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 - Christine Lagarde
Season 29 - Episode 97 - Aired 9/23/2024
Jon examines the escalating conflict engulfing "The Futile Crescent," the Biden administration's inability to prevent war from widening, and the criticism the Netanyahu government faces within Israel; Christine Lagarde discusses the dramatic effects of inflation and interest rates on the average person, as well as the need for global governance of AI; "Your Moment of Zen" (Donald Trump's "it's too late" dismissal of a second debate with Kamala Harris).
#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 - Live show of the DNC
Season 29 - Episode 89 - Aired 8/22/2024
Jon Stewart closes out the last night of the DNC live from Chicago with a recap of the convention, including Kamala Harris's spotlight moment, Oprah's cat lady cam, and a roster of speakers as diverse and contradictory as the Democratic party itself. Jon also shows Dems what real joy looks like and tries to make sense of Fox News's convention coverage. After a week at the Democratic Convention in Chicago, Jon Stewart and the Best F**king News Team share their thoughts on the party's embrace of small town values, which apparently means patriotically loving God and baking lots and lots of pies to give to neighbors. Kamala Harris didn't just fall out of a coconut tree. The Democratic candidate has led a full and shockingly normal life.
#4 - 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.
#5 - 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.
#6 - 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".
#7 - A.J. Jacobs
Season 29 - Episode 68 - Aired 7/8/2024
Jon Stewart has some concerns in the aftermath of Joe Biden's debate performance. Jon digs into the backlash to America's bed-wetting panic over Biden's incoherence, some of the president's recent slip-ups, the future of the Democratic candidate, and Biden's promise in an ABC interview with George Stephanopoulos to give "fighting fascism" his all. Joe Biden said he might drop out of the race if the "Lord Almighty" came down and told him to. So has anyone asked any divine beings their thoughts? Jon Stewart and The Daily Show News Team help deliver that godly message to Joe Biden from above. Journalist and best-selling author A.J. Jacobs joins Jon Stewart to discuss his new book "The Year of Living Constitutionally," which addresses a timely question: What does the Constitution actually say? He shares his insight on the Founding Fathers' mindsets, how they'd react to the current political system, and living by the legal document word for word, down to writing by quill.
#8 - 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.
#9 - Jonathan Haidt
Season 29 - Episode 41 - Aired 5/6/2024
Jordan Klepper tackles Trump's collection of gag-order violations and the ongoing ass-kissing pageant for his VP pick, which includes South Dakota Governor and puppy executioner Kristi Noem. Jordan and Josh Johnson unpack the beef between rappers Drake and Kendrick Lamar, and what world leaders can learn from this exchange. Also, Jonathan Haidt, a social psychologist and professor of ethical leadership at NYU, joins Jordan to discuss his latest best-selling book "The Anxious Generation."
#10 - Susanna Fogel
Season 29 - Episode 100 - Aired 9/26/2024
Desi Lydic unpacks New York City Mayor Eric Adams's sprawling indictment on Turkey-related bribery and fraud charges. Plus, with Adams's administration under investigation amidst a string of resignations, NYC turns to Michael Kosta to figure out who is left to run the city. Award-winning director Susanna Fogel sits down with Desi Lydic to discuss her latest film, "Winner," based on the life of Reality Winner. They talk about Reality's journey from military translator to government whistleblower, telling her story and getting to know her personally, focusing on stories that haven't been shown through a female lens, and reinventing the whistleblower film through a relatable, funny character, like Reality in real life.
#11 - Bill O'Reilly
Season 29 - Episode 71 - Aired 7/16/2024
Jon Stewart unpacks the opening night of the RNC, where Republicans called for unity while attacking the Democrats' agenda, and J.D. Vance made his big reveal as VP candidate. Plus, Jon weighs in on Biden's feisty NBC interview with Lester Holt, and the flood of internet conspiracies in the wake of the assassination attempt of Donald Trump. Bill O'Reilly sits down with Jon Stewart, despite their differing ideologies, to discuss his new book "Confronting the Presidents." The two talk about political fanaticism following the assassination attempt against Donald Trump, whether we're experiencing a unique time of polarization, the danger of monetizing anger and hate speech, and debating the real-life consequences of the 2024 election in good faith.
#12 - 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.
