Two speeches later, nothing has changed except America has a new category of memes.

Speaking from the Oval Office, President Trump offered a sedate and uninspiring rehash of immigration talking points. He hit all the familiar notes: Dangerous drugs are coming in, there’s a crisis at the border, and Americans should be afraid of violent immigrants. He stayed on message, looking straight ahead and reading from the teleprompter.

Filling out the two-part prime-time show was an equally uninspiring speech from Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer D-N.Y., and Speaker of the House Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif. Standing behind a single podium with grave expressions of concern, the duo gave the usual response to Trump's oft-repeated talking points: He's appealing to fear, Democrats care about border security too, and Trump is to blame for the shutdown.

In fact, the only notable thing was their commitment to maintaining the disappointed-parent look, continuously glaring at the camera. Although unnerving for anyone who's met that face in person, it quickly gave way to parody on Twitter.

And the Twitterverse, lacking any new information from politicians who usually put on a good show, supplied fleshed-out versions of the blossoming genre of Chuck-and-Nancy jokes.



When you think you can sneak into the house after staying out too late, but Mom & Dad are up waiting for you in the living room pic.twitter.com/TOqINd1DaP — Guy Benson (@guypbenson) January 9, 2019

Your father and I aren't angry with you, just ... disappointed. pic.twitter.com/RZKC6SxkFe — jon gabriel (@exjon) January 9, 2019

"Your mother and I want to talk about your flag addiction. It's out of control." pic.twitter.com/z8eJdfitkG — ryan teague beckwith (@ryanbeckwith) January 9, 2019

And with that, the brief interruption to prime-time television passed, and America returned to its normal, modern self, dominated by relatable jokes and punting on unrelatable politicians.