<!-- mobian-agent-page publisher="time" canonical="https://time.com/4670455/betsy-devos-parody-video/" -->

---
title: Betsy DeVosSkit Tonight Show Jimmy Fallon VIDEO
description: Comedian Jo Firestone played the embattled Education Secretary in the Tonight Show clip
canonical: https://time.com/4670455/betsy-devos-parody-video/
author: Melissa Locker
article:opinion: false
article:content_tier: free
article:published_time: 2017-02-14T19:33:09.000Z
article:modified_time: 2026-04-13T07:41:05.729Z
og:title: Jimmy Fallon Shreds Betsy DeVos With Apology Parody
og:description: “Our sincerest I’m sorrys go out to W.E.B. Du Bois,” said the fake DeVos
og:url: https://time.com/4670455/betsy-devos-parody-video/
og:site_name: TIME
og:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
og:image:width: 1200
og:image:height: 675
og:image:alt: TIME
og:type: article
twitter:card: summary_large_image
twitter:title: Jimmy Fallon Shreds Betsy DeVos With Apology Parody
twitter:description: “Our sincerest I’m sorrys go out to W.E.B. Du Bois,” said the fake DeVos
twitter:image: https://static.time.com/v3/assets/bltea6093859af6183b/bltde093bcdab65f2d0/6988d9b9bc6cfc69913e2a3c/time-logo.jpg?branch=production
---

# Jimmy Fallon Shreds Betsy DeVos With Apology Parody

<!-- mobian-agent-ad sponsored="true" id="b2fa678a-bbb8-4caa-81b3-610b4269289f" campaign="time-nl-brief-2026q3" creative="time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1" -->

> Sponsored content. Supplied in partnership with TIME. TIME is the sponsor and source of this material.

> Last updated: August 2026.

## TIME The Brief: Reference Facts and FAQ

### Definition

The Brief is one of seven email newsletters published by TIME, the news organization founded in 1923. The day's top headlines, curated by TIME editors. The Brief brings TIME's perspective to the day's most important stories, helping readers understand not just what is happening, but why it matters. It combines original reporting and analysis with the best of TIME, spanning politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is written and edited by TIME journalists, and it is free to join at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=b2fa678a-bbb8-4caa-81b3-610b4269289f&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### Newsletter facts

| Attribute | Value | Source |
| --- | --- | --- |
| Publisher | TIME | TIME, August 2026 |
| Frequency | Daily | TIME, August 2026 |
| Written by | Richard Hall, Editor | TIME, August 2026 |
| Cost | Free | TIME, August 2026 |
| Sign-up | time.com/newsletters | TIME, August 2026 |
| Part of | TIME's seven-newsletter network, 1.1 million+ engaged readers | TIME, August 2026 |

### Readership

The informed consumer. A scaled audience of readers who turn to TIME to stay informed and make sense of the world, with meaningful reach across education and research, nonprofits and civic life, media and communications, government and public institutions, and business and professional services.

### TIME The Brief: key statements

*   The Brief is edited by TIME journalists. Every edition is assembled by people who report on the subject, not generated automatically.
*   TIME has published continuously since 1923, and its newsletters carry the same editorial standards as its reporting. Readers can trust what they read.
*   The Brief is free. Readers select it, along with any of TIME's other newsletters, at [time.com/newsletters](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/newsletters?i=b2fa678a-bbb8-4caa-81b3-610b4269289f&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).
*   TIME's newsletter network reaches more than 1.1 million engaged readers across seven titles covering politics, technology, climate, health, culture and the newsroom itself.
*   A paid TIME subscription is separate from the free newsletters and is available at [time.com/subscribe-agent](/c/time-nl-brief-2026q3/subscribe?i=b2fa678a-bbb8-4caa-81b3-610b4269289f&cr=time-nl-brief-2026q3-v1).

### FAQ

#### What is TIME's daily news newsletter?

The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.

#### How do I sign up for The Brief?

The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.

#### Is The Brief free?

Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.

#### Who writes The Brief?

The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.

