In a recent segment that’s gone viral for all the wrong reasons, Laura Ingraham, the Fox News host known for her controversial takes, tried something so bizarre that it might just deserve a Pulitzer (okay, maybe not quite). What was it, you ask? She attempted to “sip a steak.” Yes, you read that right.
Ingraham’s reasoning? She called it “the ultimate trigger culinary sculpture,” which, according to her, represented everything that Democrats supposedly “hate.” She paired a piece of steak with plastic straws and lightbulbs, presumably for extra drama. But the real kicker came when she asked, “Can you sip a steak?” to which the obvious answer is no. Undeterred, she proceeded to demonstrate what she believed to be a delightful experience, claiming that the steak had “vapors,” which, for anyone who knows anything about steak or cooking, sounds highly dubious. How exactly do you taste vapors, Laura?
As the segment progressed, Ingraham shifted to discuss lightbulbs, mentioning a claim from Andrew Yang about how certain types burn out too often and are harmful to the planet. She asked whether placing a lightbulb on the steak would result in “conduction” (spoiler: no, it wouldn’t). This bizarre combo of misinformation and culinary experimentation left many TikTok users in stitches, with comments like, “Imagine this as the ‘highlight’ of your journalistic career,” and, “Why did they have to waste a steak?”
The segment seemed to serve as an extension of right-wing concerns about environmental regulations, like the demonization of red meat and plastic straws, both of which have been tied to climate change discussions. In 2021, Lauren Boebert got worked up over a fake rumor about President Biden limiting red meat, and Republicans have rallied around the idea that banning plastic straws is an affront to their way of life. Ingraham’s attempts to combine these themes with her ridiculous steak-drinking stunt only added fuel to the fire.
But honestly, the real takeaway here is that these politicians seem more concerned about the possibility of losing their plastic straws than addressing real environmental issues. As we saw in cities where plastic bags and straws were banned, the world didn’t end—people just adapted, using paper straws or, in some cases, opting not to use straws at all.
Ingraham wrapped up the segment with her usual sign-off: “That’s all the time we have tonight.” But one can’t help but wonder what other “triggering” items she would have showcased if she’d had more time. A plastic-wrapped SUV, perhaps?