The Daily Show: Ears Edition

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 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. Keep it classic and cool this fall—with long-lasting staples from Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/DAILYSHOW for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With a government shutdown fully in effect, Ronny Chieng takes a look at Trump's confusingly racist AI videos of Democratic leaders and braces for how the shutdown will impact everything from the TSA to national parks. Plus, Josh Johnson reports live from the Grand Canyon, which is already turning into a literal s**thole. Michael Kosta has the hottest moolah-making tips for how to capitalize on recent economic headlines, like adults ordering off the kids' menu, the tooth fairy short-changing kids, and a recall on exploding prosecco bottles from Costco, in the latest installment of Ko$ta Doing Business. Writer and director Benny Safdie talks to Ronny about the inspiration and creative process behind his new film, “The Smashing Machine,” which is based on the life of MMA fighter Mark Kerr. He describes collaborating with Kerr and the film’s star, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, to portray the authentic experience of a fighter while telling a human story about pain and resilience, and breaks down how the film’s unique cinematography connects the audience to the character. Keep it classic and cool this fall—with long-lasting staples from Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/DAILYSHOW for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ronny Chieng recaps Pete Hegseth and Donald Trump's sudden gathering of top military leaders, where the president announced his intention to use Democrat-run cities as training grounds for the National Guard, and where Secretary of War Pete Hegseth fat-shamed troops, hawked his book, and made cringey jokes. Ricky Velez unpacks how the ubiquity of online sports betting has become a problem for Las Vegas casinos and an even bigger problem for American men, and how, instead of trying to protect people from these billion-dollar gambling apps, Trump is just taking a cut for himself. Comedian Cristela Alonzo sits down with Ronny to discuss comedy institutions, the American dream, and her new Netflix special, "Upper Classy." They talk about paying homage to comedy and participating in its evolution, using joy as an act of resistance, how politicians focus on the middle class and forget the lower class, and what she learned growing up in Texas with an undocumented mother. Plus, a special appearance from Ronny’s mom! Keep it classic and cool this fall—with long-lasting staples from Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/DAILYSHOW for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

