Play of the Day: A Major American City Goes Bankrupt

Detroit’s economic problems mean comedy for late night.

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As Michigan’s largest city and center of the American auto industry, Detroit was a major economic center for years. However, the city’s downward trajectory continues as Detroit became the largest American city to file for Chapter 9 Municipal Bankruptcy this week . The Tonight Show , host Jay Leno compared Detroit’s troubles to the troubles of the federal government and The Daily Show ’s John Oliver examined who, exactly, is to blame.

On Conan , a new Transportation Security Administration program was comedy fodder. Host Conan O’Brien said the Pre✓ program is decreasing the efficacy of the TSA.

The Daily Show also looked at the status of National Security Administration leaker Edward Snowden . After applying for temporary asylum via a handwritten request, Snowden will likely get out of the Russian airport soon. Oliver wondered, though, if Russia might not be the best place for temporary asylum, thanks to Vladimir Putin’s disposition.

Fast forward to 2:30 to see Oliver explain just how Putin reminds him of “an actual cartoon villain.”

(Image via James Marvin Phelps / Shutterstock.com )