“From Comedy Central, it’s the all-new, government-approved ‘Daily Show,’ with your patriotically obedient host, Jon Stewart!”
That’s how Thursday night’s edition of “The Daily Show” began, as Stewart — who normally only hosts the late-night talker on Mondays — stepped in to satirically showcase what “The Daily Show” might have to morph into as the Trump administration pushes for acquiescence from the media. The whole “administration-compliant” “Daily Show” bit, of course, was a response to this week’s suspension of “Jimmy Kimmel Live!” and host Jimmy Kimmel after FCC chairman Brendan Carr threatened to go after Disney because of that program’s content.
That’s per the logline on Thursday’s “Daily Show” episode: “A humble, obedient Jon Stewart heaps praise upon America’s Glorious Leader, Donald J. Trump, and provides an FCC-approved refresher on the rules of free speech in the wake of Jimmy Kimmel’s suspension.” (Watch the full clip below.)
Stewart joked that he had no idea who this “Johnny Dribble Live ABC character is.” But read between the lines on his true thoughts as he satirically noted, later in the show: “Our great administration has laid out very clear rules on free speech. Now, some naysayers may argue that this administration’s speech concerns are merely a cynical ploy, a thin gruel of a ruse, a smoke screen to obscure an unprecedented consolidation of power and unitary intimidation, principleless and coldly antithetical to any experiment in a constitutional republic governance. Some people would say that, not me though! I think it’s great!”
Indeed, “The Daily Show” opened with Stewart sitting behind the “Daily Show” desk with imagery of gold frames and decorations all around him — reminiscent of Trump’s recent Oval Office makeover.
Throughout the first part of the episode, Stewart helmed “The Daily Show” in the guise of a relucant host, reading state-approved propaganda about Donald Trump: “We’re coming to you tonight from a real shit hole, the crimeridden cesspool that is New York City. It is a tremendous disaster like no one’s ever seen before. Someone’s National Guard should invade this place. Am I right?”
The audience laughed at the setup, leading Stewart to jokingly admonish the audience for laughing. In a whisper: “What are you doing? Shut up! Don’t blow this for us!”
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Stewart continued: “If you felt a little off these past couple of days, it’s probably because our great Father has not been home. For Father has been gracing England with his legendary warmth and radiance… he wowed the English with charm, intelligence and an undeniable sexual charisma that filled their air like a pheromone packed London fog!”
“The Daily Show” then showcased some clips from Trump’s trip. In one clip, Trump incorrectly suggested that the United States had ended a war between “Aberbaijan and Albania”; the conflict was actually between Azerbaijan and Armenia. But in a world where Trump can’t be wrong and must not be contradicted, a flummoxed Stewart said: “I would like to apologize very quickly. I stand corrected. Azerbaijan is actually pronounced ‘Aberbaijan,’ and Armenia is pronounced ‘Albania.’ I regret the error!”
In another clip from a U.K. press conference, a reporter there asked Trump about Kimmel’s suspension and “is free speech more under attack in Britain or America?”
Said Stewart of that journalist: “How dare you sir, how dare you? What outfit are you with, sir, the Antifa Herald Tribune? Why, I wouldn’t even line my parents’ cage with your rag!”
Stewart then explained the First Amendment in the United States: “There’s something called a ‘Talent-O-Meter.’ It’s a completely scientific instrument that is kept on the President’s desk, and it tells the President when a performer’s ‘TQ’ — talent quotient, measured mostly by niceness to the president, goes below a certain level. At which point, the FCC must be notified to threaten the acquisition prospects for billion dollar mergers of network affiliates. These affiliates are then asked to give ultimatums to the even larger mega corporation that controls the flow of state approved content, or the FCC can just choose to threaten those licenses directly. It’s basic science. Read your Constitution!”
Noting that the right wing has demanded Kimmel’s removal because they believe he’s misleading viewers, Stewart then ran a series of clips from Conservative pundits and politicians speaking completely debunked lies — including one that suggested the January 6 insurrectionists were just “sightseers.”
That one really struck a chord with the audience, which booed. Responded Stewart, in mock horror to the audience reaction: “Oh, Your Lordship. I do not know whence these peasants come. That last roll of clips all true, especially that last one about sightseers, because technically, anything you see is a sight, even if that is you punching a cop.”
Then Stewart showed clips of folks on the right proclaiming that “you can’t call someone who you disagree with a fascist leaders. You cannot call their political opponent opponents Nazis and fascist and enemies of the state.” Followed by clips of folks on the right calling the Democrats, Joe Biden and Nancy Pelosi fascists and enemies of the state.
Stewart also satirically brought up how clearly just the left mocks tragedy — and then showed clips including one of Donald Trump Jr. making fun of Paul Pelosi being bludgeoned by a hammer, as well as Fox News’ Paul Hegseth and Rachel Campos-Duffy doing the same. “There were consequences,” Stewart promised. “This gentleman had to leave television. I’m not sure where he went, but I’m sure it’s not some prestigious, consequential position he’s not remotely qualified for.” (Hegseth is now the Secretary of Defense.)
“These two could learn a lesson from our dear President, who, like Santa, knows that we are all God’s children. The President knows we’re all God’s children, and the President would never make light of a politically motivated attack,” Stewart said.
Cut to clip of Trump: “Well, stand up to crazy Nancy Pelosi who ruined San Francisco. How’s her husband doing, by the way?”
“You see, that’s how it’s done,” Stewart said. “You stop in the middle of a speech to inquire about the condition of an 82-year-old man who was attacked with a hammer in his own home. He has a fractured skull. Mr. President, but thank you for asking. Your kindness is only outshined by your manliness.”
Later, Stewart cut to the rest of “The Daily Show” news team, stationed at “Donaldham Linctrump Monument and Casino” to explain why they don’t believe Trump is stifling free speech.
Desi Lydic, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Josh Johnson, Jordan Klepper, Michael Kosta, Ronny Chieng and Troy Iwata all responded in unison: “Of course not. John. Americans are free to express any opinion. We want to suggest otherwise. Is laughable. Ha, ha, ha. We are a nation of their diverse perspectives, and we are not afraid to be different.”
The team ended by singing an ode to Trump, congratulating him for ending “eight to 10 wars, and even though some of those countries don’t really exist, they exist.” Also: “You have a massive penis, much bigger than normal!” And, “He’s a superhero who needs no cape, and he was not technically convicted of…”
From Variety US