A Conversation with Gov. JB Pritzker | The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

JON STEWART: 70-plus million people voted for the Democrat. in this last election or voted for Democratic representation, whether it be in the House or the Senate. I don't recall an era where taxation without representation. was higher. Democrats have no representation. at the federal level, or leadership, and the 60 vote majority rules, all kinds of things. There is no liberal representation there. The executive obviously has been supercharged. with a unitary principle. The only real representation right. now are blue state governors. Voters who voted for a Democrat to hold on to. There must be some corrective action. Donald Trump, he excels at one thing, finding the pressure points and pushing. the limits of his authority to be vindictive.

and read between the lines. The Democrat governors are not in a room together. right now discussing what they can withhold. from the federal government or how they can leverage. their collective power. That was a long question. [THEME MUSIC]. Hello, Mr. and Mrs. America and all the ships at sea. It's the Weekly Show with Jon Stewart, and we're back. After our long respite of not doing podcasts, we are back. We're taping this on Wednesday, September 10.

It's going to be airing tomorrow, and today is the day they launched Operation Midway. Blitz, named for the city of Chicago. and what the Nazis did through Europe. What could go wrong? They'll find out why it's called the Department of War. And by the way, I don't believe that's wins above replacement. But we are fortunate enough today. to be speaking with the field general, who is tasked.

with repulsing this military incursion, and that is the governor of the great state of Illinois. He is joining us now from the front lines. Let's go to him now, Governor JB Pritzker. So, ladies and gentlemen, we are obviously--. we have a correspondent in the war zone that is now Illinois. It is Governor JB Pritzker. Sir, welcome to the show.

Operation Midway Blitz, is it underway in Chicago? Has Chicago fallen? What is this? What the hell is happening? JB PRITZKER: Well, reporting to you from the front lines, ice is on the ground. We have already seen some arrests. They are not in full force yet. We've only seen, well, less than 10 detainment arrests. But they only have, it seems like, a dozen.

or two dozen people so far. We know they have as many as 300. agents that have landed at the Naval station at Great Lakes. And they are--. JON STEWART: Did they take watercraft. and do a water landing and then stormed the beach? JB PRITZKER: They have come with 100 vehicles. They are unmarked vehicles. And we know that they are preparing. to span all of Chicago. And indeed, some of the arrests that occurred yesterday.

were in suburbs of Chicago. So it's a pretty widespread endeavor. And it's being led by Gregory Bovino, who led the ICE. raids in Los Angeles and caused all. of that mayhem on the ground. That's their intention here, but to do it even more so here. because Donald Trump wants to create a situation for Chicago, where he can bring in the National Guard. JON STEWART: So that's--. generally, you believe the idea is.

to provoke some kind of unrest within the city, which it. almost necessarily will, given the heightened emotions. and elevated feelings about all this, and then declare some kind of martial law and send it in. Although didn't-- you know, recently, that was declared illegal to bring. in the National Guard for any kind of law enforcement, the--. not to throw my Supreme Court language around,

but the Posse Comitatus Act. Didn't they say that his actions in Los Angeles. were not legal? JB PRITZKER: Yes. But as you know, the Supreme Court. has ruled that a decision in one appeals court. doesn't apply necessarily to another jurisdiction. So we would have to go get the same ruling here. Nevertheless, I think we would get the same ruling. That doesn't mean they can't bring military troops. on the ground here. It just means they can only do certain limited things.

The challenge here is that, as you say, emotions are high, and that's not speaking just of Chicagoans. Remember, the people they're calling in, the National Guard, the military troops, they don't want to be here either. But they're being ordered to do so, and it's under the threat of court martial for them. to refuse to do so. So these are folks who are coming in here. They're being ordered by, again, Bovino, who wants to cause mayhem.

And some of them, I'm sure, are gung ho to go after people. And now, as you saw the Supreme Court ruled yesterday, I believe, that it's OK to arrest people. just because of the color of their skin, or because of an accent that they may have, or because they're speaking a foreign language. And so, look, we have a very--. JON STEWART: But if that foreign language is Swedish, I think they're still allowed to continue. They're very specific about which language it is. and which skin color we're talking about.

JB PRITZKER: It does seem that way, although we've seen Ukrainians arrested as well, not. yesterday, but in past raids. And I should point out to you that one. of the reasons they're targeting Chicago. is that they've been here before. You may recall or may not, that Tom Homan actually. went to a Republican fundraiser in the suburbs of Chicago. just before Trump took office, and announced there that they. are targeting Chicago, that is the first place they're going. to come to deport people.

