Transcript of The Nvidia Honeypot Chinese Sexpionage Scandal, Explained | Kathryn Hahn

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From the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central, it's America's only source for news. This is The Daily Show, with your host, Dizzy Linden.

Oh, welcome to The Daily Show. I'm Dizzy Linden. We've got so much to talk about tonight. The AI bubble is about to pop, soccer has stronger term limits than Congress, and a Chinese spy infiltrates one of the world's richest penises. So let's get into the headlines. Oh, it's been an exciting week, hasn't it?

Yeah.

First, there was the blue wave, then the Cybertruck got taken to a farm upstate. Now it might be last call for Pete Hegseth, and honestly, I'm kind of exhausted. You know what? No more news for a while. I just want to coast.

It's a spy scandal with all the markings of a Hollywood thriller. The CEO of one of the world's most valuable companies leading the AI revolution with trillions of dollars hanging in the balance ensnared in a sexpionage controversy.

And I'm back. Sexpionage? That's my favorite genre of expionage. Tell me more.

The board of the tech company Nvidia is investigating its CEO, Jensen Huang,'s relationship with businesswoman Alice Huang. No relation. And whether she targeted him on behalf of the Chinese government.

Oof. All right, look, I don't want to be sexist, but this is why I always say, men shouldn't be CEOs. I'm sorry, but they get all hormonal and horny when it's that time in the month, usually the 1st through the 30th. Honestly, this scandal surprises me, because out of all the AI overlords, Jensen Huang seemed to be the most normal. While Elon Musk is trying to mine Mars for ketamine and Mark Zuckerberg is making sunglasses with something called hentai mode, the weirdest thing about Huang is that he wears cool leather jackets.

Alice Huang worked as a top executive for a Singaporean tech firm, Megaspeed, that was being investigated by the US government for allegedly smuggling cutting-edge AI chips to China.

How dare you, Alice Huang. You bring those chips right back to America, where they can waste American electricity to take American jobs. USA, USA, USA. Yes.

USA.

Wait, that's that one. Also, Alice, look, girl to girl, I'm not going to tell you how to do your spycraft, but Megaspeed is the laziest name for a fake tech company. I mean, it's 2026. They have names like Anthropic, Meta, Palantir. Megaspeed sounds like a knockoff vibrator that's facing a class action lawsuit. Look, I don't want punitive damages, but for the love of God, I just want to know how to turn it off. So basically, she was trying to get Nvidia's chips, and he thought she was just a regular woman whose biggest turn-on was detailed sketches of semiconductors.

We have obtained newly surfaced photos showing them together, drinking wine at a luxury California golf resort. They appear in a WeChat post on Alice Huang's account from September 2024.

Huh. For a secret affair, that's a ton of photos you guys posted to social media. LinkedIn, WeChat, I'm assuming you posted at TikTok. Get ready with me while I spy on this guy. But OK, as long as you got it out of your system.

CNN also geolocated a separate, undated image appearing to show the pair dining in Shanghai.

What is going on? If one of you is having an affair and one of you is a Chinese spy, why are you posting so many romantic wine photos? I know data centers that consume less liquid. It almost seems like you guys wanted to get caught.

And there's this video from May 2025 in Taipei at a group dinner for tech executives. Their body language shows a friendly relationship. Then they leave together in the same car.

Oh, my God. OK, you guys were really flaunting it. Even the Coldplay couple ducked from the camera. At this point, what part of their relationship don't we have photos of? Oh, breaking news. There's here's a photo of them together at Mistress Con. But look, this story is about so much more than a tech CEO trying to stick his chips in another woman's hard drive. This affair may have given China access to advanced AI technology and compromised national security. If only someone had known about this earlier, maybe they could have done something about it.

Trump was briefed roughly a year ago on Jensen Huang's interactions with the alleged Chinese spy and chose not to act.

OK, so Trump could have done something about it. But to be fair, he wanted to be a good wingman. I mean, that's part of his oath of office. I vow to preserve and protect the United States of America unless it locks my homeboy. But now that this is out in the open, he's got to be at least a little upset that Jensen Huang had put him in this position.

I asked him that question. Did you have any idea that she was a spy? He said, I had no idea that she was a spy. And I really believe him.

That's how spies work, Donald. They don't just come out and say they're spies. I know you think that hot lady spies have to have bond girl names like Felicia Clitoris, but it's not exactly how it works. Of course, we shouldn't be surprised that he's not mad. There's no one more sympathetic to a man cheating on his wife than Donald Trump.

