The Precap | Josh Johnson on the Government Doing Comedy, and Doing Comedy for a Government

What do President Zelenskyy, Governor Gavin Newsom, and Harvard have in common? They've all had beef with Donald Trump. Here's a rundown of Trump's latest face-offs. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh Johnson dives into the peace deal Trump brokered between Israel and Hamas, and the president's heightened focus on a supposedly more dangerous and local enemy: Antifa. As troops menace Portland, Trump uses the Antifa bogeyman to justify military invasion, suspension of habeas corpus, and a bunch of other random agendas. On “Tech Yeah,” our expert Grace Kuhlenschmidt breaks down the biggest news in innovation, including the realer-than-life Sora 2 video generation tool, new big-screen It Girl (and AI actress) Tilly Norwood, and the first-ever robot Olympics, where the athletes come pre-programmed with CTE. Content creator, ICU nurse, and “Stories From a Stranger” author Hunter Prosper sits down with Josh to discuss his book, inspired by videos in which he interviews strangers about their lives. They talk about the importance of going deeper than small talk, the similarities between his work as a nurse and as a creator, finding a silver lining in every story he hears, and what it was like immortalizing his grandfather’s experiences in the book. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh Johnson shares the latest updates on the government shutdown as the Trump administration searches for files on Amelia Earhart, the FAA faces staff shortages due to unpaid workers, Transportation Secretary Sean Duffy lends an unhelpful hand, and the president issues an ominous message to furloughed government workers. Plus, Jordan Klepper decodes the president’s apparent taunts. Between women getting trapped in game machines, beloved mascots being arrested in front of kids, and joyless, boozeless grown-up arcades, Ronny Chieng lays out how Chuck E. Cheese makes adults act stupid. Broadway star, singer, and actor Anthony Ramos joins Josh to talk about his new movie, “A House of Dynamite,” directed by Kathryn Bigelow. They discuss the intense thriller in which he portrays Major Daniel Gonzalez, a military officer in charge of the battalion that monitors intercontinental ballistic missiles, how he unwound during filming, and what he would do if, like his character, he thought he only had 19 minutes before a strike. Plus, Anthony gives Josh a quick lesson in harmonizing. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Josh Johnson dives into AG Pam Bondi's refusal to answer questions about Epstein during a fiery Senate hearing, Trump pretending to forget Ghislaine Maxwell’s name while also not ruling out a pardon for her, and the president's recent obsession with whether he’ll make it to heaven. Plus, Troy Iwata reveals what it really takes to earn an afterlife. Burmese pythons are decimating the ecosystem of Florida's Everglades, but Amy Siewe, a.k.a. the Python Huntress, is on a mission to take out this slithery problem. Michael Kosta joins her on a python hunt and gives this hero the thankssssss she deserves. Founder and Executive Director of Black Girl Environmentalist, Wawa Gatheru, sits down with Josh to discuss her organization’s mission to build a pipeline in the climate sector for Black women and gender expansive people to create more environmental equity and provide resources for the next generation of green leaders. She shares how she stays optimistic in the face of the climate crisis by reframing the narrative as an opportunity to inherit the wisdom of past movements and restructure our world into something better, and emphasizes the importance of telling inspiring stories of climate work to make it more exciting and accessible for everyone. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Jon Stewart dives into the emerging effects of the government shutdown, the battle over healthcare that has Republicans and Democrats pointing fingers, and Trump's delight in using the shutdown to continue steamrolling Democrats and the Constitution. Co-founder of the Center for Humane Technology Tristan Harris sits down with Jon to discuss how AI has already disrupted the workforce as current iterations of the technology have dropped entry-level work by 13%, tech companies prioritization of their first-to-market stance over product and human safety, and how reliance on AI is stifling human growth. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

This week's host Josh Johnson sits down with Daily Show writer Ashton Womack to preview the week to come, and recap the headlines they missed. They break down Trump's fake videos, the real pain of a government shutdown, the ethics of performing comedy for foreign governments, the anticipation of a Bad Bunny half-time show, and Cardi B's latest beef with Nicki Minaj. If you want to think critically about the news you consume, check out Ground News through our link: http://groundnews.com/ears You’ll get 40% off their Unlimited Access Vantage Plan Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

The government may be closed, but your ears are open. Take a listen to The Daily Show's coverage of past government shutdowns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

It's a big day in America (Taylor's Version) as Taylor Swift drops a new album. Take a listen to The Daily Show's previous coverage of the life of a showgirl... Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Ronny Chieng covers Day 2 of the government shutdown: Republicans and Democrats are dueling via sombrero and cat memes, Trump is going after blue cities with a vengeance, and his administration is surprisingly joyful. Plus, Michael Kosta joins with expert analysis of MAGA’s unconventional shutdown strategy. White House advisor Thaddeus Mandible Crowley excavates America's ancient laws to justify whatever insane idea jumps into Trump's head, be it fornicating for national security or banning uggos. Author and features editor at The Verge, Kevin Nguyen, sits down with Ronny to talk about his new book, “Mỹ Documents: A Novel.” They discuss the story’s timely premise about “a far-fetched dystopian future where the government is detaining people for no reason,” the title’s nod to the Vietnamese language, the importance of learning your family’s history, and how the book tackles nuanced ideas around Asian American identity. Keep it classic and cool this fall—with long-lasting staples from Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/DAILYSHOW for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

With a government shutdown fully in effect, Ronny Chieng takes a look at Trump's confusingly racist AI videos of Democratic leaders and braces for how the shutdown will impact everything from the TSA to national parks. Plus, Josh Johnson reports live from the Grand Canyon, which is already turning into a literal s**thole. Michael Kosta has the hottest moolah-making tips for how to capitalize on recent economic headlines, like adults ordering off the kids' menu, the tooth fairy short-changing kids, and a recall on exploding prosecco bottles from Costco, in the latest installment of Ko$ta Doing Business. Writer and director Benny Safdie talks to Ronny about the inspiration and creative process behind his new film, “The Smashing Machine,” which is based on the life of MMA fighter Mark Kerr. He describes collaborating with Kerr and the film’s star, Dwayne “The Rock” Johnson, to portray the authentic experience of a fighter while telling a human story about pain and resilience, and breaks down how the film’s unique cinematography connects the audience to the character. Keep it classic and cool this fall—with long-lasting staples from Quince. Go to https://Quince.com/DAILYSHOW for free shipping on your order and 365-day returns. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices