Yeah, I watched it. I can hear it both ways. I don't know his mind or lack thereof, only that he hasn't necessarily spoken wrongly in that phrase
I could see governmental types having a colloquial use of the word at times like these that doesn't mean "it's always in the literal absence of light".
I could see governmental types having a colloquial use of the word at times like these that doesn't mean "it's always in the literal absence of light".