Season 31

Jon Stewart dives into the Trump administration's abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Trump's collusion with oil companies to exploit Venezuela's resources, and the emergence of the "Donroe Doctrine" as Trump threatens more international takeovers. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who also served in the Navy as a captain and combat pilot, joins Jon Stewart after news broke that he was being censured by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for telling U.S. service members to refuse illegal orders. They discuss the president's "major ego problem," why he stands by his message as the Trump administration continues to levy attacks against free speech, frustrations with Democratic leadership, and the importance of Democrats taking control of the House and the Senate to put President Trump in check.

Ronny Chieng unpacks former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's abduction and first day in court, where he and his wife got some good couples, time pleading not guilty to cocaine trafficking charges. Meanwhile, MAGA attempts to justify Trump's intervention by downplaying the episode, citing Christianity, and downright playing the bully. The latest scientific studies show that microplastics are just about everything, and we're ingesting them at an alarming rate. Thankfully, there's a new product that's sure to help us take advantage of all the plastic we're downing each day — eventually. Legendary Korean filmmaker, Director Park Chan-wook, sits down with Ronny Chieng (without any translation help from Ken Jeong) to discuss his new film, "No Other Choice," which he adapted from an American novel. They discuss what attracted him to this story, which follows a devoted company man who is fired and directs his rage toward his competitors on the job market.

Ronny Chieng covers how Trump is taking charge of Venezuela's oil industry and replacing their old dictator with a new one: himself. Plus, this Venezuela takeover is so much fun, the president adds a bunch of other countries to his To-Be-Overthrown list, including Greenland, and Michael Kosta couldn't be more excited to be part of Trump's nation-extorting mafia. Jordan Klepper profiles Benny Johnson, social media star turned White House press commentator, who caught Trump's eye with his generic vitriol, Russian backing, penchant for plagiarism, and unyielding obsession with Batman. Stephen J. Dubner, host of "Freakonomics Radio" and co-author of "Freakonomics," sits down with Ronny Chieng to discuss the book's 20th anniversary edition. They talk about how Dubner and his co-author Steven Levitt wove together storytelling and data to present case studies without imposing their own judgment, and how their publisher, doubtful of the title, liberated them to write the book they wanted.

Minneapolis tells ICE to "get the f**k out" after an agent fatally shot a woman, Kristi Noem smears the victim as a terrorist while MAGA decides she deserved it, and Ronny Chieng questions ICE's PR push to recruit highly aggressive, unqualified agents and unleash them on American cities. Americans are known for spoiling their living pets, but what about the ones who've passed? Michael Kosta explores the rising popularity of pet psychics, like Danielle MacKinnon, who claims to have the intuitive ability to communicate with all animals, past and present. Kosta learns about her process, meets her very real clients, and attempts to glean some insight into his relationship with his own dog, Walter. Actor and producer Lucy Liu sits down with Ronny Chieng to discuss her new film, "Rosemead," which is based on a true story about a terminally ill mother and her son. They talk about Liu's connection with the film and how its themes of mental health and grief affected her.

on Stewart digs into Trump announcing himself as Venezuela's acting president via Wikipedia, dividing Venezuela amongst cooperating oil companies, making a game-time decision to involve himself in Iran, and setting his sights on conquering Greenland so Russia can't have it. Plus, Trump's rules for January 6th rioters don't square with the MAGA rhetoric around the January 7th ICE killing of Renee Good. Civil liberties attorney and co-host of the podcast, "Previously Prohibited," Jenin Younes, joins Jon Stewart to discuss how MAGA's rewriting of the Minneapolis ICE shooting signals a perpetual escalation in violating civil liberties. They talk about how Trump has transitioned from protecting free speech to supporting censorship, JD Vance's justification over the legality of the Minneapolis shooting, how the Right's anti-immigrant rhetoric appeals to working-class Americans' frustrations, and why ICE is targeting blue states and sanctuary cities while exaggerating their "non-compliance."

Jordan Klepper rounds up the latest indiscretions from Trump's cabinet, including Pete Hegseth adding perfidy to his collection of alleged war crimes, Labor Secretary Lori Chavez-DeRemer bringing back the good old-fashioned political sex scandal, and RFK Jr. making America heart attack again with his upside-down food pyramid, which Troy Iwata breaks down for us. Lenard McKelvey (aka "Charlamagne Tha God") is celebrating MLK Day like it's his last, because with this president, it might be. Thanks to the Trump administration's backsliding on the national holiday, MAGA's disparaging remarks against Dr. King, and Elon Musk's call for white solidarity, Donald Trump's birthday is in the running to replace MLK Day. Award-winning director and screenwriter Joachim Trier joins Jordan Klepper to discuss his latest critically acclaimed film, "Sentimental Value." They talk about the influence of early skateboarding films on challenging actors to take risks, developing a cast built on trust.

Donald Trump gives a Ford factory worker the middle finger and delivers a message of "keep protesting" but only for Iranians, immigration raids escalate in Minnesota, ICE engages in blatant racial and accent profiling, and Jordan Klepper highlights the Minnesotans fighting back with music, costumes, and bologna. Musician Langhorne Slim joins Jordan Klepper to talk about his new album, "The Dreamin' Kind." They discuss the importance of dreamers and creativity, especially during uncertain times, how politics have changed the way his older music resonates, collaborating with Greta Van Fleet, and his mission to make joyful music that'll have you wanting to "shake it." Langhorne Slim performs "Rock N Roll" from his upcoming album, "The Dreamin' Kind," which is due to be released on January 16.

Jordan Klepper covers the latest on Trump's "whole milk" antics, the president's push to take over Greenland that has Europe mobilizing, and Mayor Zohran Mamdani's burgeoning communist reign in New York City, which has unleashed terrors such as expanded access to childcare and free public restrooms. Grace Kuhlenschmidt breaks down the latest tech from the CES conference: candy that puts voices in your head, razors that botch your haircut for you, robots that can see you but can't hear you, and a chance to fulfill your dreams of beating up a machine! Actor Wagner Moura joins Jordan Klepper, fresh off his Golden Globe win for his performance in "The Secret Agent". Moura, a Brazilian native, describes how the film, which takes place in 1977 Brazil during a heavy dictatorship, was a way for him and director Kleber Mendonça Filho to process their perplexity after their country's return to dictatorship values with the election of far-right president Jair Bolsonaro in 2018.

After receiving a secondhand Nobel Peace Prize from the real winner, Maria Corina Machado, Trump decides peace is for chumps and doubles down on his plans to take over Greenland, angering both Emmanuel Macron and Emmanuel Macron's eye. Plus, while Josh Johnson thinks the president's plan to extort Greenland out of Europe's hands through tariffs will only hurt Americans, Michael Kosta demonstrates how kicking one's own ass is the ultimate fighting strategy. Trump still wants Greenland and is threatening our European allies if they don't go along with his plan, but this story has been brewing for a while. As Jordan Klepper's recent trip to Norway showed us, the president's anti-peace reputation has long been the talk of the town. President and CEO of Big Brothers Big Sisters of America, Artis Stevens, sits down with Josh Johnson to discuss the power of mentorship.

Trump closes out his first year as president (again) with a finger-crushing book of accomplishments while he leans into his goal for Year 2: acquiring Greenland. Josh Johnson tracks how Trump's mumbling about his need to own "Iceland" in Davos morphed into a vague "concept of a deal" with the president who never hears the word "no." In another edition of Everything Is Stupid, Ronny Chieng details the rise and fall of an alleged scam that anyone with a sane mind could've seen coming: former New York City Mayor Eric Adams's risky unregulated crypto token, which he compared to Betsy Ross before it crashed spectacularly. "The Copenhagen Test" star Simu Liu sits down with Josh Johnson to discuss his new series on Peacock and his upcoming Broadway debut in "Oh, Mary!" He shares what it's like to portray Mary's Teacher on stage, the similarities and differences between acting in film and for a live audience, his experience in stunt performance inspired by the greats like Jackie Chan & Jet Li.

Josh Johnson gives a progress report on Trump's first year in office based on his campaign pledges to generate more jobs, make Americans rich, improve healthcare, and protect free speech. Naturally, the only person to benefit from these promises is Trump, who now has everything but a normal-looking hand. Lewis Black takes on Gen Z's nostalgic penchant for the past and the ridiculous "throwback" fads the younger generation is reviving, including cigarette smoking, "dumb phones" to help them think thoughts, tramp stamps, and the mall. Emmy award-winning documentarian Alexandria Stapleton talks to Josh Johnson about producing and directing the Netflix docuseries, "Sean Combs: The Reckoning," including her shared concern with producing partner Curtis "50 Cent" Jackson not to indict the entire Hip-Hop culture along with the music mogul & how the sense of trepidation among the documentary crew & interview participants has shifted since the release of the series and the arrest of Sean Combs.

After the second murder of a Minnesota ICE protester by federal agents, Jon Stewart breaks down the increasingly unhinged gaslighting from Trump officials who are trying to paint victim Alex Pretti as a "domestic terrorist" & ICE agents as innocent kittens despite clear video evidence to the contrary. As MAGA & Kristi Noem ignore even their precious Second Amendment in their attempts to justify the shooting of a legally armed citizen, Jon points to the real weapon threatening this administration: cameras. Director of Press Freedom Initiatives at The Washington Post, Jason Rezaian discusses the deadly protests in Iran and the importance of collecting details of the Iranian experience despite the impermeable internet blackouts. How Trump's desire to make a deal with Iran would only empower the current oppressive regime, the benefits of including Iranian dissidents in the U.S. in policy conversations, and the humor that carried Rezaian through his 544-day wrongful prison sentence in Iran.

Desi Lydic dives into the backlash over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown in Minnesota: GOPers push back against the DHS's attacks on Alex Pretti for carrying a legal firearm, Border Patrol Commander Greg Bovino gets a station reassignment and a screen time limit, and Trump resorts to finding Bovino's replacement via suggestions from "Fox & Friends" host Brian Kilmeade. Plus, Troy Iwata pitches a new look for Greg Bovino to match his demotion. Michael Kosta and Ronny Chieng duke it out on another edition of Sports War, debating who you should root for at the upcoming Super Bowl LX, the merits of "Heated Rivalry" putting NHL on the map, and "Nordick shame" after Olympic Norwegian ski jumpers were suspended for enlarging their crotches. Emmy-nominated actor Michael Urie talks with Desi Lydic about the new season of "Shrinking", his run Broadway, and getting his start on "Ugly Betty," where the legendary Vanessa Williams gave him the agency to take big acting swings.

Desi Lydic dives into the Trump administration's scramble to blame each other for the handling of Alex Pretti's shooting by federal agents in Minnesota, Trump's rally against Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who was attacked at a town hall in the wake of his demonizing rhetoric, and the president's rollout of Trump Accounts, which he announced alongside MAGA's newest spokeswoman, Nicki Minaj. In this edition of In My Opinion, Whitney Cummings profiles the Democratic politicians lined up for the 2028 presidential race, from Josh Shapiro to Gavin Newsom, and the quirky penchants for cosplay, veganism, and convicted felons that they bring to the table. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, who recently became the nation's first woman veteran to be elected governor, sits down with Desi Lydic to discuss how her time serving in a gridlocked Congress motivated her to run for governor and the difference she's already seen in her ability to create change.

Democrats express their outrage over the Trump administration's immigration crackdown, with Chuck Schumer calling Kristi Noem and Stephen Miller "fucking liars" and Hakeem Jeffries on accidental mute. Plus, Desi Lydic plunges into the world of Melania ahead of her documentary debut, which was produced by Jeff Bezos, directed by disgraced filmmaker Brett Ratner, and created by a crew too ashamed to have their names in the credits. Grace Kuhlenschmidt meets Wisconsin native and snakebite enthusiast Tim Friede, who has built up an immunity to 19 of the most venomous snake species, and learns that doing your own medical research can save lives... when done with the help of a team of medical science experts. Emmy Award-winning actress Katherine LaNasa talks with Desi Lydic about her starring role as Nurse Dana in "The Pitt". They talk about landing a job on her last day of radiation, her experience with ER nurses during treatment, and the insight "The Pitt" gives to broken hospital systems.

Trump declares himself "absolved" by the latest release of Epstein files, while Elon Musk's Christmas wish for a trip to the sex island is put on blast, and Jon Stewart finds himself on Epstein's list… for documentary voiceovers. Plus, as MAGA continues to shield the president from all accountability, Jon Stewart shines a light on the double standard of sanctuary given to Trump vs. immigrants. Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Heather Ann Thompson sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss her new book, "Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage." They talk about how big a figure Bernie Goetz was in 1980s New York, hailed as a "vigilante" for shooting four young Black men on a subway train despite the attack being unprovoked, the story's parallels to ICE shooting protesters in Minneapolis, the costs of violence, and how these types of injustices paved the way for Donald Trump.

Conservatives amp up their mission to MAGA-fy America by overshadowing Bad Bunny's Super Bowl performance with Turning Point USA's own D-list halftime show, and Michael Kosta connects the dots between Trump's call for Republicans to "nationalize" voting and the president's never-ending claim that the 2020 election was stolen. Plus, Troy Iwata explains why Trump's pitch to cancel the midterms is peak comedy. With Amazon's $40 million documentary about the first lady premiering at the Trump Kennedy Center, Jordan Klepper ventured to Washington, D.C., where he chatted with attendees about director Brett Ratner's appearance in the Epstein files, whether the film's purchase was a bribe, and why this is what our country should be focused on right now not Minneapolis. Amazon rainforest conservationist, wildlife filmmaker, and author Paul Rosolie talks to Michael about his latest book, "Junglekeeper: What It Takes to Change the World."

