Jon Stewart returned to The Daily Show on Monday night and voiced criticism of both likely 2024 presidential candidates, but particularly criticized Joe Biden's response to the special counsel report.
The comic began with a 20-minute monologue about the election, before doing a segment with the show's “news team” and then an interview with Economist editor Zanny Minton Beddoes.
He repeatedly threw out humorous slogans for the show's coverage of “Indecision 2024.”
Some of the suggested kickers were “Electile Dysfunction,” “American DeMockracy,” “Antiques Roadshow,” and “What the f**k are we doing?”
Stewart, who returns to the Comedy Central network on Monday nights after retiring in 2015, is often described as left-leaning but was particularly critical of Biden's press conference and his unwillingness to do an interview before the Super Bowl game show.
Jon Stewart returned to The Daily Show on Monday night and voiced criticism of both likely 2024 presidential candidates, but was particularly critical of Joe Biden's response to the special counsel report
“Everybody fire!” Stewart declared after revealing that his team had started a TikTok account instead of meeting with CBS before the big game.
“How do you go on TikTok and look older?” Stewart responded to the video they posted of Biden talking about the Super Bowl.
He spared some criticism for Trump – whom he described as “similarly challenged” to Biden – and his team for what he saw as their own memory deficit when they were deposed in court and for Trump's outrageous comments at rallies.
“Biden has lost a step, but Trump regularly says things at rallies that would require a health check,” Stewart joked.
The comedian played clips of Trump and his children being deposed and reiterated that they couldn't remember things, saying, “It turns out the number one cause of early-onset dementia is deposition.”
He then showed footage of the embarrassing press conference Biden held on Thursday after a damning Justice Department report emerged last week that said Biden's failing memory and “diminished abilities” were grounds for not charging him in the secret documents case .
“That's why Joe Biden held a big press conference to dispel the idea that he might have lost one step, and politically speaking he might have lost three to four steps,” Stewart joked.
He then played clips of various Democrats, including Vice President Kamala Harris, saying Biden was sharp.
The comic began with a 20-minute monologue about the election, before doing a segment with the show's “news team” and then an interview with Economist editor Zanny Minton Beddoes
He repeatedly threw out humorous slogans for the show's coverage of “Indecision 2024.” Some of the suggested kickers were “Electile Dysfunction,” “American DeMockracy,” “Antiques Roadshow,” and “What the f**k are we doing?”
The audience greeted Stewart with thunderous applause and a standing ovation
“Did someone film this?” he asked. “It would be good to show people.”
Stewart then filed a lawsuit against the ages of both candidates, saying Biden (81) and Trump (77) are the oldest candidates in history.
“These two candidates are both equally challenged,” Stewart said. “And it’s not crazy to think that the oldest people in the history of the country to ever run for president might face some of these challenges.”
“We are not suggesting that neither person is dynamic, productive or even capable,” he added. But both push the limits to tackle the toughest job in the world.”
He called for space to make the age and mental capacity of both candidates an issue in the election, while frequently joking about his own age.
“It's crazy to think that we as voters are the ones who have to silence concerns and criticism.” It's the candidates' job to address concerns, not to mention not the voters' job [them],' he said.
“We have two candidates who are chronologically outside the norm of anyone who has run for president in the history of this country – breaking the record they set!”
He also made it clear to his traditionally liberal audience that he did not view Biden and Trump as equally bad.
Stewart argued against both candidates' ages, saying Biden, 81, and Trump, 77, are the oldest candidates in history
“We are not suggesting that neither person is dynamic, productive or even capable,” he added. But both are pushing the boundaries to do the toughest job in the world,” Stewart said of Biden and Trump
Stewart called for space to make both candidates' age and mental capacity an issue in the election, while frequently joking about his own aging
“Look, Joe Biden is not Donald Trump,” he said. “He hasn’t been accused as many times, had as many fraudulent deals, been convicted of sexual assault in a civil case, or had to pay a defamation lawsuit or punished a tradesman.”
However, he said, “The stakes of this election do not make Donald Trump's opponent any less critical.” This will actually make him more scrutinized. When the barbarians are at the gate, you want Conan [the Barbarian] “It’s on the city wall, not the chocolate chip cookie guy.”
