The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Jon Stewart's Surprise Appearances on The Daily Show

Episode Date: February 9, 2024

Since he left in 2015, Jon Stewart periodically stopped by to visit his old friends, whether it's visiting Trevor Noah to push for the renewal of the Zadroga Act, or dropping on Roy Wood Jr. as Obi-Wan Kenobi. See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

The future of America is in your hands. This is not a movie trailer, and it's not a political ad, but it is a call to action. I'm Mila Atmos and I'm passionate about unlocking the power of everyday citizens. On our podcast, future hindsight, we take big ideas about civic life and democracy and turn them into action items for you and me. Every Thursday Thursday we talk to bold activists and civic innovators to help you understand your power and your power to change the status quo. Find us at Future Hindsight.com or wherever you listen to podcasts. You're listening to Comedy Central. I got to say this one time and one time only.

Welcome back to the Daily Show with Trevor Noah with John Stewart. This guy is here. So just to bring you up to speed, today we're talking about the Zedroga Reauthorization Act, which gives permanent health care to 9-11 first responders injured or sick through their work at ground zero. Now, it seems like a no-brainer. So John, what's holding it up now? No brains.

Um, so right now there's 67 senators sponsoring the bill, 260 representatives, which even by stupid Senate and House math is more than enough to do this. So it really comes down to the two individuals who currently control Congress. One, Speaker of the House, Paul Ryan of Wisconsin. Right now, as we speak, the House is still trying to pull money out of the health care portion of this bill. But I believe when push comes to show Paul Ryan's going to do the right thing because ultimately he is still human. And then there's... Dr. Doom. You could say that. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. He is the key to getting this done and so far he has been an

enormous obstacle unwilling to move the bill forward for purely political reasons. Yeah but John to prove the bill forward for purely political reasons. Yeah, but John, to prove that it's purely political, you'd have to have a video of McConnell supporting or even sponsoring a similar bill granting permanent health care for national security related workers who happen to live in his home state. That's a brilliant idea, Trevor. Roll to 12. During the Cold War, workers at Paducah's gaseous diffusion plant are patriots who did some of the most dangerous work. We found out along the way that it was more dangerous

than we were made aware of. Exposure to radiation was making some workers sick. They needed help. Senator McConnell took it on its own to do something for these people that it did so much for the country. These programs would not be here at all for it, not for Senator McConnell. I'm Mitch McConnell and I approve this message. This is crazy. That is correct.

And if you're looking for more direct parallels, it gets worse. We created the Energy Employees Occupational Illness Compensation Program to ensure that our nation's nuclear workers finally now get the attention they deserve from their government. Medical screening is available to all Paducah workers so that they may be tested and treated for any illness they contract as a result of working at the plant. And rightfully so. And that bill costs more than what the 9-11 first responders are asking for, more. So this clearly isn't about Mitch McConnell's principled objections to permanent health care programs for heroic workers.

So then the question is, what is it? Here's what I believe it is. Senator Mitch McConnell of Kentucky doesn't give a shit about anything but politics. The first responders were told as a drug act would be included. They were told this last week. It'd be included in the transportation bill passed last week. Mitch McConnell of Kentucky pulled it out of the transportation bill

when he didn't get concessions about loosening oil export regulations. So he used the health of 9-11 first responders as a bargaining chip to make it easier to sell oil? Yes, Trevor. He's not nice! So I don't know what else to do to make sure this bill happens. We don't know what else to do. Well, you know, John, back in 2010, didn't this very show have a panel of first responders

that helped get the Zedroga Act past? Yes, hearing from a panel of first responders firsthand who were struggling with their health was undeniably powerful. It was a wonderful thing to hear from them personally. Well, there's your answer right there. Why don't we get that panel back together again? That's amazing, let's do this. Yeah. Let's do it. Let's get it back. Hey Kenny.

Hey, Kenny. Hey, John. Kenny Speck, everybody. Um. Um, Just a curiosity, where, where is everybody? You and I. Five and a half years ago we did a, uh, we did a show.

