The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Season 11 Episode 58 Clark Kent Ervin

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart season 11 episode 58, titled "Clark Kent Ervin," opens with Jon Stewart discussing the controversy surrounding the choice of Harriet Miers as President George W. Bush's nominee for the Supreme Court. Stewart jokes that he knows nothing about Miers, but "if there's one thing I know, it's that when the president of the United States takes a woman lawyer from Texas and puts her on the Supreme Court, she's gotta be awesome!"

Stewart then welcomes his guest for the evening, Clark Kent Ervin, former inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security. Ervin has recently written a book titled "Open Target: Where America is Vulnerable to Attack," which focuses on the strengths and weaknesses of America's homeland security efforts following the 9/11 terrorist attacks.

Stewart begins the interview by asking Ervin to discuss the concept of "security theater," which refers to security measures that may not actually enhance safety but instead provide a false sense of security. Ervin explains that security theater can give people a sense that something is being done to protect them without actually addressing the underlying security threats. He cites airport security as an example, saying that the TSA's focus on pat-downs and confiscating liquids may not actually make us safer but can give the appearance that the government is taking action.

The conversation then turns to Ervin's experiences as the inspector general of the Department of Homeland Security. Ervin discusses the difficulties he faced in getting government agencies to cooperate and work together following 9/11. He also talks about the tension between national security and individual privacy, noting that the government needs to balance these two needs in order to maintain public trust.

Stewart and Ervin then discuss the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the nation's emergency response capabilities. Ervin criticizes the government's response to the disaster, saying that officials were unprepared and made numerous mistakes. He argues that the government needs to do a better job of planning for worst-case scenarios in order to minimize the damage caused by future disasters.

The interview wraps up with a discussion of Ervin's book and his recommendations for improving homeland security. Ervin emphasizes the need for the government to better integrate its various agencies and to ensure that they are all working toward the same goals. He also argues that the public needs to be more engaged in the homeland security process in order to hold government officials accountable for their actions.

Overall, "Clark Kent Ervin" is a thought-provoking episode that raises important questions about the nation's homeland security efforts. Ervin's insights and experiences provide valuable perspective on these issues, and Stewart's humor and wit keep the conversation engaging and entertaining.