The BEST episodes of The Daily Show season 31
Every episode of The Daily Show season 31, ranked from best to worst by thousands of votes from fans of the show. The best episodes of The Daily Show season 31!
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 - George Saunders
Season 31 - Episode 33 - Aired 3/17/2026
Jordan Klepper dives into the confidence boost from a former U.S. president that supposedly inspired Trump to consider "taking Cuba," counterterrorism official Joe Kent resigning over the war in Iran, and MAGA turning on each other with "micropenis" allegations. Plus, Troy Iwata runs his gaydar on Iran's new supreme leader to find out if he's queerbaiting Americans. Freedom of speech is under attack, but thanks to the Trump administration, now you can say anything you want about the president for just $50 a month! Fork over your cash and rest easy knowing that Free Speech Plus has your back, if you don't mention corruption, cankles, Epstein, or his little d**k. Subscribe today! NYT's Bestselling author, George Saunders sits down with Jordan Klepper to discuss his latest novel, "Vigil." They discuss how he tapped into the mindset of a character who is forced to rationalize their horrible decisions and how accountability can be a form of grace.
#2 - Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey
Season 31 - Episode 23 - Aired 2/12/2026
Jordan Klepper examines President Trump’s recently promoted “Undisputed Champion of Beautiful Clean Coal” award and the administration’s related policy actions, including directing the Pentagon to purchase electricity from coal fired plants, limiting the EPA’s ability to regulate greenhouse gas emissions, and assuring coal miners of the administration’s continued support. Grace Kuhlenschmidt reports on American remote workers relocating to Mexico City in pursuit of lower living costs and lifestyle benefits, alongside perspectives from local residents concerned about rising rents and cultural displacement. Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey discusses the conclusion of Operation Metro Surge and the withdrawal of ICE agents, highlighting the role of community advocacy and collaboration with other city leaders to protect residents’ rights and resist federal overreach.
#3 - A. Mechele Dickerson
Season 31 - Episode 24 - Aired 2/23/2026
Team USA sweeps Canada for gold in Olympic hockey, Jon Stewart navigates how MAGA interprets this win as proof of America's democratic superiority, and Desi Lydic homes in on the U.S. Olympic team's secret weapon: superior political systems. Plus, Jon explains how the Supreme Court took a wrecking ball to Trump's tariff strategy and examines why the U.S. is on the brink of war with Iran. "It's not just that the middle class is suffering because of one thing; they're suffering because of everything." A. Mechele Dickerson, University of Texas law professor and author of "The Middle-Class New Deal: Restoring Upward Mobility and the American Dream," joins Jon Stewart to discuss how the government created the middle class they've now abandoned, how mortgage interest deductions, HOA exclusions, and school hours hinder the middle class, and how to restore the tentpoles of pension jobs and home ownership that fuel the middle-class American dream.
#4 - Padma Lakshmi
Season 31 - Episode 25 - Aired 2/24/2026
Desi Lydic covers wild headlines from Trump’s orbit, including RFK Jr.’s odd sauna moment with Kid Rock, JD Vance’s questionable recipe, and Kristi Noem’s controversial deportation flight. After FCC Chairman Brendan Carr calls for more patriotic TV, Jordan Klepper keeps The Daily Show suitably star-spangled with public-domain tunes. With climate change and nuclear war looming, Michael Kosta dives into the science of sex in space with researchers Simon Dubé and Maria Santaguida, even testing his own readiness. Padma Lakshmi discusses launching her CBS series America’s Culinary Kitchen, the freedom to shape it, uplifting chefs worldwide, worries about anti-immigrant policies’ impact on food, and pokes fun at Vance’s cooking skills.
#5 - Jonathan Haidt & Catherine Price
Season 31 - Episode 26 - Aired 2/25/2026
Desi Lydic provides a concise overview of Donald Trump’s unusually long State of the Union address, noting its blend of dramatic rhetoric and frequent standing ovations. Jordan Klepper examines LindellTV, a 24/7 outlet created by Mike Lindell, highlighting its mix of partisan commentary, unconventional programming, and technical issues. In a joint interview, authors Jonathan Haidt and Catherine Price discuss their new book, The Amazing Generation, which offers guidance on helping young people build healthier relationships with technology. They emphasize fostering real world connection, establishing structured screen use at home, and encouraging policy action to address tech driven mental health challenges.
#6 - Christa Miller
Season 31 - Episode 27 - Aired 2/26/2026
Desi Lydic unpacks the newest chaos from the Epstein files: Bill Gates blurts out details about past romances, the Clintons deliver closed door testimony on their Epstein links, and an old allegation against Trump resurfaces despite the DOJ’s attempts to bury it. She also highlights Republicans turning a simple snowball fight into supposed NYPD “terrorism,” while Michael Kosta rushes out to gather evidence before it melts. Grace Kuhlenschmidt spotlights oddball tech—from fart tracking underwear to science proven dance moves, Waymo’s human door closer fix, and an AI video pairing Brad Pitt and Tom Cruise to answer who killed Epstein. Christa Miller joins to discuss her Shrinking character’s empty nester arc, embracing vulnerability, collaborating with husband Bill Lawrence, how NYC nightclub work shaped her music supervision skills, and the surprising IMDB credit she shares with Desi.
#7 - Jafar Panahi
Season 31 - Episode 28 - Aired 3/2/2026
Jon Stewart dives into America and Israel's impromptu attack on Iran, Trump's laid-back war announcement from the Mar-a-Lago basement, and MAGA's refusal to sell the American people on the plan, purpose, and duration of the war. Plus, Jordan Klepper reveals America's calculated war strategy: winging it. Award-winning filmmaker Jafar Panahi sits down with Jon Stewart and his interpreter Sheida Dayani to discuss his latest film, "It Was Just An Accident," which is currently nominated for two Academy Awards. They talk about suffering a 20-year ban from filmmaking under the Iranian regime, the difference between a socially engaged filmmaker and one who caters to audiences, displaying the difference between humanity and authoritarianism through characters' doubt, and why, despite censorship and mass killings, he continues to return to Iran.
#8 - Geeta Gandbhir
Season 31 - Episode 29 - Aired 3/3/2026
Michael Kosta breaks down the chaotic first days of Trump’s clash with Iran: the U.S. offering bus evacuations for Americans in the Middle East, Trump gearing up for another possible forever war, conservatives arguing over what counts as “war,” and a friendly fire incident that destroyed $300 million in U.S. fighter jets. Leslie Jones tackles the eternal question of what’s going on with men, digging into loneliness, misogynistic podcasts, non human girlfriend stand ins, and the questionable hygiene habits holding men back—before dishing out some tough love therapy. Filmmaker Geeta Gandbhir joins Kosta to discuss her two Oscar nominated documentaries, covering raw body cam footage in The Perfect Neighbor, the grief of gun violence survivors, the racial bias enabled by stand your ground laws, and how The Devil Is Busy explores the intersection of faith and reproductive rights, using filmmaking to reflect society’s deeper truths.
#9 - Erika Alexander
Season 31 - Episode 30 - Aired 3/4/2026
America’s war on Iran spirals within five days, with Trump weighing worst‑case scenarios, a nepo baby suddenly floated as a potential Iranian leader, Sen. Markwayne Mullin fumbling his war talk, and Michael Kosta pushing Pete Hegseth to reconsider his cartoon‑villain “no mercy” speech. Meanwhile, a very drunk Grace Kuhlenschmidt jokingly nominates Trump as Iran’s new supreme leader. Josh Johnson recaps the messiest awards show imaginable, after a Tourette’s activist involuntarily shouted the N‑word at Michael B. Jordan and Delroy Lindo during their BAFTA presentation, sparking chaos between Black Twitter and Neurodivergent TikTok—though Josh insists the real culprit is the BBC. Later, Erika Alexander, star of NBC’s The Fall and Rise of Reggie Dinkins, talks with Michael about returning to TV, confronting Hollywood’s discriminatory systems after Living Single, building opportunities through Color Farm Media, and advising rising Black actors to stay authentic and work relentlessly.
#10 - Mychal Threets
Season 31 - Episode 31 - Aired 3/5/2026
Michael Kosta breaks down the latest chaos in Trump’s cabinet as DHS Secretary Kristi Noem is fired amid ICE turmoil, corruption claims, and swirling affair rumors. RFK Jr. somehow picks fights with both Dunkin’ and Starbucks, while Pete Hegseth finds time—despite a war in Iran—to push his personal mission of stripping Scouting America of its supposed wokeness. Jordan Klepper even flatters Hegseth in hopes of earning the ironic “Bros Before Hoes” badge. Meanwhile, Grace Kuhlenschmidt explores America’s first car free neighborhood with controversial “freedom fighter” Katie Hopkins to uncover the truth behind rising 15 minute cities: visionary walkable havens or government run traps? And librarian and new “Reading Rainbow” host Mychal Threets joins Michael to share his mental health journey, the life saving role libraries played for him, and the message behind his book, I'm So Happy You’re Here—a celebration of library joy and a reminder that no one is alone.
