The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Josh Johnson On His First Piece As Daily Show Correspondent

Episode Date: March 25, 2024

In this podcast exclusive, the newest Daily Show Correspondent Josh Johnson and Daily Show writer Devin Delliquanti discuss what it's been like for Josh to transition from writer to correspondent, what the process was like for his first desk piece covering cookie monster and shrinkflation, and what it was like being roasted by a seventh grader for his first field piece. Josh also talks about the moments in his career that have humbled him and what he learned from touring with Trevor Noah.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

Hey, I'm Ben Mycelus. I'm Brett Myceles, and I'm Jordy. We are the hosts of the Midas Touch Podcasts, the top-rated, top-watch podcast for pro-democracy content. Every single day we release new episodes reporting on the issues that matter most, without any of that, both sides, corporate media bias, that we are all so sick of. We also have conversations with incredible guests, President Joe Biden. My Remind me, the best politics is truth. You're telling the truth. Second gentleman, Doug Emhoff, Secretary Pete Budgegech, Representatives Jasmine Crockett, Jared Moskowitz, and more. And it's much more than just a podcast.

We have over 3 million subscribers on YouTube, so come see what the bightest touch. Subscribe to the Midas Touch podcast, wherever you get your podcast. That's the Midas Touch, M-E-I-D-A-S-O-U-C-H podcast. Jordi, anything to add? Shout up to the Midas-Mighty! You're listening to the Daily Show Ears edition. This is Devon Delaconti, writer for the Daily Show. And today I am here with Emmy nominated writer, actor, stand-up, and the newest daily

show correspondent Josh Johnson, everyone. Hey, man. Welcome, Josh. How you doing? It's been an exciting few weeks. So you've been a writer here for people who don't know since 2017. That's when I met you. That's when we became office mates, paired together.

And now you are the newest member of the Daily Show, te. Walk us through it. How did your journey lead you to the Daily Show and onto the news team? Basically, yeah, I mean, I got hired in 2017. We were office mates. I think that when I was even interviewing, when I came in for my interview, I think I randomly saw Roy Ann Hassan and just like in the hallways and I was like, oh, jeez. Oh, wow, you know, and it just, you know, and it just, just, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, and, 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 was, I was just, I was, I was, I th, I th, I th, I th, I thi, I th, I th, I th, I th, I th, I th, I th, I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I, I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. thi. th. th. I th. saw Roy and Hassan and just like in the hallways and I was like, oh jeez, oh jeez, oh wow, you know, and it just started to feel less like a potential office job I was going to get and more like an actual, oh this is, this is like where they make the daily show, which you would know showing up to the building, but yeah, that was, that was really wild. And then, yeah, when I interviewed it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was it was with it was with it was with it was with it was with it was with it was with it was with it was with it was with it was with it was with it was with. It was with. It was with the the the the the the the their. Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the.e.e.e.e.e. th. thee. thee. the, thee. the, the, the, thee.e. the, thee. the, th yeah, that was that was really That was really wild and then yeah, when I interviewed it was with

Trevor, it was like I felt like we were vibing but also He can never tell if that's like you've definitely got the job or these are just nice people. Yeah, you know, so when I got the call that I got it, I was like floored and then, yeah, showing up. I feel like you were the best person th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th. th. th. that. that. that. that. that. that. that. that. that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's. that's that. that. that. that. that. that. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. that that that that th. that that that that that that that that thr. that that thr. thr. thr. that thr. that thr. then, yeah, showing up, I feel like you were the best person to be paired with for the beginning, because you were very gracious with all the questions, and you were also like giving me tips of like, oh, hey, there's a chance no one will mention this. Yeah. So have, just be ready for this as well. I do feel like your catchphrase that first couple years was, quick question. Yeah. I would feel a tap on my shoulder and just quick question.

Yeah. Yeah, yeah. Yeah, I mean, if anything now, I have a too thrown. Yeah, I mean, if anything now, I have a quick question. that to throw stuff hey, I don't know where to sit anymore. Yeah, I have nothing for you. I don't know where you should throw stuff out. I don't know any of the stuff anywhere. But no, I think that we had a good dynamic. I think that it only took a short year and a half before our office was legendary.

I don't know if we'll ever reach those heights again. Well, it was very early on in the process inthat we were in our office and then you were very close with Dulce Sloan, who she started as a correspondent then, and I don't even know how soon it is into your time in the office, she came in with a trophy and handed it to you, and it was clearly she was roasting you by giving you a trophy. It was brutal. It was, it was, and you, and th. And th. And, it was, it was, it was brutal. And, and, and, and, th. And, th. And, th, th, th, th, th, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you thi, you were thi, you, you thi, you thi, you thi, you thi, you thi, you thi, you thi, you, you th, you, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you th, you thi, you thi, you were thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi. thi thi thi thi thi. thi thi. thi. thi thi thi, thi, she was roasting you by giving you a trophy. It was brutal. And well basically this is what she did that was cruel is she mailed it to me. So it was my first piece of mail at the show.

