Seth Meyers on Trump’s poll ratings: ‘His disapproval is higher than Covid and January 6’
On Monday night, late-night hosts weighed in on Donald Trump’s erratic statements on Iran, rising oil prices and the shuttering of every budget-conscious traveller’s favorite low-cost airline.Seth Meyers opened his Monday night monologue with news of a new poll finding that Americans are overwhelmingly opposed to the Iran war and Trump’s plan to peacefully guide oil tankers through the strait of Hormuz.“Oh wait, I’m getting word that the administration has unveiled a new name for the mission,” the host joked.“Let’s see, what is it called: Operation Clusterfuck.”Meyers then reacted to a new Ipsos poll which showed Trump’s disapproval ratings at a record 62%, in large part due to gas prices rising $1.
50 a gallon since the start of the Iran war,“Trump’s disapproval is at an all-time high: higher than Covid and January 6 – a virus and a riot,” the host said,“That’s how much people hate high gas prices,Trump could release an army of bats infested with Covid to attack the Capitol, to fly away with Ted Cruz … but if gas prices were under $2, voters would be like: ‘Hey, it could be worse,’“But I just have a quick question for the 37% who approve [of Trump],” said Meyers.
“What’s your deal? I get that you’re Maga but what do you actually approve of? Is it worth it for you to pay high gas prices if it means liberals also pay high gas prices? Is that how much you want to own the libs – at the cost of owning thyself?”The host then turned to news of the supreme court’s voting rights decision and Florida passing a new congressional map that would pave the way for Republicans to gain four seats in the midterms, with the Republican senator Ron Johnson claiming on Fox News that Democrats want to nationalize elections with automatic voter registration and mail-in ballots.“That’s your nightmare scenario, automatic voter registration?” asked Meyers.“That sounds awesome.It shouldn’t be harder to vote than to gamble on sports.”The host then moved to discuss the closing of Spirit Airlines.
“Spirit flights, God bless them, were chaos.Running down the jetway to get a seat, and overhead space was like racing through an obstacle course on Wipeout.”“Here’s the thing though: it was a budget airline that employed 17,000 people and made flying affordable for millions more.Now it’s out of business due to high fuel costs from the Iran war.”On The Late Show, Stephen Colbert discussed Iran’s 14-point plan to end the war that the country submitted to the US this weekend.
In response, Trump posted an image where he appeared to be holding a hand of playing cards accompanied by the caption: “I have all the cards,”“This is cool, except you might notice that the cards Trump is holding are from the game Uno,” said Colbert,“Where, quite famously, the aim is to get rid of all your cards,“The longer this [war] goes on, the worse things get for average consumers,” the host added before showing headlines of crude oil hitting record high prices,“I’d say Iran has America over a barrel, but we can’t afford a barrel.
Can we do this over a bucket?“You’ve got to give it to President Trump,” Colbert deadpanned.“He campaigned on $2 gas and he’s now delivering twice what he promised.”Colbert then turned to news that Spirit Airlines is shutting down all operations after a failed attempt to secure a $500m government bailout.“Oh, no, I have three more weeks of shows to do,” he said.“Now I won’t have Spirit Airlines jokes?“Quick, somebody check on Arby’s, the Spirit Airlines of shaved beef.
”A statement from the low-cost airline announced their closure by saying: “All flights have been cancelled, and customer service is no longer available,” “Which, coincidentally, was also Spirit’s motto,” Colbert joked,Colbert then jokingly reassured audiences that at least “safe and reliable” airlines like United are still in business,He then played a video of a United Airlines plane striking a bakery truck on the New Jersey turnpike on Sunday,“I know that is shocking,” the host concluded.
“But don’t forget, this accident was predicted 25 years ago by the opening of The Sopranos.”Jimmy Kimmel tore into Trump’s late-night social media posting spree this weekend, during which the president posted “thinly veiled but definitely racist” comments about Hakeem Jeffries, and a seemingly AI generated image of himself taking a dip in the Liberty Memorial reflecting pool with members of his cabinet.“Based on his social media activity, there were only five nights over the last month when the president could have possibly gotten a full night’s sleep,” said Kimmel.“Now, in fairness Trump does take nice little naps, mostly during the national security meetings.”We are now in the 10th week of what Trump has been calling his “mini war” on Iran.
“Week 10 is significant, because under the war powers resolution, the president is supposed to get approval from Congress for any military action that goes on longer than 60 days,” said Kimmel.“We are now above 60 days but he has no intention whatsoever of getting permission.”Trump erroneously insists that Congress’s approval has never been needed before, asking: “Why should we be different?”“And by never, he means 11 times,” laughed Kimmel.“It must be so freeing to be able to lie with no factchecking whatsoever.He’s like FatGPT, he just churns out the information.
”The host concluded with news that syphilis is on the rise with a spike of 700%, per CDC reports.“All the great diseases are making a comeback,” Kimmel said.“Syphilis, measles, Kanye, you name it.”The host then also turned to the news of Spirit Airlines shutting down: “This announcement is a particularly bitter pill for those of us who host late-night talkshows.Spirit being terrible is something every person got immediately, and that’s hard to replace.