I just know Jensen very well. I just think he's a very honorable man. He's an amazing guy. I read his statement, and I believe he's suffering greatly, more so because of his family, his wife who he loves, and his family. But he is definitely suffering.

He had an affair, not a terminal illness. Why is this the one thing you can muster up empathy for? Remember, this guy just spent the whole campaign warning us that communists were trying to infiltrate our country. But when his friend gets entrapped by an actual communist spy, he's like, look, the dick wants what the dick wants. For more on Jensen Huang and the fallout from his affair, we go to Nvidia headquarters with senior tech correspondent Josh Johnson.

Dizzy is bad. Every hour is bringing new worries that Jensen Huang not only compromised America's technological edge over China, but he may have even endangered our national security.

Yeah. Yeah, it's very serious. What repercussions do you think Jensen will face?

Oh. No, he's going to let it ride.

But you just said he put all of us at risk.

Oh, yeah, 100%. What he did is unforgivable, and we all forgive him.

Why? No, no, there have to be consequences.

Dizzy, let me break it down for you right now, all right? The entire global economy depends on the AI bubble. And that AI bubble depends on Nvidia's chips. And Nvidia's depends on Jensen Huang. And Jensen Huang depends on his penis. So to recap, the global economy depends on this penis.

Wait, OK. So just because our economy is a bit AI heavy, we let him just end the affair and go right back to work at Nvidia?

Oh, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, no. I didn't say he has to end the affair, all right? Whatever he needs to keep those little chips coming out is what he needs, all right? He can Chinese spies, Russian spies, North Korean spies. We just need to keep this man hard and happy so the dollar is stable.

Oh, but Josh, it's not just about the economy, though. What if China takes the lead on AI? They would dominate the world.

Oh, no. Then our lives would be at the mercy of a different small group of old rich men who sleep with Chinese women, all right?

Well, look, maybe I'm naive, but there needs to be some kind of accountability for these CEOs. No one wants economic hardship. I get that. But morally, they have to be held to some code of ethics. Plus, he should have known that she was a spy. I mean, that jacket was pathetic. Sorry, Josh, are you wearing a leather jacket?

Yes, I am. And I disagree, Dizzy. I think this is what cool guys wear. Just putting it on makes me feel like my penis controls the Nasdaq. Everyone loves a man who looks like he does tech support for the Sons of Anarchy. Oh, wait, what's that? Huh. A FaceTime call from China? It's working already.

Oh, no, no, no, no, no. Josh, don't answer that. Josh Johnson, everybody. When we come back, we catch up on the latest in sports. So don't go away. No, no, no, hang on. Welcome back to The Daily Show. I think I speak for everyone when I say politics rules and sports rules. For a full recap of the biggest stories in the world of jocks and straps, we turn to Sports War.

What's up, dumb nuts, dumb asses, dumb nuts and nut asses. I'm Roy Chang.

And I'm Jordan Klepper. This is Sports War. The show where we are legally not allowed to agree with each other. So if I say Jalen Brunson had the best law and order SVU cameo of all time.

Then I have to say, no way. Look, I love The Knicks in five, but I won The Knicks in zero of my TV shows. His acting was a sex crime against my eyes.

Well, you know what? I trust you, Ronnie. You know a lot about sex crimes. Let's start out with the biggest story in professional soccer, or as the rest of the world calls it, footie kick, where an Instagram legend is hanging up his national jersey.

A worldwide soccer superstar is stepping away from the international stage. Cristiano Ronaldo announcing his retirement today from Portugal's national team. The 41-year-old posting a video on social media saying, it's been a privilege to wear the uniform for the last 23 years.

Whoa, whoa, whoa. Time out there. Is that what Portuguese sounds like? Because he sounded like a drunk Russian guy trying to speak Spanish. Anyway, congrats to Ronaldo on a great international career. He's going out on top with the most goals in Portuguese history, and no one will ever touch his record for number of shaved pubes.

OK. Wrong as usual, Ronnie. You have no idea how many pubes I've shaved. Where's my trophy? All I got was a bathtub that looks like a bird's nest. Regardless, Ronaldo is only 41. He has no right to retire. He owes it to the people of Portugal to play for another 30 years until his body falls apart, leaves the game in shame, and spends the rest of his life selling reverse mortgages with Shaq. Now that's leaving it all on the field.

