SNAFU with Ed Helms S4E8: Live at 92NY with Samantha Bee
Nov 26, 2025
Samantha Bee, an Emmy-winning comedian known for her sharp political satire, joins Ed Helms in a lively live conversation at 92NY. They reminisce about their time on The Daily Show and delve into entertaining and bizarre historical snafus from Ed's book. Topics include hilarious CIA schemes involving cats and pigeons, the surprising success of ozone layer recovery, and the chilling legacy of MKUltra. Together, they explore themes of hubris and secrecy while sharing a mix of humor and optimism about resilience amid political chaos.
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SNAFU Frames Institutional Failure
- The term SNAFU originated in WWII as 'Situation Normal All Fucked Up' and now frames modern institutional failures.
- Ed Helms uses the concept to organize comedic but revealing histories of systemic blunders.
Greenland's Buried Military Mistake
- Project Iceworm tried to build tunnels and move missiles under Greenland's ice, complete with Camp Century and a nuclear reactor.
- The project failed, left nuclear and human waste frozen under the ice, and climate change now threatens to expose it.
Ozone Success Shows Collective Action Works
- The Montreal ozone story shows scientific consensus and global action can work despite industry resistance.
- Ed Helms presents the ozone success as a rare example where society organized to solve an environmental crisis.
