaccines, especially for individuals 483 00:18:41,755 --> 00:18:43,357 who have gotten three mRNA vaccines 484 00:18:43,457 --> 00:18:44,624 where there's a 30... 485 00:18:44,725 --> 00:18:46,326 three-three RNA doses 486 00:18:46,426 --> 00:18:48,462 where there's a 30 to 40 full rise 487 00:18:48,562 --> 00:18:49,996 in virus-neutralizing antibodies. 488 00:18:50,097 --> 00:18:52,833 So I am hopeful there will be at least partial protection, 489 00:18:52,933 --> 00:18:55,135 and we'll know that over the next week or so. 490 00:18:55,268 --> 00:18:56,970 So, our lab is looking at our vaccine 491 00:18:57,070 --> 00:18:58,605 against the Omicron variant. 492 00:18:58,705 --> 00:19:01,007 Moderna's doing the same. Pfizer's doing the same. 493 00:19:01,108 --> 00:19:02,642 J&J's doing the same. So, we'll know that, 494 00:19:02,743 --> 00:19:04,678 uh, hopefully, over the next week. 495 00:19:04,778 --> 00:19:06,646 The best thing people can do right now 496 00:19:06,747 --> 00:19:09,249 is to use all the vaccines that are available. 497 00:19:09,349 --> 00:19:11,885 So, get three doses, if you can, of mRNA, 498 00:19:11,985 --> 00:19:13,086 vaccinate your kids 499 00:19:13,220 --> 00:19:15,055 and if you've been infected and recovered, 500 00:19:15,222 --> 00:19:16,823 if you can get vaccinated on top of that, 501 00:19:16,923 --> 00:19:18,759 that's the best... 502 00:19:18,859 --> 00:19:20,427 gives you the best possibility 503 00:19:20,527 --> 00:19:22,562 of helping you weather these new variants. 504 00:19:22,662 --> 00:19:25,332 Do you think-- before I let you go-- do you think, um, like, 505 00:19:25,432 --> 00:19:27,801 scientists/whoever was marketing this, 506 00:19:27,901 --> 00:19:30,237 do you think they made a mistake by calling it a vaccine? 507 00:19:30,337 --> 00:19:31,571 Do you think that's confused some people? 508 00:19:31,671 --> 00:19:33,473 'Cause they say, "Well, if I have a polio vaccine, 509 00:19:33,573 --> 00:19:34,875 "then I'm fine. I don't get polio. 510 00:19:34,975 --> 00:19:37,044 If I get the measles vaccine, I don't get measles." 511 00:19:37,144 --> 00:19:38,578 Do you think they should have just called this, like, 512 00:19:38,678 --> 00:19:41,948 "the-the shot"? Like, a COVID shot? Like you have a flu shot? 513 00:19:42,049 --> 00:19:43,283 You know, I think, you know, 514 00:19:43,383 --> 00:19:45,819 if they had, uh, always from the beginning said 515 00:19:45,919 --> 00:19:47,954 this was a three-dose vaccine, 516 00:19:48,055 --> 00:19:49,790 then people would have understood this better. 517 00:19:49,890 --> 00:19:52,759 And as a three-dose vaccine, I really do think it halts 518 00:19:52,859 --> 00:19:55,962 not only symptomatic illness and hospitalization 519 00:19:56,063 --> 00:19:57,497 but there's some data now showing 520 00:19:57,597 --> 00:20:00,267 it could also halt infection, uh, as well. 521 00:20:00,300 --> 00:20:01,935 Just that it wasn't marketed that way. 522 00:20:02,035 --> 00:20:03,937 -It wasn't billed that way. -Huh. Okay. 523 00:20:04,037 --> 00:20:06,273 But, you know, if you look at all our pediatric vaccines, 524 00:20:06,339 --> 00:20:07,674 for instance, what do we do with our kids? 525 00:20:07,774 --> 00:20:10,677 We give a series of primary immunizations, 526 00:20:10,777 --> 00:20:14,347 you wait six months to a year and then you give the boost. 