Utah Governor Spencer Cox’s attempt to pitch civil discourse on The Daily Show falls flat
Governor Spencer Cox appeared on The Daily Show to promote his book and a “disagree better” message, but host Jon Stewart challenged his premise, arguing that some contempt is necessary.
In a rare Republican appearance on a late-night comedy show, Utah Governor Spencer Cox spent about twenty minutes on The Daily Show promoting his new book and a philosophy of civil disagreement. Host Jon Stewart turned the conversation, contending that certain actions deserve contempt and citing Senator Mike Lee’s past votes and social-media misstep as illustrations. Cox defended his broader idea of dismissing whole groups rather than isolated deeds, referencing Utah’s 2015 LGBTQ nondiscrimination compromise.
Stewart criticized the state’s Christian community for forcing gay residents into a “bargain for their humanity.” The segment also featured Cox’s tongue-in-cheek claim that he offered President Donald Trump the chance to rename the Great Salt Lake in exchange for water-saving assistance, and his explanation that the June “Fidelity Month” label was not intended to supplant Pride Month.