And so I was like, I, the trophy was a nuke if you buck trophy, which is a trophy for a song that I despise, right? And so I can't remember, yeah, it was, I think maybe I opened it was, was shocked and then. I remember you putting your head in your hands, which is a weird thing to see someone do when they've just opened a trophy. Yeah. So there was a lot of things going on in that moment. Then I think I put it in, I think I put it in her office for like a day or something. Sure. Just try to leave it with her. And then she brought it back, I think to our office and she was like, nah, this is yours. Yeah, it did feel like it immediately became a horkrux for you, like a piece of your soul broke off

and was imbued into that trophy. Yeah. The other thing that was great about it was about like to Josh Johnson for something for knucking and bucking, but it wasn't even the winner, it was the runner-up that was helping her come up with this horrific gift. And then, you know, we had what, I'd say all the way up until COVID, we had such a great, like a full, whatever, maybe like nearly three-year run in that office of just like phenomenal times. Yeah, 2017 until 2020. Yeah, and then

Oh, jeez yeah. The powers that be it was too powerful. They had to split us up. Yeah, they had to mix it up. They split us up first with a global pandemic. Yes, yes. Yes. And then when we got back an office switch, really nothing else would have been powerful enough to break us apart. Yeah Yeah, yeah. Yeah, the the the the the the the the the the the th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. Yeah, th. th. th. th. te 17 te 17 te 17 te 17 te 17 te. te. te. te. te. te 17 te. te. te. te. te. te. te. Yeah, te. Yeah, te. Yeah, te. Yeah, te, te, te. Yeah, te. Yeah, te. Yeah, te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te. te enough to break us apart. Yeah. Yeah. You know. I also remember you I'm very kind of neat and organized and fastidious and you're less so. Is that fair to say? It's more than fair. To the point where you had back injuries at that time and to make your chair more comfortable you put bubble wrap on it. Not even like a pillow or something ergonomic you just had like loose bubble wrap up. You just, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you the back, you the back, you the back, you the back, you th, you th, you th back, you th, you th, you th back, you th back, you th back. I th th tho, I tho, I tho, I tho, I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I th. I the th, I th, I the the the the th, I th. I thi thi. I thi tho thoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. I tho. I tho. I tho. I thotime and to make your chair more comfortable you put bubble wrap on it. Not even like a pillow or something ergonomic. You just had like loose bubble wrap like you were an Amazon package. So that's how you were protecting yourself in the office. Basically I did not, I had tried all of the sort of normal ways of dealing with the problem and all of the small pillows were too small to where they were just like, I trying my hips for my hips for. It. the, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you, you just, you just, th, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, the, like, like, the, the, the, the, the, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, thi, thi, small pillows were too small to where they were just like maybe hiking my hips forward and all the big pillows were so big that the chair was not supporting me

and the pillow. Sure. So then I was like, I got all this bubble wrap from, I can't remember what it was. I think it was actually something that had been sent to the office and it was about to be thrown away. Could it have been the Dulce Trophy? It could have been the trophy. It could have been the trophy.

It could have been the trophy. And so then I went ahead and just wrapped a little bit of the chair in some bubble because it felt like enough enough give and enough firmness. Sure. It sounds crazy like I actually forgot I did this until you just said. Yeah. One other thing I wanted to bring up from our time as office mates, I wrote this down because I went through some of our old messages where we used to like talk when we were in the office and and I had forgotten about this. There was a time when I walked into our office and on your computer screen was a vice article that said the headline was making people laugh for a living sucks in all caps. Yeah. And it felt like such a cry for help that you just left that open on your computer

screen and the audience I'm like, is everything all right man? Do you want to talk? What's going on? That is so funny. I've, yeah, I also forgot this happened. I am not the best at reading articles in the moment. Sure. I clicked on the article and then I think someone paged me or something and then I just left it as like nearly my screen saver almost for like maybe two days. Yeah. And it wasn't until I didn't even put together how it must look until you said something because I was like, oh yeah not me it's the guy wrote the article I'm just kind of trying to see how it was look until you said something. Because I was like, oh yeah, not me. It's the guy wrote the article.

I'm just kind of trying to see how I think you're projecting. Yeah, yeah. I have bad news about what you have to do as a correspondent is making people laugh for a living is kind of, you've kept on the path. You are very much on that path. I've really stayed the course. You have. It's a good thing that I did not write that article. I was just sort of curious what this other person was going through.

That's good. Yeah. If I'm being completely honest, the entire transition from writer to, um, to like, corresponding what I'm doing now was very, very quick. Yeah, yeah. So I'm doing now was very, very, like, quick. Really? Yeah, yeah, so I'm very excited. I feel like I've been working towards it for a long time. But also I'm very much like trying to keep my eyes wide open.

