Editing Jon Stewart (section)

== Politics and activism ==
{{modern liberalism US|commentators}}

=== Views ===
In 2000, when he was labeled a [[Democratic Party (United States)|Democrat]], Stewart generally agreed, but described his political affiliation as "more [[Socialism|socialist]] or [[Independent voter|independent]]" than Democratic.<ref>{{cite news |title=CNN Transcript: Larry King Live: Jon Stewart Looks Back at Election 2000 |work=Larry King Live |publisher=CNN |date=December 15, 2000 |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0012/15/lkl.00.html |access-date=March 25, 2007 |archive-date=May 24, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070524034356/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0012/15/lkl.00.html |url-status=dead}}</ref> Stewart has also voted for [[Republican Party (United States)|Republicans]], the last time being in the [[1988 United States presidential election|1988 presidential election]] when he voted for [[George H. W. Bush]] over [[Michael Dukakis]]. He described Bush as having "an integrity about him that I respected greatly."<ref>{{cite news |last=Pierce |first=Tony |title=Jon Stewart admits he voted for George H.W. Bush in 1988 and is disappointed in Obama |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/06/jon-stewart-admits-he-voted-for-george-hw-bush-over-michael-dukakis-in-1988.html |newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |date=June 20, 2011 |access-date=April 6, 2013 |archive-date=September 21, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130921055538/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/washington/2011/06/jon-stewart-admits-he-voted-for-george-hw-bush-over-michael-dukakis-in-1988.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Stewart has said that during the [[2020 Democratic Party presidential primaries]], he was not a supporter of nominee [[Joe Biden]], describing himself as more of a, "[[Bernie Sanders|Sanders]], [[Elizabeth Warren|Warren]] guy."<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/jon-stewart-why-joe-bidens-humility-makes-him-right-leader-us-1300362/|title=Jon Stewart Explains Why Joe Biden's "Humility" Makes Him the "Man of the Moment"|last=Del Rosario|first=Alexandra |date=June 25, 2020 |via=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> He reluctantly supported his candidacy in 2020, but has criticized him since then over [[Age and health concerns about Joe Biden|his age]], and his handling of the 2023 [[Gaza war]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/tv/tv-news/jon-stewart-daily-show-monologue-1235822972/|title=Jon Stewart Rips Trump AND Biden in 'Daily Show' Return: "Similarly Challenged"|last=Hibberd|first=James|date=February 12, 2024 |via=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.hollywoodreporter.com/news/general-news/jon-stewart-biden-double-standards-israel-1235869701/|title=Jon Stewart Calls Out Biden Administration's Double Standards on Israel: "They Slap America in the Face"|last=Rahman|first=Abid|date=April 9, 2024 |via=The Hollywood Reporter}}</ref> He has been a vocal proponent of the United States implementing a [[single-payer health care|single-payer healthcare system]].<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmr3XvaoVW4 | archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20131213062304/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Pmr3XvaoVW4| archive-date=December 13, 2013 | url-status=dead|title=O'Reilly vs Stewart debate |last=Nick of Time |date=October 7, 2012 |via=YouTube}}</ref>

=== Criticism of television journalists ===
Stewart is known as an outspoken, humorous critic of personality-driven media shows, in particular, those of the [[Media of the United States|US media]] [[broadcast networks]] such as [[CNN]], [[Fox News]], and [[MSNBC]]. Critics say Stewart benefits from a double standard: he critiques other news shows from the safe, removed position of his "[[news satire]]" desk;<ref name="serious">{{cite magazine |last=Tucker |first=Ken |author-link=Ken Tucker |date=November 1, 2004 |title=You Can't Be Serious! |url=https://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/tv/10180/ |magazine=[[New York (magazine)|New York]] |access-date=July 26, 2006 |archive-date=March 17, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070317222016/http://nymag.com/nymetro/arts/tv/10180/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="CNN041015">{{cite news |url=http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0410/15/cf.01.html |title=CNN Crossfire |access-date=April 23, 2008 |publisher=CNN |archive-date=May 25, 2013 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20130525043846/http://transcripts.cnn.com/TRANSCRIPTS/0410/15/cf.01.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Stewart asserts that neither his show nor Comedy Central purport to be anything other than satire and comedy.<ref name="CNN041015" />

==== ''Crossfire''  appearance ====
{{Main |Jon Stewart's 2004 appearance on Crossfire}}
In a televised exchange with then-CNN correspondent [[Tucker Carlson]] on ''[[Crossfire (U.S. TV program)|Crossfire]]'' on October 15, 2004, Stewart criticized the state of television journalism and pleaded with the show's hosts to "stop hurting America", and he referred to both Carlson and co-host [[Paul Begala]] as "[[Partisan (political)|partisan]] hacks".<ref name="CNN041015" /><ref>{{cite video |people=Jon Stewart, Tucker Carlson |title=[[Crossfire (U.S. TV program)|Crossfire]] |medium=Television |publisher=CNN |date=2004}}</ref> When posted on the internet, this exchange became widely viewed and was a topic of much media discussion.<ref>[https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=aFQFB5YpDZE Jon Stewart on ''Crossfire''] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208034124/https://www.youtube.com/watch?reload=9&v=aFQFB5YpDZE |date=December 8, 2021}}, October 15, 2004, Youtube</ref>