Which brings us to our palate to go better of the night. Now that Ronaldo's retired, who's the greatest active soccer player to jacket to? Brought to you by Gambling. Gambling. Are you retired and rich? Not for long.

Let's move on from footie kick to footyball, specifically the NFL, where there's an inspiring story about everyone's favorite part of the game, the coach's hobbies. Former Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin, he's got a surprising off-field hobby.

He has been building the same Minecraft city for the past 12 years.

He recently posted a nearly 20-minute tour on YouTube showing off the city, complete with a condo complex and aquarium on every floor, CVS, 7-Eleven, entire neighborhoods.

Wow. This is inspiring. Not enough people care about the most thrilling sport of all, urban planning. These NFL coaches work really hard and should get to wind down with soothing hobbies like Minecraft or golf or banging a manipulative 25-year-old.

OK. Jordan, I've lost all respect for you and Mike Tomlin, all right? His Minecraft city sucks ass. He was given a blank slate to create any world he wanted, and he just made a CVS and a 7-Eleven. I can't wait to visit his DMV. That makes me want to kill myself. Hey, Coach Tomlin, put down the controller and stick to what you're good at, losing in the first round of the playoffs. Which brings us to our gold Minecraft better of the night.

The University of Maryland isn't having the best football season, losing five consecutive games and experiencing major attendance issues.

The athletic department hoping to entice students to attend and stay by holding a raffle to win free tuition for the spring semester.

So when students have to check in at the SECU stadium for a lot of halftime report and then be present for the final whistle.

Wow, what a great way to support the team. I mean, nothing pumps up a football team like hearing a packed stadium full of fans yell, get to the raffle. Here's an even better idea. Why don't they just disband the University of Maryland? I mean, that's one less college charging students half a million dollars for a useless degree in environmental poetry.

Oh, whoa, whoa, whoa. How dare you, Ronnie. My brother got a degree in environmental poetry, and he's really good at driving my parents to their appointments. Personally, I love this idea. They should expand it to any bad football team. It would be perfect for the Jets if they could find just one fan with a college degree.

Which brings us to our over undergrad better of the night. Which NFL team has the stupidest fans? Brought to you by Gambling. Gambling. It's a smarter investment than college.

Speaking of gambling, let's take a moment to celebrate our gambling hero of the week. Tonight's hero is Han Zandbergen of the Netherlands. He's an elderly gentleman who recently asked a Dutch charity to fulfill his final wish. Gambling at his favorite casino won last time. And here's an actual picture of Han making his dream come true. Oh, I'll tell you, it is it's always touching to see a man spending his final hours with those he loves most, the sexy stars of Cleopatra's gold.

I disagree, Jordan. That man does not belong in a casino, OK? For one thing, he looks healthier than most of the people I've seen at a slot machine. He belongs where every man of his age belongs, selling reverse mortgages with Ronaldo and Shaq.

Well, that's all the time we have for Sports War. Join us next week when we debate whether jugglers should be allowed in the Olympics or just be executed.

Oh, no way. Everyone needs jugglers. We need jugglers to do this.

Welcome back to The Daily Show. My guest tonight is an Emmy-nominated actor who stars in the new film Madden. Please welcome Kathryn Hahn.

Hi.

Hi. Oh, my God. Queen Kathryn Hahn.

Oh, I guess she shall now be called queen.

Ah. We are so happy to have you here. Everyone in this building all week was like, Kathryn Hahn is here.

Oh, that's the sweetest.

Oh, you are such a I am such a fan of your work. A good friend of mine got to direct you in the movie We're the Millers, Rawson.

Rawson.

And when I asked him about you, here's what he said. He said, if I could only hire one actor to be in everything I do from here until eternity, it would be Kathryn because there's nothing she can't do. And I think that's so true.

Oh, my God, Dizzy. That's very, very sweet of you.

Oh, my God.

It's true.

He's awesome. I love making that movie. What a peach. Oh, God. Well, I guess my first question is, what does it feel like to be so perfect in every single role?

I'm so glad that you asked me that.

Yeah.

It's exhausting.

Right.

Yeah.

Sure.

Nobody understands.

I'm sure.

I feel alone.

You will. But when I think about your career and all of the different roles that you've played and all the different genres, from Revolutionary Road to Anchorman to Stepbrothers to Agatha All Along, The Studio, what is it that what is it that you look for when you're seeking your next role?

