Jon Stewart calls out Mitch McConnell on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
By Matt Moore
Jon Stewart made a surprise visit to the Late Show with Stephen Colbert to respond to Mitch McConnell.
Jon Stewart has been in the news this week for his advocacy on behalf the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund. After he blamed Republican Senator Mitch McConnell for delaying the extension process, McConnell fired back at Stewart. The former Daily Show host then got an assist from Stephen Colbert in calling out McConnell once again.
By now, you’ve probably seen the video of Stewart testifying on behalf of 9/11 first responders. It was an emotional speech from Stewart that demonstrated his disappointment, anger, and sadness towards Congress for waiting so long to take care of firefighters and others who developed an illness as a result of responding to the 2001 terrorist attacks.
And while Stewart called out those committee members that did not show for his testimony, he especially put the blame on Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell. McConnell has long been a target of late night comedians including Stephen Colbert. So it made even more sense for Stewart to stop by The Late Show to rip McConnell again:
Fans know by now that politics play a big role on The Late Show with Stephen Colbert. It is a major reason why the show has consistently led in the late night ratings. But there is no denying that Colbert’s political views are very much one-sided. Yet Stewart’s appearance is a rare instance of a political issue that should be unanimously supported.
That has been a major point of Stewart’s advocacy work. He mentions that he has received bipartisan support for extending the 9/11 Victim Compensation Fund and securing permanent funding for those it helps. Still there remains opposition. The comedian has said that not all Republicans oppose the bill, but everyone who has is Republican. This fact is what has made McConnell the primary villain in Stewart’s story.
light. Related Story. Jon Stewart returns to hosting to interview Stephen Colbert
The influence of politics on late night shows over the past few years seems like the perfect time for Jon Stewart to be on television every night. The former Daily Show host seems content in his “retirement” despite his popularity. But it looks as if Stewart is doing plenty for good off camera and letting Stephen Colbert carry the torch on camera.