#11 - Mayor Matt Mahan
Season 31 - Episode 32 - Aired 3/16/2026
Trump's war in the Middle East rages on, with Iran closing the Strait of Hormuz and Americans gearing up to face the infamous R-word: recession. Plus, FCC Chair Brendan Carr and Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth aren't happy with the news media's confused coverage of the war in Iran, so Jon Stewart gets some truth and clarity from a panel of experts: President Trump, Donald J. Trump, DJT, and John Barron. "We've got to ask our government to do better before we ask people to give more." Mayor Matt Mahan of San José sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss his candidacy for governor of California. They talk about building constituents' trust by reducing homelessness, crime, and delivering on housing promises, regulating AI to help the industry boom in a way that protects people's livelihoods and privacy, and what his background in public school teaching and tech start-ups taught him about examining data to create pragmatic solutions in government.
#12 - Andrew Jarecki
Season 31 - Episode 22 - Aired 2/11/2026
Attorney General Pam Bondi delivered a tense and unfocused appearance before Congress regarding Epstein‑related questions. An Olympic biathlete admitted to an affair after earning a bronze medal, and Grace Kuhlenschmidt challenged Jordan Klepper on Trump’s sudden opposition to opening a new U.S.–Canada bridge. Troy Iwata highlighted international issues, including a Chinese app used to check on loved ones without direct contact, reports of fries in England washing into the ocean, and Germany’s use of militarized insects. Filmmaker Andrew Jarecki discussed The Alabama Solution, his Oscar‑nominated documentary exposing Alabama’s prison conditions through contraband cell‑phone footage, the activism of incarcerated individuals, the punishment they face, and how Alex Pretti’s death underscores the importance of documenting abuse.
#13 - Steve Zahn
Season 31 - Episode 34 - Aired 3/18/2026
Jordan Klepper breaks down how Republicans are addressing Americans' concerns about rising gas prices from the war in Iran by telling them to suck it up and quit whining, DHS secretary nominee Markwayne Mullin finds his Senate confirmation hearing dominated by an old beef with Rand Paul, and Grace Kuhlenschmidt encourages politicians to settle their differences the right way: a duel at 10 paces! On another edition of Sports War, Jordan Klepper and Desi Lydic bicker about the use of AI to fill out March Madness brackets and backlash against an NBA event honoring a strip club. Emmy-nominated actor Steve Zahn sits down with Jordan Klepper to discuss his new film, "She Dances." They talk about wearing many hats as producer, co-writer, and actor, using his "dance dad" background to write a comedy that deals with grief, why no one else could play the part but his own daughter, and evolving with co-star Ethan Hawke from playing slackers in "Reality Bites" to being veteran actors.
#14 - Rebecca Traister
Season 31 - Episode 35 - Aired 3/19/2026
Trump bombs a Pearl Harbor joke at a meeting with Japan's prime minister after a reporter asked him about the Iran war, and Jordan Klepper finds the optimism in Afroman winning a defamation suit against the police who raided his home, preserving free speech through relentless mockery, brutal infidelity jokes, & lemon pound cakes. Michael Kosta delivers the latest get-rich-now opportunities from the hottest business headlines: The Fast Food Wars get a greasy relaunch, Topo Chico mineral water dries up in the U.S., and rare Pokemon cards have collectors collecting fat stacks. Rebecca Traister, author and writer for New York Magazine, talks to Jordan about her latest book, "Angry Girls Will Get Us Through." They discuss the constructive power of anger to bring people together & affect social change, and the mission of her book to tell the under-recognized stories of angry women, girls, & nonbinary people who sparked some of the most impactful moments of change throughout American history.
#15 - Jake Sullivan
Season 31 - Episode 36 - Aired 3/23/2026
Trump’s eventful weekend of golfing, sightseeing, and ignoring the imploding effects of the war in Iran has Jon Stewart wondering who the hell the president has been claiming to negotiate with overseas, and whether this "top person" even exists. Plus, airport chaos amid a government shutdown has ICE filling in for the TSA as part of Trump's escalating chaos rampage. Jake Sullivan, former National Security Advisor, Harvard Kennedy School professor, and co-host of “The Long Game” podcast, joins Jon Stewart to break down the war in Iran, U.S. foreign policy, and the future of nuclear negotiations. Sullivan shares his insights on President Trump’s approach to Iran and Iran’s “coherent and clear” strategy. Plus, Sullivan reflects on his time working on secret negotiations with Iranian officials during the Obama administration and tells the story of a historic first direct contact between U.S. and Iranian presidents since 1979.
