The BEST episodes of The Daily Show season 29
Every episode of The Daily Show season 29, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Daily Show season 29!
The Daily Show's intrepid news team dives into the biggest headlines of the day, providing fearless coverage, expert analysis, and no-nonsense commentary.
#1 - Tim Walz
Season 29 - Episode 112 - Aired 10/21/2024
Host Jon Stewart sits down with Democratic Vice Presidential nominee Tim Walz.
#2 - Pete Buttigieg
Season 29 - Episode 74 - Aired 7/29/2024
Jon Stewart tackles Joe Biden's withdrawal from the presidential race, new presumptive nominee Kamala Harris, and the reactions on both sides, from a re-energized Democratic party to flailing Republicans' flimsy coup claims. Plus, Josh Johnson on the right's new strategic talking points against Harris, which range from sexist all the way to racist. "What's the point of having a conversation if you're not speaking to people who don't already agree with you?" Pete Buttigieg talks to Jon Stewart about why he goes on Fox News, the significance of President Joe Biden stepping aside to make room for Kamala Harris as the presumptive Democratic nominee, the possibility of being vetted for vice president, and his thoughts on Trump's own VP pick, JD Vance.
#3 - Josh Shapiro
Season 29 - Episode 116 - Aired 10/28/2024
Jon Stewart dives into Trump's recent xenophobic rally at MSG and his proposed mass deportation plan. Pennsylvania Governor Josh Shapiro discusses the state's role as a "temporary swing state".
#4 - Roxane Gay
Season 29 - Episode 78 - Aired 8/5/2024
Michael Kosta covers all things Olympics, including an American runner who won by a hair, a pole vaulter with interfering genitalia, and an Algerian boxer whose womanhood is challenged. As the election grows closer, RFK Jr.'s bear carcass dump has him securing his place as the weirdest candidate, and Desi Lydic reveals other confessions we can expect from him.
#5 - Mark Duplass
Season 29 - Episode 84 - Aired 8/14/2024
Desi Lydic watches the leaked Project 2025 training videos and discovers the secret right-wing plan for transforming government, undoing climate rules, and eliminating all pronouns from the English language. Plus, the people who made them are a little weird and have close ties to Donald Trump, despite his denials. Featuring an exclusive Daily Show Project 2025 video made just for Trump. America's democracy may not be the strongest, but it is the oldest! Grace Kuhlenschmidt explores the drawbacks of having a gerontocracy by chatting with UC Irvine neuropoietic researcher Mark Fisher, who explains how the brain deteriorates and what's really covered on a cognitive test.
#6 - Steve Ballmer
Season 29 - Episode 91 - Aired 9/10/2024
Jon Stewart goes live after the first presidential debate between Kamala Harris and Donald Trump. Filled with face-offs over abortion access, border control, and for some reason eating cats? Jon breaks down what this all means for the election. Former Microsoft CEO, LA Clippers owner, and founder of USAFacts Steve Ballmer joins Jon Stewart for a live conversation following the Trump-Harris debate to discuss why he launched his website, USAFacts, as a nonpartisan resource for people to understand the scope, context, and efficacy of the government's spending. They also talk about the ways in which democracy and capitalism influence each other, and how that relationship might need more checks and balances, especially when it comes to healthcare and labor.
#7 - Paola Ramos
Season 29 - Episode 102 - Aired 10/1/2024
Host Michael Kosta provides live post-Vice Presidential debate coverage and chats with journalist/author Paola Ramos. Paola Ramos is on to advertise and promote her new book, "Defectors: The Rise of the Latino Far Right and What It Means for America".
#8 - Jason Segel
Season 29 - Episode 110 - Aired 10/16/2024
Desi Lydic explores Kamala Harris's appeal to Black male voters, and Trump's bizarre claim of being the "father of IVF". Hollywood actor Jason Segel discusses his Apple TV+ series "Shrinking".