How did you find out? What was the, was it a phone call, was it a call into someone's office? Was it, you know, like the... Yeah, yeah, it was it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, it was a phone, the phone 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, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, from my reps and it was very close to when I was first on the show. So it's like like that cookie monster thing to the yeah, it was like because my my time as a writer was going to come to an end very close to the end date in March. And so I was like, yeah, wow, this is all happening.

Yeah, it was just a beautiful transition one to the other. One thing that people at home won't know is, you and I have written with Dulce a lot, and we did a test show for John to come back, sort of like a rehearsal, and you filled in for Dulce at the test show. And the energy in the building was just so palpable the whole day where it was like John was back and then the whole, we hadn't done a full what's called a whip where like you go around

from all the different news team members, like, okay, we're going to go to Costa and then to Desi and then to Dulce and then to Ronnie and then to Clepper so everyone's there it's a ton of energy and Dolce wasn't in in New York at that time so you filled in for her. Believe me when I say you murdered so hard. You just it was so incredibly funny and in a day where there was so much energy in there and we were all laughing and I don't know if you felt it or not but there was a moment of like oh he's gonna be a correspondent on the show because he is it was that level of funny and it was also like Dulce's voice because you know how to write for her so well and then she did so great in that bit but it was also your voice in this ki thi th felt like one of those showbiz moments of like this is a star making

performance at least it felt that way from my point of view oh thanks man it was great John can I interrupt here yes I'm sorry it's don't say so on everybody don't say, I'm going to assume that's the same diner. What part of the diner is that? Oh, I'm outside the diner because I'm talking to black people, we don't go to diners. What unique perspective to black people have about this election, Doolsa? Their unique perspective is it's the same as everyone else.

They don't want this shit. They can't believe that I have 300 million people, this country, churned out the exact same old man fight we just had. One lady told me she hope she die in the voting booth. I can't blame her. I asked one dude what he thought about the candidates. He told me, leave him the fuck alone. And he was right. And then one of my other favorite days was when we found out thi. the the thi. I thi. I the th. I th. I th. I the to. I. I. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. to. the to. to. toe. toe. toe. toe. toe. the the toe. toe. told, told, the the the the the the same. the same. the same. the same. the same. the same. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. I. the the the the the t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. the threw hands, but he was right. And then one of my other favorite days was when we found out that you were going to be a news team member because we were in the morning meeting, we watched all the clips, and you were there as normal, and then they made an announcement that Josh is joining the show as a news team member. And we cheer it was so fun. It was like as if we were your friends finding out, but also your colleagues finding out. And also we get to work with you in that capacity, which was so fun. And so then we go off and we pitch some ideas and we ended up doing that cookie monster piece,

which was really fun. Because there was so much juice in that, because it's, I think we feel like it's a gift any time we get a story that is political, but pop cultural, but has a th silliness to it where we can play with it. Josh, look, I love hating stuff too, but aren't you being a little too hard on Mr. Monster? He's trying to fight, he's trying to fight shrinkflation. Oh, you're telling me that Cookie Monster just brought up Shrinkflation. The same week as Biden on his own. The only words I've ever heard Cookie Monster say are me and Cookie.

Who taught him shrinkflation? Walk me through that day from your point of view as a member of the news team, having, obviously you've experienced it as a writer, but what was it like as a member of the news team, having, obviously you've experienced it as a writer, but what was it like as a member of the news team, putting that piece together? It actually felt fairly quick, because then I had to do so many other little things that I could only pop in to the office with you all, you know, really after you were like close to done, right? And then we went to rehearsal rehearsal the rehearsal, the rehearsal, the rehearsal, the rehearsal, the rehearsal, the rehearsal, the rehearsal, the re, the re, the, the, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, the the the to, to, the the the to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, too, too, too, too, too, too, t, t, t, t, t, t, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, the the the the the te, the te, te, te, te, te, te, te, te. te. together, together, together, together, together, t done, right? Like y'all were close to done. And then we went to rehearsal, and then rehearsal was okay,

and then we went to the rewrite. And I do feel like at rewrite we made it much better going into the final for the show, than it was in rehearsal, because I thought it was really funny going into rehearsal, and then, yeah, I think the whole thing just elevated which was really really cool to see because sometimes whenever you come out of of rehearsal especially as a writer you're like well I might be out of ideas because you've been working on it all day and those are my best ideas and and then you either come out with a directive

