Throughout the past decade, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart has expanded its depth of analysis and impacted the political process and national discourse in multiple ways. It has established itself as a source of legitimate critical examination of American political and media culture, and of current events. Armed with sarcasm, satire, and silliness, The Daily Show has worked to break through the absurdity of the American political system and media by promoting responsibility, accountability, and reasonable discourse.
This paper analyzes the show’s major aspects that have developed over the course of the program’s existence which serve as checks on the democratic process. The paper first looks broadly at the news media, critiquing the networks generally and then focusing on the three major cable news networks. Specific critiques of the roles and responsibilities of the news media follow. Analysis shifts to The Daily Show interviews and the discourse that they foster. The last major section examines the show’s ability to reveal the hypocrisy and lack of transparency of the political process.
In short, there are three major checks that the show seeks to provide: a check on the news media; a check on accountability; and a check on the hypocrisy of the process. This paper utilizes the available online primary sources of Daily Show video clips to demonstrate the value of the program, integrating video segments to convey an overarching theme of satirical, yet serious, media criticism. The conclusion connects all the sections together, evaluating the impact that The Daily Show has had on the political and media process and how Stewart and The Daily Show team have become an important part of the American democratic system.
Since its beginnings in 1999, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart has been a unique and evolving comedy television program. The show utilizes satire, hyperbole, and fake news to critique prominent current events or political issues. There are three main components to The Daily Show. Host Jon Stewart typically opens the program with a segment about the top stories of the day. A short segment follows with a fake political correspondent or commentator exaggerating the issue or mocking the absurdity of a situation. The show concludes with a guest interview either for promotion of a recent work or for discussion on a current political issue.
Due to its blended nature as both a comedy and news show,
The Daily Show has been able to ignore both news media and comedy conventions, occupying a space that would make most news shows wince and journalists hesitate. Many scholars and media critics debate whether the show is fake news or reliable journalism. Although there are certainly segments that are obviously fake news, the vast majority of
The Daily Show is far from the realm of fake news, but also quite distinct from hard news and journalism. There is a significant different between a
fake news program and a
satirical news program. Satire is a “discourse of inquiry” that attempts to unravel the morality of issues being discussed. Fake news is simply made up and has no basis in fact. Satirical news, though, puts a spin on the actual news. Stewart and the other writers of the show rarely invent stories. Instead, they construct episodes around sound bytes and video clips from actual stories on the major news networks.
As a program on Comedy Central, The Daily Show also has the leeway to be immature and vulgar at times, and Stewart often uses the comedy network as a shield from criticism of his own journalistic “responsibility,” while strongly condemning others. In fact, some contend that Stewart’s refusal to abide by traditional journalistic conventions signals a stark contrast with the recent “mutual embrace between press and politics.” The following analysis, however, will sidestep both the fake news and journalistic integrity debate and will focus on the value of the satirical news aspect of the show.
As the show has developed, The Daily Show’s criticism has become more focused on specific issues, and segments have grown from short comedy stints into lengthy and complex critiques. The program distinguishes itself from other late night programs by concentrating primarily on policy issues as opposed to politics. Even the guest interviews have become a way in which to draw attention to and frame significant moral, social, and political debates.
The Daily Show has evolved into a social, political, and media satirical commentary show that is becoming a “check” on the accountability of the political process and major news networks. The media often are thought of as a check on the government. Stewart thus provides vital oversight of the media and democratic process: he is holding politicians and the media responsible for their words and actions, alerting people to their hypocrisy and irrationality.
Throughout the past decade, the show has expanded in depth and has impacted the political process and national discourse in multiple ways. It has become a part of American political culture. Despite its comedic and satirical approach, The Daily Show should not be overlooked, as it is a rigorous critical examination of current events and politics.
This paper will analyze and discuss the major aspects of the show that have developed over the course of the program’s existence to serve as checks on democratic process. It will first look broadly at the general news media critiques that are offered and then focus on the three major cable news networks. Specific critiques of the role and responsibility of the news media will follow. Analysis will shift to The Daily Show interviews and the discourse that the interviews encourage. Furthermore, the show’s ability to reveal hypocrisy contributes to the transparency of the political process. In short, there are three major levels of checks that the show seeks to serve: checks on the accountability of the news media, political process, and the individual. I conclude by evaluating the impact that The Daily Show has had on the media and political process and how Stewart and The Daily Show team have become an integral part of the American democratic system.
