The Daily Show: Ears Edition Melania's $40 Million Docu-Bribe Movie Premieres & Dems Make ICE Demands
25 snips
Jan 30, 2026 
Katherine LaNasa, Emmy-winning actress who plays Nurse Dana and drew on her own cancer treatment, and Grace Kuhlenschmidt, field journalist who reports on snakebite researcher Tim Friede. They explore a heavily financed Melania documentary and its controversial production, plus Tim’s self-experimentation with venom and the biotech race to turn human immunity into universal antivenom.
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Democrats Push Specific ICE Reforms
- Democrats demand ICE reforms including body cams, ID rules, and national roving patrol oversight.
- These measures are presented as a modest start, not a complete solution to ICE problems.
$40M Licensing Raises Questions
- Amazon paid $40 million to license a Melania documentary, reportedly giving her at least $28 million.
- The transaction raises questions about motive and influence given Bezos's business ties to government.
Crew Asked To Remove Their Names
- The film's director is Brett Ratner, noted for both studio hits and Me Too controversies.
- Rolling Stone reports many New York crew members asked to be uncredited, signaling industry discomfort.