527 00:20:14,448 --> 00:20:16,850 And that's what gives you the long-lasting durable protection. 528 00:20:16,950 --> 00:20:19,219 The point is the mRNA vaccines 529 00:20:19,319 --> 00:20:20,554 were just going by the same playbook 530 00:20:20,654 --> 00:20:22,122 that every other vaccine we have, 531 00:20:22,222 --> 00:20:25,125 and-and I tried to give that message 532 00:20:25,225 --> 00:20:26,660 back in January, February. 533 00:20:26,760 --> 00:20:29,262 But I think, you know, the other problem that we had 534 00:20:29,363 --> 00:20:31,598 was the company CEOs, you know, 535 00:20:31,698 --> 00:20:33,834 were-were sending out these press releases. 536 00:20:33,934 --> 00:20:36,236 And, you know, when company CEOs send out press releases, 537 00:20:36,336 --> 00:20:37,404 they're not meant for you or for me-- 538 00:20:37,504 --> 00:20:38,705 they're meant for the shareholders 539 00:20:38,805 --> 00:20:41,241 and to spectacularize their accomplishments 540 00:20:41,274 --> 00:20:42,542 and to jack up the stock prices. 541 00:20:42,642 --> 00:20:44,811 And-and they were very effective at doing that. 542 00:20:44,911 --> 00:20:47,114 But it was tone-deaf to the impact 543 00:20:47,247 --> 00:20:51,017 and how these vaccines would be perceived by the public. 544 00:20:51,118 --> 00:20:53,687 Well, again, Dr. Hotez, thank you so much for the time, 545 00:20:53,787 --> 00:20:55,555 -and, uh, good luck to you out there. -Thank you, Trevor. 546 00:20:55,655 --> 00:20:57,657 Thanks for all your great stuff. I really appreciate it. 547 00:20:57,758 --> 00:20:58,759 Appreciate you. 548 00:20:58,859 --> 00:21:00,694 Uh, don't forget, people, Dr. Hotez's book, 549 00:21:00,794 --> 00:21:03,764 Preventing the Next Pandemic, is available now. 550 00:21:03,864 --> 00:21:05,399 All right, when we come back, 551 00:21:05,499 --> 00:21:07,067 the one and only Thandiwe Newton 552 00:21:07,167 --> 00:21:08,835 will be joining me right here in the studio. 553 00:21:08,935 --> 00:21:10,103 So don't go away. 554 00:21:11,638 --> 00:21:13,039 Welcome back to The Daily Show. 555 00:21:13,139 --> 00:21:14,307 My guest is Emmy award-winning actor 556 00:21:14,407 --> 00:21:15,842 and producer Thandiwe Newton. 557 00:21:15,942 --> 00:21:17,877 She's here to talk about her new documentary 558 00:21:17,977 --> 00:21:21,147 about the fight for democracy in Zimbabwe. 559 00:21:21,247 --> 00:21:23,950 -Wow. -Let's go. 560 00:21:24,050 --> 00:21:27,654 -Everyone out. -MAN: We're here for a press conference 561 00:21:27,754 --> 00:21:29,622 with Nelson Chamisa, and as you can see, 562 00:21:29,722 --> 00:21:31,224 the riot police have just turned up. 563 00:21:31,324 --> 00:21:33,593 (man speaking foreign language) 564 00:21:40,233 --> 00:21:42,502 -Why is this...? -(indistinct chatter) 565 00:21:47,073 --> 00:21:48,675 So, if this is a democracy, 566 00:21:48,775 --> 00:21:50,677 why are you shutting down the press? 567 00:21:50,777 --> 00:21:52,645 (overlapping chatter) 568 00:21:52,746 --> 00:21:55,315 Wow. Tense. 