And when he did come, and he came. nearly immediately after the inauguration, with Doctor Phil in tow--. JON STEWART: Oh, that was in Chicago? Doctor Phil, the Doctor Phil episode, where he wore his flak jacket and went to various raids? That was in Chicago? JB PRITZKER: Doctor Phil, the noted ICE agent, was on patrol with Tom Homan and ICE. They did that, and they yielded very little in those raids.

Why? Because we've been educating people on the ground about what. their rights are, that an administrative warrant. does not allow ICE to break down your door. They can knock on your door. You don't have to answer. And unless you're out in public for them to grab you, essentially, they have a difficult time. running people down. The other thing is we have a consent decree that's. in place in Illinois that says that when ice is detaining.

somebody under one of their warrants, the bystanders, the people who are with them, who in LA were being rounded. up and taken as well, in Illinois, there is an extra hurdle for them with regard. to those bystanders, to the kind of folks who happen. to be there at the time. JON STEWART: Did they make any effort to honor. those administrative hurdles? Because it seems very clear that what they've decided to do.

is whatever they want to do. It's very clearly the ethos of the administration. is, we will ask for forgiveness, not permission, or even forgiveness is probably too far. We will go in and ignore all of those strictures. JB PRITZKER: Well, we have a very. well-organized group on the ground. monitoring for these things. And I mean, to your point, what we're trying to do is make it.

so that they have to follow all of the rules. and all of the law. And if they don't, we have lawyers at the ready. So I think we've done a very good job, and it's. frustrating Homan and Trump. That's why they're targeting Chicago and talking. about troops on the ground in Chicago, because they've been relatively unsuccessful here with regard. to deportations than they have been. as compared to other cities. [LIGHT TUNE]. JON STEWART: Hey, kids, you like cereal, right?

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Each serving has got 13 grams of protein and zero sugar. and only four net carbs. We're going to live forever, people. And it's not like it's crappy flavors. It's not like you look at it and go like, sure, I'll have--. give me cardboard Chex. It's fruity, cocoa, frosted, the adjectives. that you demand from a cereal. And you're too busy for a bowl, they. got the high-protein treats and flavors like marshmallow, dark chocolate. And here's the key, these are plant-based versions.

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So let's talk about what this might look like because what. they always suggest is, we are out there. looking for the worst of the worst, the trend to aguas. And very quickly it went from the leader of trend. agua to, like, some 17-year-old valedictorian walking his dog. But if this was about finding people who are dangerous, who are here illegally but have committed crimes, what would. a co-operative relationship look.

like between the federal government. and the state of Illinois and the city of Chicago? How would you like an operation like that to unfold? What would be your preferred method for this to happen? JB PRITZKER: Well, let's start by acknowledging that indeed, our law enforcement does work with the feds. when it comes to arresting actual violent criminals. We do that all the time. JON STEWART: It's ongoing.

It's ongoing. JB PRITZKER: Ongoing, FBI, DEA, ATF, even ICE. Where there is somebody who has committed a violent crime, I mean, that's our job, too. JON STEWART: Would they bring it to you? So let's say ICE says, so we've done our homework. We know there are 19 people that we have warrants on that. we know are in this area. They would bring it to your people and say, help us? JB PRITZKER: Well, you need to differentiate-- anybody who's.

listening and listening to Donald Trump. and Tom Homan needs to know, there are two. different kinds of warrants. There's a warrant that's issued by a court, a judicial warrant, which we honor all judicial warrants. If they come with a federally-issued judicial. warrant for somebody's arrest, we will coordinate with them. and help them arrest that person. JON STEWART: So even the so-called Sanctuary City. honors a judicial warrant? JB PRITZKER: Yeah, and we should. talk about what the meaning of Sanctuary City is.