Despite being on the program to comment on current events, Stewart immediately shifted the discussion toward the show itself, asserting that ''Crossfire'' had failed in its responsibility to inform and educate viewers about politics as a serious topic. Stewart stated that the show engaged in partisan hackery instead of honest debate, and said that the hosts' assertion that ''Crossfire'' is a debate show is like "saying [[professional wrestling|pro wrestling]] is a show about athletic competition". Carlson responded by accusing Stewart of hypocrisy, stating that Stewart's interview of [[John Kerry]] was primarily "softball" questions, though Stewart criticizes news organizations for not holding public officials accountable (Stewart had stated that he had voted for Kerry in the [[2004 United States presidential election|2004 presidential election]]).<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/08/25/ST2008082503384.html |url-access=subscription |title=No Joke: Jon Stewart Takes Aim At 24-Hour Cable News 'Beast' |newspaper=The Washington Post |date=August 25, 2008 |access-date=September 17, 2010 |first=Howard |last=Kurtz |archive-date=September 1, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120901070725/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/story/2008/08/25/ST2008082503384.html |url-status=live}}</ref> Stewart responded that he didn't realize "the news organizations look to Comedy Central for their cues on integrity". When Carlson continued to press Stewart on the Kerry issue, Stewart said, "You're on CNN! The show that leads into me is [[Crank Yankers|puppets making crank phone calls]]! What is wrong with you?" In response to prods from Carlson, "Come on. Be funny." Stewart said, "No, I'm not going to be your monkey." Later in the show when Carlson jibed, "I do think you're more fun on your show", Stewart retorted, "You're as big a dick on your show as you are on any show." In response to Stewart's criticisms, Carlson said, "You need to get a job at a journalism school", to which Stewart responded, "You need to go to one!"<ref name="CNN041015" />

Stewart discussed the incident on ''The Daily Show'' the following Monday:

{{blockquote |We decided to go to this place, ''Crossfire'', which is a ''nuanced'' public policy analysis show ... named after [[Crossfire|the stray bullets that hit innocent bystanders in a gang fight]]. So I go to ''Crossfire'' and, let's face it, I was dehydrated, it's the [[Martin Lawrence#Arrests, lawsuits and health problems|Martin Lawrence]] defense ... and I had always in the past mentioned to friends and people that I meet on the street that I think that show ... um ... blows. So I thought it was only the right thing to do to go say it to them personally on their program, but here's the thing about confronting someone with that on their show: They're ''there!'' Un''com''fortable! And they were very mad, because apparently, when you invite someone on a show called ''Crossfire'' and you express an opinion, they don't care for that ... I told them that I felt their show was hurting America and they came back at me pretty good, they said that I wasn't being funny. And I said to them, "I know that, but tomorrow I will go back to being funny, and your show will still blow."<ref name="serious"/><ref>{{cite web |last=Stewart |first=Jon |title=Your Show Blows |publisher=[[Comedy Central]] |date=October 18, 2004 |url=https://www.cc.com/video-clips/mr122o |access-date=June 12, 2019 |work=The Daily Show with Jon Stewart }}</ref>}}

In January 2005, CNN announced that it was canceling ''Crossfire''. When asked about the cancellation, CNN's incoming president, [[Jonathan Klein (CNN)|Jonathan Klein]], referred to Stewart's appearance on the show: "I think he made a good point about the noise level of these types of shows, which does nothing to illuminate the issues of the day."<ref>{{cite news |last=Kurtz |first=Howard |author-link=Howard Kurtz |title=Carlson & 'Crossfire,' Exit Stage Left & Right |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=January 6, 2004 |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52274-2005Jan6.html |url-access=subscription |access-date=July 26, 2006 |archive-date=January 11, 2007 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20070111060200/http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A52274-2005Jan6.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

