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 - Maggie Haberman & Jonathan Swan
Season 31 - Episode 79 - Aired 6/22/2026
Jon Stewart examines Trump’s knack for breaking what wasn’t broken, from giving a crony $1.7 million in taxpayer money to clean the D.C. reflecting pool—only for it to turn from “American Flag Blue” to Mountain Dew green—to launching an aggressive war on Iran meant to re-obliterate its nuclear program, then landing on a gentle-parenting-style deal that lets Iran keep its nukes and a few hundred billion dollars. New York Times reporters Maggie Haberman and Jonathan Swan, authors of “Regime Change: Inside the Imperial Presidency of Donald Trump,” join Stewart to discuss revelations about the administration, including Trump being absent when his team discussed the Epstein files, the motives behind the tariff rollout and Iran war, and how he controls the terms when reporters reach him by cell phone. They also compare his first term to his second, describing the latter as a story of hubris, gut instinct, and a cabinet’s belief that he is someone of destiny.
#2 - Jason Bateman
Season 31 - Episode 67 - Aired 6/1/2026
Trump says a peace deal with Iran is imminent, but he’s been making that claim for months. Jon Stewart examines Trump’s shaky record as a negotiator, despite his self-proclaimed status as the best in the world and argues that his "Art of the Deal" is really just the art of trolling. Plus, the Freedom 250 concert continues to unravel as more headliners drop out, and former TDS News Team correspondent Olivia Munn stops by with a heartfelt tribute that was definitely not intended for Stephen Colbert. Jason Bateman also joins Jon to talk about his new projects, Netflix’s Black Rabbit and HBO’s DTF St. Louis, sharing how the latter found its unique voice and reflecting with Jon on aging, fatherhood, and the loneliness of kids leaving for college.
#3 - 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.
#4 - Sherrilyn Ifill
Season 31 - Episode 55 - Aired 5/4/2026
As America's situationship with Iran hits the 60-day War Powers Act deadline, Trump brazenly ignores Congress's authority while spouting nonsense about America's depleted weapons inventory, and Jon Stewart marvels at our "genius" president's faulty math and cognitive skills. Plus, a visit from a real monarch, King Charles, shines a light on the lack of checks and balances from America's absent Congress. Civil rights lawyer and founding director of Howard Law School's 14th Amendment Center for Law & Democracy, Sherrilyn Ifill, sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss the Supreme Court's weakening of the Voting Rights Act. They talk about how the reinstatement for purposeful discrimination overturned the court's own precedent, how the Voting Rights Act protects the voting strength of minorities and their candidates of choice, and the dangerous potential for Trump and Republicans to redistrict using this precedent in an effort to turn seats in the House.
#5 - Aziz Abu Sarah & Moaz Inon
Season 31 - Episode 43 - Aired 4/13/2026
Jon Stewart dives into the backlash over Trump Jesus-ifying himself with AI, the president claiming he was just depicting himself as a "doctor" (treating a bedridden Jon Stewart?), and Trump starting an Easter beef with Pope Leo. Plus, JD Vance fails to secure a deal with Iran while ALSO failing to get Hungarian strongman Viktor Orban reelected. "We don't have to be on opposite sides. We can be on the same side, fighting for justice together, fighting for peace together." Peace activists and authors of "The Future Is Peace," Aziz Abu Sarah and Maoz Inon sit down with Jon Stewart to share their inspirational story of family loss and choosing reconciliation over revenge in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Through honest dialogue, visits to Holocaust and Palestinian sites, and confronting painful stories, they spread the message of how empathy can break cycles of violence and war. They also challenge the idea that empathy is naive and share what it was like meeting Pope Francis.
#6 - 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.
#7 - 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.
#8 - Ann M. Martin
Season 31 - Episode 82 - Aired 7/7/2026
Ronny Chieng covers America’s 250th birthday festivities, from Trump listing U.S. inventions to a skydiver crashing in to “God Bless the U.S.A.” He also dives into Trump’s FIFA World Cup meddling, where the president challenged a red card against the U.S., accidentally defended birthright citizenship, and got mocked by Belgian players doing his infamous “YMCA” dance. Grace Kuhlenschmidt plugs into the biggest tech headlines: a flamethrower-equipped robotic dog, a self-scooting robo toilet, a delivery app that delivers only dopamine, and AI “actor” Tilly Norwood landing a feature role. Author Ann M. Martin joins Baby-sitters Club superfan Ronny to celebrate the series’ 40th anniversary and her new Fan Edition: Baby-Sitter Summer. Ronny recalls his sister reading him the books, asks long-awaited questions, and talks with Martin about getting kids to read and the Baby-sitters Club musical in development with music by Mark Sonnenblick.