569 00:21:55,415 --> 00:21:56,983 Thandiwe Newton, welcome to the show. 570 00:21:57,083 --> 00:21:58,618 Thank you for having me. 571 00:21:58,718 --> 00:22:01,321 Um, let's jump straight into it. 572 00:22:01,421 --> 00:22:03,723 You know, when I first heard 573 00:22:03,823 --> 00:22:06,426 that you were going to be part of making a film 574 00:22:06,526 --> 00:22:08,328 about an election that was stolen, 575 00:22:08,428 --> 00:22:10,196 about people who felt like they were robbed, 576 00:22:10,296 --> 00:22:12,365 about a democracy that was under threat, I was like, 577 00:22:12,465 --> 00:22:14,834 "Are you doing something about America?" 578 00:22:14,934 --> 00:22:17,704 And then, no. The information came out, and I was like, 579 00:22:17,804 --> 00:22:19,873 "No, this is about Zimbabwe." A story 580 00:22:19,973 --> 00:22:20,874 that I've been following almost my whole life... 581 00:22:20,974 --> 00:22:22,409 Of course you have. 582 00:22:22,509 --> 00:22:24,377 -...because of South Africa's proximity to the country. -Yeah. 583 00:22:24,477 --> 00:22:27,847 -But let's-let's talk about that immediately. -Yeah. 584 00:22:27,947 --> 00:22:30,650 This is a story not just about Zimbabwe, 585 00:22:30,683 --> 00:22:33,286 -but about democracy as a whole. -Mm. Mm. 586 00:22:33,386 --> 00:22:35,355 And you decided to tell it. What inspired you to go, 587 00:22:35,455 --> 00:22:37,724 "This is a moment to tell this story"? 588 00:22:37,824 --> 00:22:39,359 It was frustration more than anything. 589 00:22:39,459 --> 00:22:43,062 Um, I've been a human rights activist for two decades. 590 00:22:43,163 --> 00:22:46,132 Um, activism very often comes out of suffering, 591 00:22:46,232 --> 00:22:47,567 personal suffering, or certainly 592 00:22:47,667 --> 00:22:49,569 -witnessing the suffering of others. -Mm-hmm. 593 00:22:49,669 --> 00:22:52,772 Um, and that was... both those aspects were true for me. 594 00:22:52,872 --> 00:22:57,510 And I have been fighting for the rights of women and children. 595 00:22:57,677 --> 00:23:03,149 Um, and I realized recently that I've been a spokesperson 596 00:23:03,249 --> 00:23:05,552 for people all over the world except for Zimbabwe, 597 00:23:05,685 --> 00:23:08,688 my own home, because I feared 598 00:23:08,788 --> 00:23:11,424 -the political backlash. -Wow. 599 00:23:11,524 --> 00:23:14,127 And... 600 00:23:14,227 --> 00:23:15,795 what happened last... 601 00:23:15,895 --> 00:23:18,698 in 2018, 2019, is that I realized 602 00:23:18,798 --> 00:23:20,533 that this isn't about politics. 603 00:23:20,633 --> 00:23:22,635 This is human rights... 604 00:23:22,669 --> 00:23:25,538 -and this is about the future of humanity. -Right. Right. 605 00:23:25,638 --> 00:23:28,141 Because the work that I've done in Congo, similarly, 606 00:23:28,241 --> 00:23:30,376 um, is... this is... 607 00:23:30,477 --> 00:23:33,913 it's a framework that is... we can see all over the world. 608 00:23:34,013 --> 00:23:35,882 -Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm. -You talk about, is this America? 609 00:23:35,982 --> 00:23:38,818 Well, yes, it is. It's happening in Zimbabwe. 610 00:23:38,918 --> 00:23:41,354 It's happening in Congo. It's happening in the United States. 611 00:23:41,454 --> 00:23:43,389 It's happening in the Middle East. 612 00:23:43,490 --> 00:23:46,526 It's happening everywhere, this imbalance, 613 00:23:46,659 --> 00:23:50,196 -this knowledge of where power rests, -Right. 