One of the most valuable aspects of The Daily Show with Jon Stewart is the show’s critique of the most prominent 24-hour news networks. The primary responsibility of these major news networks, including but not limited to CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News, is to inform their audiences of the day’s current events locally, nationally, and internationally. This section analyzes the show’s critique of the major news networks as a whole and the show’s scrutiny of the individual news networks – CNN, MSNBC, and Fox News.
Some of the show’s most common critiques have involved evaluating what the media consider newsworthy. There are certain events, such as elections, wars, protests, and scandals, which are obvious stories - others not so much. Take, for instance, the death of model and actress Anna Nicole Smith. The cable news networks sensationalized her death in a ridiculous fashion, and Stewart put it in perspective: “The media unleashed a full scale coverage orgy with CNN, at one point, going 90 minutes without a commercial making the death of Anna Nicole Smith a more significant news event than a State of the Union address and slightly less than 9/11.” Two years later, when Michael Jackson died, the news networks shifted immediately from their coverage of Governor Mark Sanford’s sex scandal, to days of coverage on Michael Jackson’s unexpected death. In jest of Sanford having given another interview when all press attention had abruptly left him alone, Stewart exclaims incredulously, “You gave another interview? God killed Michael Jackson to save your ass! And you gave another interview?”
During the summer of 2010, the show also mocked the media’s attention on Chelsea Clinton’s wedding. Due to the lack of media access, Stewart states, “This wedding is setting a new record for the most amount of media gaining the least amount of information.” The Daily Show points out the excessive amount of time that the media devote to a story they know nothing about and that is not all that important in the grand scheme of things. Instead of looking into more significant issues going on in the political landscape, the media spent much of the day making predictions or guesses as to what would be occurring during the Clinton wedding. Moreover, Stewart comments on the immense focus given to the cost of the wedding, insinuating that the media could be better serving the public: “You know you could criticize the media for spending more time and attention on Chelsea Clinton’s wedding than on the WikiLeaks Afghanistan story, the 9/11 responders insurance funding vote, and how tax cuts affect the deficit combined, but the fact is, when they do apply their resources, their ability to gather resources is truly awesome.”
In 2006, a controversy arose because of rape allegations against Duke University lacrosse players. The Daily Show exposed the poor handling of the issue by multiple networks:
The Daily Show with Jon Stewart: Headlines - Duke Lacrosse Rape Allegations
In the video segment, Stewart focuses not on the actual details of the rape allegations, but on the manner in which the media cover the story. It would not be appropriate for a comedy show to make light of the serious and sensitive topic of rape allegations. Instead, Stewart mocks the actual news networks and their news commentary shows in their reporting and handling of the issue. The transition from “Fox and Friends’ weather report to the sports report illustrates an obviously ridiculous transition from a light topic and banter to a serious topic, and Stewart expresses his dismay that the show poorly handled the sensitive subject. Although it was likely that the awkward transition was unintentional, greater care should be given to issues that deal with more serious topics.
On the other hand, Stewart criticizes the script for the Nancy Grace segment for intentionally using sports statistics as an attempt at comedic relief, which just results in an inappropriate and ridiculous report by a professional news commentary show. Stewart sums up Nancy Grace’s attempted comedic approach to the situation quite bluntly: “It’s funny because it’s the worst possible thing you could have done.” Stewart, though, takes a more appropriate approach to the issue via his introduction of the story, and even his satirical criticism is not distasteful or diminishing in any regard. There is a crucial difference between making light of the actual situation and making light of the absurdity of the news coverage. The consideration exhibited by The Daily Show, a Comedy Central program, contrasted with the lack thereof by the supposedly serious news programs on major news networks, reflects quite poorly on the latter.
Another dimension of The Daily Show’s commentary touches on the networks’ lack of substance when trying to fill 24 hours of news. The lack of substance or even an informative response demonstrated in the rape allegations case by the Fox, CNN, and MSNBC reporters, exemplifies the uselessness of much of the coverage. The Daily Show’s regular criticism of the 24-hour networks for their lack of substance due to the sheer amount of airtime that the networks have to fill has become a growing theme.Continued on Next Page »
1.) Baym, Geoffrey. “The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the Reinvention of Political Journalism.” Political Communication. 2005. 22: 3, 259-276.
Brewer, Paul R. and Emily Marquardt. “Mock News and Democracy: Analyzing The Daily Show.” Atlantic Journal of Communication. Lawrence Erlbaum Associates, Inc. 2007. 15:4, 249-267.
4.) “Remembering Anna.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. February 12, 2007. Web. October 26, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-february-12-2007/remembering-anna>.
