Between the Scenes - Maybe Trump Just Needs to Be Spanked

With MAGA and Democrats demanding answers about the Epstein files and Trump denying their existence, Jordan Klepper charts the president’s well-documented history with Jeffrey Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell, which might be why the president wants the entire thing to blow over. Plus, Michael Kosta offers up a defense from Mar-a-Lago. Do you have a moment to talk about the environment with Nick Offerman? The actor joins to sound off on Trump’s cuts to America’s national parks under Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, which have rangers resorting to desperate measures and threaten the future of our country’s pastoral gifts. Thomas Chatterton Williams, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of the forthcoming book, “Summer of Our Discontent: The Age of Certainty and the Demise of Discourse,” joins Jordan to discuss his analysis of America’s fall from Obama-era optimism to the division and cynicism of the current Trump administration. He points to factors like America’s “fetishization” of race and identity and liberal missteps in response to the murder of George Floyd in 2020 as a catalyst for this paradigm shift, and describes how aspects of France’s universal approach to identity can help America achieve a more post-racial society. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

16 Heinä 49min

Jon Stewart delves into the MAGA furor over Trump's handling of the Epstein case, Trump’s cheap distractions-turned-threats against Rosie O’Donnell, and the president's double standard on red state vs. blue state relief. Plus, Jon demands accountability from Elmo for his antisemitic rant on X. Economic commentator Kyla Scanlon sits down with Jon to discuss her book, “In This Economy? How Money and Markets Really Work.” They talk about the importance of teaching Americans about the economy in accessible ways, how the government has weaponized people to justify Medicaid cuts under Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill, why labor and capital don’t have to be mutually exclusive, and why she’s optimistic about the future. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

15 Heinä 47min

With Trump Tariffs back on the menu, it's time to consult the experts. Get into the weeds with these conversations with expert economists. Jon Stewart sits down with Oren Cass, chief economist at American Compass, who describes a conservative shift from faith in markets, using tariffs as incentives to pursue profit that supports society, how livable wages are the key to a strong economy, and the U.S.’s ideal economic and security alliance that includes balanced trade, owning defense burdens, and keeping China out. Stephanie Kelton, bestselling author of “The Deficit Myth” and professor of economics and public policy, talks to Jordan Klepper and Ronny Chieng about changing our understanding of government spending through MMT, or Modern Money Theory. European Central Bank President Christine Lagarde talks to Jon about the global economy, inflation, and Artificial Intelligence. They discuss how factors like the pandemic and Putin’s invasion of Ukraine led to high inflation rates, what stable inflation should look like, and how people feel the effects of inflation more dramatically because price increases far outpace wage increases. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

14 Heinä 1h 1min

Space, the final podcast frontier! Join us in the endless void with The Daily Show's coverage of adventures in space. Michael Kosta breaks down the story of two astronauts stranded in space until further notice. Jordan Klepper covers their eventual return and, with help from Desi Lydic, primes them for a changed Earth. Ronny Chieng visits the newly founded Space Force. Desi Lydic breaks down a solar eclipse with help from Ronny and Jordan. Stephen Colbert digs into the lunar real estate market. Michelle Wolf finds a link between space flight and erectile dysfunction. Trevor Noah considers booking into the first space hotel, and Neil deGrasse Tyson and Jon Stewart talk deadly asteroids. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

13 Heinä 36min

As Elon Musk announces the launch the America Party to challenge the Democrats and Republicans, take a look back at some other political third wheels in U.S. politics. Jon Stewart takes an open and honest look at America's other political parties. Independent Senator from Vermont Bernie Sanders sits down with Jon to talk about a third way. Wyatt Cenac helps Jon understand the difference between Republicans and Republicans. John O'Hara joins Jon to unpack the emergence of the Tea Party. Hasan Minaj, Desi Lydic and Adam Lowitt help Trevor Noah understand the third party presidential candidates. Independent candidates Gary Johnson and Evan McMullin join Jon and Trevor to discuss their own candidacies and what it means to run as an outsider in a two party system. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

12 Heinä 42min

Ronny Chieng weighs in on Trump’s international affairs: a hike in tariffs to help his Brazilian doppleganger stay out of prison, an Iranian threat to his sunbathed bellybutton, and a light refresher on the pause in aid to Ukraine. Plus, Josh Johnson reflects on Trump’s understanding of African culture, from their languages to their love languages. Troy Iwata finds one job that AI can't do: human carpet. Performance artist and professional human carpet Georgio shares examples of his work and gives Troy a crash course in letting people walk all over you. Writer and comedian Youngmi Mayer sits down with Ronny to discuss her memoir “I’m Laughing Because I’m Crying.” They talk about growing up in Korea under the influence of pro-American propaganda, learning her Korean family history from her “certified yapper” mom, getting bullied for being biracial in Korea, and how she embodied the Korean practice of laughing through trauma in the book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

11 Heinä 38min

Ronny Chieng dives into the expanding world of AI: Elon Musk's de-wokified Grok goes Nazi, a Marco Rubio imposter fools government officials, and Grace Kuhlenschmidt appreciates the mediocre world of AI-generated music. Don’t worry about Trump’s Big Beautiful Bill passing, because Michael Kosta is cracking the code on how you can exploit Medicaid cuts, gambling taxes, and even Alaskan tax breaks to make some sweet dough. Emmy Award-winning filmmaker Lauren Greenfield and Ronny dive into the effects of social media on teens, which she explores firsthand in her latest docu-series, “Social Studies.” She shares how she built up enough trust with the teenage documentary subjects to record their phone activities and how their discussion group highlighted kids’ hunger for in-person conversation and connection with their peers. Greenfield also discusses the unique duality of technology as both a “lifeline and a loaded gun” and how parents, companies, and governments need to do more to protect young people from the harms of social media by regulating the algorithm, withholding phones until kids are older, and implementing time limits on apps. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

10 Heinä 34min

The Department of Justice (and Michael Kosta) try to gaslight Ronny Chieng about a suddenly "nonexistent" Jeffrey Epstein client list, Trump lists Benjamin Netanyahu as a reference on his Nobel Peace Prize application, and the TSA ends their foot fetish. Ronny checks in on the status of Trump's trade war, including the president's half-firm decision on another tariff delay and his new international trade pen pal, "Mr. Japan." Michael Luo, author of "Strangers in the Land: Exclusion, Belonging, and the Epic Story of the Chinese in America" and executive editor at The New Yorker, joins Ronny to discuss the untold stories of Asian American persistence and resilience in the face of bigotry. They talk about one of the worst mass lynchings in America involving Chinese immigrants, Wong Kim Ark’s Supreme Court fight for birthright citizenship, the pertinence of chronicling 19th-century expulsion during the Trump administration, and how this book became a 160,000-word response to a racial abuse incident on the Upper East Side. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

9 Heinä 34min