On March 18, 2009, Carlson wrote a blog entry for ''[[The Daily Beast]]'' criticizing Stewart for his handling of the CNBC controversy (see below). Carlson discussed the CNN incident and claimed that Stewart remained backstage for at least "an hour" and "continued to lecture our staff", something Carlson described as, "one of the weirdest things I have ever seen".<ref>{{cite web |first=Tucker |last=Carlson |author-link=Tucker Carlson |url=http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-03-18/how-jon-stewart-went-bad |title=How Jon Stewart Went Bad |website=[[The Daily Beast]] |date=March 18, 2009 |access-date=March 19, 2009 |archive-date=March 20, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090320222422/http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-03-18/how-jon-stewart-went-bad/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Criticism of CNBC ====
{{Main |Jon Stewart–Jim Cramer conflict}}
Stewart again became a [[Viral phenomenon|viral internet phenomenon]] following a March 4, 2009, ''The Daily Show'' sequence. CNBC canceled [[Rick Santelli]]'s scheduled appearance on ''The Daily Show'' that day, so the show ran a short segment showing CNBC giving poor investment advice.<ref>{{cite news |last=Linkins |first=Jason |title=Jon Stewart Eviscerates CNBC, Santelli On Daily Show |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |date=March 5, 2009 |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2009/03/05/jon-stewart-eviscerates-c_n_172057.html |access-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-date=March 5, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090305151739/http://www.huffingtonpost.com//2009//03//05//jon-stewart-eviscerates-c_n_172057.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Subsequent media coverage of exchanges between Stewart and [[Jim Cramer]], who had been featured heavily in the original segment, led to a highly anticipated face-to-face confrontation on ''The Daily Show''.<ref>{{cite news |last=Gold |first=Matea |title=Exclusive: Jim Cramer set to appear on ''The Daily Show'' Thursday |newspaper=[[The Los Angeles Times]] |date=March 10, 2009 |url=http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/03/exclusive-jim-c.html |access-date=March 10, 2009 |archive-date=March 12, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090312002731/http://latimesblogs.latimes.com/showtracker/2009/03/exclusive-jim-c.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The episode received much media attention and became the second most-viewed episode of ''The Daily Show'', trailing only the 2009 Inauguration Day episode. It had 2.3&nbsp;million total viewers, and the next day, the show's website saw its highest day of traffic in 2009.<ref>{{cite web |last=Lafayette |first=Jon |title=Stewart-Cramer Confrontation Draws 'Daily's' Second-Biggest Audience of '09 |website=TVWeek.com |date=March 13, 2009 |url=http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/03/stewartcramer_confrontation_dr.php |access-date=March 14, 2009 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090315003518/http://www.tvweek.com/news/2009/03/stewartcramer_confrontation_dr.php |archive-date=March 15, 2009}}</ref> Although Cramer acknowledged on the show that some of Stewart's criticisms of CNBC were valid and that the network could "do better", he later said on ''[[Today (U.S. TV program)|The Today Show]]'' that Stewart's criticism of the media was "naïve and misleading".<ref>{{Cite news |last=Calderon |first=Michael |title=Cramer slams Stewart: 'naive and misleading' |url=http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0309/Cramer_slams_Stewart_naive_and_misleading.html |website=[[Politico]] |date=March 19, 2009 |access-date=March 20, 2009 |archive-date=March 22, 2009 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090322095640/http://www.politico.com/blogs/michaelcalderone/0309/Cramer_slams_Stewart_naive_and_misleading.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

==== Criticism of Fox News ====
Throughout his tenure on ''The Daily Show'', Stewart frequently accused Fox News of distorting the news to fit a [[Conservatism in the United States|conservative]] agenda, at one point ridiculing the network as "the meanest sorority in the world".<ref name="Huffington Post">{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/12/stewart-fox-news-is-the-m_n_496403.html |title=Stewart: Fox News Is The Meanest Sorority In The World |date=March 12, 2010 |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |access-date=April 25, 2010 |first=Dan |last=Abramson |archive-date=March 16, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100316051510/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2010/03/12/stewart-fox-news-is-the-m_n_496403.html |url-status=live}}</ref> In November 2009, Stewart "called out" Fox News for using some footage from a previous [[Tea Party movement|Tea Party]] rally during a report on a more recent rally, making the latter event appear more highly attended than it was. The show's anchor, [[Sean Hannity]], apologized for the footage use the following night.<ref name="Hong">{{cite news |url=http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/184866.asp |title=Video Fix: Jon Stewart catches Fox News using wrong footage |last=Hong |first=Sharon |date=November 11, 2009 |publisher=Seattle PI |access-date=April 25, 2010 |archive-date=October 1, 2010 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101001232700/http://blog.seattlepi.com/thebigblog/archives/184866.asp |url-status=live}}</ref> A month later, Stewart criticized ''[[Fox & Friends]]'' cohost [[Gretchen Carlson]]&nbsp;– a former [[Miss America]] and a [[Stanford]] graduate&nbsp;– for claiming that she [[Google (verb)|googled]] words such as "ignoramus" and "czar". Stewart said that Carlson was dumbing herself down for "an audience who sees intellect as an elitist flaw".<ref name="Carlson episode">{{cite news |url=http://www.cc.com/video-clips/ahba3f/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-gretchen-carlson-dumbs-down |title=Gretchen Carlson Dumbs Down |date=December 8, 2009 |work=The Daily Show |access-date=April 25, 2010 |archive-date=October 9, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20151009060340/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/ahba3f/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-gretchen-carlson-dumbs-down |url-status=dead}}</ref>

Stewart stepped up his criticism of Fox News in 2010; within five months, ''The Daily Show'' had 24 segments criticizing the Fox News coverage.<ref name="Stelter"/> [[Bill O'Reilly (political commentator)|Bill O'Reilly]], host of the talk show ''[[The O'Reilly Factor]]'' on Fox News, countered that ''The Daily Show'' was a "key component of left-wing television" and that Stewart loved Fox News because the network was "not boring".<ref name="Stelter"/>

During an interview with [[Chris Wallace]] on June 19, 2011, Stewart called Wallace "insane" for saying that Stewart's earlier comparison of the marketing techniques of a [[Sarah Palin]] campaign video and an anti-[[herpes]] medicine ad was a political comment. Stewart also said Fox viewers are the "most consistently misinformed" viewers of political media.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/19/jon-stewart-fox-news-sunday-video_n_879964.html |title=Jon Stewart LIVE On Fox News, Tells Host 'You're Insane' (VIDEO) [UPDATE&#93; |work=[[The Huffington Post]] |access-date=September 16, 2012 |date=June 19, 2011 |archive-date=August 16, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120816163029/http://www.huffingtonpost.com/2011/06/19/jon-stewart-fox-news-sunday-video_n_879964.html |url-status=live}}</ref> This comment was ranked by the fact-checking site, [[PolitiFact]], as false, with conditions. Stewart later accepted his error.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/jun/20/jon-stewart/jon-stewart-says-those-who-watch-fox-news-are-most |title=Jon Stewart says those who watch Fox News are the "most consistently misinformed media viewers" |website=[[PolitiFact]] |access-date=August 24, 2014 |archive-date=August 28, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140828144228/http://www.politifact.com/truth-o-meter/statements/2011/jun/20/jon-stewart/jon-stewart-says-those-who-watch-fox-news-are-most/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

