As a seasoned gamer who has witnessed the political landscape of the United States unfold through the lens of satire for decades now, I can’t help but feel a sense of nostalgia and admiration watching Jon Stewart‘s return to hosting The Daily Show. His ability to weave humor and insight into the complexities of politics is unparalleled, and it’s a skill that has only grown sharper with time.
Jon Stewart made a comeback as host of The Daily Show on Monday evening, and right away, he delved into potential events that might occur during the remaining days of the presidential race, often referred to as “October surprises.
To kick off the segment, Stewart glanced back at some previous October surprises such as the controversial Access Hollywood tape, along with the media discussing potential catastrophic events like recent natural disasters and conflicts that could turn into the unwelcome ‘black swan’ incident near the end of the campaign.
What’s it about that October surprises are always disappointing? I wish we could have a positive October surprise that unites our nation instead,” Stewart humorously commented. He further hoped that internet sensations Pesto, the adorable giant penguin, and Moo Deng, the mischievous miniature hippo, might start dating.
Stewart elucidated further on the topic of October surprises, implying that they tend to benefit Republicans, who seize on tragic events like pandemics to bolster their electoral prospects. “If monkeypox spreads wildly,” he quipped sarcastically, “I don’t see how we can lose!” He questioned, “What does it really reveal about a party when war, strikes, and natural disasters seem to work in their favor? Goodness gracious, the election is tight, but if we could only scare and distress the public, we might just pull it off.
Referring to the latest developments, Stewart remarked that a surprising sight for him during the recent event in Butler, Pennsylvania was Elon Musk appearing at Donald Trump’s rally, even baring his midriff. “Apparently, Musk’s surprise for October is that he’s embraced the MAGA ideology.
Currently, it’s possible that the wealthiest individual in the world managing a powerful global platform might raise concerns about potential election meddling for some.” Stewart then humorously addressed the audience saying, “I mean, you folks can be a bit naive sometimes.
Stewart referred back to the 2016 and 2020 elections, during which Trump loudly accused Mark Zuckerberg, Facebook’s founder, of meddling with the elections. Now, it’s interesting to note the obvious double standard, as Elon Musk, who owns Twitter (X platform), has voiced his support for President Trump. The discussion delved further into Trump’s repeated threats against those he believed were interfering in his election, such as the team behind the biopic The Apprentice.
During a recent rally in Pennsylvania, Stewart pointed out an unusual moment: while most people supporting Trump have been threatened with legal action, imprisonment, or censorship, Elon Musk publicly expressed his backing for Trump. This is noteworthy because, as Stewart explained, it was the main focus of the segment.
During that gathering, a snippet from Elon Musk’s speech at a Trump event was replayed: “They aim to strip us of our right to express freely. A cornerstone of democracy is freedom of speech – that’s why it’s enshrined in the First Amendment.” (From my perspective as a gamer, it resonates more like this: “At the rally, they played a piece of Elon Musk’s speech: ‘They want to silence us. Speaking freely is crucial for democracy, which is why it’s protected by the First Amendment.'”)
Hey Elon, didn’t you catch the rest of the show? If a movie Trump dislikes gets sued, and a tech magnate he doesn’t fancy ends up behind bars, it’s not about free speech if only those who adore him can express themselves without repercussions. That’s not how it rolls. His championing of free speech seems more like exposing his own hypocrisy to me, rather than something praiseworthy. Just my two cents.
A different video of Elon Musk followed, in which he said: “At least the Constitution remains unaltered, serving as a safeguard for our freedom of speech. The existence of the Second Amendment is to secure our right to free speech.
A clearly riled Stewart went for the jugular: Guns don’t protect our free speech. Our free speech is protected by the consent of the governed, laid out through the Constitution. It’s not based on the threat of violence. It’s based on elections, organizing referendums, a judicial system. Our social contract offers many, many avenues to remedy these issues and allows sides to be heard and adjudicated. Guns, from what I can tell, seem to mostly protect the speech of the people holding the gun. It’s a tool of intimidation…”
Met with rapturous applause, Stewart hushed the audience as he wasn’t done.
Stewart expressed his view that the tool being used was one of intimidation and he considers it to be carelessly and dangerously employed. He mentioned that some people in your audience may have thought they were shadow-banned on Facebook, which seemed ridiculous since you all were in Butler, Pennsylvania. The reason for being there was because a man with an AR-15 had attempted to drastically alter the nation’s view of free speech, as evident by the recent assassination attempt on Trump. The purpose of society is not for guns to dictate it; instead, he prefers a government that provides solutions to his issues, whether legitimate or not, over a situation where his rights are determined by the number of militia members who agree with him.
Speaking more gently, Stewart pointedly spoke to Musk. “The nation isn’t flawless, and we have many disagreements regarding topics like freedom, immigration, reduction in snack chip sizes, the bizarre pairing of penguins with hippos. However, truthfully, man, a country that can manage these complex matters through a sometimes cumbersome, excessively bureaucratic system of checks and balances, and peaceful transitions of power, is the only kind I want the kids of Pesto and Moo Deng to be raised in.
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2024-10-08 08:24