Seasons & episodes
S30 · E110October 2, 2025 - Kevin Nguyen 2025-10-02 · 31 min
Ronny Chieng covers Day 2 of the government shutdown: Republicans and Democrats are dueling via sombrero and cat memes, Trump is going after blue cities with a vengeance, and his administration is surprisingly joyful. Plus, Michael Kosta joins with expert analysis of MAGA's unconventional shutdown strategy. White House advisor Thaddeus Mandible Crowley excavates America's ancient laws to justify whatever insane idea jumps into Trump's head, be it fornicating for national security or banning uggos. Author and features editor at The Verge, Kevin Nguyen, sits down with Ronny Chieng to talk about his new book, "Mỹ Documents: A Novel". They discuss the story's timely premise about "a far-fetched dystopian future where the government is detaining people for no reason", the title's nod to the Vietnamese language, the importance of learning your family's history, and how the book tackles nuanced ideas around Asian American identity.
S30 · E111October 6, 2025 - Tristan Harris 2025-10-06 · 45 min
Jon Stewart dives into the emerging effects of the government shutdown, the battle over healthcare that has Republicans and Democrats pointing fingers, and Trump's delight in using the shutdown to continue steamrolling Democrats and the Constitution. "This does not have to be our destiny." Co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology Tristan Harris sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss how AI has already disrupted the workforce as current iterations of the technology have dropped entry-level work by 13%, tech companies prioritization of their first-to-market stance over product and human safety, and how reliance on AI is stifling human growth.
S30 · E112October 7, 2025 - Wawa Gatheru 2025-10-07 · 36 min
Josh Johnson dives into AG Pam Bondi's refusal to answer questions about Epstein during a fiery Senate hearing, Trump pretending to forget Ghislaine Maxwell's name while also not ruling out a pardon for her, and the president's recent obsession with whether he'll make it to heaven. Plus, Troy Iwata reveals what it really takes to earn an afterlife. Burmese pythons are decimating the ecosystem of Florida's Everglades, but Amy Siewe, a.k.a. the Python Huntress, is on a mission to take out this slithery problem. Michael Kosta joins her on a python hunt and gives this hero the thankssssss she deserves. Founder and Executive Director of Black Girl Environmentalist, Wawa Gatheru, sits down with Josh Johnson to discuss her organization's mission to build a pipeline in the climate sector for Black women and gender expansive people to create more environmental equity and provide resources for the next generation of green leaders.
S30 · E113October 8, 2025 - Anthony Ramos 2025-10-08 · 30 min
Josh Johnson shares the latest updates on the government shutdown as the Trump administration searches for files on Amelia Earhart, the FAA faces staff shortages due to unpaid workers, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy lends an unhelpful hand, and the president issues an ominous message to furloughed government workers. Also, Jordan Klepper decodes the president's apparent taunts. Between women getting trapped in game machines, beloved mascots being arrested in front of children, and joyless, boozeless grown-up arcades, Ronny Chieng lays out how Chuck E. Cheese makes adults act stupid. Broadway star, singer, and actor Anthony Ramos joins Josh Johnson to talk about his new movie, "A House of Dynamite", directed by Kathryn Bigelow. They discuss the intense thriller in which he portrays Major Daniel Gonzalez, a military officer in charge of the battalion that monitors intercontinental ballistic missiles, how he unwound during filming.
S30 · E114October 9, 2025 - Hunter Prosper 2025-10-09 · 33 min
Josh Johnson dives into the peace deal Trump brokered between Israel and Hamas, and the president's heightened focus on a supposedly more dangerous and local enemy: Antifa. As troops menace Portland, Trump uses the Antifa bogeyman to justify military invasion, suspension of habeas corpus, and a bunch of other random agendas. On "Tech Yeah", our expert Grace Kuhlenschmidt breaks down the biggest news in innovation, including the realer-than-life Sora 2 video generation tool, new big-screen It Girl (and AI actress) Tilly Norwood, and the first-ever robot Olympics, where the athletes come pre-programmed with CTE. "What connects us as a species is this emotional experience we're all going through". Content creator, ICU nurse, and "Stories From a Stranger" author Hunter Prosper sits down with Josh Johnson to discuss his book, inspired by videos in which he interviews strangers about their lives.
