This Week's News | Jon Stewart & Jordan Klepper on Trump's Ass Obsession & GOP's Midterm Boogeymen

Catch up on the latest headlines with The Daily Show News Team. Jon Stewart dives into Trump’s midterm closing arguments, which featured an array of Islamophobic attacks against Abdul El-Sayed, bragging about oil companies' profits amid high gas prices, a quid pro quo for sick veterans, and a look into who the “you” is that Trump claims to represent. Jordan Klepper weighs in on Obama’s Cheesecake Factory diss that had MAGA obsessing over the restaurant chain, the d**k pics and ass talk eating the midterm elections alive, uproar over a second “Dan Sullivan” on Alaska's Senate ballot, and Republicans' last-ditch fearmongering campaign, including Ted Cruz calling El-Sayed a "jihadist leprechaun." -- The Daily Show airs weeknights at 11/10c on Comedy Central. Stream full episodes on Paramount+ Follow TDS: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jordan Klepper dives into the headlines with Republicans unleashing a last-ditch tactic in this final midterm sprint: spooky stories. From socialist dystopias to jihadist leprechauns to forced gender reassignment surgeries happening at your kids’ school, nothing is off the table for these GOP tales, just in time for Halloween. But hey, that’s what happens when you can't convince voters with your actual ideas or accomplishments. As calls to tax the rich reach a fever pitch in the U.S., billionaires have become America's newest oppressed minority. Michael Kosta traveled to California to hear both sides of the wealth tax debate, with March for Billionaires organizer Derik Kauffman fighting on behalf of the nation's beleaguered top earners, and wealthy investor Tom Steyer calling his fellow billionaires "insanely selfish and delusional" for opposing it. Pulitzer Prize-winning playwright and actor Tracy Letts joins Jordan to talk about his new film, “I Play Rocky,” which chronicles the making of the 1976 film, “Rocky.” Letts shares why he doesn’t buy the legend that Sylvester Stallone wrote the entire “Rocky” screenplay in three days and what it’s like to film in the same Philadelphia neighborhoods where the original was shot. Plus, Letts explains the wonders of his physical movie collection of over 12,000 titles and what he learned performing improv in Chicago. -- The Daily Show airs weeknights at 11/10c on Comedy Central. Stream full episodes on Paramount+ Follow TDS: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With less than a week until the 2026 midterms, Republicans are running out of ways to expose their own weaknesses, so Tennessee congressional candidate Brent Taylor chose the most literal way: with a d**k pic scandal. Jordan Klepper breaks down Taylor's "youthful indiscretion" from when he was 53, Trump's ongoing ass tour, and the president's DOJ moving to block certification of Alaska's Senate race over confusion around two candidates named Dan Sullivan, but only if the Republican Dan loses. In this installment of In My Opinion, Charlamagne Tha God looks at how politicians and pundits are turning the 2026 midterms into a masculinity contest. From Fox News trashing Troy Jackson's manhood over a cup of boba tea to Democrats going hard at the gym in campaign ads, Charlamagne takes on the cartoonish machismo in America's political discourse with a reminder that, in the end, "being a man" comes down to character. Legendary musician, artist, and author David Byrne chats with Jordan about his new book “Sleeping Beauties: Why Good Ideas Go Dormant and How They Wake Up.” The two discuss Kafka, Melville, and other historical luminaries whose greatest works often went overlooked until their rediscovery later on, how modern hubris repeatedly ignores wisdom of the past, as well as Byrne’s research process for unearthing these forgotten stories. Plus, Byrne shares his writing process behind the song “Let Me Sell You A Dream,” which he wrote and performed for the documentary, “Musk.” -- The Daily Show airs weeknights at 11/10c on Comedy Central. Stream full episodes on Paramount+ Follow TDS: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Obama roasted Trump’s White House renovations, so conservative media rushes to the defense of… The Cheesecake Factory? Jordan Klepper dives into the headlines as we approach the 2026 midterms, and chats with a very fishermanly John Hodgman, who comes bearing updates on Maine’s contentious Senate race. With the 2026 midterms just a week away, one group might have an outsized influence: influencers! Desi Lydic breaks down how social media stars are becoming the lifeblood of American political campaigns, with candidates joining them to answer illuminating questions like "What are your icks?" But not all