or you come out with something else. Yeah, because we initially had an ending where you were just furious at Cookie Monster the whole time. The basic gist of it were that you are, why would Cookie Monster care about Trinkflation? He drops cookies all the time. And then there's bigger problems on Sesame Street. Oscar is homeless. That came up. And then, then, then, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, thi, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thin, thi, thi, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, tho, because, tho, because, th, th, th, th. th, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. And, th. And, thi, thi, thi, and thi, and thi, and thi, and thoooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooooo. And, and there's there's bigger problems on Sesame Street. Oscar is homeless. Yeah, that came up and then we were trying to come up with like an emotionally grounded reason for you to

hate Cookie Monster and we thought it was funny that you were never allowed to eat cookies as a kid. Yeah. So you just had to sit on the couch eating carrot sticks and you watch this monster just just throwing cookies in his face and he's not even getting them in his mouth. And so then it ended with you like eating a bunch of cookies and crying. But then like you try something in rehearsal and it didn't like hit the way we wanted it to hit. So we got rid of that. And we added this thing where we talked about it at the desk that there was something weird about the fact that Cookie Monster was talking about it. And we the th, like the th, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, th. And, th. And, th. And, th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. thi. th. thi. thi. th. th. the. the in the headline or if you should talk about it in the chat. And we went back and forth, I remember when we were rewriting it of it. And then we're like, let's just take a crack at it.

And we got to the line of like the only, why is Cookie Monster bringing up on his own? And that felt like such a great line in your, the voice of your standup and everything. And how did that, how, that, thi, that, that, thii that, that, thii, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, tho, tho, tho, tho, thi, thi, tho, tho, tho, tho, thr-in, thr-in, thr-in, thr-in, th. And, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, thi, thi, thr-n, thr-n, thro. the, thro. the, thro. the, throo. the, the, thro. the, that, how is that process as a, as a performer for you to kind of work with the writers and tell us your voice. And are you teaching us how to write for you or? I think, I don't know, personally, I've always thought like voice is relative, like no matter who I've been writing for, I feel like outside of something being like dirty or something, I feel like people just pick good jokes that they want to say. So I know that's what voice is supposed to be, but I think that sometimes people think about

it's so much in a way that's a little, it's a little limiting, because it'll be like, oh, there's all these great jokes but none of them are in the person's voice. It's like, no, tho, tho, tho, tho, th, tho, tho, th, th, th, tho, thi thi thi thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, I thi, thi, thi, thi, that's that's that's that's like, that's like, that's like, that's that's that's that's tho, so I tho, so I thi, so I thi, so I thi, so I thi, so I thi, so I thi, so I th. So, th. So, th. So, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thin, thin, tho, tho, thooo, thoooo. I'm thooooo. I'm that's thoooooo. So, that's tho, th are in the person's voice. It's like, no, though, any person who likes jokes will pick lots of jokes. Do you know what I mean? And so I think that for me, I think everyone already, baseline, writes things that I want to say. Like every writer that we have, I see from when I was writing, you know, two weeks ago. Like, I see their jokes when we're all pitching and everything. And I'm like, that's a great joke, that's a great joke, that's a great joke. So, voice to me is relative to like, you know, that point of view. I get that it's important. But I also think that coupling what is clearly a great joke with how you want to say it, is much more more more, the, the the the, is much more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more more their that is much more thi that is much more that that that it's important, but I also think that coupling what is clearly a great joke

with how you want to say it is much more collaborative than just That's a great joke, but it's not in my voice, so I won't even try to finagle the the wording or something. I think that the the entire point of a voice and what makes it memorable is making as many things work as possible, you know? And then as far as the performing it, I was more like, what's the, because you are figuring out who you're going to be to everybody in the moment, and as you progress, so then figuring out who you're going to be to, to everyone is a collaborative process as well, because to some degree, you are like, like, being, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, like, the, the, like, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the,'re going to be to everyone is a collaborative process as well because to some degree you are like being, however you authentically feel about the bit, then for the rest of it you also have to be aware of how you come off to people.

Yeah. We had that whole run of, cookie monster doesn't have a digestive system. He doesn't know the feeling of having his pants around his ankles and having to shovel, like shuffle through his own apartment, like he's robbing the place and that his girlfriend walks in. Explain to me why Cookie Monster cares about toilet toilet paper. He doesn't have a digestive system.

He's never taken a shit in his life. He doesn't know the pain of sitting on toilet the the toy toy the toy the toy toy the toy, the toy, the the toy, the the toy, the toy, the the toy, the the the toy, th, th, th, th, th, th pain of sitting on to it with a stomach full of lamb curry, running out of paper, and having a sidestep your way out, doing the pants around the ankle waddle, like you robbing your own house. Only for your girlfriend to walk in, see you, then immediately walk out. Do you have to deal with that, Mr. Cookie Monster? Because me did. Me very much did. And we talked about, do people, will this work

if people don't know Josh yet? Because it felt like a way that you would deliver it as a performer, and it was coloring in like anxiety in the character that is you, you know, you on the show. And it's sort of like, well, can we do kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind kind of that that that that that that th th th th th th th th th th at kind of th at thi thi thi thi thi thi thi that that that, that, thi, thi, thi, that, that, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, is you on the show. And it's sort of like, well, can we do that? Will people connect to it? Or are we kind of establishing, like, this is what Josh is like? That it is like, nervous, anxious, angry. Like we're painting a lot of different colors

of what your character is? And I feel like it worked really well. And now it's like, oh, this is, we've established that for you, that now we can even go further with it and play with it more. And we're kind of introducing you and your psyche to the audience. In an ideal way, you will not just come off like funny, but people will understand what your point of view is every time. And then not saying that you should be predictable, but like, I think down the line, people get excited for your take on a thing because you come off a certain way,

or because they think that they're excited to see what your point of view means to each new subject, if that makes sense. And so it's only, you know, it's only like one chat to go off so far, but yeah, I'm, I'm hoping that as thi, I'm, that as that as that as that as that as that as that as thi, I'm,, that as that as thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, that as that as that as thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, I'm, thi, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, I'm, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, to thi, thi, to to thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, th only you know, it's only like one chat to go off so far, but yeah, I'm, I'm, I'm hoping that as we progress, people can get that feeling more often. We have to take a quick break, but we will be right back with Josh Johnson. This election cycle has already been quite a ride. Scared, nauseous, wishing this thing had seat belts, Pod Save America is here to help. I'm John Lovett and each and each and each and each and each and each and each and each and each and each and each and each and each and th and th and th and th and th and th and th and th and th and th and th and th and th and th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. 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 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 the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. I th. I th. th. the the the thi. the the the the. the tho. the. tho. the. tho. to to to to thing had seatbelts, Pod Save America is here to help. I'm John Lovett and each week me and my co-host John Favre, Tom Favre, Tommy Vitor and break down the political news that makes you laugh, cry, and scream into the void to help you figure out what matters and what each of us can do about it. Pod Save America, the the context you nene. ne. ne. ne. ne. ne. ne. ne. to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to th. th. th. to th. to to to to to to to to to to to to to to the 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 to to to to to to to to the to the the the the to to the the the the the the the th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th th th th th the. the. the the. the the the the the. the the to. the. the. to to to to to to to to to to to the to has been. Listen and subscribe to Pod Save America on your favorite podcast platform now. You went out to talk to New Yorkers about the Trump sneakers that he announced, which, you know, he designed these sneakers and sold them at SneakerCon. Now what do you think of these sneakers?

Um, you know, it's very patriotic. I think that there's no rules in fashion. You can you can wear them at SneakerCon. Now, what do you think of these sneakers? You know, it's very patriotic. I think that there's no rules in fashion. You can wear whatever you want, but me, Percy, I would not. Would you copy these? You wouldn't? No, hard pass. It looks very 2009 dated. They actually, they look like they don't bend. What are your thoughts on this shoe? Trying to be chic, but also very nationalistic.

Gotcha. Now, would you wear the shoe? No. Okay. How is it to go out into the field and kind of not necessarily have a plan, but just trust that the comedy will come either from the questions you ask or what people say, or then that it'll boomerang back on you like where they were roasting your sneakers because I feel like you have a great you are especially in a dynamic when like Dulce is around is I feel like you quickly get into that

younger brother dynamic and then there was literally a seventh grader there just roasting you on your shoes so how was going out to do that yeah yeah it was cool I think that because all of funny is relative I think that what can be the th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th th the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. th. th. th. the th. th. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the th. the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the theeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeee. the. the. the the because all of funny is relative, I think that what can be funny and who can be funny is much, much broader than people imagine. And so I think when you're doing the the pieces out there, it's important to sometimes take a step away and let the person you're talking to be funny, because if they have something funny to say, then that's way more interesting than something funny I have to say. Like I already know what I would say. If I'm going to do all the jokes, then why did we come here?

You know, the people that I'm talking to, especially the fact that I don't know them, the fact that their th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, th, that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that's that I's that I's that I's that I's that I's that I that I that I that I that I thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi the the the the the their their their their their their their their their their thi their thi thi thi thi thi thi thi thi them, the fact that their, you know, their responses are earnest is like, that's where all of the real comedy is. How did you feel when a seventh grader walked up to you and he was as tall as Victor Wimbabweenama, and then you had to stand next to him? Because it felt like you shrunk somehow. It was crazy. So you think if you wore these to school, you might get roasted up. Yeah, because like what grade are you in? Seventh.

