Comedy and International Relations: Jon Stewart Stepping Down From the Daily Show

Jon Stewart, who has been the host of The Daily Show has announced that, sometime later in 2015, he will no longer be the anchor of the show. And while he did not say when that exact date was, a CNN article points out that Stewart’s contract ends in September of 2015, and he himself said it could be earlier or later in the year (CNN, 2015). When he made the announcement, he spoke about the show, how he enjoyed working with his colleagues, and how it was time for someone else to be the host.

Jon Stewart’s work, and the Daily Show itself have left a lasting legacy on the way we approach news for domestic politics, as well as international relations. His comedic style coupled with facts about news events made for a highly informative and entertaining show, time and time again.

Many have pointed out the great influence that Jon Stewart has had on politics. For example, he has been able to excite many young people about domestic and international politics. In fact, “In a 2012 survey, the Pew Research Center for People and the Press found that 39% of “The Daily Show’s” regular viewers were between 18 and 29, but the group makes up just 23% of the public as a whole” (in CNN, 2015b).

In addition, Jon Stewart’s show inspired many others around the world. For example, in Egypt, a show by Bassem Youssef about the political landscape in the country were very similar to the style of Stewart and the Daily Show. And Youssef’s work has been a needed voice in the politics of Egypt.

Thus, it is evident that news can be comedic, and still offer great insight into domestic politics and international relations. Jon Stewart’s work was excellent, and he seemed to have a perfected skill of dealing with complex issues with nuance and deep thought, all the while with comedy that further illustrated his points. It has been a great show, and hopefully the next anchor on The Daily Show will continue to bring analysis on American politics and international relations close to the way that Stewart has done for years.