The Daily Show: Ears Edition - Trump Faces Off with Newsom As Marines Head to L.A. | Bryan Cranston

Episode Date: June 11, 2025

Desi Lydic has the latest updates from the L.A. ICE protests, including Trump's outsized military deployment to the city, which defies both California Governor Gavin Newsom and the... "P***y Comitatus Act"? Plus, one soldier sends a letter home from the frontlines of the L.A. war. Where does the public stand on Trump vs. Elon? Grace Kuhlenschmidt and Josh Johnson head out to ask New Yorkers to pick: Team Douche or Team Pedophile? Bryan Cranston joins Desi to discuss his new movie, “Everything’s Going To Be Great," and a busy year of work, including his third film with Wes Anderson and playing a hilarious exec on “The Studio.” He shares how he navigates portraying vastly different characters, why he had to really sell himself to get the role of Walter White, and his passion for live theater.See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

This is an iHeart Podcast. You're listening to Comedy Central. From the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central, it's America's only source for news. This is The Daily Show with your host, Desi Lydic. Welcome to the Desi Show. I'm Desi Lydic. We've got so much to talk about tonight. The United States invades the United States. America chooses who they want to live with in the MAGA divorce.

And Trump has an escalation that lasts longer than four hours. So let's get into the headlines. ["The New York Times"] By now, you've probably seen all the protest footage out of LA in the wake of Trump's immigration sweeps but despite what you're seeing on the news keep in mind that most of the protesters have come with more of a chill SoCal vibe. Dancing, playing music and unleashing these devastating projectiles at police. So there's definitely a chance that this can all be resolved peacefully.

As long as nobody escalates this thing with an unnecessary show of force, we'll be A-O. President Trump mobilizing 2,000 California National Guard troops against the will of the state's governor. President Trump ordered the deployment of 2,000 more California National Guard troops, making for a total of 2,000 more California National Guard troops, making for a total of 4,000. Now making the unprecedented move of dispatching 700 active duty Marines to the streets of Los Angeles. Yes, nothing calms down a situation like a military invasion. In fact, that was part of my birth plan. I was like, honey, I want candles, classical music, and 700 armed Marines

storming the hospital room. Also drugs, lots of drugs. You know, it scratched that, just the drugs. You know, I'm beginning to wonder if Trump is intentionally trying to escalate this situation, because more chaos allows him to portray blue states as centers of crime, while positioning himself as a strong man that the country needs to rally around.

No, that's silly. I'm sure he's just doing what's best for everyone. Although deploying soldiers in an American city could put Trump on the wrong side of the law, again. There is concern over violating the Posse Comitatus Act. The Posse Comitatus law says that the U.S. military cannot engage in police functions on U.S. soil. That's right, Posse Comitatus. It's a very serious legal principle. So, I believe strongly in pussycommentatus. LAUGHTER APPLAUSE

Indeed, Trump is truly in violation of pussycommentatus. That's to say nothing of his violations of the Snatch Act. But in all seriousness, this is an extreme measure. The last time pussy coming tatas was used, it was on your mom last night! Another major concern here is that Trump cull called up the National Guard without permission from Gavin Newsom, governor of California and man with strong opinions about the food and business class.

But Newsom is hitting back. The absurdity of this cannot be understated. There were 2000 National Guard that were quote unquote deployed, of which only 315 actually were mission assigned. 1700 have no particular role or responsibility. This wouldn't be the first time someone went to LA looking for a role and couldn't find one. Hey, you listen to me 1700 troops. You keep following your dreams.

