Jon Stewart is back at it, throwing shade at the political theater surrounding Donald Trump’s transition on his Weekly Show podcast. And, as usual, his commentary is a mix of snark, self-awareness, and the kind of elitist detachment that keeps middle America rolling its eyes. This time, Stewart aimed his sarcasm at both Trump’s critics and his own colleagues in the media, with a particular focus on Joe Scarborough and Mika Brzezinski of Morning Joe fame.
First up, Stewart speculated whether Trump’s team might engage in “retribution” against left-wing late-night hosts. “Probably some in subtle forms, some maybe more explicit,” he mused. Retribution? Really? If criticism on Truth Social or a potential IRS audit is what passes for retribution these days, maybe the left needs a thicker skin. Trump calling out his critics isn’t “retribution”; it’s just what he does. If anything, it’s free material for their nightly monologues.
But Stewart didn’t stop there. He turned his attention to Scarborough and Brzezinski, who he claimed went full “international diplomacy” mode by heading to Mar-a-Lago to “reopen communications” with Trump. The mental image of Joe and Mika tiptoeing into Trump’s Florida club like they’re negotiating a ceasefire in the Middle East is the kind of melodrama that only the media can pull off. And Stewart was quick to expose the absurdity of it all, mocking the couple for their whiplash-inducing pivot from condemning Trump as a Hitler-Mussolini hybrid to casually dining on shrimp fra diavolo at his resort.
Stewart gleefully lampooned their performative outrage, recalling how they spent months ringing the alarm bells about Trump’s supposed apocalyptic impact on democracy, only to cozy up for a Mar-a-Lago lunch when it suited their agenda. “The Mar-a-Lago shrimp fra diavolo is delicious,” he quipped, emphasizing the sheer ridiculousness of their sudden willingness to break bread with the man they’d previously labeled a walking catastrophe.
MORE WINNING
No one propagated the “Trump is Hitler” BS more than MSNBC & #MorningJoe
Now, fearing low ratings cancellation, they meet Trump, beg for mercy & promise to cover his 2nd term fairly
😎#Trump2024 #MAGA #MAHA JUST ANNOUNCED #FakeNews Mikapic.twitter.com/zXmOV6cKc2 pic.twitter.com/Pg9ZlOknDy
— Boca Vista (@bocavista2016) November 18, 2024
His takeaway? The whole spectacle highlights the “performative nature” of modern media, where credibility often takes a backseat to convenience and access. Stewart’s cringe at the insincerity of it all might resonate with audiences tired of the constant flip-flopping and grandstanding from pundits who treat politics like a soap opera.
Jon Stewart calls bullshit on those trying to get in Trump’s good graces when just a month ago, they were calling him a fascist. #TheWeeklyShow pic.twitter.com/IuJYOz5oj0
— The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart (@weeklyshowpod) November 21, 2024
For all his wit, Stewart’s critique unintentionally underscores why Trump resonates with so many: he doesn’t pretend to play nice or conform to these rituals of fake civility. Meanwhile, the media continues to embarrass itself with its inability to pick a lane—are they adversaries, allies, or just hungry for that next plate of watercress salad? You decide.
