Desi Lydic on Trump's Nebraska Electoral Vote Play & The 2024 Solar Eclipse | The Daily Show

The Daily Show

4 Apr 202410:28

Summary

TLDRThe transcript discusses various topics, including the potential increase in New York City Marathon fees due to MTA's demand for covering lost tolls, the possibility of the 2024 presidential election hinging on Nebraska's electoral votes, and the upcoming solar eclipse causing a travel boom in small towns. It also humorously debates the significance of the sun and moon during the eclipse, highlighting the cultural and economic impact of these events.

Takeaways

🏃‍♂️ The New York City Marathon faces potential cost increases due to MTA's demand for the Road Runners to cover $750,000 in lost tolls from the Verrazano Bridge closure.
💰 The debate over increased marathon fees highlights the tension between the desire for participants to run the popular event and the financial burden imposed by city infrastructure costs.
🗳️ The 2020 election saw Joe Biden secure an electoral vote from Liberal Omaha, Nebraska, which has sparked discussions about the electoral college system and its fairness.
🔄 Nebraska's Republican governor, Jim Pillen, is considering a change to the state's electoral vote distribution, which could impact future elections.
🤝 The proposed change in Nebraska's electoral vote system has received support from former President Trump but has been criticized by Democrats.
🌞 The upcoming solar eclipse is a rare astronomical event that has captured the public's imagination and is being celebrated in various ways across America.
🚀 The solar eclipse has led to a travel boom in small towns within the path of totality, with hotels in cities like Jackson, Missouri, and Erie, Pennsylvania, experiencing significant price increases.
🍪 Companies are capitalizing on the eclipse with special promotions, such as a limited-edition donut from Krispy Kreme and Oreo, and unique flight experiences from airlines like Delta.
🌚 A humorous debate between the importance of the sun and moon during the eclipse reflects the cultural significance and differing perspectives on the event.
🌟 The solar eclipse serves as a reminder of the magic and rarity of such events, offering a moment of shared experience for those in its path.
🌍 Despite the excitement and commercialization surrounding the eclipse, weather conditions may impact the viewing experience for many across the country.

Q & A

What is the main issue being discussed in relation to the New York City Marathon?
-The main issue discussed is the potential increase in costs for runners due to the MTA requesting the New York City Road Runners to cover the lost tolls of $750,000 resulting from the closure of the Verrazano Bridge during the marathon.
How does the speaker feel about the possibility of increased fees for runners?
-The speaker suggests that if it's necessary to run the marathon, many runners might just accept the increased fees despite finding it frustrating, given the popularity of the New York marathon.
What is the speaker's opinion on the New York City Marathon generating money for the city?
-The speaker acknowledges that the marathon does generate a lot of money for New York City, but questions whether it's fair to charge runners even more money, with a sarcastic tone implying disagreement.
What change is being proposed in Nebraska's electoral vote distribution?
-The change being proposed is to make the popular vote count for all five delegates, instead of splitting them by district, as has been done for the past 32 years.
How does the former president, Donald Trump, view the proposed change in Nebraska?
-Donald Trump and his allies are in favor of the change, believing it could potentially secure him an additional electoral vote from Nebraska, which they believe could make a difference in the election outcome.
What are the potential implications of the change in Nebraska's electoral vote distribution?
-The change could lead to a more evenly divided electoral vote and potentially affect the outcome of the presidential election, possibly resulting in a tie if other swing states do not go in favor of Biden.
What is the significance of the upcoming solar eclipse in America?
-The solar eclipse is a rare and magical event that will be visible over parts of America, offering a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for observation and scientific study, as well as boosting tourism and local economies in areas within its path.
How are businesses and towns capitalizing on the solar eclipse?
-Businesses and towns are capitalizing on the eclipse by offering special themed products, like eclipse-themed food items, and travel packages. Hotel prices in cities within the path of totality have increased significantly, and companies like Delta are offering special flights for optimal viewing.
What is the debate between Ronny Chieng and Jordan Klepper regarding the solar eclipse?
-The debate centers around whether the sun or the moon is the 'real star' of the eclipse. While Ronny Chieng argues for the importance of the sun, Jordan Klepper emphasizes the cultural significance of the moon.
What is the speaker's final comment on the disagreement between Ronny Chieng and Jordan Klepper?
-The speaker attempts to mediate the disagreement, highlighting that both the sun and the moon are important in the context of the eclipse, but the focus should be on the event itself rather than which celestial body is more significant.
How does the script use humor to discuss current events?
-The script employs a satirical and humorous tone to discuss serious topics like the New York City Marathon costs, the electoral college system, and the solar eclipse. It uses exaggerated scenarios, sarcastic remarks, and playful banter to provide commentary on these issues.

Outlines

00:00

🏃‍♂️ NYC Marathon Financial Controversy

This paragraph discusses the financial challenges surrounding the New York City Marathon, including the increased costs for runners due to the MTA's demand for the New York City Road Runners to cover the lost tolls of $750,000 resulting from the closure of the Verrazano Bridge. The conversation highlights the debate on whether the non-government organization should bear this financial burden, potentially leading to higher registration fees for participants. The segment also touches on the economic impact of the marathon on New York City and the public's mixed reactions to the potential cost increase.

05:00

🌞 The Great American Eclipse: Celebrations and Commerce

The second paragraph focuses on the upcoming solar eclipse and its effects on American culture and economy. It describes how the event has led to a travel boom in small towns within the path of the eclipse, with hotels in cities like Jackson, Missouri, and Erie, Pennsylvania, experiencing significant price increases. The narrative also highlights the commercial aspects, such as special eclipse-themed food products, and unique experiences like a Delta flight offering an aerial view of the eclipse. The segment humorously contrasts modern-day celebrations with historical superstitions surrounding solar eclipses.