In 2014, Stewart engaged in an extended "call-out" of Fox News, based on their coverage of [[Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program|food stamps]] and US government assistance, opining that said coverage was biased.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://thedailyshow.cc.com/videos/v9wjc4/fox-news-welfare-academy |title=Fox News Welfare Academy – Video Clip |website=[[The Daily Show]] |date=March 13, 2014 |access-date=August 24, 2014 |archive-date=March 4, 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220304101120/https://www.cc.com/shows/the-daily-show-with-trevor-noah |url-status=dead}}</ref> This culminated in segments across multiple episodes, specifically singling out Sean Hannity and his show's coverage of the [[Bundy standoff]]. Hannity would "return fire" by calling out Stewart for associating himself with [[Cat Stevens]] during his Rally in 2010.<ref>{{cite news |last=Wemple |first=Erik |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2014/04/25/no-sean-hannity-you-cant-distance-yourself-from-cliven-bundy |url-access=subscription |title=No, Sean Hannity, you can't distance yourself from Cliven Bundy |newspaper=[[The Washington Post]] |date=August 15, 2014 |access-date=August 24, 2014 |archive-date=July 11, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140711222714/http://www.washingtonpost.com/blogs/erik-wemple/wp/2014/04/25/no-sean-hannity-you-cant-distance-yourself-from-cliven-bundy/ |url-status=live}}</ref> Stewart responded to this by criticizing Hannity for frequently calling [[Ted Nugent]] a "friend and frequent guest" on his program and supporting Nugent's violent rhetoric toward Barack Obama and [[Hillary Clinton]] in 2007.<ref>{{cite news |url=http://www.salon.com/2014/04/24/must_see_morning_clip_jon_stewart_calls_sean_hannitys_show_the_arbys_of_news |title=Must-see morning clip: Jon Stewart calls Sean Hannity's show "the Arby's of news" |work=[[Salon (magazine)|Salon]] |date=April 24, 2014 |access-date=August 24, 2014 |archive-date=July 5, 2014 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140705124417/http://www.salon.com/2014/04/24/must_see_morning_clip_jon_stewart_calls_sean_hannitys_show_the_arbys_of_news/ |url-status=live}}</ref> In late August 2014, Stewart criticized the manner in which Fox News portrayed the events surrounding the shooting of teenager [[Shooting of Michael Brown|Michael Brown]] by police officer Darren Wilson in [[Ferguson, Missouri]], and the subsequent protests from citizens.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/daily-shows-jon-stewart-destroys-fox-news-for-its-ferguson-coverage-9697444.html |title=Daily Show's Jon Stewart destroys Fox News for its Ferguson coverage |work=[[The Independent]] |access-date=March 13, 2015 |first=Natasha |last=Culzac |date=August 28, 2014 |archive-date=March 21, 2015 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150321091733/http://www.independent.co.uk/news/people/news/daily-shows-jon-stewart-destroys-fox-news-for-its-ferguson-coverage-9697444.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

=== 2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike ===
{{Main|Who Made Huckabee?}}
Stewart was an important factor in the unionization of the [[Comedy Central]] writers. ''The Daily Show'' writers were the first of Comedy Central's writers to be able to join the guild, after which other shows followed.<ref>{{cite web |access-date=April 23, 2008 |url=http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=2387 |title=Comedy Central Writers Win WGA Contract |publisher=[[Writers Guild of America|WGA]] |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080102203818/http://www.wga.org/subpage_newsevents.aspx?id=2387 |archive-date=January 2, 2008}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |access-date=April 23, 2008 |url=http://www.allbusiness.com/services/legal-services/4465402-1.html |title=Union Deal for 'Daily Show' Writers |publisher=AllBusiness.com |archive-date=January 11, 2008 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080111134615/http://www.allbusiness.com/services/legal-services/4465402-1.html |url-status=live}}</ref>

Stewart supported the [[2007–2008 Writers Guild of America strike]]. On ''The Daily Show'' episode just before the strike, he sarcastically commented about how Comedy Central had made available all episodes for free on their website, but without advertising, and said, "go support our advertisers". The show went on hiatus when the strike began, as did other late-night talk shows. Upon Stewart's return to the show on January 7, 2008, he refused to use the title, ''The Daily Show'', stating that ''The Daily Show'' was the show made with all of the people responsible for the broadcast, including his writers. During the strike, he referred to his show as ''A Daily Show with Jon Stewart'' until the strike ended on February 13, 2008.<ref>{{cite web |date=January 18, 2008 |access-date=September 4, 2016 |url=http://www.today.com/id/22571544/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/colbert-stewart-make-do-without-writers/ |title=Colbert, Stewart Make Do Without Writers |work=Today |archive-date=September 5, 2016 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20160905160010/http://www.today.com/id/22571544/ns/today-today_entertainment/t/colbert-stewart-make-do-without-writers |url-status=live}}</ref>