You work on your craft, knock down those doors, and most importantly, most importantly, do not go into porn. Do not. Don't do it. Although if you did, I've got a great title for you. Posey Cometaris. There it is. So, okay, Newsom is lobbing the unfathomable accusation that Trump might make decisions

without fully thinking them through, but I'm sure Trump will be the bigger man here. Earlier in the day, the president suggesting that it might be a good idea if his borders are, Tom Homan arrested the California governor. I would do it if I were Tom, I think it's great. When asked what crime Newsom has committed to warrant arrest, the president responding. I think his primary crime is running for governor because he's done such a bad job. That's a ridiculous statement from Trump. Gavin Newsom's primary crime is obviously his podcast. And even if Newsom wasn't good at his job,

being a bad governor doesn't mean you should get arrested. It means you should be mayor of New York. So while Newsom and Trump fight each other, Los Angeles is becoming a battleground for their rivalry. It's a hard story to turn away from, especially when some of these reporters are real easy on the eyes. It is entirely possible that by the end of today we will see nearly 5,000 combined California National Guard and Marines deployed here in Southern California.

You can see how much smoke is being deployed on the other side by the LAPD. Oh, I'm definitely seeing a smoke show. Someone should really hose that down. Excuse me, are you with CBS? Because I'd like to watch that ass for 60 minutes. These jokes were brought to you by the female gaze. The female gaze. It's not creepy because we're girls. So that's basically where we're at right now. Trump's terrible policy has generated a huge backlash, which he's responded to by overreacting, which is going to generate another backlash. We don't know how this is going to end, but at least we know it'll be a huge waste of money.

Defense Secretary Pete Haggseth says the deployment of the state National Guard Marines will cost at least $134 million. He expects the deployment to last at least 60 days. Hello, Doge? I found some cuts for you. Can you put your mom on the phone? Teenagers. Jesus.

Now, a 60-day deployment is a very long time for these soldiers, especially if they don't have a lot to do. Not to mention, it's going to make for a very weird Ken Burns documentary. My dearest Susie, I write from the not at all war torn Whole Foods parking lot on Fairfax and 3rd, across from the Grove. In previous tours, I witnessed awful carnage. But today, I did a celebrity home tour. I saw Kelsey Grammer's house. Loved him in Down Periscope.

How I long for the taste of your home cooking. I tried the Halle Bieber smoothie from Harawon. I posted a picture of it on my Insta, but I only got 12 likes. Sadly, last night we lost Johnny. He caught the improv bug and signed with UTA. At night we sleep on the floor. Secretary Hegseth was going to book hotel rooms, but he blacked out and forgot. I miss you my dear Suzy, I pray this war ends soon, but not too soon, for I have Friday night reservations at Nobu.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. We have that, we'll get the latest hot dog from Young Must, so don't go away.

Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Yeah. Elon Musk, to don't go away. CHEERING AND APPLAUSE Welcome back to The Daily Show. The feud between President Trump and Elon Musk has been going on for almost a week now, but it's only getting started. Because yesterday, that catty bitch Trump

was asked about Elon again. So take off your earrings, everyone, because this is going to get ugly. Do you think Elon Musk ever had drugs here at the White House? I really don't know. I don't think so. I hope not. Look, I wish him well.

You understand. We had a good relationship, and I just wish him well. Very well, actually. Wait, what? You wish him well? I don't want to hear that weak-ass shit. This is post-reunion behavior. I want pre-reunion behavior.

What does this mean? Is the feud over? Maybe there's this potential softening of the feud that erupted over the big, beautiful bill when Musk called it an abomination. Musk posted this reply to President Trump's post. It's a heart emoji. Read into that what you will.

Oh, it's not over because a single heart emoji is actually some passive aggressive shit. Which you know if you're Gen Z like me, don't Google it. The single heart is the lowercase K of emojis. Trust me, with this kind of crash out, Elon ate and left no crumbs, fax, no cap, short king. I'm very young. Again, don't Google it. So who do Americans really support when it comes to Trump versus Musk?

Our own Grace Kuhlenschmitt and Josh Johnson hit the streets to find out. What started out as a bromance is now ending in tragedy. Two billionaires. And it's actually not us this time. No, it's crazy. Two billionaires are having a public feud. And if this were a custody battle,

America is the child caught in between. Who will ignore our needs the most? Who will remember our birthday? There's only one thing left to do. It's time to pick a side. Oh, I can go whichever way. Sure. Are you team Trump or team Elon?

Oh, God, neither. Really? That's like a knife in a knife. I'll give you an easier question. Douchebag or pedophile? Neither, neither. There's no way. I'm a Trump-er.

All right. I mean, Trump's in charge of everything. Elon should keep his mouth shut. Team Trump or Team Elon? Training all that stuff feels very crazy. But to you, Trump tweets like a normal human being? I guess. Have you been following the drama between Trump and Elon?

No, not at all. All right, I'll explain it to you. We have Elon, who's actually, and I did some research, a billionaire. He makes cars and he has a lot of money, which is kind of what billionaire means. I have something in common with my friends and so it makes sense that they have become friends. And basically then, so someone got mad at someone

and it's hard to remember who. They both have money and who doesn't love that? And Epstein is an island, he was an island owner. And some other stuff perhaps as well. So can you make a decision now? Even though I just gave you so much information. So I'll put you down as socialist. What if it really came to blows in person?

Who you got? You think Trump beat Musk? So Elon showed up to the White House with a black eye. Yeah, he did. Said his five yearyear-old punched him. So basically, in this fight, if it ever comes down to it, Trump needs to train to reach the level of a five-year-old. I don't think Trump's beating anybody when he wears stilts.

It's made him so brutal. I don't think so. Because the press is too nervous to ask something like this. Between Donald Trump and Elon Musk, which one has the bigger dick? No! God Complex! Oh I'm sorry which one has the bigger what? God Complex? Yeah Trump. So what lesson has this taught you about friendship? That's a good question. I feel like it's taught me that if two billionaires who have been ego-stroking each other for years can't make it work, what faith do we have

in the rest of our friendships of just people with unpaid Venmo requests? Sounds hopeless, right? Exactly. Is there anything that you think could get them back in each other's good graces, strengthen the friendship? Give the money back to Eon. Because if there's one thing someone like Eon needs,

is money. But he wants more. More money. When things happen, they just run their course. It's over and done with. Move on. So is that your advice, maybe, for Trump and Elon right now? Move on.

Get out. There's always a new billionaire buddy. I say, give him Epstein's Island, move Trump and all the magas to the island. I'm actually glad that we're not billionaires, because nothing is a break-up since you're back. Did you just tweet that I'm on Epstein's list? Yeah, but that was before when I was upset with you.

You're not coming to Boy's Night anymore. You're not coming to Boy's Night anymore. This is you, Josh and Grace. When we come back, Ryan Cranston will be joining me on the show, so don't go away. Welcome back to The Daily Show. My guest tonight is a multi-award-winning actor who can currently be seen in the Phoenician scheme and the studio. His new film is called Everything's Going to Be Great. Please welcome Brian Cranston! Thank you.

Oh, boy. I am such an enormous fan of yours. Thank you for being here. Oh, thank you. Yes. Yes, and I'm not the only one, obviously. What's that? They're just reacting to the applause sign.

That's all. They're very obedient. Yeah, that's all. They're very obedient. We are very controlling when it comes to audience noise. This is true. You are in so many incredible projects right now. I actually had to write them all down just to keep track of them. OK, so just forgive me.

The scroll. Yeah, everything's going to be great. The Phoenician scheme, the studio, all my sons, Malcolm in the middle reboot. Breaking bad the college years. Brian Cranston searching for Stanley Tucci as he searches for Italy. Yeah. He went missing. He went missing and you had to go find him.

Breaking bread, the Walter White baking show. It's a bake-off with a secret ingredient. We won't say what it is. It's a blue ingredient, but I'm not saying what it is. Yeah, yeah, I think we have an idea. It goes totally off the rails. Trumbo 2 electric Trumboloo. Ah, I'm on roller skates this time.

I'm very excited for that one. This isn't that you really, you have so many, that's, okay, we're done with that prop now. It was good though. It was good, I like the scroll. So when you play such an iconic character like Walter White, so many actors have a really hard time doing something other than that,

because audiences have to get used to them, seeing them playing different roles, but not for you. It feels like every role that you play you play it like it is tailor-made for you. No one else can do it. So how do you even go about transitioning from role to role? Well I have a scroll that helps me. Perfect. Now, what was hard was going from Malcolm in the Middle for seven years playing this silly, goofy dad in underwear like kids would wear, and then trying

to get the job on Breaking Bad. It's a little different character. And this is true. The people at AMC and Sony were saying, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, you want the guy from Malcolm in the Middle to be Walter White? No, no. You know, and so it was, we had to convince them that that's what actors do.

Yes. We... Yes. We... Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes.

Yes. Yes. Yes. There's an intro. I love the story that you tell about getting that job. How one job on, is it the X-Files that Vince wrote on? Yes. And you had no idea would ever lead to that opportunity. You never do. As an actor, you're just looking for work. Yeah.

Anywhere you can because you have bills to pay. I had a young family and acting and pictures and resumes and all that stuff. And the offer came in to audition for The X-Files and I happened to get it. OK, great. I worked on The X-Files and then 10 years later, after Malcolm in the Middle, I get this call that Vince Gilligan from...

He's doing this new show called Breaking Bad. Do you remember him? I said, no. Do you know? He said he wrote X-Files for you. Do you remember him now? No. I don't know. Yeah, so I had to go in and really sell myself that I was the guy, you know, to do this job.

And he was my champion to get it. And that's what you need. You need someone who believes in your talent, believes in you and can support you on your way through. That's right. You need those breaks. He remembered you because you left an impression.

I peed on his rug and that's how. As you do. So as you do. I left my scent. Yes. Yeah. And it as you do. I left my scent. Yes. Yeah. And it worked. Yeah.

You talk about doing a lot of extra work as you were coming up. I also did a lot of extra work. Did you? It's how I got my SAG card. Yeah, me too. What was the first role that you had that actually had a name? Well if you don't call Drunken Frat Boy a name, is that not a name? That counts.

Okay, I was Drunken Frat Boy. I did Baywatch. I did anything, you know? My first role with a name was Cutie Number Two. Wow. Yeah, and I threw my bra at Chris Evans. You know what? In a very silly movie. Yeah.

I don't know what they're clapping for classy. Yeah, you see him could you ask if he still has yeah, I could use that. The Phoenicians game here this is your 3rd Wes Anderson it is yeah. What I feel like with Wes Anderson movies you see one frame and you know, it's a Wes Anderson film. That's right. So hyper-specific about the visuals and aesthetic. What is it like to be directed by him?

He is a sweetheart of a man. He really is. And that's why everybody wants to work with him, because he has such a clear vision. He's a true auteur. And like the trust exercise that we all took in Acting 101, where you fall back into your partner's arms and you realize, I need to trust the people I work with, we all trust him.

When we read his script, it is very dense and sometimes confusing because it's so involved. So he makes a cartoon, what he calls a cartoon, it's an animatic, he does the animation for it in the full hour and a half long of the entire movie. And he voices all the characters. And then he voices every single character. And then he says, here, this might make more sense to you.

And so you're watching the whole movie play out and you hear his voice do your character and you realize oh, that's what he wants me to do Somewhere out there and so you go searching out there to see if you can capture You know like a like a like a firefly. That's how it feels like you're you know You're trying to hunt down something that makes makes it familiar to you. That sounds so time consuming and very expensive. Actually, he doesn't pay his actors very much, so it's actually cheap. Yeah. Yeah.

You heard that here first. I have the studio is my favorite show this year. It is so, so funny. And watching those those especially those final two episodes with you in it has me thinking you are the you have the most range of any actor known to me. That applause sign is amazing. It's so good. It's so good.

I've got to get that for home. Yeah. Just like that. You play this insane movie mogul, this CEO of a studio. And there are all the, I don't want to give anything away, but there are all of these wonders, these giant epically long long takes and you're doing all this crazy physical comedy How do you rehearse for something like that? Rehearse well

We do it we do about 15 16 18 times and we get it fluid and and really Well done and then once you get your lines out then Seth Rogen and Evan Goldberg they they said, you know, say whatever you want. So you're thinking of lines you can throw out there and pitching ideas. And I know there was a... I was in the 10th episode, I'm hugging a statue out in Las Vegas on the strip,

and I'm orally copulating this statue, which was a choice I made that I now regret. No. No. Sometimes, I think, sometimes you've got to blow someone to get that Emmy. That's true. That's a good point.

I think it's bound to happen. That's a good point. Yeah think it's bound to happen. That's a good point. Yeah. Good point. And it reminds me of my youth. Everything's going to be great. Is it? Is it? Well, I was hoping...

Please. If there's one movie we need right now, I sure should hope so. I don't know if I can confidently say it, but I thoroughly enjoyed the movie. That's for sure. It's beautiful and it's so funny. And I'm curious, this is about you play Buddy Smart, a struggling regional theater producer, with your wife, Alice and Janney, are raising these two teenage boys.

I'm curious, I learned in your book, that you come from an entertainment family. Your parents were actors. Your dad was someone who hung on to his dream and never wanted to let go. Were you inspired by your family dynamic, or your father at all for this for this role? Yes, and and we're always learning from our parents and I think my dad made some mistakes and and

He always wanted to be a star That was so important to him and it didn't happen and it hurt him really bad and and consequently then Hurt the family a lot and broke up the family. And so it was ugly in many cases. And I learned from that thinking, be a star. No, I just want to be able to make a living. If I can make a living as an actor, that is my success story and that's what I want. And so I was a third generation actor.

My daughter is the fourth generation actor. I'm so proud of her. She's playing a, yeah, it's like. She's on the pit, right? Yeah, she plays Dr. Mel King on the pit. And she is doing, she's such a beautiful actor and she's in it for all the right reasons. And it's like, I can't be more proud.

She learned from the best. You're about to head to the West End to London to do All My Sons. I am. Yeah. Are you inspired by wanting to do that play or do you just feel like now might be a great time to cool your heels in Europe for a bit? I don't know. I don't know. I don't know. Everything's gonna be great.

Everything's gonna be great. Everything's gonna be great. Everything's gonna be great. Everything's gonna be great. Everything's gonna be great. Uh. Uh. Uh.

Uh. I, uh, you know, as a theater rat, I can't stay away from the theater long. It's exhausting because I tend to choose damaged characters that I'm most attracted to. And every time you go to the theater and perform, it's like a gut punch. And you're like, oh my god, why am I doing this?

And you're so exhausted and yet so exhilarated. And there's a relationship. What you have with this great audience, you have a relationship with them. You say something, they react. And that's like doing live theater. I feel you when you're in my theater and we're performing.

The difference is, you have to come up with new material, right, every day to the same audience. I have to do the same material to a new audience. So it's the same responsibility just in reverse. And we're here to entertain. And so when you do a show 175 times, the same material every single night, but to a new audience, the motivation for you is to say they paid good money, they deserve to hear a story, that's my responsibility, I'm gonna give you the best damn story I can give you. That's right. Well, I think the important takeaway from this interview

is that Bryan Cranston and I are exactly the same. Yes, yes. We are the same. Exactly. Same level, same, same, same. No, you are an absolute delight. Thank you for being here. Thank you.

Congratulations. Everything's going to be great. Everything's going to be great. Everything's going to be great. Everything's going to be great. Everything's gonna be great. Everything's gonna be great. We'll be in Select Theatre's 2 20th. Brian Banton. We're gonna take a quick break, but we'll be right back after this. That's our show for tonight, but before we go, we have a little surprise for you.

We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you.

We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. We have a little surprise for you. That's our show for tonight, but before we go, tired of complaining about who's running

things, we are too, and we're paid to do it. But maybe it's time you take matters into your own hands and be the leader you've been waiting for. Just check out the link below to learn more from our friends at Headcount about running for office and find out if you can Do any better than the current folks guess what I bet you can Now here it is your moment of Zen the posse comatitis act posse commentatus act posse commentatus posse commentatus act posse commentatus

We posse commentatus the posse commentatus act look I believe strongly in posse comatitis, the posse comatitis act. Look, I believe strongly in posse comatitis. Explore more shows 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 Paramount Plus. This has been a Comedy Central Podcast. This is an iHeart Podcast.