#9 - Mark Cuban
Season 29 - Episode 82 - Aired 8/12/2024
Donald Trump thought he was cruising to victory against Joe Biden, but now he's facing a hard fight against Kamala Harris. Jon Stewart looks at Trump's half-hearted attempts to adjust to the new challenge and wonders if he's hatching a devious plan to help Biden take back the nomination, January 6th style. Entrepreneur and minority owner of the NBA's Dallas Mavericks, Mark Cuban, joins Jon Stewart to discuss disrupting the healthcare industry as co-founder of Cost Plus Drug Company. They discuss Silicon Valley's goals of anointing Trump as CEO of America and serving as board members, the unpredictable future of AI, how Elon Musk utilizes X (formerly Twitter) algorithms to control the global discourse, and how drug price transparency has changed the future of our healthcare system.
#10 - Charles Yu
Season 29 - Episode 134 - Aired 12/5/2024
Host Ronny Chieng interviews author and creator/executive producer Charles Yu about his book and Hulu series "Interior Chinatown."
#11 - INDECISION 2024: The Republican National Convention
Season 29 - Episode 73 - Aired 7/18/2024
Jordan Klepper goes live after the final night of the Republican National Convention to unpack Trump's big speech, and appearances from Hulk Hogan and Kid Rock. Plus, an update on the status of Joe Biden's candidacy. Also, TDS correspondents Josh Johnson, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, and Troy Iwata play the ultimate game of "Would You Rather," testing whether people would rather talk about the election or anything else.
#12 - Sally Yates
Season 29 - Episode 131 - Aired 12/2/2024
Host Jon Stewart sits down with former Deputy and Acting U.S. Attorney General Sally Yates.
#13 - Jennifer Granholm
Season 29 - Episode 113 - Aired 10/22/2024
Michael Kosta explores Rudy Giuliani's financial downfall & Elon Musk's million-dollar sweepstakes to sway voters. Energy Sec. Jennifer Granholm discusses the rapid growth of the clean energy sector.
#14 - Kevin Bacon
Season 29 - Episode 58 - Aired 6/11/2024
Jordan Klepper tackles the Hunter Biden guilty verdict, as well as Justice Samuel Alito's wife, Martha-Ann Alito, caught on tape planning to fight Pride flags with more flags. Plus, Michael Kosta reveals how Governor Kathy Hochul's decision to scrap New York congestion pricing might have had something to do with the "Diner Effect." Award-winning actor Kevin Bacon sits down with Jordan Klepper to discuss his legendary acting career and latest films, "Beverly Hills Cop: Axel F" and "MaXXXine." They talk about fearlessly playing villains, starring alongside the hilarious Eddie Murphy, and 80s horror films as thinly veiled morality tales. Plus, Bacon reveals the marriage advice he gives those asking about his 36-year relationship with Kyra Sedgwick, "Don't take marriage advice from celebrities."
#15 - Aasif Mandvi
Season 29 - Episode 69 - Aired 7/9/2024
Desi Lydic & Jordan Klepper cover Trump's contradictory tweet about Project 2025, President Biden's Parkinson's panic, and Gwyneth Paltrow's shitty house guest. Michael Kosta also helps Desi & Jordan get to the bottom of all of Biden's medical house calls. Polls show that Trump's support among Black voters is up almost 20 points from the last election, so Josh Johnson sat down with a panel of Black voters to ask, "Do we f**k with Trump?" Former Daily Show correspondent and star of Paramount Plus' "Evil" Aasif Mandvi reminisces with Jordan Klepper and Desi Lydic about some of his most memorable field pieces, from asking former Florida governor Rick Scott for a urine test, to nearly being arrested in a two-headed fish costume. He also discusses what it means for him to play a sexy character in the horror-comedy series "Evil."
#16 - Kara Swisher
Season 29 - Episode 111 - Aired 10/17/2024
Host Desi Lydic interviews journalist, podcast host, and author Kara Swisher about her new book "Burn Book: A Tech Love Story."
#17 - Stacey Abrams
Season 29 - Episode 109 - Aired 10/15/2024
Desi Lydic dives into Trump's wild town hall, which turned into an impromptu listening party. Then Desi sits down with voting rights activist and presenter of "Assembly Required" Stacey Abrams about her new book "Stacey Speaks Up."