#9 - Ben McKenzie
Season 31 - Episode 50 - Aired 4/23/2026
Michael Kosta dives into America’s naval blockade of Iranian ports as the U.S. Navy frays at home. After Pete Hegseth fires Navy Secretary John Phelan, Trump swaps the unqualified rich guy for Hung Cao, known for anti-witch remarks and calls for more “alpha males and alpha females” in uniform. Desi Lydic explores Trump’s long-running vendetta against wind turbines, tracing how a 2012 eyesore near his Scottish golf course became, to him, the cause of everything. Then Ben McKenzie discusses his documentary “Everyone Is Lying to You for Money,” arguing crypto isn’t real money and that hype, celebrity ads, and opacity mask risk. He says criminals permeate the industry and calls for regulation and jail time for bad actors.
#10 - Sen. Mark Kelly
Season 31 - Episode 1 - Aired 1/5/2026
Jon Stewart dives into the Trump administration's abduction of Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro, Trump's collusion with oil companies to exploit Venezuela's resources, and the emergence of the "Donroe Doctrine" as Trump threatens more international takeovers. Senator Mark Kelly of Arizona, who also served in the Navy as a captain and combat pilot, joins Jon Stewart after news broke that he was being censured by Secretary of War Pete Hegseth for telling U.S. service members to refuse illegal orders. They discuss the president's "major ego problem," why he stands by his message as the Trump administration continues to levy attacks against free speech, frustrations with Democratic leadership, and the importance of Democrats taking control of the House and the Senate to put President Trump in check.
#11 - Gov. Andy Beshear
Season 31 - Episode 20 - Aired 2/9/2026
Jon Stewart calls out MAGA’s quick outrage at anything outside their narrow values—from boycotting Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show to Trump’s racist social‑media attacks on the Obamas and criticism of a U.S. Olympic skier for mild comments about America. He’s joined by Kentucky Governor Andy Beshear, who discusses how Trump’s tariffs have killed jobs and raised costs, and how recent bills have harmed rural healthcare. They talk about signs of MAGA’s grip weakening in Kentucky, why Democrats should speak more plainly to connect with voters, challenging the administration in court, and focusing on the deeper purpose behind Democratic policies.
#12 - Aaron Chen
Season 31 - Episode 84 - Aired 7/9/2026
Ronny Chieng covers Trump sending his pre-owned, Qatar-gifted Air Force One to the shop over security concerns, while Graham Platner exits the Maine Senate race in disgrace but still wants a say in who replaces him — and no, it won’t be Patrick Dempsey. As Democrats hunt for another bro-ified Maine candidate, Desi Lydic tosses her trucker hat in the ring. Jordan Klepper breaks down how AI is already disrupting the midterms, from smearing opponents and casting candidates as superheroes to some classic pandering via fake diverse friend groups. Plus, comedian and actor Aaron Chen joins Ronny to discuss his new Apple TV comedy film, "The Dink," their early days in Australian comedy, the rise of sports comedies with Jake Johnson, Ben Stiller, and Mary Steenburgen, and teaching tennis champ Andy Roddick the basics of acting for his film debut.
#13 - Aftab Pureval
Season 31 - Episode 83 - Aired 7/8/2026
Ronny Chieng dives into Trump’s NATO summit “love-fest,” where he picked fights with Spain and Denmark, turned Japan into an Islamic Republic, and lamented his on-again, off-again ceasefire with Iran. Sen. Mitch McConnell’s three-week absence has people wondering if he’s even alive, but CNN’s Scott Jennings insists he chatted with him for a suspiciously specific 17 minutes. Michael Kosta heads to the hospital where McConnell is staying to get the truth and help Ronny defend the perfectly not-dead senator. Cincinnati Mayor Aftab Pureval also joins Ronny to discuss how mayors drive local change, what it means to lead as a mayor of color in a Democratic city in a red state, the balance between quick fixes and long-term solutions, the no-nonsense realities of local politics, and why he’s frustrated with the Democratic establishment’s need for new leadership.
#14 - 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.
#15 - Heather Ann Thompson
Season 31 - Episode 16 - Aired 2/2/2026
Trump declares himself "absolved" by the latest release of Epstein files, while Elon Musk's Christmas wish for a trip to the sex island is put on blast, and Jon Stewart finds himself on Epstein's list… for documentary voiceovers. Plus, as MAGA continues to shield the president from all accountability, Jon Stewart shines a light on the double standard of sanctuary given to Trump vs. immigrants. Historian and Pulitzer Prize-winning author Heather Ann Thompson sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss her new book, "Fear and Fury: The Reagan Eighties, the Bernie Goetz Shootings, and the Rebirth of White Rage." They talk about how big a figure Bernie Goetz was in 1980s New York, hailed as a "vigilante" for shooting four young Black men on a subway train despite the attack being unprovoked, the story's parallels to ICE shooting protesters in Minneapolis, the costs of violence, and how these types of injustices paved the way for Donald Trump.