S30 · E115October 20, 2025 - Bernie Sanders 2025-10-20 · 44 min
Jon Stewart examines the "No Kings" protests that failed to meet Fox News's violent expectations, why Trump fits the mold of a gold-smeared monarch, and how even the Declaration of Independence foreshadowed Trump's king-ish antics. "It's got to be a bottom-on-up revolution, not a top-down." Senator Bernie Sanders sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss his latest book, "Fight Oligarchy." They talk about harnessing the energy of the "No Kings" rallies to build a clear vision for the Democratic party, prioritizing universal healthcare and affordable housing expansion, how Trump has embraced some socialist policies, the danger of corporations and oligarchs regulating the government, and making AI work for working people.
S30 · E116October 21, 2025 - Catherine Bracy 2025-10-21 · 36 min
Michael Kosta checks in on Trump's latest White House makeover, which includes demolishing the First Lady's quarters to build a gigantic ballroom in the East Wing. Plus, while a Democrat apologizes for problematic Reddit posts, Trump's nominee for special counsel blames his pro-Nazi text messages on AI, and Ronny Chieng teaches politicians how to get away with racism. From Fox News to Trump, everyone on the Right is calling NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani a "communist." Desi Lydic sits down with Joe Sims, the co-chair of the Communist Party USA, to discuss how we're using the C-word all wrong. Catherine Bracy, author of "World Eaters: How Venture Capital is Cannibalizing the Economy," talks to Michael Kosta about the evolution of venture capital, from its origin as a mid-20th-century funding solution for risky companies with big potential for technological advancement, to the harmful economic backbone of the tech industry it has become today.
S30 · E117October 22, 2025 - Ryan Holiday 2025-10-22 · 35 min
While thousands of government employees are working without pay during the ongoing government shutdown, Donald Trump is squeezing $230 million from the Department of Justice as compensation for the "damage" of being federally investigated. Michael Kosta breaks down the conflict of interest that's so bad, it even has legal experts saying "duh," and Troy Iwata gives a peek into what new grifts the president is cooking up in his corruption lab. Lewis Black takes a look at the new health craze tricking Americans into thinking they can have their protein-filled cake and eat it too. Ryan Holiday, creator of "Daily Stoic" and author of "Wisdom Takes Work," sits down with Michael Kosta to discuss teaching children Stoicism by example, how wisdom calibrates courage, discipline, and justice, the difference between schooling and true education, and the spectrum of Stoicism in public figures from Abraham Lincoln to Elon Musk.
S30 · E118October 23, 2025 - Jeff Tweedy 2025-10-23 · 30 min
Michael Kosta dives into the alleged involvement of Portland Trail Blazers head coach Chauncey Billups and Miami Heat star Terry Rozier in illegal gambling schemes. Plus, Donald Trump continues to defend the construction of his mega-sized White House ballroom as he fully demolishes the East Wing. And Josh Johnson thanks the contractor-in-chief on behalf of waltz-loving podcast bros everywhere. Jeff Tweedy, Grammy award-winning frontman of the band Wilco and bestselling author, sits down with Michael Kosta to discuss his new solo album, "Twilight Override," named to evoke his feeling of getting older and watching a world that "appears to be getting darker." Tweedy also discusses why he's glad to have spent his formative years as a musician in the midwest, his theory that repressed trauma after Covid is one cause of present-day chaos, and the need for everyone to spend less time on their phones and more time with people who love them.
S30 · E119October 27, 2025 - Zohran Mamdani 2025-10-27 · 40 min
After Trump echoes a complaint that he's unappreciated by Americans for his "sacrifices," Jon Stewart looks at all the things the president has accomplished without getting proper recognition, like going against protocol to tear down the East Wing of the White House for an ostentatious ballroom, or blowing up Venezuelan boats without due process. Jon also takes a look at the Republicans properly eating s**t for the president and determines that a third term is the only appropriate show of gratitude for this poor little billionaire. New York City mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss building a campaign on delivering politics that "aspire for more than what you're living through," ensuring his tax plans aren't just popular but precedented, taking safety beyond the NYPD to job and housing security, reaching the hearts of young voters with inviting rhetoric, and whether the days of endorsements deciding elections have come to an end.