influencers are motivated by civic duty. Amid reports of candidates using campaign funds to quietly pay influencers large sums of money, Desi urges everyone to vet their sources ahead of the election. Because casting your vote on the advice of a paid political hack will always be an ick. BAFTA-winning comedian and actor Morgana Robinson chats with Jordan about her new film, “Ali G: Who Iz I.” The two discuss what it was like to stay in character through long shooting days, how they pulled off the raunchy hijinks in the film, and what the audition process was like for such a unique project. Plus, Klepper learns some new NSFW British slang. -- The Daily Show airs weeknights at 11/10c on Comedy Central. Stream full episodes on Paramount+ Follow TDS: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jon Stewart breaks down Trump’s closing argument ahead of the midterm elections, including his celebration of huge profits for oil and gas companies amid high prices, his Islamophobic vow to keep Abdul El-Sayed out of the Senate, and his plan to secure settlements for Camp Lejeune veterans… only IF Republicans win. Plus, Jon tackles Trump’s defense of abusive mothers, Obama’s slam-dunk Cheesecake Factory insult, and who the "you" is that Trump claims to represent. Investigative journalist Matthew Cole sits down with Jon to talk about his new book, “Princes and Thieves: Jared Kushner and Mohamed bin Zayed’s Secret Plot to Remake the Middle East.” Cole’s book chronicles a five-year investigation into Jared Kushner’s alleged “secret financial agreements and arrangements” made between Trump’s son-in-law and the rulers of Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, and Qatar. Cole points out that Kushner’s lawyer unequivocally and emphatically denies everything in his book, but Cole remains “very confident that I have the story right.” -- The Daily Show airs weeknights at 11/10c on Comedy Central. Stream full episodes on Paramount+ Follow TDS: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jordan Klepper and Daily Show Supervising Producer Ian Berger kick off the week with a preview of Klepper's special, Red Flags, which premieres TONIGHT after The Daily Show. They discuss the whirlwind experience of turning around a 24-minute special in only 20 days and how, with the midterms approaching, the GOP is serving up a "turducken of fear" in an incoherent mishmash of McCarthyism and Islamophobia. Plus, Klepper explores how MAGA rallygoers in Middle American states like Nebraska have positioned NYC Mayor Mamdani as their unlikely boogeyman, while their Texas counterparts are obsessing over God's genitals in their attacks on Senate candidate James Talarico. Finally, Klepper and Ian wrap things up with a round of Daily Show & Tell and look ahead to this week's guests: Morgana Robinson, David Byrne, and Tracy Letts. -- The Daily Show airs weeknights at 11/10c on Comedy Central. Stream full episodes on Paramount+ Follow TDS: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Catch up with all this week's great guests in one place. Best-selling author and Washington bureau chief for Mother Jones, David Corn, sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss his latest book, "How Russia Won: Donald Trump, Vladimir Putin, and the Fight for America." They talk about Trump’s fixation on teaming up with Vladimir Putin, how Trump’s “man crush” on Putin drove him to sign a diesel fuel deal with Russia in spite of the war in Ukraine, Putin embodying Trump’s dream of wealth with full authority, and how Trump employs the theory of “big f**ks small.” Death Cab for Cutie’s lead singer, Ben Gibbard, joins Michael Kosta to talk about the band’s 11th studio album, “I Built You a Tower,” an exploration of how we compartmentalize grief just to get through the day. Gibbard looks back on 30 years of making music, how songwriting feels like therapy (but shouldn’t replace actual therapy), and how he finds transcendence while running ultramarathons. Academy Award-winning writer and director Taika Waititi joins Ronny Chieng to discuss his new film “Klara and the Sun.” The two discuss working with a star-studded cast to create an unexpectedly topical film about robot friends, shooting the film in New Zealand, and how the film industry in Waititi’s home country has changed over the years. Plus, Ronny shares his experience working with Waititi and how the director prioritizes giving back to the communities that make his movies possible. Actor and comedian Jimmy O. Yang sits down with longtime friend Ronny Chieng to discuss his third comedy special, “Finally Home.” Yang chats about returning to Hong Kong to connect to his roots 25 years after moving to America, how finding his childhood diary inspired his new special, and