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‘You think this is Aladdin?’: Comedian stuck in Dubai on US evacuation
AI Summary
This news segment explores the challenges faced by Americans stranded in the Middle East during a regional crisis. It features an interview with comedian Marcel Reyes, who uses "levity" and pop culture references—like *Aladdin* and *The Hunger Games*—to describe his frustration with the U.S. State Department’s evacuation delays. For language learners, this video offers an excellent opportunity to practice listening to natural, rapid-fire conversational English paired with formal news reporting. You will gain exposure to high-level vocabulary regarding travel, politics, and emotional resilience, including terms like "gaslight," "interception," and "silver lining." Learners will also observe how native speakers use irony and humor to navigate high-stress situations.
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Subtitles (488 segments)
You think this is Aladdin?
the airports are closed.
The airspace is closed.
You couldn't tell me this last week.
You're messing with me.
Leave now. When? Where? What? Who?
Some hopeful news
for the thousands of Americans
stuck in the Middle East.
The State Department
says a charter flight full of U.S.
citizens has left
the region tonight,
adding that more flights are on the way.
This comes just days
after Americans were urged to leave
the Middle East immediately.
Those Americans who need help
getting out
have been advised to call the 24/7
State Department hotline at 1202501 4444.
But as recently as yesterday,
people calling
that number
heard this message telling them, well,
you're on your own.
If you are calling about the crisis
in the Middle East, please press one.
If not, press two.
Please do not rely on the U.S.
government for assisted departure
or evacuation at this time.
There are currently no United States
evacuation points.
Now, to be clear,
that message has since been changed
and Americans in need of help
are still advised to call that number.
But the incident has only added
to the anxiety of those people
who are still stuck overseas.
My next guest,
though, is turning to levity
to try to get through it all.
America just put out a statement
that if you're an American
in the Middle East,
you need to leave now ASAP.
I'm in the Middle East right now.
Tell me please,
how am I supposed to leave?
You want me to happen on magic carpet
and get back home?
You see,
this is a lot in the airports are closed.
The airspace is closed.
You couldn't tell me this last week.
You're messing with me.
Leave now.
When? Where? What?
Who? Wow.
No, honestly,
if I could do a magic carpet, I leave.
If you have information which you might
tell me how to turn this carpet.
And I'll whole new world
back to California.
That comedian Marcel Reyes joins me now
from Dubai. Nasser.
I mean, you have been in Dubai
for over a week.
I understand
you go there every year during Ramadan
to visit family and friends,
but can you tell me
at what point did it become clear
that you wouldn't be able to leave?
It was very clear around like 4 p.m.
Saturday
that when I heard the first explosion,
the air, I was like,
I call my mom,
my mom, I'm not coming home.
And she was not happy to hear that,
to say the least.
I'm sure she wasn't.
I mean,
we we've kind of walked
through this journey with you.
You actually recorded your experience
calling that hotline just yesterday.
I want to
I want to play that moment for people.
Do you know what happened
when I call the number?
If you're calling about the crisis
in the Middle East, please press one one.
Not preemptive.
Full subtitles available in the video player
Key Vocabulary (50)
Used to refer to the person or people that the speaker is addressing. It is the second-person pronoun used for both singular and plural subjects and objects.
People refers to a group of human beings or the general public. It is the standard plural form of the word 'person'.
depart
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