614 00:23:50,296 --> 00:23:54,200 and an inability for that to be shared amongst everybody. 615 00:23:54,300 --> 00:23:58,138 So to see my fellow Zimbabweans being devastated... 616 00:23:58,238 --> 00:24:00,907 and it's, obviously, it's been going on a long time 617 00:24:01,007 --> 00:24:02,709 and we thought Mugabe, you know... 618 00:24:02,809 --> 00:24:05,211 -Yeah, but that was... -the release of Mugabe... 619 00:24:05,311 --> 00:24:07,247 -That-that was a big story. -to his own fate, yes. 620 00:24:07,347 --> 00:24:09,682 -Yeah, that was a big story... -And with so much hope. 621 00:24:09,749 --> 00:24:11,818 Yes. A lot of people saw the story of Zimbabwe, 622 00:24:11,918 --> 00:24:14,187 and here you had a leader who... 623 00:24:14,287 --> 00:24:16,523 you know, like many other leaders in the world, 624 00:24:16,623 --> 00:24:19,626 came into power with really good intentions, 625 00:24:19,692 --> 00:24:21,161 -Oh, yeah. -it seemed at the time. 626 00:24:21,261 --> 00:24:23,630 I mean, you see the story unfolding in so many countries, 627 00:24:23,663 --> 00:24:26,099 -where the people who fight to free a country -Power corrupts. 628 00:24:26,199 --> 00:24:28,701 are not often the people who are best to lead that country 629 00:24:28,802 --> 00:24:30,537 -when it is free. -Yes! And look, 630 00:24:30,637 --> 00:24:32,205 this is what Chamisa is currently saying. 631 00:24:32,305 --> 00:24:35,508 Nelson Chamisa, a young politician in Zimbabwe, 632 00:24:35,642 --> 00:24:37,544 who was Mnangagwa's opposition. 633 00:24:37,644 --> 00:24:40,647 Mnangagwa should be happy to have a powerful opposition. 634 00:24:40,747 --> 00:24:42,482 -Right. -Should. And win, win, 635 00:24:42,649 --> 00:24:44,317 and then you share the country 636 00:24:44,417 --> 00:24:46,186 that, even with a powerful opposition, 637 00:24:46,286 --> 00:24:48,188 you're still the rightful person to lead. 638 00:24:48,288 --> 00:24:50,256 I would love to know how you got the access that you did 639 00:24:50,356 --> 00:24:51,825 in this election, because, I mean, 640 00:24:51,925 --> 00:24:53,226 when you're watching this documentary-- 641 00:24:53,326 --> 00:24:54,894 oftentimes you watch documentaries 642 00:24:54,994 --> 00:24:57,097 and, you know, it's interviews that are predominantly trying 643 00:24:57,197 --> 00:24:59,099 to tell you what's happening in the story. 644 00:24:59,199 --> 00:25:00,900 -Mm-mm. None of that. -In this story, 645 00:25:01,000 --> 00:25:02,302 you are in the story, 646 00:25:02,402 --> 00:25:04,170 -Mm-hmm. -we're seeing what is happening. 647 00:25:04,270 --> 00:25:07,006 You know, you're seeing how votes are being manipulated. 648 00:25:07,107 --> 00:25:09,008 You're seeing how precincts are reporting 649 00:25:09,109 --> 00:25:11,344 one person winning by 300,000 votes 650 00:25:11,444 --> 00:25:13,413 when there are only, like, a hundred thousand people 651 00:25:13,513 --> 00:25:15,415 -who live in that area. -Mm. 652 00:25:15,515 --> 00:25:17,317 -How did you... -And you also see that there's access 653 00:25:17,417 --> 00:25:20,053 by one party and none by another. 654 00:25:20,153 --> 00:25:22,255 -Right. But how did you get the access into... -The access. 