After a string of mass shootings across the U.S., America swaps out “thoughts and prayers” for a left vs. right blame game, Republicans hypocritically criticize the Democrats' “violent rhetoric,” and Trump escalates a nonexistent problem by deploying troops to Portland. Harvard law professor and staff writer at The New Yorker, Jill Lepore, joins Jon to discuss her new bestselling book, “We the People: A History of the U.S. Constitution.” She points to the years-long process of trial and error that went into writing the Constitution as an example of how the document was designed with the intention to be changed and improved upon, and emphasizes the foundational right to amend the document as Americans see fit. Lepore also explains how the conservative “originalist” movement has discouraged the addition of any new amendments since the 1970s, how conservatives continue to use originalism as a way of bending the Constitution to their political will through the courts, rather than going through the much harder amendment process, and how this dynamic has put issues like abortion rights and environmental protections at risk. Go to https://www.Strawberry.me/daily to connect with a certified career coach today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's host Ronny Chieng and Daily Show writer Matt Koff preview the week to come, which may or may not include a government shutdown and/or a societal shutdown to welcome a new Taylor Swift album. They also weigh in on the headlines, including Trump and RFK's Tylenol announcement, whether the UN should move to avoid New York traffic, and if it was Epstein's ghost that stopped Trump's escalator. If you want to think critically about the news you consume, check out Ground News through our link: http://groundnews.com/ears You’ll get 40% off their Unlimited Access Vantage Plan. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Health Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. has a way of making waves, and not only when he's strapping dead whales to his car. Keep up to date with a roundup of The Daily Show's coverage of his biggest, weirdest moments. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Celebrate Michael Kosta by making fat stacks with Kosta Doin' Business. Michael shares how to get rich during Trump's second term thanks to boomin' prison stocks, the impending climate crisis, liberals' love for yard signs, and a wise investment in Kleenex. Don't worry about trade wars, Starbucks's bathroom policy, or egg prices breaking the bank with these guaranteed money-making tips. Dive into America's mad money problems in the face of Trump's tariffs: panicked shopping on the rise, price hikes on everyday toys and goods, and the uncertainty around those precious iPhones. And don’t worry about Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill passing, because Kosta's cracking the code on how you can exploit Medicaid cuts, gambling taxes, and even Alaskan tax breaks to make some sweet dough. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jordan Klepper dives into Trump’s latest adventures in pettiness, from framing Biden’s autopen signature among portraits in the Presidential Walk of Fame to framing James Comey for crimes despite getting a political assist from the former FBI director in 2016. Plus, Troy Iwata explains how Lindsey Halligan’s appointment to U.S. Attorney despite her lack of experience is giving major “Legally Blonde” vibes. Trump and MAGA want to whitewash the history of slavery in the U.S. from Smithsonian museums because they think racism is talked about too much, but Leslie Jones says we're actually not talking about racism enough. She shows how racism persists in the country, seen everywhere from train cars to Congress, and explains how racism won't be solved unless everyone gets a better education about Black people in the classroom and in the media. Actor Regina Hall joins Jordan to talk about her new movie, “One Battle After Another,” directed by Paul Thomas Anderson. They talk about her first time meeting the filmmaker, the film’s themes, which echo present-day social issues, how she used her comedy chops even in a dramatic role, and acting alongside a scene-stealing baby. Go to https://www.Strawberry.me/daily to connect with a certified career coach today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jordan Klepper covers how Putin's f**kboi antics pushed Trump into Ukraine's arms, while Grace Kuhlenschmidt and the rest of MAGA unravel a sick plot to prank the president in a conspiracy that starts at the bottom of a malfunctioning U.N. escalator and goes all the way to the top. Sebastian Murphy, the frontman of Swedish punk band Viagra Boys, sits down with Jordan Klepper to talk about their latest album, “viagr aboys.” They discuss how the band got its name, the Mariah Carey song that brought them together, moving to Sweden after growing up in America, and the band’s satirical and often hypermasculine-parodying resistance music that lets audiences know “freaks are welcome.” Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jordan Klepper recaps Trump and RFK's latest pseudo-scientific bombshells: Tylenol causes autism, vaccines flood baby bodies, and the Amish are leading the world in modern medicine. Plus, which Daily Show correspondents made the list for Rapture Tuesday? Jordan dives into Trump’s appearance at the United Nations General Assembly, where global diplomacy and updates on Ukraine played second fiddle to his grudge against an out-of-order escalator. John Fugelsang, host of "Tell Me Everything" on SiriusXM Progress and author of the New York Times Bestseller "Separation of Church and Hate" talks to Jordan about how MAGA and the far-right have wrongly co-opted Christianity as a cloak for authoritarianism and bigotry – the opposite of Jesus's call for individuals and states to "take care of the poor, take care of the sick, welcome the stranger, and be kind to those in prison.” Fugelsang traces back a long history of non-violent Christian activism, from the Crusades through the Civil Rights Movement, and urges all those on the left to engage with Christianity, even if only to combat the narrow version of the bible that Trump and MAGA are trying to impose. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jon Stewart unpacks Jimmy Kimmel’s return to television amid outcry over his suspension, a sign of the times in an era where President Trump isn’t even hiding his flagrant attacks on free speech, retaliation against his political enemies, and the brazen corruption in his administration. Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, sits down with Jon to discuss her experiences in office, which she chronicles in her memoir, “A Different Kind of Power,” and upcoming HBO documentary, “Prime Minister.” They discuss making progress on issues like child poverty and climate change while also managing a domestic terrorist attack and the Covid pandemic. She emphasizes the importance of politicians spending their political capital on “doing the right thing,” the globalization of political polarization, and how it’s a courageous act to be optimistic in these times. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

From the moment Trump brought up the idea of declassifying the Epstein files, the president has been under pressure to explain his relationship with the pedophile financier. Here's a deep dive into Donald Trump's history with Jeffrey Epstein. Get caught up on Elon's Epstein bomb, FBI chief Kash Patel stating this case was "not his lane," and MAGA demanding answers from the president. As more information comes to light about Trump's history with Jeffrey Epstein, the president breaks up with his MAGA supporters, gets called out for "bawdy" doodles to the financier in a birthday card, and finds a new distraction in former President Barack Obama. Plus, the DOJ reaches out to convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell and informs Donald Trump he's in the Epstein files. America learns that Pam Bondi's DOJ informed Donald Trump he was in the Epstein files back in May 2025, MAGA Karens and the QAnon Shaman demand answers, and folksy GOP loyalists use their twang to defend the president’s questionable past. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Take a listen to The Daily Show's coverage of video games and the controversies that follow them around. From tryin to restrict violence in games, to using armed forces gamers to improve recruitment, to Paul McCartney himself writing a song for Destiny. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