the differences between the comment sections on Chinese and American social media. Plus, Yang and Ronny discuss sharing a trailer on the “Crazy Rich Asians” set and what it was like being co-stars in “Interior Chinatown.” -- The Daily Show airs weeknights at 11/10c on Comedy Central. Stream full episodes on Paramount+ Follow TDS: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Catch up on the latest headlines with The Daily Show News Team. Jon Stewart examines the riots in Paris, Trump's ass-kissing diesel deal with Russia, and Ukraine's sudden trouble accessing Elon Musk's Starlink service. Michael Kosta checks in on the midterm candidates, including Vivek Ramaswamy's ad recruiting his opponent's estranged mother, Jaime West's seemingly s**t-faced interview, and President Trump's admiration of Jon Husted's butt. Ronny Chieng covers JD Vance's creepy new laugh and Trump canceling a livestream of the Fort Hood shooter's execution. Plus, Ronny handles more midterm updates, including deep-red states getting a little less red, Trump professing his love for Tim Scott, and Susan Collins attacking Troy Jackson's family tree. -- To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://Hims.com/dailyshow -- The Daily Show airs weeknights at 11/10c on Comedy Central. Stream full episodes on Paramount+ Follow TDS: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Midterm mania continues with competitive races turning deep-red states purple, or at least… burgundy red? Ronny Chieng breaks down the headlines, including Trump professing his love for Sen. Tim Scott and bragging about his favorite presidential side hustle: renaming bodies of water. Plus, Michael Kosta defends Maine Senate candidate Troy Jackson after Susan Collins points out that his family tree has some funky branches. When a new Trump outrage hits the news cycle, Chief Deniability Officer Sheryl B. Bahama (Grace Kuhlenschmidt) steps in to provide GOP lawmakers with a protective layer of ignorance. Whether she's kidnapping Mike Johnson or brain-wiping Tommy Tuberville, Sheryl makes sure Republicans can respond to uncomfortable questions about Trump with a confident "I don't know." Actor and comedian Jimmy O. Yang sits down with longtime friend Ronny to discuss his third comedy special, “Finally Home.” Yang chats about returning to Hong Kong to connect to his roots 25 years after moving to America, how finding his childhood diary inspired his new special, and the differences between the comment sections on Chinese and American social media. Plus, Yang and Ronny discuss sharing a trailer on the “Crazy Rich Asians” set and what it was like being co-stars in “Interior Chinatown.” -- To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://Hims.com/dailyshow -- New customers can save 35% on your first month of subscription by going to https://dosedaily.co/TDS or entering TDS at checkout. -- The Daily Show airs weeknights at 11/10c on Comedy Central. Stream full episodes on Paramount+ Follow TDS: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

A guffawing JD Vance struggles to remember what he’s good at, a Venezuelan billionaire knows the way to Trump’s heart is a bribe, and Ronny Chieng gets down to the real reason Pete Hegseth’s livestream firing squad got canceled: ableism? In this edition of In My Opinion, Mo Amer looks at how Michigan Senate hopeful Abdul El-Sayed remains a formidable candidate despite facing a barrage of increasingly unhinged Islamophobia. Mo explains that El-Sayed is neutralizing his attackers with a not-so-secret weapon: He's likable! Just as Zohran Mamdani was able to charm and disarm President Trump, El-Sayed is winning over people like Fox News's Jesse Watters by being a relatable guy with charisma to spare... and the TikTok dance moves to match. Academy Award-winning writer and director Taika Waititi joins Ronny to discuss his new film “Klara and the Sun.” The two discuss working with a star-studded cast to create an unexpectedly topical film about robot friends, shooting the film in New Zealand, and how the film industry in Waititi’s home country has changed over the years. Plus, Ronny shares his experience working with Waititi and how the director prioritizes giving back to the communities that make his movies possible. -- To get simple, online access to personalized, affordable care for ED, Hair Loss, Weight Loss, and more, visit https://Hims.com/dailyshow --New customers can save 35% on your first month of subscription by going to https://dosedaily.co/TDS or entering TDS at checkout. -- The Daily Show airs weeknights at 11/10c on Comedy Central. Stream full episodes on Paramount+ Follow TDS: YouTube, TikTok, Instagram, Twitter, Facebook Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices