Censored Comedians in Riyadh, ICE Attacks, and the Lie Behind the Shutdown

Welcome to Power Lines. This week, Oliver welcome’s Status’ new media correspondent Natalie Korach! 

Oliver and Natalie kick things off covering the relentless attacks on the free press, Oliver’s role in a Senate "spotlight hearing" on threats to journalism, the chilling effect of pressure applied by Brendan Carr and Pete Hegseth, and the alarming, unprovoked assaults on reporters by masked ICE agents.

Next, the controversy surrounding the Riyadh Comedy Festival, where A-list comedians like Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, and Bill Burr are taking huge paychecks despite Saudi Arabia's atrocious human rights record and restrictions on free expression.

Finally, Oliver and Natalie break down the misleading messaging from MAGA media outlets like Fox News on the government shutdown, and the disturbing celebration of potential mass firings of federal workers.

Have a great weekend, we’ll see you next week.

00:00 Welcome Natalie Korach!

01:39 Oliver Goes to Washington

06:17 Pentagon Press Restrictions

12:50 ICE and Press Freedom Concerns

20:55 Riyadh Comedy Festival Controversy

33:21 MAGA Media's Spin on the Government Shutdown

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