Jeopardy! has been a cultural touchstone for decades now, and despite the tragic death of Alex Trebek last year leaving the current hosting situation somewhat in limbo, that remains true.
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The popular trivia show has been cycling through guest hosts before announcing who will eventually permanently take over, and Green Bay Packers quarterback Aaron Rodgers has had the honor of taking the podium this week.
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He’s done a solid job, but one particular answer he read in search of its question has gone viral for the unfortunate truth it reveals about the United States.
As part of the “history potpourri” category, Rodgers informed the players: “In 2015 Congress authorized payments of $4.44 million to each of these people, $10,000 for each day of their captivity.”
If you don’t know the question, you’re not alone.
“Who are slaves?” the first contestant asked.
Nope.
“Who are Guantanamo Bay prisoners?” the second offered.
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Still no, but we’re starting to see where this is going.
“Who are Japanese internment camp survivors?” the final player guessed.
Aaaand that’s a no.
“The correct response is ‘the Iran hostages,’” Rodgers replied.
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Obviously none of the players knew exactly which group of wrongly imprisoned people the United States government paid that exact amount of money to, but the fact that there are so many options to draw a guess from didn’t slip past viewers.
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If Jeopardy! doesn’t turn the moral failings of the U.S. government into a whole category after this, what’s even the point?
*First Published: April 8, 2021, 5:32 am
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