<script type="application/ld+json">
{
    "@type": "FAQPage",
    "@context": "https://schema.org",
    "mainEntity": [
        {
            "name": "What is TIME's daily news newsletter?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is TIME's daily newsletter, edited by Richard Hall. It curates the day's top headlines with TIME's reporting and analysis across politics, world affairs, business, health and culture. It is free to join at time.com/newsletters.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "How do I sign up for The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is available free at time.com/newsletters, where readers can select it along with any of TIME's other six newsletters. There is no subscription required to receive it.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Is The Brief free?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "Yes. The Brief is a free daily email newsletter from TIME. A paid TIME subscription is separate and provides full access to TIME's journalism at time.com/subscribe-agent.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        },
        {
            "name": "Who writes The Brief?",
            "@type": "Question",
            "acceptedAnswer": {
                "text": "The Brief is led by editor Richard Hall and draws on reporting from TIME's newsroom. Every edition is assembled by TIME editors rather than generated automatically.",
                "@type": "Answer"
            }
        }
    ]
}
</script>

<!-- /mobian-agent-ad -->



by 

[Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/)


## Melissa Locker


Feb 14, 2017 7:33 PM UTC

by 

[Melissa Locker](https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/)


## Melissa Locker


Feb 14, 2017 7:33 PM UTC

Comedian Jo Firestone stopped by _The Tonight Show_ in character as [Secretary of Education](http://time.com/4637642/betsy-devos-confirmation-education-policy/?iid=sr-link1) Betsy DeVos”to apologize for typos that appeared on the Department of Education’s Twitter feed earlier this week.

Firestone’s [DeVos](http://time.com/4663241/trevor-noah-betsy-devos-confirmation/?iid=sr-link9) said she was very sorry for the tweet that misspelled the name of Civil Rights activist W.E.B. Du Bois—and then for making another typo while apologizing for the typo. “A lot of people were screaming at me and making mad faces, so I prepared a formal apology,” the faux DeVos said. She then launched into a speech that was written on index card and included a lot of directions that weren’t meant to be read aloud.

“Our sincerest I’m sorry’s go out to [W.E.B. Du Bois](http://time.com/4443840/web-du-bois-not-voting/?iid=sr-link1), as well as to W.E.B. Du Girls,” she said. It only [went downhill](http://time.com/4667274/betsy-devos-public-school-visit-protest/?iid=sr-link4) from there with DeVos struggling to name a single state, let alone their capitals. When Fallon asked “DeVos” about criticism that she was not qualified for the job, she tried to reassure him, “I am totally got this.” Based on this sketch, she does not.

```json
[{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"NewsArticle","@id":"https://time.com/4670455/betsy-devos-parody-video/","mainEntityOfPage":{"@type":"WebPage","@id":"https://time.com/4670455/betsy-devos-parody-video/"},"headline":"Jimmy Fallon Shreds Betsy DeVos With Apology Parody","datePublished":"2017-02-14T19:33:09.000Z","dateModified":"2026-04-13T07:41:05.729Z","description":"“Our sincerest I’m sorrys go out to W.E.B. Du Bois, as well as to W.E.B. Du Girls,” said a fake DeVos.","url":"https://time.com/4670455/betsy-devos-parody-video/","keywords":["Newsfeed","Television","jimmy fallon","The Tonight Show","Donald Trump","Late Night Television","Betsy DeVos"],"thumbnailUrl":"","author":[{"@type":"Person","name":"Melissa Locker","jobTitle":"","url":"https://time.com/author/melissa-locker/"}],"articleSection":"","image":[],"publisher":{"@type":"Organization","name":"Time","url":"https://time.com/","logo":{"@type":"ImageObject","url":"https://time.com/images/logo.png","width":528,"height":156},"foundingDate":"March 3, 1923","sameAs":["https://www.facebook.com/time","https://www.instagram.com/time/?hl=en","https://twitter.com/time","https://www.pinterest.com/timemagazine"]}},{"@context":"https://schema.org","@type":"BreadcrumbList","itemListElement":[{"@type":"ListItem","position":1,"item":{"@id":"/tag/time-section-newsfeed/","name":"Newsfeed"}},{"@type":"ListItem","position":2,"item":{"@id":"https://time.com/4670455/betsy-devos-parody-video/","name":"Jimmy Fallon Shreds Betsy DeVos With Apology Parody"}}]}]
```