You're in seventh grade? Yeah. How tall are you? Six one. I played basketball. You should. When he said he was in the seventh grade, I had to get him to repeat it maybe twice and

Even then I was like Nah like this this is this feels like you know like when a when a baseball team is like trust us. He's in the seventh grade Yeah, you know because my man was was huge and and even with him, I was like, oh yeah, this kid's like got his own take on the thing just for me asking. And I think that's what audiences enjoy too, is just, there's always going to be someone who has the same take as you, totally different, and then something you wouldn't have thought of, and I think getting all of that from the people at large

is more interesting than me just talking, and then maybe it lines up with one of those three things. Did you imagine that your daily show debut would be you being roasted by a middle schooler? Which seems like the nightmare, right? It is on brand, though. Sure. That's a pretty bad, but what about your shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes shoes thia thia thia thia thia thi brand, though. Sure. That's a pretty bad, but what about your shoes, dog? What?

Those are some dirty-ass shoes, bro. What those are some thing-ass shoes? Oh, hell not. I'm about to run a marathon? It's really about the- It's really about trauma. You're lucky you bigger than me, man. As much as it is what I would not want for myself, it is probably the most likely thing to have happened. Sure.

Yeah. And I, and look, I thought it was pretty funny. I thought it was pretty funny. Every once while you get roasted and you're like, they're just right. I don't even know if that's a full roasting. Definitely not overcooked. One thing I wanted to ask you about is how over the years working at the Daily Show has changed your approach to stand up comedy. Because I'm like a huge fan of your specials and when you put out hashtag and then up here killing myself, the one where you kind of intercut between you and a therapist.

I feel like you were so great at writing about big, broad, evergreen topics. And then I remember, it was during the writer strike, we weren't making shows, and you were doing stand-up and you started posting stuff, and the thing you did about the Alabama boat fight. Oh yeah, yeah. It was like, oh my God, and I was laughing so hard. Did y'all see the Alabama brawl? Yo, yo, who knew Wakanda was in Alabama? That was crazy. You know, that was wild. So many people came out of nowhere.

That shit was like Black January 6th. I feel like you've kept up the momentum of writing about topical things and doing it. Do you think writing here and working here has made you want to do that more, or is it just how social media is now with stand-up? Were you putting clips out more and more? I think that the show has helped a lot in that the show has become its own sort of daily practice for years in writing when you don't feel funny or you don't feel like it or you don't feel creative enough or whatever and you still manage to help make a show, I think, is

the greatest testament to that like art and creativity aren't these like esoteric ideas that are just going to come and go and leave you and stick with you sometimes and it's not like an angel that might abandon you or something. It's like it's just a willingness to commit yourself to something every day. And it's like lunch pail work. Yes. John would say about democracy. Yeah. Yeah. And so I think that that helped. And then yeah, when we were on the rider strike, I wasn't doing anything else. And so I felt like it was the

perfect time to start doing that. And I've tried to keep up with it ever since. And I also just felt like if I can commit myself to putting out a lot of new stuff, especially on a place like YouTube, especially written jokes instead of just crowd work, I think that it would, one, set me apart, and two, I'd be able to connect with the community that I'm trying to build in a deeper way. And so I think that the show has definitely helped me to both sort of grasp and learn how communicate better, bigger ideas and stories that you have to both entertain people with, but also tell them why they should care about it in the same moment. And immediately pivot to a comedic take on it. You have to lay all the track of, here's everything you need to know to know to know to know to know to know to know to know to know to know the the to the to the thi thi their thi their thi thi their their their their thi, their their thi, their thi, thi, their their the, the, the, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, the, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, thi, thin, thin, tho, thoooooooooo.e.e.e.e. thoooooo, thoooo, their, their, their, their, the it in the same moment. And immediately pivot to a comedic take on it.

You have to lay all the track of here's everything you need to know and then here's an unexpected comedic twist on it. Yeah, yeah. So I think that with the years of practice doing that here, it was something that really helped with stand up because it gave me a more more like worldly approach, hopefully, to everything that I do. You were on the road with Trevor a lot too. When we were officemates in like 2018, 2019 every weekend, you'd be like, hey man, what are you up to this weekend? I'd be like, oh you know, my wife and I are going out, you know, we were getting ready to have a baby, and you're like, yeah, I'm the the 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 to to to they to to to be to to be to be to to be to be to be to be to be to to be to be their, their, tree, tree, tree, tree, tree, tree, tree, tree, to, tree, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, t...., t, t, t, t., t., t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. t. tree, the the the the the the thee, thee, thee, thea, thea, thee, thee, thee, thee, the you're like, yeah, I'm playing the United Center. I'm like, oh, great. But you would always be like, what do you have to? Oh, nothing much.