But let's just focus on, we want criminals off the streets. We want to prosecute criminals. So we do that all the time, and we do it with the feds. So that's not what we're talking about here. What we're talking about with ICE is they have the ability--. and this is why we have got to reform our immigration laws. They have the ability to issue what's called. an administrative warrant. That's something that an ICE agent, without any judge.

or anybody else assisting, can just write themselves and say, we have an administrative warrant. issued by Joe Schmo, the ICE agent, to get Jon Stewart. It doesn't really require much--. JON STEWART: Without probable cause, and the Supreme. Court says skin color and language can be probable cause? JB PRITZKER: Exactly. That's exactly right. And that is why we all ought to be worried about what's going. on in this country right now. So an administrative warrant is what they are carrying.

around looking for people. Now, if they have somebody who's committed a crime, they can get a judicial warrant. That's not hard to get if you have no evidence of it, just like you do with a US citizen. who has committed a crime. JON STEWART: But that takes time and paperwork, Governor. And when we're trying to hit 3,000 people a day, that. paperwork thing is a real--. JB PRITZKER: That whole paperwork thing that's called. due process, you know, is habeas corpus, for goodness sake's. JON STEWART: The phrases, stop, sir. JB PRITZKER: Yeah, let's not revert to doing.

anything constitutionally. JON STEWART: Let's not go Fourth Amendment on all this, if that's how you're going to play it. JB PRITZKER: So that's the problem here. So look, they have a right under federal law, and we can't contravene federal law or override federal law. The Supremacy Clause doesn't allow that. They have a right to go arrest somebody. with an administrative warrant. What they don't have the right to do. with an administrative warrant is break down somebody's door. or do things that are, you know, quasi illegal.

JON STEWART: What about the things that we've. seen, like at the Hyundai Plant, like a workplace raid, or a Home Depot where people might be. gathering to try and get work? Are those things in a gray area? JB PRITZKER: Administrative warrants. Those are administrative warrants. And indeed, they actually now aren't. using administrative warrants. They're just saying, you're in the presence of somebody who we. have an administrative warrant for, so we're going to arrest you.

JON STEWART: And they are on the ground. Are they coordinating with any agencies. that you're-- they're just in there freelancing? JB PRITZKER: They literally--. they didn't tell us what day they were arriving. They didn't tell us what day they're. going to start operations. They didn't tell us they were going to the Great. Lakes Naval station. We got one call, and that was from this Gregory Bovino. This is the fellow from the Customs and Border Patrol,

again, that led the LA raids, who called our state police. and said, we are going to be preparing. and may be fully prepared by the weekend, that's this last weekend. But other than that, did not say, this is when we'll be beginning operations, and we'd like your assistance in any way. So we don't know much. JON STEWART: Have you experienced. this at any other time with any other presidency? And I don't mean in the way that they're.

doing it, but in terms of coordinating ICE. or Homeland Security or those things, how unusual is this? Just so that we can have a sense that, yeah, this is not how things are typically done, or this is how you would do them to create. a hostile environment. JB PRITZKER: Well, this is how you would do them to create. a hostile environment. And look, I've been governor during--. I started during Trump's first term. and through Joe Biden's term and now this term.

So I have that experience with two presidents. What I can say is that in the first term, we saw a lot less of this. And during Biden's term, we did see some of this, but not nearly like what we're seeing now. JON STEWART: Now, would Biden's people coordinate, though? Would they call you and say, this is-- or would. they do kind of the same thing? Is it a bit of a rogue agency? JB PRITZKER: They are acting as a rogue agency now, but during Biden's term, we did get a call. to say that they're going to be going to these neighborhoods.

or they have these warrants that are issued. Often, they would come with a judicial warrant, I might add. So--. JON STEWART: Did they use administrative warrants. in the Biden administration? JB PRITZKER: Yes, they did. And they had the legal right to do that. But again, you know, what the Biden--. I mean, what the Trump administration has done. is they've taken these administrative warrants. and essentially told the ICE agents, you know, go to town, guys, whoever you think. you might be able to get. You know, that guy down the street looks bad. Write up a warrant.

And that's what they're doing, as opposed. to a planned endeavor that's really about taking somebody. off the streets who needs to be or, you know, who is truly illegal. JON STEWART: And that also blurs the line. because, you know, there's been a lot of talk, obviously, from the administration. about the dangerous nature of Chicago. And I think, you know, look, our country in general. is more dangerous than I think all of us would like it to be. And he's talked a lot about Chicago,

it's the most dangerous city in the world, and that's why we're going in. But that's very different than immigration enforcement. So what part of that mission creep is occurring right now? Are they also making law and order inroads into Chicago? What is the purpose of this? Has anyone discussed that with you? JB PRITZKER: Well, only what-- no, nobody's discussed it with me.