10:01

🌙 The Sun and Moon Debate: A Light-hearted Rivalry

This paragraph presents a humorous and heated debate between two commentators, Ronny Chieng and Jordan Klepper, about the significance of the sun and the moon during the solar eclipse. The discussion starts with a light-hearted banter about the cultural and scientific importance of the celestial bodies but quickly escalates into a comical argument, with each side passionately defending their preferred celestial object. The segment showcases the excitement around the eclipse and the playful rivalry it has sparked, ending with a call for unity in appreciating the event.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡New York City Marathon

The New York City Marathon is a major annual international sporting event, which is one of the largest marathon races in the world. In the context of the video, it is mentioned as an expensive endeavor for participants due to various costs involved, including registration fees and travel expenses. The video also discusses a potential increase in costs due to the MTA's demand for the New York City Road Runners to cover the lost tolls on the day of the marathon, which could result in higher fees for runners.

💡MTA

MTA stands for Metropolitan Transportation Authority, which is a public benefit corporation responsible for public transportation in the New York metropolitan area. In the video, the MTA is portrayed as an organization that does not want taxpayers to subsidize the Road Runners organization, implying a desire for the running community to bear the financial burden of the marathon's impact on city infrastructure.

💡Road Runners

Road Runners is a reference to the New York City Road Runners organization, which is a non-profit running club that hosts various running events, including the New York City Marathon. In the video, the organization is depicted as facing a financial challenge due to the MTA's demand for compensation for the costs incurred during the marathon.

💡Electoral College

The Electoral College is the system used in the United States to elect the president and vice president. It is a group of electors chosen by each state's general election voters and is used to ensure that each state has a voice in the election, regardless of its population size. In the video, the Electoral College is discussed in the context of the 2020 election and the potential changes in how Nebraska allocates its electoral votes.

💡Nebraska

Nebraska is a state in the United States known for its unique approach to allocating electoral votes, as it splits its votes by district rather than using a winner-takes-all system. In the video, Nebraska's electoral vote distribution is a point of contention, with discussions around changing the system to favor a specific political outcome.

💡Solar Eclipse

A solar eclipse is an astronomical event that occurs when the moon passes between the sun and Earth, thereby totally or partially obscuring the image of the sun for a viewer on Earth. In the video, the solar eclipse is presented as a rare and magical event that has captured public interest and is being commercialized by various businesses and towns located in its path.

💡Travel Boom

A travel boom refers to a significant increase in tourism and travel to a particular location or event. In the context of the video, the travel boom is associated with the solar eclipse, where small towns in the path of the eclipse experience a surge in visitors, leading to increased hotel prices and local economic activity.

💡Krispy Kreme

Krispy Kreme is a popular American doughnut company and coffeehouse chain. Known for its glazed doughnuts, the company often creates limited-time offerings and special promotions. In the video, Krispy Kreme is mentioned as one of the businesses capitalizing on the solar eclipse event by collaborating with Oreos to create a themed donut.

💡Delta

Delta Air Lines, commonly referred to as Delta, is one of the major airlines operating in the United States. In the video, Delta is mentioned as a company that is offering a special flight to provide passengers with a unique viewing experience of the solar eclipse from the sky.

💡Eclipse Viewing

Eclipse viewing refers to the act of observing a solar or lunar eclipse. It is an event that captures public interest and can lead to various activities and precautions, such as using special glasses to safely view the sun during a solar eclipse. In the video, eclipse viewing is discussed in the context of its impact on travel and local economies, as well as the cultural and commercial aspects surrounding the event.

💡Sun and Moon

The sun and moon are celestial bodies that play a significant role in the Earth's day-night cycle and various astronomical events. In the video, the sun and moon are personified and debated over in a humorous exchange, highlighting their roles in the solar eclipse and their cultural significance.

Highlights

The New York City Marathon's increasing costs, including a potential $750,000 fee due to bridge closures.

The Metropolitan Transportation Authority (MTA) requesting the New York City Road Runners to cover the lost tolls from the Verrazano Bridge shutdown during the marathon.

The potential for higher entry fees for marathon runners if the Road Runners are forced to subsidize the MTA's request.

The New York City Marathon's significant economic contribution to the city, raising the question of whether it's fair to charge runners more.

The shift in Nebraska's electoral vote distribution, with former President Trump and allies pushing for a change to benefit his potential candidacy.

Governor Jim Pillen's support for a unified voice in Nebraska, reflecting the popular vote for all five electoral delegates.

The potential impact on the presidential election if Nebraska changes its electoral vote system, possibly leading to a tie.

The humorous suggestion of a Purge-like scenario if the presidential election ends in a tie due to Nebraska's electoral changes.

The idea of splitting electoral votes by district or even by person for a more fair representation, humorously referred to as 'the popular vote'.

The upcoming solar eclipse and its rare, magical moment for those in its path, despite the potential for weather interference.

The economic boom in small towns due to the solar eclipse, with hotels and businesses capitalizing on the event.

Krispy Kreme's innovative donut featuring cookie pieces in partnership with Oreos for the eclipse.

Delta's special flight offering an out-of-this-world view of the eclipse from the sky.

The humorous debate between the importance of the sun and the moon during the eclipse, highlighting cultural differences in appreciating celestial events.

The light-hearted banter between two reporters, Ronny Chieng and Jordan Klepper, about the sun and moon's roles in the eclipse.

The underlying message of unity and togetherness during the solar eclipse, despite disagreements on the sun and moon's significance.