“If your husband loses, bad things could happen, but the country is not finished yet,” he added. “And if your husband wins, the country won’t be saved.”
He then offered a little self-reflection in response to Trump's rise after he retired from the show in 2015.
“One thing I've learned over the last nine years, and I've been superficial at best and probably dismissive at worst, is that working to make this world look the way you'd like to live is a crappy job.” day in and day out where thousands of dedicated, anonymous, smart and committed people knock on locked doors and pick up those who have fallen and grind away at problems until they achieve a positive result.'
“So the good news is: I'm not saying you don't have to worry about who wins the election,” Stewart finished.
“I say to worry every day before and every day after, forever.” Although on the bright side, I've been told that the sun will eventually run out of hydrogen.”
In the second segment, Stewart interacted with members of the show's fake news team — Jordan Klepper, Desi Lydic, Ronny Chieng, Dulce Sloan and Michael Kosta — who satirized the campaign coverage of rural guests.
Finally, Stewart — whose show lasted much longer than the 30 minutes it traditionally ran during his first term — interviewed Economist editor Zanny Minton Beddoes about how Biden is often secretive and kept away from the press.
As host of The Daily Show for 16 years, Stewart made crowds laugh with his impersonations of George W. Bush and his comedic exchanges with correspondents Colbert, Oliver and Samantha Bee.
His satirical take on the day's events often provided more insight into reality than some mainstream news outlets. He left the show in 2015 and handed it over to Noah. Since Noah left last year, The Daily Show no longer has a permanent host.
“Jon Stewart is the voice of our generation, and we are honored to have him return to Comedy Central's The Daily Show to help us all understand the madness and division that is rocking the country as election season begins,” said Showtime/MTV Entertainment Studios President and CEO Chris McCarthy.
Jon Stewart returns to The Daily Show as weekly host and executive producer during the presidential election cycle
The comedian made crowds laugh for 16 years as host of The Daily Show with his impersonations of George W. Bush and his comedic exchanges with correspondents Stephen Colbert, John Oliver and Samantha Bee
Stewart hosted The Daily Show for 16 years and then handed it over to Trevor Noah in 2015
Since Trevor Noah left last year, The Daily Show has been without a permanent host
“In our age of stifling hypocrisy and performative politics, Jon is the perfect person to cut through the empty rhetoric and provide much-needed clarity with his brilliant wit.”
Under Stewart's leadership, The Daily Show won more than 20 Primetime Emmy Awards.
Stewart posted on X, formerly known as Twitter, “Friends.” After much consideration, I have decided to enter the transfer portal for my final year of eligibility. Excited for the future!'
Noah left The Daily Show after seven years at the helm, during which the late-night infotainment show's viewership declined dramatically.
Since his departure, comedians such as Kal Penn, Charlamagne Tha God, Leslie Jones, Sarah Silverman and Marlon Wayans have hosted the show.
During last week's Emmy Awards, Wood was caught giving a subtle message as Noah accepted an award.
Lip readers noticed that as Wood stood next to South African-born Noah accepting the Emmy, he mouthed the phrase, “Please hire a host.”
Wood confirmed to The Hollywood Reporter, “I said, 'Please hire a moderator.'” I probably shouldn't have, but this has been taking too long. Bring it together!…But I'm so glad you did [Noah] won.'
He first took over the show in 1999 and under his leadership, The Daily Show won more than 20 Primetime Emmy Awards
Apple has canceled Stewart's follow-up to The Daily Show, The Problem with Jon Stewart
Stewart apologized for openly mocking transgender Caitlyn Jenner after she publicly transitioned into her new self while he hosted the show
Hasan Minhaj was reportedly considered the leading candidate to replace Noah, but was taken out of the running when The New Yorker published an interview in which he admitted to making up many of his stories.
Minhaj hit back, saying the claims were “unnecessarily misleading” and promising he was “not a psychopath.”
In October, Apple canceled Stewart's follow-up to The Daily Show, The Problem with Jon Stewart.
The weekly series aims to dive deep into important topics through interviews and discussions.
However, critics called the show boring and stuck in the past, saying it didn't make them laugh once and was too reminiscent of his old Daily Show.
The show only briefly made headlines when Stewart formally apologized for his old jokes making fun of transgender people.
This is a developing story.