5.) “Shut Up Mark Sanford.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. July 12, 2009. Web. October 26, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-july-2-2009/shut-up--mark-sanford>.
6.) “The Wedding of the Century of the Millennium.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. August 2, 2010. Web. October 26, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-august-2-2010/wedding-of-the-decade-of-the-century-of-the-millennium >.
“Headlines Duke Lacrosse Rape Allegations.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. April 18, 2006. Web. October 26, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-april-18-2006/headlines---duke-lacrosse-rape-allegations>.
9.) “Headlines Duke Lacrosse Rape Allegations.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. April 18, 2006. Web. October 26, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-april-18-2006/headlines---duke-lacrosse-rape-allegations>.
10.) “Journalism, Satire or Just Laughs? ‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,’ Examined.” Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. N.p., May 8, 2008. Web. October 26, 2010. <http://www.journalism.org/node/10953>.
11.) Who the f@#k is that guy? – Political Experts.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. October 22, 2008. Web. October 28, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-october-22-2008/who-the-f--k-is-that-guy----political-experts>.
13.) “Hi Tech News Coverage.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. January 9, 2008. Web. October 28, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-january-9-2008/hi-tech-news-coverage>.
14.) “Speech Therapy.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. January 28, 2010. Web. November 4, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-january-28-2010/speech-therapy---post-racial>.
15.) “CNN Leaves It There.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. October 12, 2009. Web. November 1, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-12-2009/cnn-leaves-it-there>.
17.) “CNN Leaves It There.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. October 12, 2009. Web. November 1, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-12-2009/cnn-leaves-it-there>.
18.) “MSNBC Left Behind.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. October 11, 2010. Web. November 3, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-october-11-2010/msnbc-left-behind>.
19.) “Keith Olbermann’s Name Calling.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. January 21, 2010. Web. November 4, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-january-21-2010/special-comment---keith-olbermann-s-name-calling>.
20.) “Speech Therapy.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. January 28, 2010. Web. November 4, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-january-28-2010/speech-therapy---post-racial>.
21.) “Fox News.Com.” Fox News Network, LLC. November 4, 2010. 2010. <http://www.foxnews.com/>.
22.) “For Fox Sake.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. October 29, 2009. Web. November 4, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-october-29-2009/for-fox-sake->.
24.) “Anchor Management.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. March 3, 2010. Web. November 4, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-march-3-2010/anchor-management>.
“Gretchen Carlson Dumbs Down.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. December 8, 2009. Web. November 6, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-december-8-2009/gretchen-carlson-dumbs-down>.
“Sean Hannity Uses Glenn Beck’s Protest Footage.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. November 10, 2009. Web. November 6, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-november-10-2009/sean-hannity-uses-glenn-beck-s-protest-footage>.
33.) “Sean Hannity Apologizes to Jon.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. November 12, 2009. Web. July 16, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-november-12-2009/sean-hannity-apologizes-to-jon>.
34.) “Are You Ready For Some Midterms? – MSNBC’s Political Narrative.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. September 9, 2010. Web. November 6, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-9-2010/are-you-ready-for-some-midterms----msnbc-s-political-narrative>.
35.) “Kurtz criticizes Hannity's "careful editing" of Obama speech: "Isn't that kind of editing, what's the word, deceptive?" Media Matters For America. September 12, 2010. Web. November 6, 2010. >.
36.) “Bernie Goldberg Fires Back.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. April 20, 2010. Web. November 6, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-april-20-2010/bernie-goldberg-fires-back>.
37.) “Top TV Feuds: Jon Stewart vs. Crossfire.” TIME. Time.com. 2010. <http://www.time.com/time/specials/packages/article/0,28804,1884499_1884515_1884462,00.html>.
Gollmitzer, Mirjam. "Towards a Media Incidents Theory: How "Adversarial Guests" Ruin Programs and Liberate the Audience."Conference Papers -- International Communication Association(2009): 1-20. Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 20 Nov. 2010.
44.) Douthat, Ross. “Can CNN Be Saved?” The New York Times. April 4, 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/opinion/05douthat.html>.
Snow, Nancy. “Jon Stewart: Still the Most Trusted Newscaster in America.” The Huffington Post. July 23, 2009. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nancy-snow/jon-stewart-still-the-mos_b_243646.html>.
47.) Gollmitzer, Mirjam. "Towards a Media Incidents Theory: How "Adversarial Guests" Ruin Programs and Liberate the Audience."Conference Papers -- International Communication Association(2009): 1-20.Communication & Mass Media Complete. EBSCO. Web. 20 Nov. 2010.