Stewart's choice to return to the air did bring criticism that he was undermining the writers of his show. [[Seth MacFarlane]] wrote an inside joke into an episode of ''[[Family Guy]]'' about this, causing Stewart to respond with an hour-long call in which he questioned how MacFarlane could consider himself the "moral arbiter" of Hollywood.<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/NrcOge6pMhg Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20121211193451/http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrcOge6pMhg&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{cite web |last=Morgan |first=Piers |title=Seth MacFarlane Interview |date=October 4, 2011 |url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=NrcOge6pMhg |publisher=CNN}}{{cbignore}}</ref> Former ''Daily Show'' writer [[David Feldman (comedian)|David Feldman]] also accused Stewart of being anti-union at the time and of punishing his writers for their decision to unionize by not using their material.<ref>{{cite web |last=David |first=Feldman |title=Former Daily Show Writer Accuses Jon Stewart of Punishing His Writers For Forming A Union |date=May 25, 2012 |url=http://www.patheos.com/blogs/camelswithhammers/2012/05/is-jon-stewart-anti-union/ |publisher=Patheos |access-date=May 25, 2012 |archive-date=September 26, 2012 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20120926234305/http://www.patheos.com/blogs/camelswithhammers/2012/05/is-jon-stewart-anti-union/ |url-status=live}}</ref>

The Writers Guild Strike of 2007–2008 also was responsible for a [[Who Made Huckabee?|notable mock feud]] between Stewart, [[Stephen Colbert]], and [[Conan O'Brien]] in early 2008. Without writers to help fuel their banter, the three comedians concocted a [[fictional crossover|crossover]]/rivalry to garner more viewers during the ratings slump. Colbert claimed that because of "the Colbert bump", he was responsible for [[Mike Huckabee]]'s success in the [[2008 U.S. presidential election|2008 presidential race]]. O'Brien claimed that he was responsible for Huckabee's success because not only had he mentioned Huckabee on his show, but also that he was responsible for [[Chuck Norris]]'s success (Norris backed Huckabee). In response, Stewart claimed that he was responsible for the success of O'Brien since Stewart had featured him on ''[[The Jon Stewart Show]]'', and in turn, the success of Huckabee. This resulted in a three-part comedic battle among the three pundits, with all three appearing on each other's shows. The feud ended on ''[[Late Night with Conan O'Brien]]'' with a mock brawl involving the three hosts.<ref>[http://www.today.com/id/23017599 "Conan, Stewart, Colbert unite in TV feud"] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200930033627/http://www.today.com/id/23017599 |date=September 30, 2020}}, February 5, 2008</ref>

=== 9/11 First Responders Bill ===
{{main|James Zadroga 9/11 Health and Compensation Act}}
[[File:Jon-Stewart-Opening-Statement-on-9 11-Victim-Compensation-Fund- C-SPAN.webm|thumb|left|Stewart criticizes lawmakers for their inaction on the September 11 Victim Compensation Fund, in a speech on June 11, 2019.]]

[[File:911Presser 092519 (37 of 62) (46489501124).jpg|thumb|Stewart speaking at a press conference for the 9/11 first responders in 2019]] 
Over the years, Stewart sometimes used ''The Daily Show'' to argue for causes such as the treatment of [[veteran]]s and [[Health effects arising from the September 11 attacks|9/11 first responders]]. He is credited with breaking a Senate deadlock over a bill to provide [[Patient Protection and Affordable Care Act|health care]] and [[Social programs in the United States|benefits]] for 9/11 emergency workers; the bill passed three days after he featured a group of 9/11 responders on the show. In March 2009, he criticized a White House proposal to remove veterans from Veterans Administration rolls if they had private health insurance; the White House dropped the plan the next day.<ref name="Samuelsohn"/> In 2010, Stewart held an interview with a panel of four of the 9/11 first responders—Kenny Specht with the [[FDNY]], Chris Bowman [[NYPD]], Ken George [[United States Department of Transportation|DOT]], and Kevin Devlin, Operating Engineer of Heavy Equipment—who discussed their health problems with Stewart. In 2015, four months after leaving ''The Daily Show'', he returned to reunite the four with Specht as the only panelist healthy enough to attend. Devlin had died and the two other panelists, Bowman and George, were too ill to make it to the show.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.ems1.com/ems-advocacy/articles/jon-stewart-reconvenes-panel-of-911-first-responders-VJLSkjUpBQlvXvN8/ |title=Jon Stewart reconvenes panel of 9/11 first responders |website=EMS1 |date=December 8, 2015 |access-date=May 26, 2020 |archive-date=September 28, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200928193616/https://www.ems1.com/ems-advocacy/articles/jon-stewart-reconvenes-panel-of-911-first-responders-VJLSkjUpBQlvXvN8/ |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cc.com/video-clips/nuwe6u |title=9/11 FIRST RESPONDERS REACT TO THE SENATE FILIBUSTER |website=[[Comedy Central]] |date=December 17, 2010 |access-date=May 26, 2020 |archive-date=March 24, 2018 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20180324101742/http://www.cc.com/video-clips/nuwe6u/the-daily-show-with-jon-stewart-9-11-first-responders-react-to-the-senate-filibuster |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[File:180426-D-SW162-1390.jpg|thumb|Stewart speaking to [[United States Army|US Army]] soldiers at [[Kandahar International Airport|Kandahar Air Field]], [[Afghanistan]] in 2018]]
In February and June 2019, Stewart again went to Congress to oppose the $7.375&nbsp;billion limit in pay-outs to [[9/11 first responders]] through December 2020 and to lobby for permanent funding for the [[September 11th Victim Compensation Fund|Victims Compensation Fund]] past December 2020, delivering a tearful testimony.<ref>{{cite news |url=https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/jon-stewart-blasts-congress-failure-fund-9-11-victim-program-n975776 |title=Jon Stewart blasts Congress' failure to fund 9/11 victim program |last=Tsirkin |first=Julie |date=February 25, 2019 |work=[[NBC News]] |access-date=March 13, 2019 |archive-date=March 3, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190303175852/https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/jon-stewart-blasts-congress-failure-fund-9-11-victim-program-n975776 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref name="9-11-CBS-June19">{{cite news |last1=Tillett |first1=Emily |last2=Segers |first2=Grace |title=Jon Stewart lashes out at hearing on 9/11 responders bill: "You should be ashamed of yourselves" |url=https://www.cbsnews.com/news/victim-compensation-fund-jon-stewart-lashes-out-at-house-hearing-on-911-responders-bill-you-should-be-ashamed-of/ |access-date=June 11, 2019 |work=[[CBS News]] |date=June 11, 2019 |archive-date=June 11, 2019 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20190611183605/https://www.cbsnews.com/news/victim-compensation-fund-jon-stewart-lashes-out-at-house-hearing-on-911-responders-bill-you-should-be-ashamed-of/ |url-status=live}}</ref>
{{blockquote |Sick and dying, they brought themselves down here to speak to no one. Shameful. It's an embarrassment to the country and it's a stain on this institution. And you should be ashamed of yourselves for those that aren't here. But you won't be because accountability doesn't appear to be something that occurs in this chamber...And I'm sorry if I sound angry and undiplomatic. But I'm angry, and you should be too, and they're all angry as well and they have every justification to be that way. There is not a person here, there is not an empty chair on that stage that didn't tweet out "Never Forget the heroes of 9/11. Never forget their bravery. Never forget what they did, what they gave to this country." Well, here they are. And where are they? And it would be one thing if their callous indifference and rank hypocrisy were benign, but it's not. Your indifference cost these men and women their most valuable commodity: time. It's the one thing they're running out of.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.npr.org/2019/06/11/731706492/jon-stewart-blasts-lawmakers-in-hearing-for-sept-11-victim-compensation |title=Jon Stewart Slams Lawmakers in Hearing For Sept. 11 Victim Compensation Fund |website=[[NPR]] |date=June 11, 2019 |access-date=May 26, 2020 |last1=Carter |first1=Brandon |archive-date=July 2, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200702064803/https://www.npr.org/2019/06/11/731706492/jon-stewart-blasts-lawmakers-in-hearing-for-sept-11-victim-compensation |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{cite news |url=https://nypost.com/2019/06/12/read-jon-stewarts-full-testimony-supporting-the-9-11-victims-fund/ |title=Read Jon Stewart's full testimony supporting the 9/11 victims fund |work=[[New York Post]] |date=June 12, 2019 |access-date=May 26, 2020 |archive-date=October 22, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201022102133/https://nypost.com/2019/06/12/read-jon-stewarts-full-testimony-supporting-the-9-11-victims-fund/ |url-status=live}}</ref>}}

Stewart continued to be a vocal advocate, appearing on late night shows such as ''[[The Late Show with Stephen Colbert]]'', ''[[The Daily Show with Trevor Noah]]'', and news programs such as ''[[Fox News Sunday with Chris Wallace]]'', and ''[[Fox Report|The Fox Report with Shepherd Smith]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/16/jon-stewart-continues-to-push-congress-on-behalf-of-9-11-victims-1365861 |title=Jon Stewart continues to push Congress on behalf of 9/11 Victims |website=[[Politico]] |date=June 16, 2019 |access-date=May 26, 2020 |archive-date=August 5, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200805052931/https://www.politico.com/story/2019/06/16/jon-stewart-continues-to-push-congress-on-behalf-of-9-11-victims-1365861 |url-status=live}}</ref> On July 12, 2019, the House approved the bill overwhelmingly 402–12. The bill came to the Senate floor where it passed the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund through 2092, virtually funding health care for 9/11 victims and first responders for life.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/23/senate-overwhelmingly-passes-911-victim-fund-bill-97-2.html |title=Senate overwhelmingly passes 9/11 victim fund bill, 97–2 |website=[[CNBC]] |date=July 23, 2019 |access-date=May 26, 2020 |archive-date=November 7, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20201107232401/https://www.cnbc.com/2019/07/23/senate-overwhelmingly-passes-911-victim-fund-bill-97-2.html |url-status=live}}</ref> The vote was 97–2 with [[Republican Party (United States)|Republican]] senators [[Rand Paul]] ([[Kentucky|KY]]) and [[Mike Lee]] ([[Utah|UT]]) opposing.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.newsweek.com/despite-temporary-republican-roadblocks-congress-renews-9-11-victims-fund-1450712 |title=Republicans Mike Lee, Rand Paul Were Lone Senators to not Renew 9/11 Victims Fund for First Responders |website=[[Newsweek (magazine)|Newsweek]] |date=July 23, 2019 |access-date=May 26, 2020 |archive-date=September 18, 2020 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20200918183919/https://www.newsweek.com/despite-temporary-republican-roadblocks-congress-renews-9-11-victims-fund-1450712 |url-status=live}}</ref> When hearing that the bill had been passed, Stewart responded by saying, "It has been the honor of my life working with the 9/11 first responders...these families deserve better...and I will follow you wherever your next adventure shall be."<ref>Archived at [https://ghostarchive.org/varchive/youtube/20211211/I2GfC5hdsGY Ghostarchive]{{cbignore}} and the [https://web.archive.org/web/20201027105246/https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2GfC5hdsGY&gl=US&hl=en Wayback Machine]{{cbignore}}: {{Cite web|url=https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=I2GfC5hdsGY|title=Jon Stewart: 9/11 work 'has been the honor of my life'|date=July 23, 2019 |via=[[YouTube]]}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== Honoring our PACT Act ===
{{main|Honoring our PACT Act of 2022}}

