Jon Stewart delved into the heated political sphere on The Daily Show, acknowledging that both presidential candidates are now making their "final pitches." This leaves him with a week to make a decision about his own vote.
Stewart quipped about his usual voting strategy—following The Washington Post‘s endorsements—but lamented his lack of Amazon Prime membership.
He shifted focus to Beyoncé’s appearance at Kamala Harris’ rally in Houston, before turning his attention to Donald Trump’s MAGA rally at Madison Square Garden. The event, Zion noted, has sparked significant backlash due to its racist and xenophobic undertones.
The late-night host aired highlights from the rally, including derogatory remarks about Harris and her "pimp handlers," with shots of Tucker Carlson laughing hysterically. "There’s just something charming about his childish giggles," Stewart quipped. He added, sarcastically, that the rally’s lineup resembled the typical maddening group you’d encounter outside MSG, harassing people trying to enter.
Stewart playfully chastised the rally organizers for "desecrating" the stage graced by musical legend Billy Joel. "How dare they?" he exclaimed. "Billy Joel’s going to have to play ‘Scenes from an Italian Restaurant’ a thousand times to exorcise these demons."
Regarding comedian Tony Hinchcliffe, who called Puerto Rico "a floating island of garbage," Stewart shrugged it off as "just his thing." He played a clip of Hinchcliffe delivering racist and anti-semitic jokes at a roast, confessing with a laugh, "There’s something wrong with me, I find the guy funny. Bringing him to a rally without letting him do roast jokes is like bringing Beyoncé to a rally and—oh."
Stewart highlighted the "dark, apocalyptic vision of America" that Trump’s rally guests presented, setting the stage for Trump himself, who echoed a similar tone, promising "mass deportation" policies on his first day in office. "Who filled Donald Trump in on the Alien Enemies Act of 1798?" Stewart sarcastically questioned, referencing Trump’s previously documented historical inaccuracies.
The segment concluded with a poignant exchange between Stewart and former correspondent Jessica Williams, who reminded him of his privilege: "Everything’s going to be okay… for you, a white guy — a rich, old white guy," she said. "For everyone else, though, it does matter."
Williams emphasized that the outcome of the election holds vastly different implications for diverse communities. She urged viewers, even those feeling exhausted by the vitriol and uncertainty, not to succumb to apathy. "Don’t let them wear you down," she pleaded. "Look them right in the eye and say, ‘Not today, apathy! I’m only having half a case of Trulys.’ No matter what happens, we need to wrap our arms around the people who need us most and hold on tight."
In a separate note, Stewart announced an extension of his Daily Show hosting gig through 2025, focusing on Mondays.