I mean, I wish I could say there was some master plan, but it really is like one foot in front of the other, and like these parts kind of reveal themselves to me. So I have there's really no you know, I had no idea starting off as a theater actor in New York that I would all of a sudden be in a Marvel show. Like, it's all bonkers to me. Nuts. So like, there really isn't like any plan in place. It's kind of just unfolded the way it has. So I have no idea. Like, I just feel very grateful that I've been able to like to play all these different parts.

Well, and it's what you do with it. Every role that you play, it feels like you commit 200%. You are so present. You are so fully there.

My daughter that's when my daughter said when I got Mother Gothel, she was like, Mom, you've got to give this 100%. She was so.

As opposed to.

I know. Exactly. She was like, don't screw this up for me. Basically, like, this is your shot, Mom.

Oh, wow.

Yeah. So I feel like a lot of pressure.

I love is this the first thing that like, don't your kids think that what you do is so cool?

Well, they haven't been able to see much of what I've done.

Right. Because you're a dirty birdie.

Because I'm a dirty birdie. But this is so this is really thrilling because she kind of grew up with this movie also, so with Tangled. So the fact that this all she came with me to Spain while we were shooting it last summer. So the fact that we got to spend that time together and do this is like I feel very, very, very grateful.

Oh, I love that she's the stage mom. Just like author of it.

She's my manager, basically. She was like, you need to do a small indie horror film after this, Mom. Like, I'm not kidding. She was like I was like, you're right.

You're hired.

No, I know. She's hired. She knows what's up. 15%.

So are you when does that when does that come out? Are you done filming that?

Done filming it. It comes out in March of 2028. So we've got we've definitely got some time. But I'm so excited for it.

Oh, God. I can't wait. That's such an it's so cool when you get to do something that your kids approve of.

Oh, I know.

And they're suddenly interested.

I know. Believe me. Because it's not there's a lot of like fuds in the house. Like, there's not a lot of laugh lines. Like, there's a lot of eye-rolling. There's a lot of like just walking by me. So this is this feels like I've got some cool some cool points.

You've got cool mom cred.

Yeah. Just a little bit.

I would.

They won't let me get too cocky in any way.

How do you can we just talk about your role on The Studio? You are if you haven't seen have you all seen The Studio?

Oh, nice audience.

You're a comedic powerhouse.

Oh, God.

How do you go about preparing for a role like that? That character, it's like.

Subtle.

Her look really walks in the room before she does.

Listen, that sit does half the work for me. All I have to do is put that wig on and those clothes, and then like, that's basically who she is. It's amazing. No, they wrote someone who's so rad. She's such an amalgamation of so many birds that I think I've met over the years in like doing this job. And she's I love that part so much.

It's so.

I mean, again, like genius hair and makeup, amazing costume. So I it's like I really feel like most of my job is done for me when I kind of walk onto the stage in those clothes.

Did you have a say in what the look would be? Were you unsure that you were.

Yeah. Oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. We all I mean, at first, she was written as kind of like the antagonist, and we kind of the more like, the more we kind of played with her kind of like trying to keep her finger on the pulse, always being kind of a step and a half behind, like thinking she was with like, where like, we were like, she's got a personal shopper that comes at lunch. Like, basically, like.

Oh, my God.

Just no soul, empty void.

Yes.

A lot of Prada on top.

So much kith. Just head to toe.

Just kith. A lot of fear of God. Just like nonstop.

She's so fantastic. And now you're in this David O. Russell movie.

Yeah.

You play the movie's about John Madden.

Yes.

You play his wife, Virginia Madden.

Yes.

And you well, let me ask you, what do you think is a more complicated cinematic universe to jump into? Marvel or the NFL?

This is a really, really solid question. 100% NFL.

Right?

I still it's a completely different language to me.

Yeah.

Yeah. Yeah.

How did that how do you prepare for a role like that? She's an actual person. Did you get to meet Virginia?

I did not meet her, but she did I guess she saw the movie and her one note was that she didn't drop an F-bomb until she was 42. And I definitely started so I was like, Virginia, I'm sorry. Again, dirty birdie.

Back to one. We're going to have to refilm the movie.

Yeah. Exactly.

Well, you're in these fantastic scenes with Nick Cage. Your relationship in the movie is the heart and soul of the whole thing. What was it like working with Nicholas Cage?

I we just had the premiere last week, and it was honestly the first time I'd ever seen him without the prosthetics on. So it was like meeting him for the first time. Yeah, I'd met like the entire he was always there before we got to work, after we wrapped. So he was I never saw him without the prosthetics on. So it was really, really sweet to finally meet him in person.