On September 30, 2021, Stewart debuted his [[Apple TV+]] show, ''[[The Problem with Jon Stewart]]'' by discussing the effects burn pits have had on [[veterans]]. Earlier in 2021, the bill [[Honoring our PACT Act of 2021|Honoring our Promise to Address Comprehensive Toxics Act of 2021 (PACT Act)]] was introduced. The [[United States House of Representatives|House of Representatives]] passed the bill by 256–174 on March 3, 2022,<ref>{{Cite web |last=Takano |first=Mark |date=March 1, 2022 |title=Actions - H.R.3967 - 117th Congress (2021–2022): Honoring our PACT Act of 2021 |url=https://www.congress.gov/bill/117th-congress/house-bill/3967/all-actions |access-date=March 3, 2022 |website=www.congress.gov}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |last=Kheel |first=Rebecca |date=March 3, 2022 |title=Sweeping Toxic Exposure Bill Passed by House |url=https://www.military.com/daily-news/2022/03/03/sweeping-toxic-exposure-bill-passed-house.html |access-date=March 8, 2022 |website=Military.com |language=en}}</ref> and passed the [[United States Senate|Senate]] by 84–14 on June 16, 2022.<ref>{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2022 |title=Senate passes amended version of PACT act, providing health care benefits to veterans |url=https://www.wwaytv3.com/senate-passes-amended-version-of-pact-act-providing-health-care-benefits-to-veterans/ |access-date=June 17, 2022 |website=WWAYTV3 |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |date=June 16, 2022 |title=Senators celebrate passage of Honoring our Pact Act |url=https://www.wavy.com/washington-dc/senators-celebrate-passage-of-honoring-our-pact-act/ |access-date=June 17, 2022 |website=WAVY.com |language=en-US}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web |title=Senate passes the PACT Act to provide more help to veterans exposed to burn pits and other toxins |url=https://www.stripes.com/veterans/2022-06-16/burn-pits-veterans-pact-act-6364767.html |access-date=June 17, 2022 |website=Stars and Stripes |language=en}}</ref> The bill was reintroduced to the Senate for minor changes which Republican senators including [[Pat Toomey]], [[Ted Cruz]], and [[Josh Hawley]] voted against, putting the bill in jeopardy. Their opposition was the unfounded claim that the bill could be used as a slush fund.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.post-gazette.com/news/politics-nation/2022/08/01/toomey-amendment-budget-gimmick-veterans-health-pact-act-burn-pit-cancer-toxins-agent-orange/stories/202208010064|title= Sen. Pat Toomey defends his effort to remove 'budget gimmick' from veterans health bill to address illnesses from burn pits, other toxins|work=[[Pittsburgh Post-Gazette]] |access-date= August 4, 2022}}</ref>

Stewart became a prominent advocate for the bill in person, on [[Twitter]] and on various cable news shows including [[Fox News]]' ''[[America's Newsroom|America's Newsroom with Bill Hemmer]], [[CNN]]'s ''[[The Lead with Jake Tapper]]'', [[MSNBC]]'s ''[[Morning Joe]], and [[Newsmax]].<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.thewrap.com/jon-stewart-pact-act-jake-tapper-cnn-interview/|title= Jon Stewart Drops F-Bombs on CNN, Calls Out GOP Senators Who Flipped on PACT Act: 'What Are You F-king Talking About?!' (Video)|website= [[The Wrap]]|date= July 29, 2022|access-date= August 4, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.foxnews.com/media/jon-stewart-bill-veterans-exposed-burn-pits|title= Jon Stewart says bill to help veterans exposed to burn pits '6 to 8 senators away' from passage|website= [[Fox News]]|date= May 27, 2022|access-date= August 4, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.msnbc.com/morning-joe/watch/jon-stewart-gop-using-false-talking-point-on-veterans-health-bill-145048645682|title= Jon Stewart: GOP using false talking point on veterans health bill|website= August 4, 2022}}</ref> On July 28, 2022, Stewart held a press conference on [[Capitol Hill]] where he stated: {{blockquote|America's heroes, who fought in our wars, outside sweating their asses off…battling all kinds of ailments, while these motherfuckers sit in the air conditioning, walled off from any of it. They don't have to hear it, they don't have to see it. They don't have to understand that these are human beings…. I'm used to the lies, I'm used to the hypocrisy…. Senate is where accountability goes to die…. I'm used to all of it. But I am not used to cruelty.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.vanityfair.com/hollywood/2022/08/pact-act-passes-after-jon-stewart-flames-republican-lawmakers|title= PACT Act Passes After Jon Stewart Flames Republican Lawmakers|website= [[Vanity Fair (magazine)|Vanity Fair]]|date= August 3, 2022|access-date= August 4, 2022}}</ref>}}