#16 - Sterling K. Brown
Season 31 - Episode 37 - Aired 3/24/2026
President Trump cheerfully accepts a mysterious “gift” from his enemies in Iran, yet forces TSA agents to work without pay as travelers slog through nine hour airport lines—all because he refuses to approve a bipartisan deal in Congress. He’s also sending untrained ICE agents into airports, and even though they’re not helping ease the chaos, Josh Johnson is at least relieved they’re not out on the streets. Meanwhile, AI is reshaping the world, warping young minds, stealing jobs, and maybe even plotting humanity’s downfall. Former OpenAI researcher and whistleblower Daniel Kokotajlo tells Ronny Chieng why he believes current AI poses a real extinction threat. Emmy winner and Oscar nominee Sterling K. Brown joins Johnson to talk about his series Paradise, why he became an actor “to entertain, educate, and edify,” and how struggling artists can stay motivated. Plus, Josh Johnson delivers the Mini Roast of Sterling K. Brown.
#17 - The Kid Mero
Season 31 - Episode 38 - Aired 3/25/2026
Josh Johnson covers updates on the situation in Iran: Al Roker forecasts "haboobs" developing in the Middle East, Tehran defiantly refuses a ceasefire agreement, and Trump declares the war over and "won" while Pete Hegseth's loosened enlistment requirements say otherwise. Desi Lydic highlights the politicians striking out on social media in both short-form and long-form as they try to garner Gen Z's attention ahead of the midterms. From short cringey TikToks to long cringey podcasts, Desi is begging politicians to connect with young people by talking like actual human beings. Comedian, writer, and host of "Mornings with Mero," The Kid Mero, joins Josh to discuss making radio sound like New York again. They talk about evolving from a lifelong listener of HOT 97 to their newest host, connecting to listeners who call with open confessions, advocating for unhoused youth with Covenant House, and Mero shows Josh how to tie his Timberlands the New York way.
#18 - Eiza González
Season 31 - Episode 39 - Aired 3/26/2026
Josh Johnson breaks down a packed week in chaos, from Markwayne Mullin replacing DHS shopaholic Kristi Noem to Trump publicly auditing Mullin’s Native American identity. He also tackles Dr. Oz flash-mobbing his way into reduced health expenditures, Melania seemingly swapping out her husband for a humanoid stand-in, and an RFK Jr. anecdote involving a raccoon penis that permanently alters your brain chemistry. Meanwhile, Troy Iwata takes on international headlines that somehow make America look slightly less unhinged: Danish politicians woo voters in saunas, a French mayoral race boiling down to Hittler vs. Zielinski, Kenya shutting down an ant-smuggling operation, and Kim Jong Un fully embracing girl-dad dictatorship energy. Plus, actor Eiza González joins Josh to discuss her new film Mike & Nick & Nick & Alice, embracing comedy, playing a quirky femme fatale opposite James Marsden and Vince Vaughn, and reflecting on her journey from child stardom in Mexico to immigrating to the U.S.
#19 - Cindy Cohn
Season 31 - Episode 40 - Aired 3/30/2026
Happy one monthiversary of the Iran war. With the Strait of Hormuz still closed, Jon Stewart looks at how global shortages are rippling outward, hitting everything from grain and helium to pickleballs. At home, Americans flood the streets for the No Kings protests while CPAC counters with Trump’s Yassss Kings rally. The U.S. also finally gets a detailed explanation of the president’s objectives and exit strategy—limited, for now, to the White House ballroom. Jon speaks with attorney Cindy Cohn about her book, Privacy’s Defender: My Thirty Year Fight Against Digital Surveillance, and her work leading the Electronic Frontier Foundation. She reflects on the post 9/11 surveillance fight, warns how internet regulation can backfire, and argues that meaningful reform requires strong privacy laws, new tech business models, and more choices for users. As she notes, the solution isn’t better dictators—it’s fewer of them.
#20 - Julio Torres
Season 31 - Episode 41 - Aired 3/31/2026
Desi Lydic dives into Lindsey Graham's wartime day off at Disney World, Pete Hegseth's poetic take on the Iran War, Trump's flailing on the Strait of Hormuz as gas prices reach over $4 a gallon, and the leaked sexcapades of Kristi Noem's husband that make her f**k plane look tame. Ronny Chieng and Michael Kosta drive each other March Mad over a UConn buzzer-beater win against Duke and go head-to-head over big news in baseball, including instant replay for umpires and instant diarrhea for ballpark foodies. Award-winning filmmaker and comedian, Julio Torres, sits down with Desi to discuss his new HBO special, "Color Theories." Torres invites viewers into an immersive experience in his whimsical world; he explains how Democrats and Republicans embody navy blue and burgundy because of what they hide, why everyone has a little bit of synesthesia, and whether anyone knows what color "puce" is.
