Jon Stewart Returns to The Daily Show
Jon Stewart, the host of The Daily Show, has made a special appearance on the show, deviating from his usual schedule. Typically, Stewart only hosts the Monday episodes, while a rotating list of correspondents takes over from Tuesday to Thursday. However, this week, Desi Lydic was scheduled to host, but Stewart clearly had something important to say.
The Controversy Surrounding Jimmy Kimmel
The reason for Stewart’s unexpected return is the recent controversy surrounding Jimmy Kimmel, the host of Jimmy Kimmel Live! on ABC. The network and its parent company, Disney, were criticized for threatening to fire Kimmel after he made comments about the FCC chairman, Brendan Carr. Carr had made veiled threats to Disney, stating that the FCC had "remedies" they could take.
The Monologue that Sparked the Controversy
During his Monday monologue, Kimmel took aim at legal experts who were trying to frame a shooter as a left-wing extremist, despite the fact that the alleged murderer’s motivations were still unclear. Kimmel’s comments were met with backlash from right-wing media and politicians, and Carr appeared on ultra-right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson’s show, making thinly veiled threats to Disney.
A Special Guest on The Daily Show
The episode of The Daily Show on Thursday will feature Nobel Peace Prize laureate Maria Ressa, CEO of Rappler and professor at Columbia University. Ressa is an expert on fighting against government attempts to silence the free press, having been arrested and found guilty of defamation in the Philippines for criticizing the former President Rodrigo Duterte.
The Episode and Its Significance
The Daily Show will air on Comedy Central at 11 p.m., with the episode available on Paramount+ the next morning. Stewart will be hosting the episode, which will also feature the show’s news team, including Ronny Chieng, Josh Johnson, Jordan Klepper, Michael Kosta, and Desi Lydic. It’s no surprise that Stewart made a special exception to host this episode, given the close relationship between late-night talk show hosts and the current political climate.
Stewart’s History of Speaking Out
Stewart has a history of speaking out against censorship and government overreach. Previously, he spoke out against the cancellation of The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, stating that the decision was likely motivated by a desire to appease the Trump administration. Stewart also criticized media companies for being afraid to stand up to Trump, singing "If you’re afraid and protecting your bottom line, I’ve got one thing to say: Go yourself!" with the help of a gospel choir.