On August 2, 2022, the PACT Act passed in bipartisan measure, 84 to 11.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.npr.org/2022/08/02/1115325176/pact-act-veterans-burn-pits-toxins-passes-senate|title= The Senate passes help for veterans exposed to toxins, after a reversal drew fury|website= [[NPR]]|date= August 2, 2022|access-date= August 4, 2022}}</ref> Stewart was praised for lending his voice and celebrity to the issue and is credited as being an essential actor in getting the bill passed.<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.theguardian.com/us-news/2022/aug/03/senate-passes-pact-act-veterans-toxins-burn-pits|title= Jon Stewart celebrates after Senate passes bill to assist veterans exposed to toxins|website= [[The Guardian (website)|The Guardian]]|date= August 3, 2022|access-date= August 4, 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.newsweek.com/rand-paul-ripped-jon-stewart-praised-veterans-bill-passes-senate-1730266|title= Jon Stewart Praised as Veterans Bill Passes Senate|website= [[Newsweek]]|date= August 2, 2022|access-date= August 4, 2022}}</ref> Stewart stated after the bill's passing, that while it "feels good", it "shouldn't have been this hard".<ref>{{cite web|url= https://www.nbcnews.com/politics/congress/veterans-started-camping-capitol-steps-gop-blocks-burn-pit-bill-rcna40981|title= Veterans have been camping out on the Capitol steps after GOP blocks burn pit bill|website= [[NBC News]]|date= August 2, 2022|access-date= August 4, 2022}}</ref> On August 10, the act was signed by President [[Joe Biden]] at a ceremony in the [[White House]], where he praised Stewart for his commitment on this issue saying in part, "What you've done Jon, matters...It really, really matters. To refuse to let anybody forget, refuse to let them forget. And we owe you big, man. We owe you big."<ref>{{cite web|url= https://news.yahoo.com/biden-praises-jon-stewart-advocacy-153506827.html|title= Biden praises Jon Stewart's advocacy for veterans|website= [[Yahoo News]]|date= August 10, 2022|access-date= August 10, 2022}}</ref>

=== 2023–present Israel–Gaza war ===
Stewart has [[Criticism of Israel|criticized Israel]] for its military and political conduct in the [[Palestinian territories]].<ref>{{Cite news |date=April 9, 2024 |title=Jon Stewart on US support of Israel: 'America knows this is wrong' |url=https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2024/apr/09/jon-stewart-israel |access-date=June 23, 2024 |work=The Guardian |language=en-GB |issn=0261-3077}}</ref> In 2023, Stewart, alongside other media figures, signed the [[Artists4Ceasefire]] open letter urging American president [[Joe Biden]] to call for a ceasefire in the ongoing [[Gaza war]].<ref>{{cite news|title=Joaquin Phoenix, Cate Blanchett and More Stars Demand Joe Biden Call for Israel-Gaza Ceasefire: 'Compassion Must Prevail'  |url=https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/hollywood-demands-gaza-israel-ceasefire-joaquin-phoenix-cate-blanchett-1235763646/|work=[[Variety (magazine)|Variety]] |date=October 20, 2023 |access-date=October 25, 2023 |archive-date=October 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020203649/https://variety.com/2023/biz/news/hollywood-demands-gaza-israel-ceasefire-joaquin-phoenix-cate-blanchett-1235763646/}}</ref><ref>{{cite news|title=Artists Call for Ceasefire Now|url=https://www.artists4ceasefire.org/|work=Artists4Ceasefire|date=October 20, 2023 |access-date=October 25, 2023|archive-date=October 20, 2023|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20231020223525/https://www.artists4ceasefire.org/ }}</ref>

=== Apple and free speech ===
In April 2024, Stewart claimed that Apple restricted him from interviewing [[Lina Khan]], the Chair of the [[Federal Trade Commission]] (FTC), on his podcast. This incident follows the U.S. Department of Justice lawsuit against [[Apple Inc.|Apple]] for alleged anti-competitive practices in the smartphone market. The lawsuit highlights potential harm to [[free speech]] due to Apple's dominance. Stewart's comments raise concerns about Apple's influence over content creation beyond its control of the mobile device market.<ref>{{cite news |last=Fischer |first=Sara |url=https://www.axios.com/2024/04/02/jon-stewart-apple-ftc-chair-interview |title=Jon Stewart claims Apple wouldn't let him interview FTC chair on his podcast |work=[[Axios (website)|Axios]] |date=April 2, 2024 |accessdate=April 2, 2024 }}</ref>