#21 - Dr. Mary Claire Haver
Season 31 - Episode 42 - Aired 4/1/2026
Desi Lydic takes on Trump’s appearance at Supreme Court oral arguments on birthright citizenship as he argues the constitutional right should apply only to “billionaires,” while also pushing ahead with construction of the White House ballroom despite a federal judge ordering it stopped. Trump also unveils plans for a presidential hotel brary. Lewis Black breaks down prediction markets, where people are now betting on everything from future wars to Trump’s next insult, with some markets giving Jesus better odds of returning than the New York Jets have of winning a Super Bowl. Desi is also joined by board certified OB/GYN Dr. Mary Claire Haver, founder of The ‘Pause Life, to discuss her book The New Perimenopause. Dr. Haver explains what perimenopause is, why early mental and neurological symptoms are often misdiagnosed, and how women can advocate for their health and navigate this “second puberty” without suffering.
#22 - Jason Rezaian
Season 31 - Episode 12 - Aired 1/26/2026
After the second murder of a Minnesota ICE protester by federal agents, Jon Stewart breaks down the increasingly unhinged gaslighting from Trump officials who are trying to paint victim Alex Pretti as a "domestic terrorist" & ICE agents as innocent kittens despite clear video evidence to the contrary. As MAGA & Kristi Noem ignore even their precious Second Amendment in their attempts to justify the shooting of a legally armed citizen, Jon points to the real weapon threatening this administration: cameras. Director of Press Freedom Initiatives at The Washington Post, Jason Rezaian discusses the deadly protests in Iran and the importance of collecting details of the Iranian experience despite the impermeable internet blackouts. How Trump's desire to make a deal with Iran would only empower the current oppressive regime, the benefits of including Iranian dissidents in the U.S. in policy conversations, and the humor that carried Rezaian through his 544-day wrongful prison sentence in Iran.
#23 - Park Chan-wook
Season 31 - Episode 2 - Aired 1/6/2026
Ronny Chieng unpacks former Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's abduction and first day in court, where he and his wife got some good couples, time pleading not guilty to cocaine trafficking charges. Meanwhile, MAGA attempts to justify Trump's intervention by downplaying the episode, citing Christianity, and downright playing the bully. The latest scientific studies show that microplastics are just about everything, and we're ingesting them at an alarming rate. Thankfully, there's a new product that's sure to help us take advantage of all the plastic we're downing each day — eventually. Legendary Korean filmmaker, Director Park Chan-wook, sits down with Ronny Chieng (without any translation help from Ken Jeong) to discuss his new film, "No Other Choice," which he adapted from an American novel. They discuss what attracted him to this story, which follows a devoted company man who is fired and directs his rage toward his competitors on the job market.
#24 - Stephen J. Dubner
Season 31 - Episode 3 - Aired 1/7/2026
Ronny Chieng covers how Trump is taking charge of Venezuela's oil industry and replacing their old dictator with a new one: himself. Plus, this Venezuela takeover is so much fun, the president adds a bunch of other countries to his To-Be-Overthrown list, including Greenland, and Michael Kosta couldn't be more excited to be part of Trump's nation-extorting mafia. Jordan Klepper profiles Benny Johnson, social media star turned White House press commentator, who caught Trump's eye with his generic vitriol, Russian backing, penchant for plagiarism, and unyielding obsession with Batman. Stephen J. Dubner, host of "Freakonomics Radio" and co-author of "Freakonomics," sits down with Ronny Chieng to discuss the book's 20th anniversary edition. They talk about how Dubner and his co-author Steven Levitt wove together storytelling and data to present case studies without imposing their own judgment, and how their publisher, doubtful of the title, liberated them to write the book they wanted.
#25 - Lucy Liu
Season 31 - Episode 4 - Aired 1/8/2026
Minneapolis tells ICE to "get the f**k out" after an agent fatally shot a woman, Kristi Noem smears the victim as a terrorist while MAGA decides she deserved it, and Ronny Chieng questions ICE's PR push to recruit highly aggressive, unqualified agents and unleash them on American cities. Americans are known for spoiling their living pets, but what about the ones who've passed? Michael Kosta explores the rising popularity of pet psychics, like Danielle MacKinnon, who claims to have the intuitive ability to communicate with all animals, past and present. Kosta learns about her process, meets her very real clients, and attempts to glean some insight into his relationship with his own dog, Walter. Actor and producer Lucy Liu sits down with Ronny Chieng to discuss her new film, "Rosemead," which is based on a true story about a terminally ill mother and her son. They talk about Liu's connection with the film and how its themes of mental health and grief affected her.