I'm Kathryn.

I was like, hi, I played your wife. I was like, it was such a sweetheart. He's just an open heart in this movie. I love his performance so much.

The two of you are so good together.

I love them as a couple. I really do. And she's such a fierce firecracker of a woman, Virginia. So it was a pleasure. Yeah.

What is it you're so accustomed to improvising on set. Did you improv with Nick Cage? And what would that even be like? Is it like is he there to be playful, or is it like trying to tame a wild animal?

It was so exactly. It was like a lot it was he was so game, like so, so ready, so right there. Same with Christian Bale. Like, the four of us Sienna Miller, like the four of us would have a bunch of scenes around some kitchen tables, and they were like they would he would call action, and we just I never wanted to end I never wanted to get out of the vibe of those scenes because it was just like such, such creative energy happening. Yeah, they're all such incredible improvisers.

It's a dream cast. You, Christian Bale, Nick Cage, Sienna Miller.

Sienna Miller. Yeah, John Mulaney.

John Mulaney, who's hilarious in it.

Yeah.

Oh, yeah, an awesome group. You've worked with opposite some incredible actors, Will Ferrell.

Yes.

Nick Cage.

And little unknown Will Ferrell.

Little ever heard of him.

The up-and-comer.

Amy Poehler, Aubrey Plaza, Patti LuPone. Who makes you break the quickest?

Oh, Ferrell, for 100%. There's no hands he is tuned into something like that no one else like his brain is like such an open I cannot believe what comes out of his mouth. You're like, how are you that like just in the he's amazing.

Sometimes he just shows up on screen. He doesn't say a word. And I still I'm in tears.

Yes. Exactly.

Yeah. He's just one of those guys.

That mug. You can't help it. Like, it's like the less he does, the funnier it is.

Oh, my God.

Yeah.

Well, you can go toe to toe with the best of them, that's for sure. You've done so, so many different roles, so many genres. Is there anything that you're dying to do that you haven't done yet?

Well, I think if my daughter would have any say, it'd be a horror movie. So I think that's what I have to do. That's what she's telling me to do next is a horror. Yeah, no, I've got listen, whatever my manager says, my 17-year-old manager daughter, I've got to do it. She's like, a small indie horror. I'm like, all right. But that would be I mean, who knows? I have no idea, Dizzy. Like, it's been every part has been so like, I just feel so grateful for every gig that's come this way. So I'm very excited to see whatever is next. We'll see.

Oh, you deserve it all. Well, here's a quick pitch for your horror movie. We could just do a film about the last 10 years, politically speaking.

Let's do it.

And that would be the most terrifying thing.

One wouldn't believe it.

Yeah. That's right.

No, we would not believe we will say that we made the there's it's not possible.

Yeah.

Yeah.

Yeah. Well, a horror movie. It's happening now. The movie just got greenlit.

Oof, terrifying. Scariest thing you'll see.

Oh, God. A whole year. But can you rewrite a happy ending? Maybe that's what we're going to do.

We'll have to try because it's going to get real dark real fast. Yeah, exactly.

Oh, my God.

But happy ending.

Wait, have you considered playing James Bond?

Yes, I have. I'm in talks.

Great. We'll see. I can't say anything,

but we're we don't know yet. But I'm definitely in talks.

I mean, sorry, Pattinson, but Kathryn Hahn would make an excellent James Bond.

I think so too.

You would watch Kathryn play James.

Thank you.

OK. Well, we settled that. I would watch you in James Bond. I would watch you in a horror movie. I'll watch you in anything you do. You are just remarkable.

Thank you so much.

Thank you for being here.

Oh, my God. Thank you.

You're so awesome.

That's on the movie.

Oh, my God. Amazing.

Madden.

It will be in flight theaters and at the Disney Home of the Time Video November 18th. Kathryn Hahn! We're going to take a quick break, but we'll be right back after this. That's the show for tonight. Now, here it is, "The A Moment of Zen."

Dana, would you like to be press secretary of the United States of America? Look at the sign. You'd have this behind you all the time. The White House Washington. Would you like that? Or do you just want to stay with this ridiculous UFC? Huh?

Thank you for the offer, sir. For the offer. I have no no, I do not want to be in politics now.

I am devastated to hear this. Goodbye, everybody.

This has been a Comedy Central podcast.