Skip to content
Search AI Powered

Latest Stories

Republican Senator Just Used Pictures of Ronald Reagan Riding a Velociraptor and Luke Skywalker Riding a Tauntaun in a Bonkers Speech Against the Green New Deal

Republican Senator Just Used Pictures of Ronald Reagan Riding a Velociraptor and Luke Skywalker Riding a Tauntaun in a Bonkers Speech Against the Green New Deal
Screenshot, CSPAN2

Wait, what?

Do you know what Ronald Regan on a Velociraptor, Luke Skywalker on a Tauntaun, and Aquaman have to do with the Green New Deal?

Sen. Mike Lee (R-UT) doesn't, either, but he gives it a shot in a bizarre 14 minute speech on the senate floor.


"I rise today to consider the Green New Deal, with the seriousness it deserves," said Lee, who then proceeded to unveil a series of cringe-worthy visual aids, including a graphic of Ronald Regan riding a velociraptor, holding a machine gun, in front of a tattered American flag. Pop culture is cool, kids!

Lee's point was that the Green New Deal is unrealistic and poorly thought out, so he was approaching it with "the seriousness it deserves." He tried to prove this by way of one prolonged dad joke. The result was hilarious, but probably not for the reasons Lee intended.

Congresswoman Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (D-NY)—sponsor and fervent supporter of the Green New Deal—once again proved her social media prowess by promptly owning him.

&ref_url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.politico.com%2Fstory%2F2019%2F03%2F26%2Focasio-cortez-mike-lee-green-new-deal-1238007

Others were just as flummoxed as Congresswoman Ocasio-Cortez.

Playing to a silent senate floor, Lee's attempts to lampoon the Green New Deal made him seem painfully out of touch and puerile. "In a future without air travel, how are we supposed to get around the vast expanses of, say, Alaska, during the winter? I'll tell you how. Tauntauns, Mr. President."

"Not only are Tauntauns carbon-neutral," Lee continued, "but according to a report a long time ago and issued far, far away, they may even be fully recyclable and usable for their warmth on a cold night."

The Green New Deal—despite being a non-binding resolution, not a bill that could turn into law—is one of the most controversial initiatives in both houses of Congress. While economists and environmental experts alike, the initiative has been almost unanimously lambasted by Republicans—usually with more credible-sounding critiques than those presented by Senator Lee.

It's certainly hard not to feel sorry for the guy—but not as hard as it is to take him seriously.

More from News/environment

Screenshots from Priscilla Houliston's TikTok video
@the1870studio/Tiktok

Woman Who Bought An Old Church For Under $40k To Live In Explains How She Did It

It's becoming increasingly difficult and expensive to find a home for those who do not already have one or who are in dire need of an upgrade.

TikToker Priscilla Houliston is here to teach us another way: seeking out old churches and other obscure properties that can be re-zoned as a residential home property.

Keep ReadingShow less
Gavin Newsom; Donald Trump
Tayfun Coskun/Anadolu via Getty Images; Andrew Harnik/Getty Images

Gavin Newsom Claps Back Hard After Trump Tries To Insult His 'Cognitive Deficiency' At Kentucky Rally

California Governor Gavin Newsom hit back at President Donald Trump after Trump claimed at his Kentucky rally on Wednesday that Newsom isn't fit for the presidency because he has a "cognitive deficiency."

Newsom is widely seen as a viable Democratic contender for the 2028 election—and Trump couldn't resist taking a jab at the man who has made headlines numerous times in the last year for criticizing the Trump administration in a style not unlike the posts Trump publishes on Truth Social.

Keep ReadingShow less
Pete Hegseth
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

Pentagon Just Banned Press Photographers Over 'Unflattering' Photos Of Pete Hegseth—And The Internet Got To Work

The internet reacted exactly as you might expect after the Pentagon announced it would ban some press photographers from briefings about the Iran war due to their "unflattering" photos of Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth.

Here's a silly one, just because.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @italiangirl1130's TikTok video
@italiangirl1130/TikTok

Italian Exchange Student's Reaction To American Host Mom Taking Him To Olive Garden Is An Instant Classic

A joy that not nearly enough people get to have during high school is hosting an international student who comes to visit for either one semester or perhaps even an entire year to experience the world and the educational system from another country.

Tiktoker Rhonda, who goes by @italiangirl1130 on the platform, currently has the pleasure of hosting Alessandro, and her family has already filmed a variety of antics on the platform, trying to give the teen the best American experience they can.

Keep ReadingShow less
Screenshots from @ali.fragster, @pluto_theservicedog, and @thatflippingagent's TikTok videos
@ali.fragster/TikTok; @pluto_theservicedog/TikTok: @thatflippingagent/TikTok

Woman's Video Shooing Kid At Disneyland Away From Her Service Dog Sparks Heated Debate

A massive debate has taken over TikTok about who needs to be protected, children or service dogs or both, and it all started with a video taken at Disneyland.

TikToker @pluto_theservicedog frequently posts videos of her travels with her service dog, Pluto, and she also creates informative videos about how the general public should interact with service dogs.

Keep ReadingShow less