We are taking applications.I’ve got my eye on you, Allegiant.“But at least Spirit died doing what they love, which is being the worst airline in the history of the world,” Kimmel said.
Rachel Entrekin becomes first woman to win Cocodona 250 ultramarathon – and pets dogs along the way
Rachel Entrekin has made history by beating a field of elite men and women to win the Cocodona 250 ultramarathon.Entrekin had won the women’s race on two occasions but on Wednesday she headed the entire field, winning in a record time of 56 hours 9 minutes and 48 seconds.“I think I basically wept from the second I got off the single track until I crossed the finish line,” she told Run after completing her victory. The 34-year-old’s previous best time, which she set last year, was 63:50:55. The overall record had been 58:47:18
England poised to pick Marcus North as men’s selector over Steven Finn and Darren Gough
Marcus North, the former Australia middle order batter, has emerged as the leading candidate to become the new England men’s selector, with an official announcement expected in the coming days.The 46-year-old has worked as director of cricket at Durham since 2018 and was among those interviewed for the equivalent role with England four years ago – only to miss out to Rob Key in the final stages of the process.But the chance to help shape the England men’s teams as selector has now resurfaced, with North understood to have beaten the likes of Steven Finn and Darren Gough after a round of interviews this week. The England and Wales Cricket Board has declined to comment, with the contract still to be signed.North would effectively replace Luke Wright, who decided to step down at the end of the Ashes defeat in Australia, citing a desire to spend more time with his family
Ollie Robinson is English cricket’s biggest enigma who could make an unlikely Test comeback | Ali Martin
Pop quiz: in the last five years, who is the only England seamer to have sent down 50 overs in a Test match more than once?The answer, if the headline and picture haven’t given the game away, is a certain Ollie Robinson. Yep, the same seamer who has been overlooked by England since February 2024 on account of not being fit enough for the demands of the job.Robinson bent his back for 51 overs against Australia at Lord’s in 2023 and bowled 50 there in his third Test two years earlier. Against India at the Oval in 2021 he summoned up 49.3 overs, while his most impressive feat of stamina was probably Rawalpindi in late 2022: 43 overs, five for 122, as England squeezed out a remarkable last-gasp win on a pitch practically made of asphalt
Virtual cyclists face random drug tests to compete on MyWhoosh app
First came the boom in virtual cycling, with thousands of people from across the globe competing against each other. Then came cash prizes. Now one major online platform has taken the next logical step by launching anti-doping testing for e-racers.MyWhoosh, which hosts the UCI Esports World Championships, has told the Guardian that the top riders in its weekly Sunday Race Club competition will now face random drug tests after they compete.The event offers prizes ranging from $2,170 (£1,593) to $20 (£14) to serious cyclists and beginner-level racers, most of whom compete at home or in a garage
Uar Bernard: the ‘rarest physical specimen’ who exposes the NFL’s scouting flaws
The Philadelphia Eagles selected the Nigerian defensive lineman before he had even played a down of football. More teams should take risks on global talentUar Bernard has become a source of borderline indecent fascination in the NFL – the kind of prospect who underscores how athletes are identified and the inherent limits of pro football scouting itself. A swole 6ft 4in and 306lbs, Uar (pronounced OO-ar) Bernard doesn’t just look the part of a fearsome defensive lineman; fans post his shirtless photos next to ones of Myles Garrett, the game-wrecking Cleveland Browns pass rusher who set the regular-season sack record last year. Veteran NFL analyst Lance Zierlein described Bernard as “one of the rarest of physical specimens I’ve seen in the sport”. Other people who have spent their lifetimes in football say Bernard looks like a Marvel creation
‘The three of us are the next’: Fabio Wardley on Dubois, Itauma and boxing’s heavyweight future
Briton, who defends his WBO title against Daniel Dubois, talks Fury-Joshua, doping and his punditry sideline“The only expectation I have is that it will end in a knockout,” Fabio Wardley says cheerfully as he looks ahead to his dangerous first defence of the WBO world heavyweight title against Daniel Dubois in Manchester on Saturday night. “Don’t Blink” is the promotional tagline for a battle between two powerful yet vulnerable heavyweights and, for once, this is less boxing bluster than reasonable advice for anyone watching a fight which could be the most dramatic heavyweight contest this year.Wardley and Dubois are devastating punchers who also often look at risk of losing. Dubois has been beaten three times in 25 fights while dispatching his other opponents with brutal efficiency. Two years ago, the unbeaten Wardley came close to defeat against Frazer Clarke in their first fight, which ended up being a draw after a damaging bloodbath for both men
Financial stability risks are rising as AI fuels cyber-attacks, IMF warns; oil below $100 on Iran peace hopes – as it happened
Climate campaigners attack Shell over ‘windfall’ profits from Iran war
Europe’s AI translation industry told it risks reputation by partnering with US firms
Shivon Zilis, mother of four of Elon Musk’s children, testifies in OpenAI trial
Jonas Vingegaard targets Grand Tour slam as Giro d’Italia begins in Bulgaria
From ‘whiff-whaff’ to the Table Tennis World Championships – photo essay