Donald Trump simply stands up in front of cameras and says, this is about fighting crime. But as you know, the reality is that federal civilian law. enforcement, hugely important. We coordinate all cities, major cities, coordinate with federal civilian law enforcement. And we've been doing this for a long time with the FBI, with the ATF, with DEA. You might know, you might have heard that about 50%. of all the gun crimes that are committed. in the city of Chicago are committed with guns that were.

purchased in another state. JON STEWART: That's right. JB PRITZKER: Often, by the way, and just. to point out where we are geographically, if you look. at every state that surrounds us, that includes Wisconsin, Indiana, Kentucky, Missouri, Iowa, all of those states. have very lax gun laws. And we don't in Illinois. We've banned assault weapons, for example. We've banned, these items that make.

your gun an automatic weapon, essentially. JON STEWART: Right. That they just legalized, I think, like three months. ago with the Trump administration. They did it. JB PRITZKER: Yeah, not only that. They're giving tax credits for silencers on your gun. JON STEWART: Right. JB PRITZKER: But--. JON STEWART: Safety first. JB PRITZKER: Safety first. Well, no, quiet in the neighborhood first. JON STEWART: Yes, that's right. That's what it is. JB PRITZKER: But so Indiana is often. the place where most of these guns that I'm talking about. are coming from. And--.

JON STEWART: Are these guns undocumented, sir? Are you having an influx of undocumented guns? Could you do your own type of sweeps. to get undocumented weapons off the streets? JB PRITZKER: That's a great way to think of it. And yes, I'd love to deport those guns from this country, perhaps to the middle of the ocean. But what we do is, with regard to all the guns that are coming. across the border, is we work with ATF, and we do a lot of gun interdiction. and confiscate guns from people who shouldn't have them.

We also, by the way, have universal background checks. in the state of Illinois. They don't have that in any of the surrounding states. or in the country, but we need one. So I-- you know, this is a challenge that we've got, that Donald Trump likes to think. that the military and ICE--. which ICE apparently is becoming his new militia. for his personal use. But when you combine his thinking. about military troops and ICE, he.

thinks that's fighting crime. We know that that's not how you fight crime. Listen, our National Guard, and I. want to talk about the Illinois National Guard, and we can talk about others. JON STEWART: By the way, he's not. using the Illinois National Guard to come into Chicago, or doesn't want to. He's bringing in from other states. JB PRITZKER: We don't know. We don't know because he hasn't called up--. as far as we know--. you know, we've heard rumors that he's calling up the Texas. National Guard to bring them, which is a double offense. because it was Texas that sent us the tens of thousands.

of migrants, you know, simply to make a point, and gave us no resources and so on. But, you know-- and anyway, we could talk about Texas all day. But let me just say that about our National Guard, and I think it's important to recognize this, these folks are extremely well-trained. I think we have the best trained National Guard. in the country in Illinois. And they do serve abroad, defending our country. And they also are helping us when I need to call.

them up in emergencies. During COVID, they helped us out with vaccinations. We've had floods in the state. We need them to help with sandbags. and to evacuate people. So they do amazing work. They are not trained to do law enforcement. We have a small cadre of about 250 military police who. are better trained at crowd control and other things. that are related to law enforcement, but really not the same as local law enforcement. or Illinois State Police. So that's the problem.

You know, the first problem I would point out about calling. up military troops to come into a city. is if that's going to fight crime. Obviously, if there's an insurrection. or some other emergency, you're going to need troops. JON STEWART: Or if they wanted to declare. some kind of emergency based on whatever hyperbole. they wanted to use. JB PRITZKER: And that's the point, right? And so I-- but I'm just pointing out. that if you really want to fight crime--. and I've asked for this. I've been very public about it, please, send us more ATF agents. Send us more FBI.

And I've talked to those agencies. The folks that are on the ground here, they'd love to have more agents here to help them, and I would, too. So please, do that. Do not send military. [LIGHT TUNE]. JON STEWART: Let me tell you folks, this one--. so today's episode is sponsored by Incogni. I get so annoyed at big tech and the way. that they take your information and the way that they profit. Do you know thousands of companies. are collecting, aggregating, trading your personal data. without asking or having the decency to let.

