Jon Stewart says he wants to stay at Daily Show, calls on public to fight misinformation and censorship

Jon Stewart says he plans to remain at Daily Show, urging audiences to combat misinformation

Jon Stewart signaled his intent to continue hosting The Daily Show after his contract ends in December, saying he hopes to “stay on” at the Comedy Central desk. Speaking with New Yorker editor David Remnick at The 2025 New Yorker Festival in Manhattan on Sunday, Stewart said, “We’re working on staying,” while acknowledging that the situation is “not as clear-cut as all that,” referring to ongoing changes within the media landscape and ownership shifts at Paramount, Comedy Central’s parent company.

When Remnick pressed him further, asking whether he would remain if it were up to him, Stewart responded affirmatively, “Yes.” A spokesperson for Paramount declined to comment on Stewart’s remarks.

Stewart, who originally hosted The Daily Show from 1999 to 2015, returned last year to lead the program’s Monday episodes, while correspondents have filled in during the rest of the week. His remarks came amid discussions of political and industry turbulence, including the Trump administration’s pressure on major networks and the recent suspension of Jimmy Kimmel at Disney.

Addressing the challenges of working under political scrutiny, Stewart emphasized the importance of integrity in media. “You don’t compromise on what you do, and you do it till they tell you to leave,” he said.

He also warned of the potential for a “soft autocracy” in the United States, where news could become increasingly controlled, but stressed that public engagement remains a powerful counterforce. “Suppression creates opportunity,” Stewart noted, urging citizens to fight misinformation by producing “better information.”

Commenting on the influence of figures like podcaster Joe Rogan, Stewart said critics should respond not by dismissal but by creating stronger, more credible platforms. “If you have a problem with information, then fight like hell to get better information out there,” he concluded.