75% of the panel is no longer here. Two of the people have illnesses and obviously by law I can't comment on how sick they are. And John Devlin, who sat at the last chair, an operating engineer, passed away since our show. So I think we brought the statistics to show that when we did the show five and a half years ago, four men sat here, you and I. And this is the reality of people's lives that are affected by this. And even the idea that you had to come here five and a half years ago to plead your case

on national television to get this done was insulting and embarrassing for us as a nation. Well you know John we did you show five and a half years ago, you stepped up and you asked what you could do to help us. Five and a half years ago we didn't have the votes to get to get the the the to come to get the to come the to come to come to come the the to come to come the to come to come the to come to come the drug the drug to come th.. Wea to come th.a thoe thoe and a thoe and a thii.a thi.a thi. thi. to come thi. to come to come to come thi. to come to come their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their their. their. their. thi. thi. thi. thi. the. thea. toea. toea. toea. toea. toea. toea. toea. thea. toea. toea. toea. the could do to help us. Five and a half years ago we didn't have the votes to get the droga passed the first time. And because of your show, we were able to get it through at the last minute, right before the holidays. Almost the same time of years we have right now. Now we're back five and a half years later, not because we don't have the votes, because we put the numbers to to to to to to to to to the votes, to the votes, to the votes, the votes, the votes, the votes, to the votes, the votes, the votes, the votes, the votes, the votes, the votes, to the votes, to the votes, the votes, the votes, to be the votes, the votes, to be, the to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be to be, to be, to be, the, the, the, the, the the the the the the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the vote, the the the the thoososuxx, the thoooooge, the the, the theat, thi.a, their, their, their their, the the the put the numbers up, 67 senators, 260 members of the House.

We're back, we have the votes, and now we don't have the people that want to do what's necessary to either vote for it as a straight up and down bill, we'll put it on as an attachment. So they keep moving the goalpost and they keep telling us there's things we have to do and when we do it, it, it, it, it, it, it, it, it, it, it's it's it's it's not it's not it's not it's not it's not it's not it's not it's not it's not it's not it's not it's not it's not the their it's not thiii's not toe's not toe's toe's toe's toe's toe's toe's toe's to be. to be. to to to to to to to to to to to to to toe, toe, toe, toe, the the toe, thiiiiiiiii........ We're thiiiiii...iii.i. We're thi. We're thi. the thi. thi. thi. the thi. thi. thr. thr. throwne. throwne. throwne. throwne. toe. toe. toe. to do and when we do it it's not enough. The pay-for thing is what drives me nuts. They have paid for this bill over and over again with the lives of their friends and with their health. So if I hear one more of these guys talking about a pay-for it's gonna make me insane but you got to meet with McConnell for just a little time. I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did so. I did so. I did so. I did so. I did so. I did so. I did so. I did so. I did so. I did so my my my the their their their their their their their their their they they their they they they they they they they their. I their. I their. I their. I their. I their. I their. I their. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. I did. So. So. So. So. So. So. So. So. So. So. So. So my they did. So. So. So, they they did. John Feele. Right. We were able to meet with Mitch McConnell last week, the four of us. And, well, we got Pat's on the back, and we were told by so many people how difficult it is and how, how happy we should be that we got a chance to meet with an elected official in the United

States. Right. Exactly. Well, anyway, we met with Mitch McConnell and Mitch McConnell gave us his word that he's going to attach us to the omnibus bill and he's going to fully fund and permanently extend the Zedroga Health Care Act. That's what he told us. So, as this bill comes up this week, we're going to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to ga Health Care Act. That's what he told us. So as this bill comes up

this week, we're going to keep him to his word and this show is doing that part of it. Let's keep him to it. And the other thing is people forget with all this talk now about terrorism and from the World Trade Center to San Bernardino. The one common link to all this is the first people on the scene were first responders. So I don't want to hear about, well, we're all concerned about terrorism now and things that are going on. This is the legacy, you guys. What message does it send to our first responders if once we're done as a nation with them helping us, that we forget about them. That's unacceptable to twea. to. That's unacceptable to me. You're right, and it's unacceptable to tweet and post on Facebook, right, around the anniversary of September 11th that we'll never forget.

Right. And it's, it's inexplicable to continue to get reelected off the backs of the soldiers of this country and the first responders. Right. And then when you get a down there. It doesn't work when we bring cameras down there. I think the only thing is all politics are local. Kentucky, it's up to you. I would like you right now. Write your congressman. Mitch McConnell a letter. John, John, I'm sorry. Sorry.