S30 · E120October 28, 2025 - Lucy Dacus 2025-10-28 · 30 min
Desi Lydic breaks down Trump's trip to Japan, which included a shockingly firm handshake from new Prime Minister Sanae Takaichi, decadent gifts to win the president's heart, and a quick survey for the U.S. Navy about magnets. Plus, Troy Iwata is pretty sure Trump's embarrassing antics in Tokyo are the worst things America has ever done to Japan. Grammy Award-winning musician Lucy Dacus joins Desi Lydic to discuss "Forever Is a Feeling: The Archives," an expanded edition of her latest record, which has been called the "most romantic album of 2025." They talk about what makes a good love song, why writing this music felt like therapy, whether fame has impacted her creative process, and how her song "Best Guest" inspired her to get ordained and perform weddings on tour at a time when the Trump administration is threatening LGBTQ+ unions. Grammy Award-winning musician Lucy Dacus joins Desi Lydic to discuss "Forever Is a Feeling: The Archives".
S30 · E121October 29, 2025 - Aubrey Plaza & Dan Murphy 2025-10-29 · 29 min
Desi Lydic covers Trump's state visit to South Korea, where he was honoured with a "Yas King" rally, a golden crown, and the unofficial U.S. presidential anthem, "YMCA". Meanwhile, millions of Trump's constituents face a hunger crisis as SNAP benefits run out of funding due to the never-ending shutdown, and the GOP pretends there's nothing they can do about it. Michael Kosta has a list of billionaire sugar daddies who are happy to step in and help, as long as Americans don't mind getting a little freaky. Democrats have been riding high since the success of the "No Kings" protests and the emergence of Democratic prospects like Zohran Mamdani. But why is the Democratic Party so afraid to harness this energy? Lenard McKelvey (aka "Charlamagne Tha God") breaks down how to swap this tired system for an energetic change. Emmy-nominated actor Aubrey Plaza and writer-producer Dan Murphy join Desi Lydic to discuss their new children's book, "Luna and the Witch Throw a Hallowe'en Party".
S30 · E122October 30, 2025 - Justine Lupe 2025-10-30 · 31 min
Desi Lydic recaps Trump's meeting with Chinese President Xi Jinping, where they had an unsurprisingly fruitless discussion about tariffs. Then, after Marjorie Taylor Greene calls out the GOP's lackluster response to the government shutdown and demands the release of the Epstein files, Desi is haunted by the question: Does she (gulp) agree with Marjorie Taylor Greene? Ronny Chieng takes a look at Neo, the new robot maid designed to help with everyday tasks, such as cracking walnuts, loading the dishwasher like a drunk person, and giving a remote human operator a glimpse into your home. Justine Lupe sits down with Desi Lydic to discuss her role in the hit Netflix series, "Nobody Wants This." Lupe dives into playing codependent sisters with Kristen Bell, navigating her character's ambiguous dynamics with Timothy Simons, being adored by her partners on and off screen, and what her girlfriends have taught her about love and strength.
S30 · E123November 3, 2025 - Joe Manchin 2025-11-03 · 50 min
Between Trump throwing a lavish "Great Gatsby"-themed party on the night that SNAP benefits ran out for millions of Americans, dragging his feet to open court-ordered emergency funding for food stamps while throwing billions of bailout dollars at Argentina, and the GOP's general racism-tinged disdain for SNAP recipients, Jon Stewart seriously doubts that the president's "big heart" goes out to anyone but himself and the toadies on his VIP list. Former U.S. senator and West Virginia governor Joe Manchin sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss his memoir, "Dead Center: In Defense of Common Sense." They talk about whether centrism exists in the Trump era, Manchin's experience working across partisan lines in the Senate, the state of the Democratic Party in West Virginia, why he never voted for a government shutdown, and how he thinks the country can move forward.
S30 · E124November 4, 2025 - Sanna Marin 2025-11-04 · 33 min
As Election Day wraps up, Jordan Klepper recaps the suspenseful New York City mayoral race infused with Islamophobic fearmongering of Zohran Mamdani and an uphill battle for Andrew Cuomo, culminating in an 11th-hour scandal over a Billy Joel song. Also, Ronny Chieng reports that Cuomo is feeling confident, thanks to his lucky O.J. Simpson-style Ford Bronco and other criminal-lookalike charms. The eyes of the world seem to be on the New York City mayoral race, so Grace Kuhlenschmidt conducted her own Times Square exit poll to ask non-New Yorkers which candidate they endorse for an election they can't vote in. "There's always hope if there's action". Former Prime Minister of Finland, Sanna Marin, talks to Jordan Klepper about her new memoir, "Hope In Action".
S30 · E125November 5, 2025 - Scott Galloway 2025-11-05 · 33 min
Jordan Klepper dives into the big wins for Democrats across the country last night, including in the hotly contested mayoral race in New York City, which ended in a historic victory for Zohran Mamdani that sparked threats of a mass exodus of Cuomo supporters from the city. Plus, nobody is more eager to get out of the city than Eric Adams, the guy who's still in charge at City Hall, so The Daily Show takes a final look back at the legacy the outgoing mayor is leaving behind. In the Art of the Altercation, Desi Lydic unpacks Donald Trump's long and tumultuous relationship with New York, a home he once called "the greatest city in the world," but now, as president, thinks is a crime-infested hellhole that needs to be punished. NYU professor, co-host of the Pivot podcast, and bestselling author, Scott Galloway, joins Jordan Klepper to discuss his latest book, "Notes on Being a Man."
S30 · E126November 6, 2025 - Ethan Hawke 2025-11-06 · 31 min
Trump plays dead fish during a medical emergency in the Oval Office, the White House's Ozempic announcement has Americans losing 400 pounds each, the president finds a new enemy in Nigeria, and Jordan Klepper reports on shutdown-induced flight cancellations that will have people walking home for the holidays. On another episode of Sports War, Jordan Klepper and Ronny Chieng fight over whether the Dodgers deserved to win the World Series, the integrity of the NBA amid a sports gambling scandal, and an Aussie darts player whose dirty nickname sparked controversy. Academy Award-nominated actor Ethan Hawke sits down with Jordan Klepper to discuss his new movie "Blue Moon," which takes place on an "important night in art history," after Lorenz Hart attends the premiere of his former collaborator's musical, "Oklahoma!"
S30 · E127November 10, 2025 - Rep. Chris Deluzio & Rep. Pat Ryan 2025-11-10 · 44 min
In the wake of Democrats' decision to end the government shutdown, Jon Stewart returns to his prediction that they were going to piss away last week's hard-earned electoral victories. With nothing to gain from caving, momentum on their side, and a deeply unpopular president, Jon compares the Democrats to the New York Giants, who at least had the good sense to fire their coach. "A lot of politicians who voted to send guys like us to places like Iraq, spending trillions, all of a sudden want to count pennies when it's time to care for the veterans they sent to fight." Rep. Chris Deluzio of Pennsylvania and Rep. Pat Ryan of New York, who are both Iraq war veterans and members of the House Armed Services Committee, talk to Jon Stewart about how the Trump administration prioritizes a trillion dollar military budget over the livelihood of veterans and service members.
S30 · E128November 11, 2025 - Rob Riggle 2025-11-11 · 35 min
The Democrats' popular affordability platform has Trump jealously weaving plans for 50-year mortgages and socialist-seeming tariff rebates, and Josh Johnson deciphers how the "money man" president thinks $2,000 checks will solve everything. On this edition of Who Won It Best, Desi Lydic and Troy Iwata dive into the crèmè de la crème of awards season: the Fox Nation Patriot Awards, where Sean Hannity tortured the crowd with his singing, Mike Waltz got an adoring shoutout, Melania Trump plugged her Amazon flick, and Jason Aldean shined as the biggest star they could muster. Actor, comedian, former Daily Show correspondent, and U.S. Marine Corps veteran Rob Riggle joins Josh Johnson to discuss his memoir, "Grit, Spit, and Never Quit: A Marine's Guide to Comedy and Life."
S30 · E129November 12, 2025 - Jay Jurden 2025-11-12 · 37 min
Josh Johnson dives into newly released bombshell emails from Jeffrey Epstein that might implicate Trump, considering he referred to the president as the "dog that hasn't barked." Plus, on the heels of whistleblower revelations that Ghislaine Maxwell's prison accommodations include puppies and TV time, Ronny Chieng explains why this is all perfectly normal. Nick Offerman holds a microscope to Trump's "I love farmers" act to expose the policies, corporations, and advancements in processed food that have Americans yearning to eat like Europeans and small farmers struggling to stay afloat. Writer, actor, and comedian Jay Jurden sits down with Josh Johnson to discuss his debut stand-up special, "Yes Ma'am" on Hulu. He shares why his Southern charm prevents him from feeling like a real New Yorker, his experience studying theater at a football school, how studying the dramatic arts helps him stay present on stage, and his favorite jokes that both he and Wanda Sykes have ever written.
S30 · E130November 13, 2025 - Miguel Pimentel 2025-11-13 · 37 min
In the wake of new Jeffrey Epstein emails implicating Trump, the GOP unhelpfully backed up the president by releasing 20,000 new Epstein files of their own, and Josh Johnson unpacks new revelations, including the two men's frenemy relationship and apparent connection to cosmetics heiress Celina Midelfart, as well as conservative pundits like Megyn Kelly's attempts to downplay the bombshell. Plus, Troy Iwata offers a scathing critique of Epstein's email grammar. The AI revolution is integrating chatbots like Grok and ChatGPT into all aspects of life, from education to friendship, so Ronny Chieng fights the dumbing effects of AI on college campuses by transforming himself into a real-life chatbot. Grammy award-winning artist Miguel Pimentel talks to Josh Johnson about returning to music after an eight-year break with his new album, "CAOS". Miguel shares how that time of personal reflection and connection to his Mexican heritage informed his new album through celebration of his culture.
S30 · E131November 17, 2025 - Christiane Amanpour 2025-11-17 · 45 min
A batch of newly surfaced Epstein emails sparks Trump's fight-or-flight mode, a diversionary DOJ investigation into the Democrats, and a Fox News crash out as pundits try to downplay the Epstein files. While rumors swirl about a jaw-dropping degree of closeness between Donald Trump and Bill Clinton, Jon Stewart urges the GOP to hold their Epstein sleuthing to the same standard as their investigation into the QAnon Pizzagate conspiracy. CNN's Chief International Anchor and host of the global affairs program, "Amanpour," Christiane Amanpour sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss how the Epstein scandal has highlighted the importance of truth-based journalism. They talk about using investigative journalism to combat authoritarianism and hold the "invincible" elite accountable, and how the "drip, drip, drip" story of the Epstein files has fed itself and divided MAGA.
S30 · E132November 18, 2025 - Mitsuyo Miyazaki aka "Hikari" 2025-11-18 · 34 min
An (almost) unanimous vote in the House to release the Epstein files has Trump reversing his opposition to save face, Marjorie Taylor Greene looking like she's severed from MAGA, and Saudi Arabia's visiting crown prince getting a pass for murder. Ronny Chieng reflects on the road to releasing the Epstein files and Trump's key to uncovering the elite sex trafficking scandal: "Don't talk about it." You thought holiday travel was miserable? Try being an air traffic controller. Leslie Jones breaks down how the people with one of the most important jobs in America are being treated with Spirit Airlines-level disrespect and asks airlines to quit thinking so much about luxury perks and to start supporting these vital employees with better technology, better pay, and maybe some of that TSA-confiscated cocaine. Writer, producer, and director Mitsuyo Miyazaki aka "Hikari" joins Ronny Chieng to discuss her new movie, "Rental Family".
S30 · E133November 19, 2025 - Sean Sherman 2025-11-19 · 33 min
Ronny Chieng dives into Trump's friendly meeting with Saudi Crown Prince MBS despite the president's famously anti-Muslim past, and covers the latest updates on the release of the Epstein files, which was quickly approved by the House and Senate and now seemingly has the endorsement of the president himself. That said, Jordan Klepper offers a few reasons why we might not like what we see. Grace Kuhlenschmidt tackles Russia's first face-planting robot, an AI version of your dead granny, and does America want music that's fully AI-generated? Tech yeah, they do! James Beard award-winning chef Sean Sherman sits down with Ronny Chieng to discuss his new book "Turtle Island: Foods and Traditions of the Indigenous Peoples of North America." They talk about using food as a tool for promoting curiosity and empathy, focusing on Indigenous and healthy foods at his restaurant.