“CNBC Financial Advice.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. March 4, 2009. Web. November 20, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-march-4-2009/cnbc-financial-advice>.
52.) Cramer, Jim. “Cramer Takes on White House, Frank Rich, and Jon Stewart.” The Street. MainStreet.com. March 10, 2009. <http://www.mainstreet.com/article/moneyinvesting/news/cramer-takes-white-house-frank-rich-and-jon-stewart?page=4>.
“In Cramer We Trust.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. March 9, 2009. Web. November 20, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-march-9-2009/in-cramer-we-trust>.
“Basic Cable Personality Clash Skirmish.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. March 10, 2009. Web. November 20, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-march-10-2009/basic-cable-personality-clash-skirmish--09>.
“Jim Cramer Extended Interview Pt. 1.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. March 12, 2009. Web. November 21, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-march-12-2009/jim-cramer-extended-interview-pt--1>.
“Jim Cramer Extended Interview Pt. 2.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. March 12, 2009. Web. November 21, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-march-12-2009/jim-cramer-extended-interview-pt--2>.
“Jim Cramer Extended Interview Pt. 3.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. March 12, 2009. Web. November 21, 2010. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-march-12-2009/jim-cramer-extended-interview-pt--3>.
64.) Snow, Nancy. “Jon Stewart: Still the Most Trusted Newscaster in America.” The Huffington Post. July 23, 2009. <http://www.huffingtonpost.com/nancy-snow/jon-stewart-still-the-mos_b_243646.html>.
65.) France, Lisa Respers. “Stewart seen as winner in Showdown with Cramer.” March 19, 2009. CNN.com. 2009. <http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/13/cramer.stewart.reaction/index.html?iref=allsearch>.
66.) Carlson, Tucker. “How Jon Stewart Went Bad.” The Daily Beast: Blogs & Stories. March 18, 2009. RTST, Inc. 2010. <http://www.thedailybeast.com/blogs-and-stories/2009-03-18/how-jon-stewart-went-bad/>.
67.) Fisher, Luchina. “Jon Stewart Wins Cramer Showdown.” March 13, 2009. ABC News Internet Ventures. 2010. <http://abcnews.go.com/Entertainment/Television/story?id=7075368&page=1>.
68.) Cohen, Richard. “Don’t Blame Jim Cramer.” The Washington Post. March 17, 2009. <http://www.washingtonpost.com/wpdyn/content/article/2009/03/16/AR2009031602319.html>.
France, Lisa Respers. “Stewart seen as winner in Showdown with Cramer.” March 19, 2009. CNN.com. <http://www.cnn.com/2009/SHOWBIZ/TV/03/13/cramer.stewart.reaction/index.html?iref=allsearch>.
“Journalism, Satire or Just Laughs? ‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,’ Examined.” Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. N.p., May 8, 2008. Web. October 26, 2010. <http://www.journalism.org/node/10953>.
72.) “Mike Huckabee Pt.2.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. December 9, 2008. Web. April 21, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-december-9-2008/mike-huckabee-pt--2>.
“Newt Gingrich.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. February 9, 2010. Web. April 21, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-february-9-2010/newt-gingrich>.
“Exclusive John Yoo Extended Interview Pt.1.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. January 11, 2010. Web. April 21, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-january-11-2010/exclusive---john-yoo-extended-interview-pt--1>.
77.) “Exclusive Marc Thiessen Extended Interview Pt.1.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. March 9, 2010. Web. April 21, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-march-9-2010/exclusive---marc-thiessen-extended-interview-pt--1>.
78.) Douthat, Ross. “Can CNN Be Saved?” The New York Times. April 4, 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/opinion/05douthat.html>.
79.) “Exclusive John Yoo Extended Interview Pt.3.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. January 11, 2010. Web. April 21, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/mon-january-11-2010/exclusive---john-yoo-extended-interview-pt--3>.
80.) “Barack Obama Pt.1.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. October 27, 2010. Web. April 30, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-october-27-2010/barack-obama-pt--1>.
81.) “Eye to Eye: Obama on Stewart (CBS News).” CBS News. YouTube. August 23, 2007. <http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=6f3nQPJfgPo&feature=fvw>.
“Journalism, Satire or Just Laughs? ‘The Daily Show with Jon Stewart,’ Examined.” Pew Research Center’s Project for Excellence in Journalism. N.p., May 8, 2008. Web. October 26, 2010. <http://www.journalism.org/node/10953>.
