Jon Stewart carries on ‘Daily Show’ comeback with a big dig at his previous employer

Late-evening Television host Jon Stewart ongoing his headline-earning streak this 7 days by contacting out his previous employer, Apple, on his most recent episode of “The Day-to-day Exhibit.”

Whilst interviewing the chair of the Federal Trade Commission, Lina Khan, on Monday, Stewart accused Apple of deterring him from inviting Khan on to his podcast although he was functioning for the Cupertino, Calif.-centered tech and enjoyment huge.

Final thirty day period, the U.S. Justice Office and 16 point out lawyers basic — such as California’s — sued Apple, accusing it of attempting to monopolize the smartphone market.

“I wished to have you on a podcast,” Stewart told Khan on Monday’s “Daily Show” software. “Apple questioned us not to do it. … They literally mentioned, ‘Please never talk to her.’”

Stewart was referring to the limited-lived podcast “The Problem With Jon Stewart,” an extension of the Apple Television+ series of the identical title that lasted two seasons. Shortly following “The Problem” concluded in April 2023, Stewart returned to direct Comedy Central’s “The Day by day Show” for the to start with time in nearly a 10 years.

The comic hosts the demonstrate on Monday nights and is expected to keep by the 2024 election cycle. He is also established to provide as an govt producer on the plan as a result of 2025. The relaxation of the week is moderated by other customers of the “Daily Show” news group.

“What is that sensitivity?” Stewart stated Monday after calling Apple out. “Why are they so worried to even have these discussions out in the general public sphere?”

Apple did not quickly respond Wednesday to a ask for for remark.

It is no mystery that Stewart and Apple clashed creatively during his stint at the streamer. The Television identity told “CBS Mornings” in February that he experienced initially prepared to address the 2024 election cycle on “The Trouble With Jon Stewart” — until Apple “decided that they did not want me to say points that might get them in hassle.”

Stewart and Apple also reportedly disagreed about troubles related to China, the place heaps of Apple merchandise are produced.

Stewart also dedicated a segment of Monday’s “Daily Show” episode to the perils of artificial intelligence — one more subject matter the host accused the tech overlords at Apple of objecting to. (As hundreds of coders and other IT specialists have been allow go by Apple, Google, Meta and others in recent months, anxieties about AI displacing work have intensified.)

“They would not allow us do even the dumb thing we just did in the initially act on AI,” Stewart mentioned.

Considering the fact that saying his “Daily Show” comeback, Stewart has promptly recaptured audiences’ focus with his trademark zeal and wit, Situations information and tradition critic Lorraine Ali observed in February. Comedy Central formerly reported that “Daily Show” viewership jumped 48% (from 1.65 million to 2.44 million) a 7 days following Stewart’s return.

In current months, Stewart’s “Daily Show” episodes have spurred a selection of headlines, mining Stewart’s requires on different political problems and his criticisms of impressive figures.

Stewart reclaimed the “Daily Show” reins about a yr right after Trevor Noah hosted his past episode of the Comedy Central collection, capping his seven-12 months tenure.

Occasions personnel writers Samantha Masunaga and Don Lee contributed to this report.