Jon Stewart has given the Trump administration a hosing-down, doing so in the driest possible manner.
Stewart and his late-night pals and rivals, including Jimmy Fallon and the outgoing Stephen Colbert, are surely feeling pressure following ABC’s controversial decision this week to “indefinitely” suspend Jimmy Kimmel Live, following comments made during his monologue about Charlie Kirk, the assassinated conservative pundit.
President Donald Trump celebrated that news with a post on Truth Social, and Federal Communications Commission chair Brendan Carr issued his own warning that the authority would revoke the licenses of any network affiliates choosing to air Kimmel’s remarks, which he referred to as “news distortion” and “the sickest conduct possible.”
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Once there was an imaginary line that mustn’t be crossed. Now talk-show hosts can see it.
If he was sweating, Stewart wasn’t showing it, as he took hosting duties, a change from his typical schedule, and dissected the situation on The Daily Show — in his own inimitable style.
“We have another fun hilarious, administration-compliant show,” he said at the top of his opening gambit, whilst donning a Republican-approving red tie and wearing a face that was dripping in satire.
Stewart spent a chunk of his opener playing a line-toeing sycophant, referring to Trump as the “great leader,” “sun god” and even “your lordship.”
The Daily Show‘s veteran host is, of course, a master of the double entendre and he can snark with the very best of them.
Though measured, Thursday night’s edition was classic Daily Show. The team let video do the talking, as clips played of conservative talking heads throwing their voices behind the Constitutional right to free speech, but contradicting themselves when they don’t like that speech. Add to that Fox News’ interpretation of the Jan. 6 Capital attack as a “sightseeing” excursion, and future Secretary of Defense Pete Hegseth making light on-air about the 2023 hammer attack on Paul Pelosi, husband of then House Speaker Nancy Pelosi.
“Our great administration has laid out very clear rules on free speech,” remarked Stewart. “Now, some naysayers may argue that this administration’s speech concerns are merely a cynical ploy, a thin gruel of a ruse, a smokescreen to obscure an unprecedented consolidation of power and unitary intimidation, principle-less and coldly antithetical to any experiment in a constitutional republic governance. Some people would say that.” And then, the punchline: “Not me though, I think that it’s great.”
Earlier this month, The Daily Show collected three wins at the Emmy Awards, tied the Comedy Central show’s record for wins in a single year.
Meanwhile, Colbert and Fallon used their own platforms to throw support behind their axed rival.
“Tonight, we are all Jimmy Kimmel,” Colbert said as he opened The Late Show, which too will be scrubbed by CBS next May. “I stand with you and your staff 100 percent,” he added.
Kimmel also had a political tone in his opening messages. “Well guys, the big story is that Jimmy Kimmel was suspended by ABC, after pressure from the FCC leaving everyone thinking, ‘WTF,’” Fallon quipped, before his tone changed. “But to be honest with you all, I don’t know what’s going on — no one does. But I do know Jimmy Kimmel, and he is a decent, funny, and loving guy. And I hope he comes back.”
Fallon said he would perform his Tonight Show monologue as he “normally would,” but whenever his jokes involved President Trump, he would be censored by an unseen announcer.
