Context:

Jon Stewart criticizes Donald Trump for utilizing outrageous claims and distractions to divert attention from his more harmful policies. He highlights Trump's suggestion to reopen Alcatraz as a prison as an example of such a distraction, warning people not to fall for it. Stewart is especially alarmed by Trump's suggestion that he might not need to uphold constitutional due process rights, which he sees as a direct violation of Trump's oath of office. Stewart further criticizes the Trump administration for neglecting important agencies and services, including cuts to food banks and the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, impacting 9/11 first responders. He emphasizes that these distractions hinder the public from focusing on significant policy issues that have real consequences for Americans' lives.

Dive Deeper:

• Jon Stewart accuses Donald Trump of using shocking statements and memes to distract the public from his detrimental policies, creating a 'viral cloud' that causes public confusion.

• Trump's proposal to reopen Alcatraz as a prison is labeled as a distraction by Stewart, who warns that the focus should remain on more pressing policy issues rather than such baiting tactics.

• Stewart is particularly disturbed by Trump's suggestion that he might not be obligated to uphold due process rights, viewing this as a breach of Trump's presidential oath to preserve and defend the Constitution.

• Stewart argues that while the public is distracted by trivial controversies, the Trump administration is undermining essential services by cutting funding for food banks and crippling the FAA, among other actions.

• The layoffs at the National Institute of Occupational Safety and Health, which supports 9/11 first responders, are cited as evidence of the administration's harmful impact, with Stewart noting the severity of making the lives of these responders worse.

• Stewart uses humor and a chart to differentiate between Trump's actions that warrant public outrage and those designed merely to distract, emphasizing the importance of focusing on substantive policy issues.

• He criticizes Trump's ability to manipulate public attention away from significant policy consequences that are detrimental to American society, urging vigilance against such diversions.