#18 - Gov. Wes Moore
Season 29 - Episode 88 - Aired 8/21/2024
The Daily Show is in Chicago for the DNC. Jordan Klepper recaps the second night, from an electric roll call featuring Lil Jon to headliners Barack and Michelle Obama delivering soaring rhetoric while also hitting below the belt. Plus, Desi Lydic has notes for the delegation from Illinois, and Ronny Chieng reveals the insults Democrats have coming next for Trump. Gov. Tim Walz isn't only Kamala Harris's running mate, he's also America's dad. So to land one of the most coveted interviews at the DNC, Grace Kuhlenschmidt is trying every trick in the dad-bait book, from giving away the movie Rudy on Blu-Ray to asking if anyone can show her how to use a stud finder. "Nothing is given. Everything is earned." Maryland Governor Wes Moore joins Jordan Klepper to discuss utilizing the DNC to reach an undecided audience and earn their votes in the upcoming election.
#19 - John Heilemann
Season 29 - Episode 92 - Aired 9/11/2024
Jordan Klepper unpacks the debate aftermath including Trump's insistence that he won, Taylor Swift's Kamala Harris endorsement, and the origin of the "immigrants eat our cats and dogs" conspiracy. After JD Vance doubles down on Trump's claim, Ronny Chieng visits Springfield to investigate the pet-eating allegations. City parking is never easy, but Philadelphia's courtesy towing policy takes inconvenience to a new level. Michael Kosta went to Philly to get the lowdown from Pennsylvania drivers on the pesky parking problem, the bizarre inner workings of the Philadelphia Parking Authority, and the cost of a parking ticket. John Heilemann, chief political columnist at Puck and host of the "Impolitic" podcast, sits down with Jordan Klepper to unpack what he witnessed at the Trump-Harris debate in Philadelphia.
#20 - Gov. Gretchen Whitmer
Season 29 - Episode 86 - Aired 8/19/2024
The Daily Show is in Chicago for night one of the DNC. Michael Kosta covers what to expect this week, including vague nightly themes, unsubstantiated rumors of surprise celebrity appearances, and a recycled Biden platform. Plus, Grace Kuhlenschmidt reports on a giant inflatable IUD and Jordan Klepper stops by to teach Tim Walz a thing or two about pandering to local crowds. To kick off night one of the DNC, former Chicago resident Jordan Klepper and Illinois Governor JB Pritzker take a tour of the city they love. They talk history, food, sports, and culture. And of course they stop for a drink or three along the way. "There's a lesson in every tough story." Michigan Gov. Gretchen Whitmer joins fellow Michigander Michael Kosta during the Democratic National Convention in Chicago to discuss her bestselling book, "True Gretch: What I've Learned About Life, Leadership, and Everything in Between."
#21 - Joey McIntyre
Season 29 - Episode 129 - Aired 11/20/2024
Host Desi Lydic chats with singer/songwriter and actor Joey McIntyre about the new Roku original film "Jingle Bell Love".
#22 - Adam Serwer
Season 29 - Episode 120 - Aired 11/4/2024
Jordan Klepper recaps the candidates' final pushes, incl. Kamala Harris' star-studded send-off. Jordan then has a conversation with Adam Serwer, a staff writer for The Atlantic, about MAGA’s conspiracy bubble and GOP “snitch states”.
#23 - Robert Putnam
Season 29 - Episode 124 - Aired 11/12/2024
Host Jordan Klepper talks with Robert Putnam, a Harvard professor and social scientist, about his documentary "Join or Die."
#24 - Moses “Shyne” Barrow Levi
Season 29 - Episode 125 - Aired 11/13/2024
Host Jordan Klepper chats with rapper-turned-politician Moses "Shyne" Barrow Levi about his upcoming documentary "The Honorable Shyne."
#25 - Gabby Thomas
Season 29 - Episode 83 - Aired 8/13/2024
Desi Lydic tackles Donald Trump's glitchy interview with Elon Musk on X, in which a slurring Trump announced plans to close the Department of Education, played '90s pop culture trivia with Vladimir Putin, and revealed his new celebrity crush. On the heels of the Paris Olympics, three-time gold medallist Gabby Thomas joins Desi Lydic to discuss her big wins for Team USA, a moment she spent five years training for. They talk about her mom's heart-warming reaction and lifelong encouragement, how Thomas's Harvard degree in neurobiology informed her athletic preparation and self-care, and advocating for equal access to healthcare through volunteer work in Texas.