#16 - Jodi Kantor
Season 31 - Episode 51 - Aired 4/27/2026
Jon Stewart dives into the chaos at the White House Correspondents' Dinner: a shooter interrupts mentalist Oz Pearlman mid-reveal of Karoline Leavitt's baby name, cabinet members ditch their wives to rush to safety, Wolf Blitzer reports from the scene missing a shoe, and Trump claims none of it would've happened in his larger, more secure East Wing ballroom. Plus, Triumph the Insult Comic Dog recounts dodging bullets while avoiding becoming dinner for RFK Jr. Pulitzer Prize-winning reporter Jodi Kantor joins Stewart to discuss The New York Times' Supreme Court coverage and her book, "How to Start: Discovering Your Life's Work," including internal documents, the shadow docket's growth, and her advice to new grads on finding purposeful work.
#17 - Jenin Younes
Season 31 - Episode 5 - Aired 1/12/2026
on Stewart digs into Trump announcing himself as Venezuela's acting president via Wikipedia, dividing Venezuela amongst cooperating oil companies, making a game-time decision to involve himself in Iran, and setting his sights on conquering Greenland so Russia can't have it. Plus, Trump's rules for January 6th rioters don't square with the MAGA rhetoric around the January 7th ICE killing of Renee Good. Civil liberties attorney and co-host of the podcast, "Previously Prohibited," Jenin Younes, joins Jon Stewart to discuss how MAGA's rewriting of the Minneapolis ICE shooting signals a perpetual escalation in violating civil liberties. They talk about how Trump has transitioned from protecting free speech to supporting censorship, JD Vance's justification over the legality of the Minneapolis shooting, how the Right's anti-immigrant rhetoric appeals to working-class Americans' frustrations, and why ICE is targeting blue states and sanctuary cities while exaggerating their "non-compliance."
#18 - 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.
#19 - Josh Tyrangiel
Season 31 - Episode 59 - Aired 5/11/2026
Jon Stewart dives into the hantavirus cruise ship panic sweeping the news cycle, the landfill visit that appears to have sparked the spread, whether we're getting a pandemic sequel, and the media's eagerness to sensationalize the virus while health experts urge calm. Plus, Trump gets his own version of the golden calf, and cruise ships offer free norovirus. Josh Tyrangiel, staff writer at The Atlantic and author of "AI for Good: How Real People Are Using Artificial Intelligence to Fix Things That Matter" joins Jon Stewart to discuss why there is a brief but closing window to use public pressure and political will to demand AI that actually works with human beings, and doesn't replace them. Tyrangiel shares how teachers, doctors and caregivers are quietly using AI as a tool to change lives. They also discuss why Fortune 100 CEOs don't want to talk about AI's impact on their workforce and this idea of imagining "tech without the tech companies."
#20 - Jane Fonda
Season 31 - Episode 71 - Aired 6/8/2026
Elmo goes viral for staying neutral on a Knicks-Spurs Finals, Trump storms out of his Meet the Press interview with Kristen Welker, and Jon Stewart questions why the media keeps letting Trump’s lashing out, rain-dodging, and question-avoiding slide. “I’m my dad’s daughter.” Jane Fonda joins Stewart to reflect on following her father’s path in acting and activism. Now part of the revived Committee for the First Amendment, she discusses their June 14 NYC event, Rise Up, Sing Out, and its 5,000-plus livestream parties nationwide. They also explore music’s role in resistance and what it takes to organize real change: becoming “living ambassadors to an irresistible future” where everyone is seen, respected, and cared for by their government.
#21 - 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.
#22 - 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.
#23 - 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.
#24 - Mikie Sherrill
Season 31 - Episode 14 - Aired 1/28/2026
Desi Lydic dives into the Trump administration's scramble to blame each other for the handling of Alex Pretti's shooting by federal agents in Minnesota, Trump's rally against Congresswoman Ilhan Omar, who was attacked at a town hall in the wake of his demonizing rhetoric, and the president's rollout of Trump Accounts, which he announced alongside MAGA's newest spokeswoman, Nicki Minaj. In this edition of In My Opinion, Whitney Cummings profiles the Democratic politicians lined up for the 2028 presidential race, from Josh Shapiro to Gavin Newsom, and the quirky penchants for cosplay, veganism, and convicted felons that they bring to the table. New Jersey Governor Mikie Sherrill, who recently became the nation's first woman veteran to be elected governor, sits down with Desi Lydic to discuss how her time serving in a gridlocked Congress motivated her to run for governor and the difference she's already seen in her ability to create change.
#25 - 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.