Jon Stewart uses Charlie Brown meme to criticise Sen. Susan Collins on The Daily Show
On Monday's Daily Show, Jon Stewart said Maine Republican Sen. Susan Collins is either cynical or "criminally naive" about her votes. Collins faces re-election in November.
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The story, neutrally told
On Monday's episode of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart criticised Maine Republican Senator Susan Collins over the gap between the concerns Collins voices and the way Collins votes. The IndependentLC “On Monday’s episode of The Daily Show, Stewart took aim at Collins for her record of voting for policies despite previously expressing concern over issues that they could worsen.” Read at The Independent ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “Up-for-reelection Maine Senator Susan Collins took the brunt of <i>The Daily Show</i> host's frustration on Monday.” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Stewart used the image of Lucy pulling the football away from Charlie Brown, saying Collins is either cynically pretending to be concerned or is "criminally naïve about the inevitable betrayal". The IndependentLC ““I can’t figure out if Susan Collins is Lucy or Charlie Brown,” Stewart continued.” Read at The Independent ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “Or she is criminally naive about the inevitable betrayal.” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Stewart played a clip of Collins warning about preventable measles outbreaks, then noted that Collins voted to confirm Robert F. Kennedy Jr. as health secretary. The IndependentLC “who went on to show that she had voted to confirm vaccine sceptic Robert F. Kennedy Jr as HHS secretary.” Read at The Independent ↗
Stewart also played Collins saying she would not back a nominee hostile to Roe v. Wade, and joked that Collins "only voted for four" of the Supreme Court justices involved. The IndependentLC ““And, to her credit, she only voted for four of them.”” Read at The Independent ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “noting that she’s “only voted for four” of the Supreme Court justices who overturned Roe.” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ Stewart called Collins the "poster child for troubled acquiescence". The IndependentLC “Stewart said Collins was the “poster child for troubled acquiescence.”” Read at The Independent ↗ The A.V. ClubLC “the GOP lawmaker he called “the poster child for troubled acquiescence,”” Read at The A.V. Club ↗ The A.V. Club says the segment began as a broader attack on news coverage that plays up small signs of Republican independence from President Trump. It also lists Collins's votes on ICE funding and on Russell Vought's nomination. The A.V. ClubLC ““And the news media would be doing everyone a fucking favor if you didn’t try and play up every empty gesture of independence from Republican lawmakers,””“Collins votes for $70 billion in ICE funding with no restrictions despite a watery protest at the time.” Read at The A.V. Club ↗
Collins is seeking re-election in November, and the Independent reports that several polls show Collins trailing Democrat Troy Jackson, with one August survey putting Jackson up by as much as 8 points. The IndependentLC “In one August survey by Abacus Data, Jackson led Collins by as much as 8 points.” Read at The Independent ↗ The Independent adds that Collins has beaten poll deficits before, in 2020, and that Democrats likely need this seat to retake the Senate. It said it had contacted Collins for comment. The IndependentLC “However, the senator has been underestimated in polls before, dramatically trailing her opponent in 2020, only to win the election.”“The Independent has contacted Collins for comment.” Read at The Independent ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on.
Left2 outlets
- Framing
- Both left-leaning outlets present Stewart's monologue as a justified takedown of Collins. The Independent leads on the Charlie Brown joke and the Maine race. The A.V. Club treats it as part of a wider critique of Republican deference to Trump and of media coverage of it.
- Emphasis
- The Independent stresses polling and the electoral stakes for Democrats. The A.V. Club stresses Collins's votes on ICE funding and Vought, and Stewart's criticism of the news media.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet gives Collins's response. The Independent only says it contacted Collins. Neither quotes Collins's defenders or gives a Republican view of the votes discussed.
- Charged language
- “shreds”“embattled GOP senator”“blistering monologue”“the face of Republican cowardice”“latest hypocritical vote”
- For example
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“Jon Stewart has blasted embattled GOP senator Susan Collins for being “criminally naïve” in a blistering monologue.” — The Independent
“Stewart puzzled over the old “Lucy pulling away the football from Charlie Brown” meme.” — The A.V. Club
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right0 outlets
No right outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
What every side reports
- Stewart delivered the criticism on Monday's Daily Show.
- Stewart framed Collins as either Lucy or Charlie Brown in the football metaphor, calling Collins cynical or 'criminally naive'.
- Stewart called Collins the 'poster child for troubled acquiescence' and joked that Collins voted for four of the justices who overturned Roe.
- Collins is up for re-election in Maine in November.
Jon Stewart person
Stewart says Collins's stated concerns are not matched by Collins's votes, and that either cynicism or naivety explains it.
““Yes, totally preventable. Specifically by Susan Collins,” Stewart quipped.” — The Independent
““I can’t figure out if Susan Collins is Lucy or Charlie Brown,” Stewart began.” — The A.V. Club
Susan Collins person
No response from Collins to the segment is reported. The coverage quotes earlier statements by Collins, on measles and on Roe v. Wade, that Stewart set against Collins's votes.
““I would not support a nominee who demonstrated hostility to Roe v. Wade.”” — The Independent
“The Independent has contacted Collins for comment.” — The Independent
Left2 articles
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Jon Stewart shreds ‘criminally naive’ GOP senator Susan Collins with Charlie Brown meme
Critical News report on the monologue that adds polling and election context, and describes Collins as embattled.
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Jon Stewart tells the face of Republican cowardice to stop pretending she'll ever defy Trump
Critical Commentary-style piece that uses the segment to condemn Collins and Republican deference to Trump, and to criticise media coverage of Republican 'independence'.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right0 articles
No coverage yet.
- 29 Sep 11:43 First The IndependentLC Jon Stewart shreds ‘criminally naive’ GOP senator Susan Collins with Charlie Brown meme
- 29 Sep 19:17 +7h 34m The A.V. ClubLC Jon Stewart tells the face of Republican cowardice to stop pretending she'll ever defy Trump
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.