In the latest installment of The Daily Show, Jon Stewart launched a biting and satirical critique of Jimmy Kimmel’s indefinite suspension from ABC, which followed Kimmel’s controversial comments about Charlie Kirk. Stewart feigned nervousness and a “patriotically obedient” demeanor, using this act to deliver thinly veiled jabs at the censorship of comedians and TV hosts during the Trump administration.
Stewart humorously referred to President Trump as “father” and praised him with a sarcastic description of his “charm, intelligence, and an undeniable sexual charisma that filled their air like a pheromone-packed London fog” during his U.K. state visit.
Kimmel had previously angered right-wing executives linked to ABC by stating that “the MAGA gang” was “desperately trying to characterize this kid who murdered Charlie Kirk as anything other than one of them.”
After Trump called Kimmel “talentless” on Twitter, Stewart fired back with a satirical bit about a “talent-o-meter” on the president’s desk. He claimed this “completely scientific instrument” measures a performer’s “Talent Quotient” based on how nice they are to the president. If the TQ falls below a certain level, the FCC is notified to “threaten the acquisition prospects for billion-dollar mergers of network affiliates.” He added, “These affiliates are then asked to give ultimatums to the even larger mega corporation that controls the flow of state-approved content. Or the FCC can just choose to threaten those licenses directly.”
Stewart concluded his segment by calling this “basic science” and sarcastically declared, “So I don’t know who this Johnny Drimmel Live on ABC character is, but the point is our great administration has laid out very clear rules on free speech.” He then took a final jab at the administration’s actions, saying, “Some naysayers may argue that this administration’s speech concerns are merely a cynical ploy… a smoke screen to obscure an unprecedented consolidation of power… Some people would say that. Not me, though. I think it’s great.”
