Jon Stewart got a harsh lesson on government inefficiency in a now-viral video in which journalist Ezra Klein carefully explained the grueling process of applying for funding under former President Joe Biden’s Build Back Better plan.
The pair spoke in particular about a $42 billion national program to invest in broadband under the Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act, which Biden signed into law in November 2021.
Klein points out that well over three years after the fact, the results were just shy of spectacular. A massive $42 billion program was launched, and nary a person was connected to the Internet.
"By the end of 2024, three (of 56 states and jurisdictions that applied) have gotten to the end of the process," Klein explained. "They were trying."
"End of the process, meaning they've actioned it? They've built it?" a hopeful Stewart replies.
"No, no, of course not. I didn't mean they built it, John. Sorry, I confused you," Klein replied. "They just got to the point where, in theory, they could get the money to build it."
What follows is Klein's reasonably detailed explanation of the absurd 14-step process for applying for broadband expansion funding.
Jon Stewart screams 'OMFG' and is rendered speechless after hearing all 14 steps to apply for 'Build Back Better' funding:
— Eric Abbenante (@EricAbbenante) March 28, 2025
Ezra Klein: "We have to issue the notice funding opportunity within 180 days that's step one.
Step Two: States who want to participate must submit a letter… pic.twitter.com/n2B3knnNY8
RELATED: Biden Rural Broadband Guru Who Accomplished Nothing Quits Because Trump Might Make Progress
Oh well, at least it wasn't hailed as a critical program to help poor and underserved communities without access to the Internet.
Oh, wait. The Department of Commerce's Five-Year Action Plan said the broadband boondoggle would benefit "underrepresented communities."
Klein followed up his initial comments, at Stewart's request, with some more in-the-weeds revelations on the process of applying for a portion of the $42 billion in broadband funding.
The comedian quickly regretted learning the truth about government inefficiency. He repeated and/or muttered the phrase "Oh my God!" three times during the explanation. (After Step 6, Step 9, and at the beginning of Step 12, where he peppers the phrase with an expletive).
As Klein adds a summary comment at the end of the grueling 14-step process that reads, "States are nearly at the finish line," Stewart is so distraught he rips the headset off his head and spins around in his chair.
Stewart regains his composure, puts his headset back on, and pauses for a few seconds before saying, "I'm speechless, Ezra, honestly."
"It's A) - far worse than I could have imagined," Stewart added. "But the fact that they amputated their own legs on this is what's so stunning."
It's basically a pre-made ad for DOGE's necessity to eliminate government waste, and DOGE Chief Elon Musk took notice.
"This shows why a regulatory overhaul is necessary," Musk wrote on X. "The burden of mountains of regulations is why the high-speed rail can’t get (done) in California, and the bridge that the ship hit still hasn’t been fixed."
This shows why a regulatory overhaul is necessary.
— Elon Musk (@elonmusk) March 28, 2025
The burden of mountains of regulations is why the high speed rail can’t get down in California and the bridge that the ship hit still hasn’t been fixed. https://t.co/IPDgbUI6zY
In an interview with Bret Baier on "Special Report" on Thursday, Musk revealed that making government more efficient is essentially DOGE's core mission.
.@elonmusk: “Are we gonna get a lot of complaints along the way? Absolutely… You know who complains the loudest and with the most amount of fake righteous indignation? The fraudsters.” pic.twitter.com/b38w5gunVV
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) March 27, 2025
“At the end of the day, America is going to be in much better shape. America will be solvent," he said. "The critical programs that people depend upon will work, and it’s going to be a fantastic future.”
If he connects one person to the internet through government funding, and we suspect, as the man behind Starlink, that he will, it would be an improvement over how the government has previously operated.
DOGE is finding billions of dollars in wasteful spending, and the Democrats are losing their minds as they realize their gravy train and woke projects are coming to an end.
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