WATCH: Trevor Noah tackles Colin Kaepernick controversy on The Daily Show

Colin Kaepernick’s national anthem protest and the ensuing controversy over his refusal to stand for it penetrated the mainstream almost as soon as it happened. But the story continues to push outward in the culture, perhaps best displayed by Trevor Noah finally weighing in on Tuesday’s The Daily Show. If you thought The Daily Show might provide a respite from sports by commenting on the presidential election, it should now be clear that there is no escape.

South African native Noah first made the easy joke of distinguishing American football from “real” football, the sport with which the rest of the world is more familiar. (You can get away with the easy jokes if they’re told well. Having vegetables supposedly tossed at him by the studio audience didn’t really sell this one.) But then he moved on to explain Kaepernick’s reasons for sitting during the anthem, along the usual array of clips from network newscasts and cable news shows, for those who might not pay attention to sports or current events.

You can watch the segment for yourself here:

With a clever graphic playoff off Netflix’s The Get Down, Noah went on to joke that Kaepernick could extend this protest onto the playing field if he so chose. “How can I move the ball forward when my people are being held back?” Of course, Kaepernick isn’t the San Francisco 49ers starting quarterback, which is something that’s made the reach of this story even more impressive to begin with.

But we’ll give Noah a pass on not including that, since it’s not important to the overall story. What’s most significant is that Kaepernick’s stance and message are resonating throughout the country and among his fellow NFL players.

Ultimately, what Noah focused on is the tough talk from commentators and pundits from the safety of a TV studio, but especially the hypocrisy of those who say professional athletes should be role models, then criticize them when they attempt to use their high profiles for social commentary. Never mind the absurdity of people burning Kaepernick jerseys that they presumably once spent a lot of money on.

Noah probably didn’t say anything that many sports fans and media observers haven’t already heard. (Though it’s worth reminding viewers that Kaepernick’s protest isn’t any kind of affront to the military, as many have asserted.) But the fact that this was a segment on The Daily Show further demonstrates how much of a story this has become in our national discourse.

[The Wrap]