SAMANTHA BEE: Welcome back to the show.
On Sunday, the Rams narrowly defeated the Bengals
at the most American event outside
of competitive flag eating.
I sent Allana Harkin to find out what
football can teach us about our other full contact
sport, politics.
America is the greatest country in the world.
Football is the greatest sport in the world.
And when you put those two together,
you have something great.
You have something to cheer for.
You have something to hope for.
And I'm glad to be a part of that.
ALLANA HARKIN: Woo-hoo!
Yeah!
It's the Super Bowl.
The Super Bowl of Super Bowls.
Overflowing with aggression, culture war flashpoints,
and lots of screaming.
[SCREAMING]
It's America at it's Americ-i-est.
And I'm going to talk--
[HORN]
Shut up!
ALLANA HARKIN (VOICEOVER): And I'm here at this most American
of events to find out how Americans are doing,
dressed in an outfit everyone can like.
I don't like your outfit.
What?
I don't like it.
I mean, you're as divided as the country is right now.
This-- I guess he's a Bengals fan-- is right.
The country is divided and according to a recent Gallup
poll, super pissy.
And fans here were eager to talk politics.
I'm not going to talk about politics.
- No? - No.
ALLANA HARKIN (VOICEOVER): Looks like I'll just have
to trick people, #journalism.
If America was a football game, are we winning?
No.
We've just been tackled.
We've been tackled.
We need to get closer to the goal.
[NON-ENGLISH SPEECH]
I have no idea what you're saying.
Do we need to go back into the locker room?
Do we need to talk to each other a little bit more?
What's going on?
All of the above.
We need to regroup, communicate with each other.
But you have to keep the faith.
That's what true fans do.
I don't know if you're speaking
metaphorically or football.
I'm speaking of facts.
We suck, lady!
We've had bad seasons for the past six years.
I still don't know if you're speaking
metaphorically or football.
Football and the country.
And the country.
ALLANA HARKIN (VOICEOVER): This offseason Krampus
has a game plan ready to go.
We need to go into the locker room.
We need to fire the coach.
If you ask me, personally, I know exactly the people
that can take care of that.
Who?
Trump, baby!
[LAUGHS]
Ah.
Is Trump running in 2024?
I wish.
Well, listen, I hope your team wins.
My team's gonna win.
And when I say your team, I just mean the Rams.
Yes, we all have opinions, right?
Yeah, and you have one!
Woo!
And you have one.
Nothing wrong with that.
And I respect your opinion. - Nothing wrong with opinion.
Yeah!
I don't respect yours.
What's that?
I didn't say that.
What did you say?
I didn't hear you.
ALLANA HARKIN (VOICEOVER): And maybe not hearing people
is the best game plan of all.
Everybody's got an opinion.
And it's when people's opinions get in the way
is when it gets messy, so.
Nobody can keep their opinions to themselves anymore.
ALLANA HARKIN (VOICEOVER): People here have
opinions, really noisy ones.
But will they do anything about them?
OK, now, let's talk real stuff.
Are you guys voting in the midterms?
No.
What's that?
[HOLLERS]
ALLANA HARKIN: Democracy!
Democracy!
Just me?
Just me.
I teach.
I'm a teacher.
Are you going to vote in the midterms?
I don't-- I am not educated enough yet to say.
Oh, yeah, well, I mean, listen, it's probably going
to be our last midterms ever.
Because democracy is, like, whatever now.
The end of the world and all that.
And then your grandkids, you can tell them about elections.
And they can go, what!
I know! ALLANA HARKIN: You can be like--
They're not gonna believe that this era even existed.
ALLANA HARKIN: I know!
They're going to think we made it up.
I know!
But even on fourth down, with the bases loaded,
and no goalie, people still seem optimistic.
Hope or despair?
- Hope! - Hope.
Hope.
Dogs or cats?
Dogs.
Samantha or Miranda?
Samantha!
What do you think of the spin off and "Just Like That?"
I love it!
You prefer "Sex in the City" or the spin off?
Spin off.
What about what's happening with Miranda?
You're OK with that?
That character is, like, off the rails?
Yeah, never really was a fan.
ALLANA HARKIN (VOICEOVER): Aside from the only person
who liked the spin off, I found several things
at the Super Bowl.
I found people embracing their opponents and fans who haven't
fumbled their faith in America.
This is the best place on Earth.
How can you not have faith in that?
So maybe the country needs to focus more on football--
(SCREAMING) Absolutely! That's it!
That's it! - We unite--
A country of football!
I'm, like, going through something while I'm here.
Like, this is a big turning point for me.
Like, I didn't even know that football could do this.
I think Pats are are going to say they don't--
[SCREAMING]
ALLANA HARKIN (VOICEOVER): Perhaps the lesson
is just embrace the screaming.
And maybe, like me, you'll find hope.
Truckers or democracy?
Truckers. [DING]
Yeah, how about truckers.
ALLANA HARKIN (VOICEOVER): And the hope's gone, never mind.
We'll be right back.
[MUSIC PLAYING]