I'm just doing a couple shows. And then I would look it up and it'd be like, you're playing at the, like, where the Chicago Bulls played, like it was that. thoo' that it was not that, how did that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that, that that that that that that that that, that, that thi, to to to to to to to to to to to tho, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, that, that, that, that's that's that's that's thi, thi, thi, thi, thi, the the the the the the the the to the they. to they. to to to they. Oh, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, too, too, oh, too, to, the show on camera. I learned very often that it was not my show at all. Like it was, you know, not that I ever thought it was, but I just, you know what I mean? Like, it was very, it was very, like kind and gracious of Trevor to even bring me and everything. And I'm, I only say that because like, you are part of this thing. And then people, you are part of this thing and then people you know he has great audiences so then the people were excited for anybody to to open up the

show or anything like that so with with Vince and I it was just such a it was such a rush of a feeling and everything and then you'll do the your set you know so so I'm only doing a little bit of time. And then you do your set and then you realize like the difference between what you could do with your time and that what he could do with his. And so you're just like, oh, wow. This is very different, yeah, I mean. What's the biggest difference between you then and you now?

Because it's been like probably five years even since you were doing those. Like what do you think has changed in your writing and in your performing since then? I think I'm just a bit more, like confident in what I want to say, and I also move more. Okay. Yeah, yeah. Because Trevor was like, eventually you're going to have to move. He's like, he's like, you're doing an arena. You can't just stand back. I mean, you did have to sort out your back with bubble wrap before you could do that.

Yeah, yeah. Just turn and hear seven pops and then start walking. Yeah. But no, I just, I'm, that was, that was kind of my sort of awakening to how big comedy could be. Because I had always heard of comedy happening in these places, but to actually see it and not just see it to like, see it from backstage. And to do some of it is like crazy. Like I always felt like...

You too was here last night. Now I'm on this stage. Like what? Yeah, I always felt like the most blessed guest in the way of like being able to be around for that stuff. Because that was just, yeah, crazy man. That's cool. Well the fact that you found both confidence and humbleness is pretty cool.

Yeah, I mean, look, any sort of humble, just trust me it's been over years of terrible circumstance. Like, where was I? I was at this place. They had asked me to do the show. It was so funny. It was like why I still lived in Chicago. And it was like some sports bar. They had, and they wanted me to come, and I thought it was going to be a showcase,

but they just wanted me to come do like 45 minutes. Okay. So, which isn't actually the length of a headlining set, but that's not the length of a whole show. Yeah. And so then I get th the 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 their tho. tho. they're their tho. tho. tho. tho. they're, they're, they're, they're, they're, they're, they're, they're, they're, they's, they's, their. their. their. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi. they. they. they. they's. they's. they're, they're, they're, the. the. the. they're the. the. the. they're they're thea. thea. they're thea. they're they're they're they're they're their. that's not the length of a whole show. Yeah. And so then I get there and I'm like, oh, is there a host? And they're like, no, it's all you. And I was like, oh, okay. And like, and I'm so, I'm so early in a stand-up. I didn't think to it's like not quite a sports bar, but sports were on and people were actively watching them. So they turn off all the

TVs without warning. So then people are like, what are you doing? And then they're like, yeah, show starting. That was the introduction, by the way, show starting. And so then I step on a wooden palette.. Then, th. Then, th. Then, th. Then, th. Then, th. Then, the the 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, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, th. th. th. th. th. their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, the introduction, by the way, show starting. And so then I step on a wooden palette. Oh no. And I have the microphone, I'm just talking. And at one point I can just kind of hear this guy go, what are you doing? I'll say, oh my God. That's the word, what are you doing?

Yeah, that'll keep you humble. Do you have that voice in your head when you're at the United the United the United the United the United the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the the word, what are you doing? Yeah, that'll keep you humble. Yeah. Do I have that voice in your head when you're at the United Center that you were worried that that guy was going to be there again, hoping to see a Bulls game? Yeah. And then he's just going to go, what are you doing? Any long silence in an arena setting, I hear, what are you doing? Before we go, you were talking of the internet, the internet, the internet, the internet, the internet, the internet, the internet, the internet, the internet, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, to, the to, to, to, to, to, to, they, to, they, to, to, to, to, to, their, their, their, their, their, toe, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, they, they, they, they, they, they, theyyy.a, woome.a, woomea, woomorrha, woomorrow, tooomorrow, woomorrow, toea, woomorrow, woomorrow, toea, they to, you were talking of the internet earlier. I know they say not to read the YouTube comments or internet comments. But since you've joined the news team, I did want to take a look at what the response has been from the good people online to you joining the news team. So here's a few. Josh Johnson crushed it, his deadpan delivery, frozen pauses for the audience, and his inflection made every joke land a fantastic.. to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to to their their to their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. their. I their. their. their. their. I their. I their. I their. I their. I their. I their. 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. the the the th. th. th. th. the. the. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. th. th. And. th. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. And. delivery, frozen pauses for the audience, and his inflection made every joke land a fantastic new edition.