655 00:25:22,355 --> 00:25:25,525 I mean, because Zimbabwe has been notorious for very long 656 00:25:25,625 --> 00:25:27,160 and that the ruling party, the ZANU-PF, 657 00:25:27,260 --> 00:25:29,629 has said, "No, we're-we're running our elections. 658 00:25:29,729 --> 00:25:31,631 We've won, and that's none of your business." 659 00:25:31,698 --> 00:25:32,832 So, how did you get in? 660 00:25:32,932 --> 00:25:34,100 And how did you get your people in safely 661 00:25:34,200 --> 00:25:35,635 to tell that story? 662 00:25:35,702 --> 00:25:39,139 NEWTON: Camilla Nielsson-- wonderful filmmaker. 663 00:25:39,239 --> 00:25:41,274 She had already made a documentary called Democrats, 664 00:25:41,374 --> 00:25:42,642 -which was about Mugabe. -Mm-hmm. 665 00:25:42,742 --> 00:25:44,344 And they had allowed her to film. 666 00:25:44,444 --> 00:25:47,113 Full access. Both parties. 667 00:25:47,213 --> 00:25:49,549 Um, so, here she was. 668 00:25:49,649 --> 00:25:52,051 They actually banned her first documentary. 669 00:25:52,152 --> 00:25:55,688 Mugabe banned it with... using the same law 670 00:25:55,789 --> 00:25:57,223 that they used for pornography, 671 00:25:57,323 --> 00:25:59,559 -that it wasn't good for people to watch. -Right. 672 00:25:59,659 --> 00:26:03,096 Anyway. Um, and that happened. 673 00:26:03,196 --> 00:26:07,367 And then Camilla went on a three-year legal battle 674 00:26:07,467 --> 00:26:09,536 to have Democrats be shown, 675 00:26:09,669 --> 00:26:11,371 and she won. 676 00:26:11,471 --> 00:26:14,374 So, as a result, she had the freedom 677 00:26:14,474 --> 00:26:17,177 to continue her work as documentary maker, 678 00:26:17,277 --> 00:26:20,080 and all we see in this film 679 00:26:20,180 --> 00:26:22,248 is what she witnessed. 680 00:26:22,348 --> 00:26:23,950 She doesn't... There's no talking heads. 681 00:26:24,050 --> 00:26:26,820 -Right. -She doesn't get anyone to say anything. 682 00:26:26,920 --> 00:26:29,022 She doesn't manipulate anybody. One of the things 683 00:26:29,122 --> 00:26:31,391 I love about her as a filmmaker, she has the... 684 00:26:31,491 --> 00:26:33,226 It's called cinema verité. 685 00:26:33,326 --> 00:26:36,930 It's a style where you do not intrude on what you see. 686 00:26:37,030 --> 00:26:39,365 All you see in this film is what was actually happening, 687 00:26:39,466 --> 00:26:42,836 and it is more crazy than any kind of murder mystery, 688 00:26:42,936 --> 00:26:46,172 any kind of CIA drama. 689 00:26:46,272 --> 00:26:48,775 You cannot believe what's happening in front of your eyes. 690 00:26:48,875 --> 00:26:50,710 You know, when a story like this is told 691 00:26:50,810 --> 00:26:54,647 about a country like Zimbabwe on a continent like Africa, 692 00:26:54,714 --> 00:26:55,882 there is a certain apathy 693 00:26:55,982 --> 00:26:57,684 that infects people when watching this. 694 00:26:57,784 --> 00:26:59,252 They go like, "Well, that is what happens." 695 00:26:59,352 --> 00:27:00,653 You know? They'll be like, "Well, that's... 696 00:27:00,754 --> 00:27:02,088 "That's a third-world country. That's what happens. 697 00:27:02,188 --> 00:27:03,490 "You know, it's bound to happen. 698 00:27:03,656 --> 00:27:04,657 Of course that'll happen." 