TDS takes on AI as AI takes over the world: Jon Stewart, Ronny Chieng, and Lewis Black examine how AI has infiltrated modern dating, made itself an integral part of college education, and even turned itself into "MechaHitler" on X. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

On this week's Daily Show Precap upcoming host Jordan Klepper sits down with writer Nicole Conlan to unpack the Jimmy Kimmel suspension, and describe working on Thursday's special "Government Approved" response episode. They also look ahead to what might be in the news next week, including the UN General Debate, New York Climate Week, and what they're watching to get their heads out of the news. If you want to think critically about the news you consume, check out Ground News through our link: http://groundnews.com/ears You’ll get 40% off their Unlimited Access Vantage Plan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A humble, obedient Jon Stewart heaps praise upon America's Glorious Leader, Donald J. Trump, and provides an FCC-approved refresher on the rules of free speech in the wake of Jimmy Kimmel's suspension. Plus, the TDS News Team serenades the world's greatest, large-penised leader. Maria Ressa, Nobel Peace Prize-winning journalist and author of the book “How to Stand Up to a Dictator,” sits down with Jon for a conversation about Trump’s authoritarian attacks on free speech in the wake of Disney taking Jimmy Kimmel off the air in fealty to the president and his hand-picked FCC Chair. Ressa, who in 2020 was jailed in the Philippines for her journalism criticizing the country’s former president Rodrigo Duterte, warns about the similarities between the dictatorship she lived under and the Trump administration. They also discuss how tech companies use authoritarian governments as case studies to inform their algorithms and manipulate democratic elections, and the importance in this political moment for Americans to take peaceful action before their rights are continually stripped away. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Desi Lydic covers Congress grilling Kash Patel over buried details of the Epstein files and Trump's attempt to put an ocean between himself and the Epstein controversy via a castle-filled king cosplay in the U.K. Lewis Black has learned what a Labubu is, and he's pissed. He roasts every aspect of Labubu culture, from Labu-baptisms to toy theft, and offers Americans an equally stupid doll alternative to waste their money on. Actor Cooper Hoffman sits down with Desi to discuss his role in the new film, “The Long Walk.” They talk about how Stephen King’s dystopian novel feels relevant today, the physical challenges of walking 15 miles a day while acting, learning to lean into humanity with Hoffman’s co-star David Jonsson, and the importance of having people walk beside you through life. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Desi Lydic unpacks the toxic internet landscape in the aftermath of Charlie Kirk’s assassination, where members of the Trump administration have called for people to lose their jobs for criticizing Kirk, the attorney general has seemingly forgotten the meaning of free speech, and Trump only wants to discuss White House renovations. Plus, Michael Kosta offers some solid reasoning for going back to the ‘80s. After siccing the National Guard on Washington D.C., Trump is chomping at the bit to militarize other Democrat-run U.S. cities, including New York. Grace Kuhlenschmidt asks New Yorkers if they think the National Guard has what it takes to make it in the Big Apple. Michael Strassner and Jay Duplass sit down with Desi Lydic to discuss the critically acclaimed independent film they co-wrote, “The Baltimorons,” which Strassner stars in and Duplass directed. They share how their friendship and collaboration began with an Instagram DM and a sweaty meet-cute and how making the romantic caper comedy, which is based on Strassner’s personal journey with sobriety after a failed suicide attempt, was a cathartic experience for the comedian. Go to https://www.Strawberry.me/daily to connect with a certified career coach today! Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Get out of the studio and into the field with one of the best, former correspondent Rob Cordry. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's Emmys day! So while the team gets ready by stealing tuxedos off the statues at the wax museum, take a listen to The Daily Show's past coverage of TV's fanciest day. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices