Jon Stewart took aim at the Democrats and their complete lack of response to Donald Trump‘s actions on the latest episode of The Daily Show. He began his monologue by acknowledging, “Ladies and gentlemen, it is Trump’s world and we’re just cowering in it.”
The late-night host listed a series of things Trump has done in the past few days, including deporting hundreds of Venezuelans to El Salvador and declaring that CNN and MSNBC should be illegal. “By the way, I’m not against everything he does,” Stewart quipped about the rival networks. He then recounted how Trump also won the “Trump International” golf tournament.
“He’s like the Make-a-Wish Batman kid,” Stewart replied. “‘Hey look at that Donald! You caught all the criminals!’” He added, “Look, I’m opposed to anyone rolling back American democracy, but I do tip the cap to any 78-year-old winning a golf tournament. And, by the way, still having enough energy left to stroll into the Command Center in his golf attire to bomb the shit out of Yemen.”
Stewart explained that Democrats finally had an opportunity to “stand up and show their dispirited party they still have the principle and the backbone to face down this wannabe tyrant.” Or, not. Stewart focused most of his wrath on Senate minority leader Chuck Schumer, who essentially paved the way toward the passage of the Republicans’ proposed funding bill despite his party’s opposition.
“Senator Schumer, no disrespect, but you are a disgrace to Jewish stereotypes about financial negotiations,” Stewart said, playing a clip of Schumer giving in without asking for anything in return. “I thought the whole point of us is that’s what we do. But you’re out there, ‘How much is it? $5. How about I give you $7?’ Like, what are you doing?”
Stewart then played another news clip of Schumer claiming Democrats were going to “keep at it” until Trump’s polling falls below 40 percent. “At what?” Stewart shouted. “This was it! This was the it you would have been keeping at!”
The host added that Schumer’s plan was fundamentally flawed since Democrats themselves are only polling at 27 percent. After repeatedly railing on Schumer, Stewart noted, “Perhaps I am being too hard on the senator. Although, I am not.”
Stewart explained of the difference between the two parties, “These Republicans are committed to a plan born out of an ideological 50- to 60-year project to remake the United States, and classifying it as a fever excuses you from having to propose an alternative and allows you to pretend that this is just an issue of messaging and not merit. Boy, are Dems busy fixing the messaging. Ambitious Democrats have a new game plan. They’re going to yak it up about sports and go on more podcasts.”
Democratic senator Chris Murphy also appeared on the late-night show to discuss his party’s response to Trump’s second term. The interview opened with Stewart pleading “What is happening?” as Murphy attempted to explain the situation. “I don’t agree with the decision a handful of my colleagues made,” Murphy confirmed. “And this all sits in context, right?” He added, “This moment requires us to break norms. This moment requires us to take risks.”