That's very kind. That's a good one. This is my first time seeing Josh Johnson and I laughed so hard. I cried keep him on the show. Wow, thank you. Very good. Calling for your job security. That's awesome. Yeah. And then Josh Johnson is a national treasure. Daily Show, please buy this man some Jordans for the next shoe segment. You know if I had Jordans, maybe not this would have happened. Maybe. Yeah, I mean? If I had Jordans, then maybe, maybe that kid would have had nothing. What are you working with now? What do you? Because I'm sure we can't see your shoes on the camera. Definitely not on the ears edition. No, no, no.

So right now I'm going with some on clouds. Okay. They are the black on black and they are one day old. I've only scuffed them once. Okay. Yeah, they're very okay. Maybe avoid some middle schoolers. Yeah, they're very okay. Maybe, maybe avoid some middle schoolers. Yeah, easily. Yeah, easily. I actually, I think I've told you about this. This is years ago of how like when I'm, I used to live down the street from a middle school and I would

walk around the school. Do you remember this? Yeah, I would take a left before I got to the school I'd walk all the way around the school and then I'd the the the the the the the the the the th. the the the school. th. Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, the school, yeah, easily, easily, easily, easily, easily, easily, yeah, the school, easily, easily, easily, yeah, yeah, yeah, they, easily, easily, easily, easily, easily, yeah, easily, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, the school, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, their, they, they, they, they, they, they, the, their, their, the school. Do you remember this? Yeah, I would take a left before I got to school. I'd walk all the way around the school and then I'd take, so I was just basically taking the long way home like I was a middle schooler. Because to avoid the middle school? Yeah, because dude, the kids are like, and then one of them was big too, so it's like you can't even, the fact that you're the the fact the fact the fact the fact the fact th... The fact th. The fact th. The fact th. The fact th. The fact th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. thi, thi. th. th. thi, thi, thi. th. th. th. So, so, so, so, so, so, so I was, so I was, so I was, so I was, so I was, so I was, so I was, so I was, so I I I was, so I I I I I I I I was, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, so, th. So, th. So, th. So, th. So, th. So, th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. th. I was just, th. I was just, th. So, th. So, I was, th. So, I was, 't even the fact that you're an adult doesn't even scare the like Didn't a football like land at your feet or something am I remembering? Yes. Yes. Yes. So this this was not at home, but it was in my neighborhood a football landed at my feet and then I I look up and they're like throw it back. But then the fence the fence was actually like really really high like crazy high to the point where I don't tho th, like th, like th I th I th I th th I th I don't th th th th th th th th I don't th th th I don't th th then the fence, the fence was actually like really, really high, like crazy high, to the point where I don't know how they got it over. They got it over.

They're pre-teens, most likely. But the fence was high. But the fence was high. But the fence was high. No, I know. That makes it worse. And so then I tried to throw it back and I hit the fence and it bounced back and it hit me on my shoulder and like, yeah, I like, I talked about it in stand up once before where I was like, they roasted me so hard that I genuinely thought about calling the police. I was like, I don't care how it looks, I'll be I'll be the next

like barbecue Becky Karen, whatever, but like they can't just get away with this. Because then, because then I was like, all right, I'm just going to go, because there's no way I'm going to get the ball over the fence. I like to think that one of the kids that roasted you was the same kid that you saw in th. that you th. thoen, that you thoe in thoe in thoe in thooo. tho. tho. tho. tho. That tho. tho. tho. tho. tho, tho, tho, tho-I tho' tho' thi thi's tho' tho' tho' tho'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n'n't th. I th. I's th. I's the. thii. I's thi. thi. the. the. the. the. I's the. theeeeeeeean't tho'ea'ea'ea'ea'ea'ea'ea'ea'ea'ea'ea'ea'n't the. I's the. I'm to think that one of the kids that roasted you was the same kid that you saw in the sneaker piece when you went out, that he's just been your nemesis. Yeah, that he's just got a great arm. Yeah, it's a great arm and he's seven foot one. And he's just following you around roasting you. Middle schoolers are your natural predator, so. I just hope you stay safe out there. Try to avoid do all good things as a member of the news team, but avoid any middle schoolers who will roast you. Probably just gonna stay in the building. That's a good idea. Yeah. It's probably best for everyone. Well, thank you so much for joining me and Josh Johnson,

and thanks for listening to the Daily Show, year's edition. Yeah. Explore more shows from the Daily Show from 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. This election cycle has already been quite a ride. Scared, nauseous, wishing this thing had seatbelts, Pod Save America is here to help.

I'm John Lovett and each week me and my co-hosts, John Favreau, Tommy Vitor and break down the political news that makes you laugh, cry, and scream into the void to help you figure out what matters and what each of us can do about it. Pod Save America, the context you need for next 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 to to to to to to to to to to the to the to to the to to the context you need for next week's news, when you won't be burdened by what it's been. Listen and subscribe to Pod Save America on your favorite podcast platform now.