699 00:27:04,758 --> 00:27:06,059 And yet it feels like now, 700 00:27:06,159 --> 00:27:08,461 maybe because of what's been happening in the U.S., 701 00:27:08,561 --> 00:27:10,663 maybe because of what's been happening in, you know, 702 00:27:10,764 --> 00:27:13,166 -whether it's Brexit or-or Ukraine or... -Mm. 703 00:27:13,266 --> 00:27:15,602 It feels like there is a different understanding 704 00:27:15,668 --> 00:27:18,738 of a shared threat if people are not careful. 705 00:27:18,838 --> 00:27:20,306 What is that idea? 706 00:27:20,407 --> 00:27:22,709 What do you think people can learn in watching this, 707 00:27:22,809 --> 00:27:24,511 -regardless of where they live, about democracy? -(exhales) 708 00:27:24,611 --> 00:27:26,613 We are a common humanity. 709 00:27:26,713 --> 00:27:27,947 We're a common humanity. 710 00:27:28,047 --> 00:27:29,616 And one thing that people will realize 711 00:27:29,649 --> 00:27:33,052 is that the people that they see are so like them. 712 00:27:33,153 --> 00:27:35,188 You'll recognize that what's happening in Zimbabwe 713 00:27:35,288 --> 00:27:37,690 is happening, as I've said, everywhere 714 00:27:37,791 --> 00:27:40,794 because we are all in a fight for our freedom. 715 00:27:40,894 --> 00:27:42,295 -Mm. -All of us. 716 00:27:42,395 --> 00:27:44,697 Whether it's in our business, whether it's at the workplace 717 00:27:44,798 --> 00:27:46,266 and you're an actress in the film business, 718 00:27:46,366 --> 00:27:47,734 whether it's-- you're a sportsman 719 00:27:47,834 --> 00:27:49,869 and you're trying to take a knee to say enough, 720 00:27:49,969 --> 00:27:52,639 we are all fighting for our freedom. 721 00:27:52,705 --> 00:27:55,742 And there are microcosms everywhere. 722 00:27:56,776 --> 00:27:59,079 Watch-- Or don't watch this documentary. 723 00:27:59,179 --> 00:28:00,647 -No, watch it. Let's go with "watch it." -But to not, 724 00:28:00,713 --> 00:28:02,382 to not see... 725 00:28:02,482 --> 00:28:03,750 Okay, here's one thing. 726 00:28:03,850 --> 00:28:06,086 This change doesn't happen fast. 727 00:28:06,186 --> 00:28:07,921 And we think it does because we're in a time 728 00:28:08,021 --> 00:28:10,056 of incredible media, technology. 729 00:28:10,156 --> 00:28:13,326 But the truth is, real systemic change... 730 00:28:13,426 --> 00:28:14,761 Mm-hmm. 731 00:28:14,861 --> 00:28:15,895 ...takes time. 732 00:28:15,995 --> 00:28:18,832 Have faith. Have faith. 733 00:28:18,932 --> 00:28:22,135 Feel something. That's the other thing, I would say. 734 00:28:22,235 --> 00:28:24,170 Feel something. 735 00:28:24,270 --> 00:28:26,606 This documentary, others like it, 736 00:28:26,673 --> 00:28:30,243 force you to actually engage and feel. 737 00:28:30,343 --> 00:28:34,647 We need to bring feeling back into our humanity. 738 00:28:34,748 --> 00:28:35,915 I really believe it. 739 00:28:36,015 --> 00:28:39,252 And-and the irony that technology, strangely, 740 00:28:39,352 --> 00:28:41,988 is... (stammers) has come from lack of feeling. 741 00:28:42,088 --> 00:28:43,056 -You know? -Mm-hmm, mm-hmm, mm-hmm. 742 00:28:43,156 --> 00:28:45,358 And it's very often orchestrated by people 743 00:28:45,458 --> 00:28:48,428 who... who have lost their capacity to feel. 744 00:28:48,528 --> 00:28:50,330 You know, we know that we're in a world now 745 00:28:50,430 --> 00:28:52,432 where there are people that just don't have empathy. 746 00:28:52,532 --> 00:28:54,067 -It's scary, right? -Right. 