84.) Douthat, Ross. “Can CNN Be Saved?” The New York Times. April 4, 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/04/05/opinion/05douthat.html>.
85.) Baym, Geoffrey. “The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the Reinvention of Political Journalism.” Political Communication. 2005. 22: 3, 259-276.
86.) “So You Think You Can Douche.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. July 29, 2009. Web. April 30, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-july-29-2009/so-you-think-you-can-douche>.
87.) “Sarah Palin Gender Card.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. September 3, 2008. Web. April 30, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-september-3-2008/sarah-palin-gender-card>.
88.) “Sarah Palin Gender Card.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. September 3, 2008. Web. April 30, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-september-3-2008/sarah-palin-gender-card>.
89.) “Postcards From the Pledge.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. September 23, 2010. Web. April 30, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-23-2010/postcards-from-the-pledge>.
90.) “Postcards From the Pledge.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. September 23, 2010. Web. April 30, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-september-23-2010/postcards-from-the-pledge>.
“Moral Kombat.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. May 14, 2009. Web. April 30, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-may-14-2009/moral-kombat>.
93.) Shear, Michael. “From Jon Stewart, Echoes of G.O.P. Past.” The New York Times. September 24, 2010. <http://thecaucus.blogs.nytimes.com/2010/09/24/from-jon-stewart-echoes-of-g-o-p-past/?scp=1&sq=jon%20stewart%20postcards%20from%20the%20pledge&st=cse>.
94.) Gore, Al. The Assault on Reason. Penguin Books. New York, NY. 2007. 111.
95.) “I Give Up – 9/11 Responders.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. August 4, 2010. Web. April 30, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/wed-august-4-2010/i-give-up---9-11-responders-bill>.
96.) “Republicans Block 9/11 Health Care Bill.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. December 9, 2010. Web. April 30, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-december-9-2010/republicans-block-9-11-health-care-bill>.
97.) “Worst Responders.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. December 16, 2010. Web. April 30, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-december-16-2010/worst-responders>.
98.) “9/11 First Responders React to the Senate Filibuster.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. December 16, 2010. Web. April 30, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-december-16-2010/9-11-first-responders-react-to-the-senate-filibuster>.
99.) “Exclusive – Mike Huckabee Extended Interview.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. December 16, 2010. Web. April 30, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/thu-december-16-2010/exclusive---mike-huckabee-extended-interview>.
100.) Newton-Small, Jay. “Did Jon Stewart Turn the Tide on the 911 First Responders Bill?” TIME: Swampland. December 20, 2010. Time, Inc. 2011. <http://swampland.blogs.time.com/2010/12/20/did-jon-stewart-turn-the-tide-on-the-911-first-responders-bill/>.
101.) “New Hope for 9/11 Heroes.” FOX NEWS. Fox News Network, LLC. December 20, 2010. <http://video.foxnews.com/v/4469087/new-hope-for-911-heroes>.
102.) Hernandez, Raymond. “Senate Passes 9/11 Health Bill as Republicans Back Down.” The New York Times. December 22, 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/23/nyregion/23health.html?_r=1>.
103.) Madison, Lucy. “White House Lauds Jon Stewart for Pushing Passage of 9/11 Health Bill.” CBS News.com. Political Hotsheet. December 21, 2010. <http://www.cbsnews.com/8301-503544_162-20026333-503544.html>.
Carter, Bill and Brian Stelter. “In ‘Daily Show’ Role on 9/11 Bill, Echoes of Murrow.” The New York Times. December 26, 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/12/27/business/media/27stewart.html?pagewanted=1&_r=1>.
“Kirsten Gillibrand.” The Daily Show with Jon Stewart. Comedy Central. January 4, 2011. Web. April 30, 2011. <http://www.thedailyshow.com/watch/tue-january-4-2011/kirsten-gillibrand>.
Baym, Geoffrey. “The Daily Show: Discursive Integration and the Reinvention of Political Journalism.” Political Communication. 2005. 22: 3, 259-276.
110.) Stelter, Brian. “In Visit to Fox News, Jon Stewart Faults Fox News.” The New York Times. February 5, 2010. <http://www.nytimes.com/2010/02/06/arts/television/06fox.html?scp=2&sq=jon%20stewart&st=cse>.
111.) “Entire Jon Stewart Interview.” FOX NEWS. Fox News Network, LLC. February 4, 2010. <http://video.foxnews.com/v/4003531/entire-jon-stewart-interview/>.