Sorry. No one really writes letters anymore. That's exactly right. A sharply worded editorial in your local paper would be... People don't really read the newspaper. That's exactly right. Get out your phone. Dial your congressman. John, John, I... Clondike five.

John, just tell the people to use social media. Social media. Oh, great, something catchy like this. End the fuckery. End it. The future of America is in your hands. This is not a movie trailer, and it's not a political ad, but it is a call to action. I'm Mila Atmos and I'm passionate about unlocking the power of everyday citizens. On our podcast Future Hindside we take big ideas about

civic life and democracy and turn them into action items for you and me. Every Thursday we talk to bold activists and civic innovators to help you understand your power and your power to change the status quo. Find us at Future Hindsight.com or wherever you listen to podcasts. It's a lot of pressure as guest host. You know, you got to be funny. You got to be satirical. You got to be powerful.

You got a, you know, you got to go vile. I don't know what to do. I would, I just wish I had somebody that I could talk to to to guide to to to guide to guide to guide to guide to guide to guide guide guide guide guide guide guide guide guide guide guide guide guide guide guide guide guide guide guide guide to guide guide guide to guide to guide to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to could talk to to guide me through some of this stuff, man. Roy would, Roy, use the false, Roy. Who that? Who that? Who's that? I'm fucking a ghost, man, who that? Roy, use the false?

Use the, use the false? Roy. I'm sorry. Roy the, use the force, Roy. Roy, just... It's beautiful. It's beautiful. It's beautiful. It's amazing, marvelous, beautiful, I know you. I know you. I know you. I know you. I know you. I know I knew you. I knew I knew

you. I knew I knew your ass. You're only one on Canobey. I'm John. Stuart. I used to work here when the budget wasn't as big. Three years back, it was... You were there. No, I actually hosted the program to be honest with. The Daily Show had a white host. Yeah. Why are you dressed like Obi-Wan Kenobi? I like to be comfortable. Okay. Roy, the point is this. Okay. Donald Trump doesn't

define you. Wait, if you're Obi-Wan, what does that make me? Because if you're Obi-Wan, that make me Luke Skywalker. No, you're... Why the fuck wouldn't you want to be Luke Skywalker? Luke Skywalker kissed his sister. I want to be Hans Solo instead. Hans Solo was badass. Hon Solo was cool. He had the ship. You can be Chubaca. Why would I bond to be like a wolf ape? That doesn't make...

Look, I think we'd make more sense if I were the wise sage who mentors the young host and not the wolf ape. Also, I cannot return this robe. What happened was the events that took place in this. But if you're Obi-Wan, if you're Obi-Wan and I'm Luke, then does that mean my dad is Vader? Because if my dad is Darth Vader, does that mean Donald Trump is my dad? Why? I'm trying to... I'm trying to... I know that. Roy, why would Donald Trump be your father? Because if I'm Luke and Trump is Vader, that means Trump killed you! What? Fine. You're on solo, I'm baby Yoda. Fine. The point is... Why can't you be regularly you? What the fuck are you talking about? I... I... I should have come when Silverman was here. With Silverman!

Listen. Okay, okay, okay. How about this? How about this? I want to go along with you. Okay, how about you be Yoda because you're all hobbled and green and shit. And I'll be Lando for obvious reasons. I can be Lando for obvious reasons.

I can be Lando, you know. Is this a trap? Yeah, because you're both have a... Mustaches? Mustaches? Yes! My point is this, Roy and thank you for having me on the program. The thing about... And you're doing a fabulous job by the way, the thing about this historic

indictment is that American Judas Prudence is... I think we're out of time. Thank you so much, no good. I mean, John Stewart, everybody. Explore more shows from the Daily Show from the Daily Show podcast by searching the Daily Show Podcast Universe by searching the Daily Show, wherever you get your podcasts. Watch the Daily Show weeknights at 11, 10 Central on Comedy Central, and stream full episodes anytime on Fairmount Plus.

This has been a Comedy Central podcast. The Future of America is in your hands. This is not a movie trailer, and it's not a political ad, but it is a call to action. I'm Mila Atmos and I'm passionate about unlocking the power of everyday citizens. On our podcast, future hindsight, we take big ideas about civic life and democracy and turn them into action items for you and me. Every Thursday, we talk to bold activists and civic innovators to help you understand your power and your power to change the status quo. Find us at Future Hindsight.com or wherever you listen to podcasts.