Michael Kosta dives into Trump's recent moves to steer the country back on track, which include the release of lame new "America Is Back" hats, telling CNN's Kaitlan Collins to get over the Epstein files and smile more, & continuing his D.C. makeover by building a massive arch across from the Lincoln Memorial. Plus, Grace Kuhlenschmidt shares further updates on the president's construction rampage. The state that brought you President Ronald Reagan and Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger offer a thrilling new contender for the White House: Governor Gavin Newsom. Patricia Lee aka "Ms. Pat", comedienne, actress, & co-creator of the hit BET+ series, "The Ms. Pat Show," sits down with Michael Kosta to discuss the show's fifth season. They talk about fighting through network pulls for the chance to speak out about immigration, portraying a unique-yet-universal mother to viewers, preparing for a doomsday scenario, & learning to believe in herself after being shot, abused, and incarcerated.

Michael Kosta reports on Trump revealing a supposed secret military weapon called the “Discombobulator,” and the impact of newly released Epstein emails on global figures - Andrew Mountbatten-Windsor facing renewed scrutiny, Sarah Ferguson shutting down her charity, and Bill Clinton preparing to testify before Congress. Despite Trump’s frequent mentions in the files, he remains unaffected. Desi Lydic explores Trump’s long running conflicts with the NFL, from reduced violence to team name changes and halftime shows. A 2014 discussion with Stephen A. Smith even raises the question of whether the NFL helped enable Trump’s rise. Kosta also speaks to director Jon Shenk and former Navy SEAL Marcus Capone about Capone’s experience with the psychedelic treatment ibogaine, highlighted in the Netflix documentary In Waves and War, and his work with VETS, a nonprofit helping veterans access similar therapy.

Jon Stewart calls out MAGA’s quick outrage at anything outside their narrow values—from boycotting Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show to Trump’s racist social‑media attacks on the Obamas and criticism of a U.S. Olympic skier for mild comments about America. He’s joined by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who discusses how Trump’s tariffs have killed jobs and raised costs, and how recent bills have harmed rural healthcare. They talk about signs of MAGA’s grip weakening in Kentucky, why Democrats should speak more plainly to connect with voters, challenging the administration in court, and focusing on the deeper purpose behind Democratic policies.

Jordan Klepper reviews new details from the unredacted Epstein files, noting extensive references to Trump and examining the broader fallout. He covers public backlash toward King Charles, questions faced by Commerce Secretary Howard Lutnick regarding visits to Epstein Island, and scrutiny of paleontologist Jack Horner’s associations with Epstein. Klepper also highlights RFK Jr.’s past field trip with Epstein and Ghislaine Maxwell. In a new Sports War segment, Klepper and Desi Lydic debate major sports headlines, including Bad Bunny’s historic Super Bowl halftime show, a Winter Olympian’s protest against ICE, and a figure skater competing in a Minion costume. Actor and filmmaker Tim Blake Nelson joins to discuss his novel Superhero, exploring how his experience on film sets shaped the story, the cultural role of superhero films, and how these narratives reflect America’s polarized views of good and evil.

Attorney General Pam Bondi delivered a tense and unfocused appearance before Congress regarding Epstein‑related questions. An Olympic biathlete admitted to an affair after earning a bronze medal, and Grace Kuhlenschmidt challenged Jordan Klepper on Trump’s sudden opposition to opening a new U.S.–Canada bridge. Troy Iwata highlighted international issues, including a Chinese app used to check on loved ones without direct contact, reports of fries in England washing into the ocean, and Germany’s use of militarized insects. Filmmaker Andrew Jarecki discussed The Alabama Solution, his Oscar‑nominated documentary exposing Alabama’s prison conditions through contraband cell‑phone footage, the activism of incarcerated individuals, the punishment they face, and how Alex Pretti’s death underscores the importance of documenting abuse.

Jordan Klepper examines President Trump’s recently promoted “Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal” award and the administration’s related policy actions, including directing the Pentagon to purchase electricity from coal fired plants, limiting the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and assuring coal miners of the administration’s continued support. Grace Kuhlenschmidt reports on American remote workers relocating to Mexico City in pursuit of lower living costs and lifestyle benefits, alongside perspectives from local residents concerned about rising rents and cultural displacement. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey discusses the conclusion of Operation Metro Surge and the withdrawal of ICE agents, highlighting the role of community advocacy and collaboration with other city leaders to protect residents’ rights and resist federal overreach.