Jon Stewart recently returned to host “The Daily Show.” In his comeback episode, he delivered a monologue that addressed both Donald Trump and Joe Biden. His comments on the current President have led to backlash from liberal circles, along with praise from the conservative community.
Criticism of Joe Biden
During this return episode, Stewart focused on criticizing Biden. His monologue addressed a recent press conference when Biden failed to reassure Americans that he was mentally able to be the president. Stewart questioned whether Biden was still capable of fulfilling the responsibilities of office.
Addressing Age
Stewart also directly addressed people’s questions and concerns over both Biden and Trump’s age. He said, “What’s crazy is thinking that we’re the ones, as voters, who must silence concerns and criticisms. It is the candidates’ job to assuage concerns, not the voters’ job not to mention them.”
The Expected Backlash
However, it appears that Stewart was aware of the kind of reception he would receive from some Democrat circles. Correspondent Jordan Klepper, at the end of Stewart’s segment, asked, “Did you save democracy yet with your ’90s brand of snark and both-siderism?” It seems Stewart was ready to confront his critics head-on.
The Impact on Daily Show Ratings
With Stewart’s return, there was a notable increase in “The Daily Show” viewership. In fact, the viewership was the highest it had been in almost six years, which is almost as long as Stewart has been absent from the show. When it aired, the show drew in 930,000 viewers, while the total number of viewers, including repeated broadcasts, rose to 1.85 million viewers.
Reactions From Across the Spectrum
The response to Stewart’s commentary was mixed, drawing in figures including Elon Musk, Mary Trump, and White House Officials. For the most part, many Democrats reacted negatively to the segment and criticized Stewart’s comments. However, many Republicans were supportive of his critiques.
Podcasters and Commentators Weigh In
Michael J. Elston, a podcast host, shared similar criticisms to Trump. He said, “If you’re a Democrat with high hopes about the return of Jon Stewart, save your excitement. The first half of his return was both-sides-ing the age issue. I bailed when we got to the guest who believes Biden should not have run for a 2nd term. Jon Stewart is not your friend.”
Mary Trump’s Response
Mary Trump has continually criticized her uncle, Donald Trump. She shared her unhappiness with Stewart’s comments on social media, criticizing Stewart’s apparent “both sides are the same” ideology. She referenced his previous comments, arguing that they have allowed for the rise of conservative politics.
Both Sides Are The Same
She said, “Not only is Stewart’s ‘both sides are the same’ rhetoric not funny, it’s a potential disaster for democracy.” Speaking about Stewart’s previous jokes, she said, “The damage done […] inspired an entire generation to shrug off politics and ignore the dangers of the right wing. [It] cannot be overstated. It was, in no small part, responsible for helping Donald come to power.”
Complete Mockery
She added, “It made a mockery of nuance, encouraged people to believe that all politicians are the same, that there was no daylight between Democrats and Republicans, or Donald Trump and Hillary Clinton. Now Stewart is bringing back the same b******* that got him rich in the 2000s, and helped get Donald elected in 2016.”
Election Officials React
Likewise, Chris D. Jackson, who is a Tennessee election commissioner, took issue with Stewart’s comparisons between Biden and Trump. He said, “Wow. So you basically say because Biden is old, he is basically as bad as Trump. Why […] do we never learn in this country? Sorry, but I won’t be watching you either.”
Media Official Opinions
Keith Olbermann used to be a host for MSNBC. He shared other Democrat criticisms of Stewart and said, “Well, after nine years away, there’s nothing else to say to the bothsidesist fraud Jon Stewart bashing Biden, except please make it another nine years.” It appears many Democrats were unhappy mostly with Stewart’s comparison between Biden and Trump.
The White House Responds
Karine Jean-Pierre, the White House Press Secretary, was asked in a press conference about her thoughts on Stewart’s segment. Although she did not directly respond to Stewart’s comments, she did address some of people’s criticisms about Biden. She said, “we believe it was important […] for the American people to hear directly from this President and to lay out in a very forceful way what we thought about […] the special counsel report.”
Karine’s Thoughts
She continued, “He stood there and took questions from all of you. I think that’s important. It’s important. He believed that’s important to […] to do. […] The characterization, the way that report was characterized was not — not just me saying this — legal experts on both sides said it was flatly wrong and it was gratuitous and it was inappropriate.”
Republican Reactions
However, several Republicans, including Texas Representative Wesley Hunt, saw Stewart’s criticisms as a good thing. He argued that it was a sign of the Democrat’s vulnerability. Hunt tweeted, “You know you’re in trouble when you’re a Democrat President and Jon Stewart turns on you.”
Elon Musk’s Approval
Similar to Hunt, entrepreneur Elon Musk reacted positively to Stewart’s return. He responded to a tweet about the show, saying, “Balance and humor return!” Other Republicans appeared to agree with this view, arguing that it was only fair for Biden to be criticized in a similar way to Trump.
Strategic Comeback to Comedy Central
Many people have praised Stewart’s return as a smart move for both him and Comedy Central, the broadcasting channel. Previously, he brought high ratings and advertisers to the network. As such, his comeback could prove very beneficial for the channel, especially with the decline in cable TV viewership and Gen Z’s shifting interests.
Changed Political Landscape
However, some analysts have identified how both politics and media have evolved significantly since Stewart left the show in 2015. Media figures like Tucker Carlson have been prominent since Stewart’s absence, which has caused a change in political discussions. Some critics also argued that Stewart’s critical tone could have been useful during Trump’s presidency.
More Polarized
Likewise, even the way that people consume media has dramatically changed since 2015. Audiences have become more polarized in their opinions, and the concept of an ‘echo chamber’ has completely changed the way people discuss politics. This situation could be a challenge for Stewart as he tries to maintain his brand of once-popular satire.
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