747 00:28:54,167 --> 00:28:55,802 But then work with us. 748 00:28:55,902 --> 00:28:59,139 Work with us that still feel, that still cry every day, 749 00:28:59,239 --> 00:29:01,341 that still can't turn away from the television. 750 00:29:01,441 --> 00:29:03,543 There is a system that currently works. 751 00:29:03,643 --> 00:29:06,045 It's-it's hideous, but it-it's moving forward. 752 00:29:06,146 --> 00:29:09,649 We also know that there are people suffering in this system 753 00:29:09,682 --> 00:29:13,153 and there are people cheating the system. 754 00:29:14,421 --> 00:29:17,023 If we find the cheaters, 755 00:29:17,123 --> 00:29:19,993 those that are suffering will suffer less. 756 00:29:20,093 --> 00:29:22,595 -Hmm. -And that... 757 00:29:22,695 --> 00:29:25,799 won't happen in-- We can start something in our lifetimes. 758 00:29:25,899 --> 00:29:27,200 That's why I tell people to watch it. 759 00:29:27,300 --> 00:29:28,935 -Yeah. -Watch the documentary, 760 00:29:29,035 --> 00:29:31,037 draw the parallels to the world you live in 761 00:29:31,137 --> 00:29:33,106 and the best way to say it is feel. 762 00:29:33,206 --> 00:29:34,441 -Feel something. -Thandiwe Newton, thank you so much 763 00:29:34,607 --> 00:29:35,608 -for joining me on the show. -Thank you for having me. 764 00:29:35,708 --> 00:29:37,177 Always a pleasure to have you here. 765 00:29:37,277 --> 00:29:40,246 All right, people, President will be in theaters December 17 766 00:29:40,346 --> 00:29:43,116 and it will be available on digital in February. 767 00:29:43,216 --> 00:29:44,217 We're gonna take a quick break, 768 00:29:44,317 --> 00:29:46,619 but we'll be right back after this. 769 00:29:49,689 --> 00:29:50,389 Well, that's other show for tonight. But before we go, 770 00:29:50,489 --> 00:29:51,858 some exciting news. 771 00:29:51,958 --> 00:29:54,894 The Daily Show has some holiday merch that has just dropped. 772 00:29:54,994 --> 00:29:57,730 It's our Happy Belated Holidays sweatshirt. 773 00:29:57,830 --> 00:30:00,032 Yes. The only gift that won't have you worried 774 00:30:00,132 --> 00:30:01,167 about supply chain issues. 775 00:30:01,267 --> 00:30:02,635 So if you want to check it out, 776 00:30:02,735 --> 00:30:04,170 scan the QR code 777 00:30:04,270 --> 00:30:06,105 or head to the link below. 778 00:30:06,205 --> 00:30:08,140 Until tomorrow, stay safe out there, 779 00:30:08,241 --> 00:30:09,809 get your vaccine and, remember, 780 00:30:09,909 --> 00:30:13,012 try to get on Omicron's good side now 781 00:30:13,112 --> 00:30:14,847 by standing for it online. 782 00:30:14,947 --> 00:30:15,882 Yeah. Then, when it gets here, 783 00:30:15,982 --> 00:30:18,417 it'll be like, "This guy's cool." 784 00:30:18,517 --> 00:30:20,987 Now here it is, Your Moment of Zen. 785 00:30:21,087 --> 00:30:22,855 VIRGIL ABLOH: I don't feel responsible 786 00:30:22,955 --> 00:30:25,625 to a preconceived notion of art. 787 00:30:25,725 --> 00:30:29,061 I feel more responsible to a... 788 00:30:29,161 --> 00:30:32,198 community that is trying 789 00:30:32,298 --> 00:30:33,900 to change the tide 790 00:30:34,000 --> 00:30:38,137 or to sort of live in an optimistic society 791 00:30:38,237 --> 00:30:41,307 that art, design, music and fashion 792 00:30:41,407 --> 00:30:45,011 actually change the world for the better.