#13 - Peter S. Goodman
Season 29 - Episode 65 - Aired 6/25/2024
Michael Kosta reports on WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange's prison release, Alex Jones's shameless cash grab as his conspiracy network Infowars shutters, and a new Surgeon General advisory warning against, uh, gun violence? Plus, China one-upped America's lunar landing by visiting the far side of the moon, and Josh Johnson shares some advice on how the U.S. can reassert its supremacy. "Consumers are not going to save us from the vulnerabilities of the global supply chain. It's going to take regulation, it's going to take labor mobilization." Peter S. Goodman, New York Times global economics correspondent and author of "How the World Ran Out of Everything: Inside the Global Supply Chain," joins Michael Kosta to discuss American business and consumer reliance on a rickety supply chain, the need for anti-trust enforcement, and creating a more resilient supply chain that's not just optimized for big box retailers and investors.
#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 - Lori Gottlieb
Season 29 - Episode 67 - Aired 6/27/2024
Jon Stewart goes live after CNN's presidential debate to unpack Biden's senior moments and Trump's blatant lies. Psychotherapist and best-selling author of "Maybe You Should Talk to Someone" Lori Gottlieb joins Jon Stewart to discuss the impact of the debate on mental health and anxiety. They break down the difference between productive and unproductive anxiety during an election cycle, clashing with people on social media, how to deal with the existential fear perpetuated by news outlets, and in order to avoid anxiety, make sure you're not surrounded by a**holes.
#16 - Ilana Glazer
Season 29 - Episode 45 - Aired 5/13/2024
Jon Stewart digs into the trial of comically corrupt Senator Robert Menendez of New Jersey, and in a new segment called "How Dumb Is You?" asks the senator how he got caught engaging in such obvious illegal corruption, while government officials like Nancy Pelosi, Richard Burr, and Roy Blunt have been getting away with legal corruption for years. "Babes" actor and writer Ilana Glazer sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss how her new film provides a much needed and accurate portrayal of pregnancy and motherhood. They talk about her bond with co-star Michelle Buteau, the struggle to get the film made, and how she spent Mother's Day as a new mom herself.
#17 - Jon M. Chu
Season 29 - Episode 75 - Aired 7/30/2024
"Indecision 2024" analysis of the "White Dudes for Harris" drive and Donald Trump's apparent fear of debating Kamala Harris; Ronny examines Democrats' "weird" attack line against Trump and, especially, J. D. Vance's "childless cat ladies" comment; Grace Kuhlenschmidt says she's "a normal adult woman" in an apartment full of lizards; "Back in Black" (Lewis Black on the record-setting summer heat); John M. Chu on casting Ronny in Crazy Rich Asians, what drew him to direct the film version of Wicked, and his advice to young people seeking the American Dream.
#18 - Adam Kinzinger & Hong Chau
Season 29 - Episode 77 - Aired 8/1/2024
Ronny Chieng tackles Donald Trump's continued attacks on Kamala Harris's racial identity, this time citing... Mindy Kaling's Instagram? JD Vance handles his own race problems with a lukewarm defense of his wife against white supremacists, and Ronny runs down Harris's options for a running mate, who, as Desi Lydic explains, absolutely cannot be a woman. "If you have a right to vote in this country we should make it as accessible and easy for you to vote. If you can't win, then go out and get better ideas to get people to vote for you." Former GOP Congressman Adam Kinzinger sits down with Ronny Chieng to discuss Power the Polls, a national non-partisan effort to recruit the next generation of poll workers to ensure safe and fair elections for all voters. They talk about the social and political divisiveness of Congress, why Republicans feel threatened by voting access, and why "old school" Republicans should consider supporting Kamala Harris.
#19 - 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."
#20 - T.J. English
Season 29 - Episode 137 - Aired 12/11/2024
Host Michael Kosta interviews T.J. English, journalist and author, promoting his book "The Last Kilo."
#21 - 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.
#22 - 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.
#23 - Peter Sarsgaard
Season 29 - Episode 138 - Aired 12/12/2024
Host Michael Kosta chats with actor Peter Sarsgaard promoting the film "September 5."
#24 - David Hogg
Season 29 - Episode 114 - Aired 10/23/2024
Michael Kosta unpacks a whirlwind of pre-election headlines. John Kelly reveals Trump's troubling praise for Hitler. David Hogg, co-founder of March for Our Lives and Leaders We Deserve, discusses his grassroots movement to elect young progressives.
#25 - 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."