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will take care of the rest for you. Take your personal data back with Incogni. Go to incogni.com/stewart and use code, Stewart, to get 60% off an annual plan. Incogni.com/stewart and use code, Stewart, to get. 60% off your annual plan. Take your personal data off the market today. [LIGHT TUNE]. So here's where it gets--. Governor, here's where it gets really--.

it belies whatever motivation the Trump administration. says they are trying to do. So I think everybody understands-- you know, God. bless this president for understanding. now that cities can use more resources to fight crime. But perhaps these are not the best. resources, is what you're saying, or the best way for them to do it.

And I want to point out that crime is a complicated issue. It's not just about having tanks on the corner. There's a lot of programs, and I'm. sure Chicago has a ton of these, for violence reduction, victim services, child protection, substance use, mental health treatments. JB PRITZKER: And he's cut all of those, Jon. All of them. JON STEWART: That's the point that I was trying to get to. He has cut anything that might help mitigate crime in cities. for the approach of parking a tank,

you know, on the Miracle Mile or wherever it is. that they want to put things. And I'll go even further, I think for the new budget, they're cutting ATF by, I think, 30%. So try and square that circle for us. as to how crime is fought in cities, how poverty is fought. in cities, how resources can help, and how they're actually not concerned with law and order. They're concerned with authoritarian fetishization.

JB PRITZKER: Well, let's debunk the myth that we. have somehow defunded police. It's Donald Trump that's defunded police. I've hired more police in the Illinois. Donald Trump has taken all this money away, and not just. from police--. and including, by the way, programs. for local law enforcement, but as you said, ATF, FBI, et cetera--. JON STEWART: Grants that were already. appropriated, by the way. JB PRITZKER: Exactly. It's illegal what he's done, but he doesn't care.

And he wants to create a problem. Remember, this is all about fomenting. a problem so that he can bring militarization to our cities. But you're right, crime is a complex thing to fight, and we've gone at it every which. direction you possibly can. I'll give you an example. We have the best, most elaborate community. violence intervention programs in the entire country. We put $250 million in to building out.

our capability on the ground. We have peacekeepers that sit in the most violent communities. on the corners and talk to those young people who. are wanting to get involved in gangs. or attracted to gangs to keep them out of it, and to bring down the level of angst and anger. that exists maybe between two rival gangs. And you know what? It's worked. It's worked. And those people are vital to our safety.

in the city of Chicago. And, you know, when I came into office, the guy who preceded. me was a Republican. He defunded all these programs. JON STEWART: Is it they believe that those programs. have no efficacy? JB PRITZKER: Yes. They think if you just have more. police, that that's enough. I think you need police. Just to be clear, when I dial 911, I want somebody to come because there's an emergency. So I'm for police, but that's a--. JON STEWART: But you're saying there. are a lot of ancillary services that.

go into violence reduction. And let's also be clear, these neighborhoods. that are dangerous, the people who live in those neighborhoods. want more police resources. They want more safety, but it's complex. And one of the things that I think. drives it is this influx, iron pipeline guns, and all kinds. of other things that helped drive the chaos. in these neighborhoods. JB PRITZKER: And you mentioned housing, and education, and healthcare.

Those all play into it. You know, if you are hopeless, you. are much more likely to believe that crime. is your only alternative. And if we give people an opportunity, possibly a job, possibly a job that doesn't pay $7.25 an hour, but how about $15 an hour, like we've. raised our minimum wage to? And we should in the country, at least to $15. But putting that issue aside, just the idea that you can get. somewhere from a difficult neighborhood, a trauma-filled neighborhood, giving people.

hope, giving them an opportunity maybe. to start a business in their neighborhood. Those are all things that have the potential. for reducing crime. And importantly, peace keeping, community violence intervention. programs, again, they work, and we have proven it in Chicago. Arne Duncan runs one of the big ones that's here, he's the former Secretary of Education, and it has been hugely successful. And we've looked at-- he and I and the other organizations.

have looked at each set of blocks. where the highest violent crime occurs. and what happens when you actually. put peacekeepers in those neighborhoods and work. with people on the blocks. You know, like I said, it actually. has the effect of giving people some hope. and giving them an opportunity, so violence has come way down. Homicide rate has been cut in half. JON STEWART: What about in terms. of, like, the frustrations? Is there a frustration in Chicago? I know here in New York, there are times where you'll.

read a story, a guy will commit a horrific crime, and you're like, and he's out on parole after committing. 14 other horrific crimes. Do you have that same scenario? Is there a frustration with a revolving door. in terms of justice? Has the judicial system there, done a good job of. determining who's an actual danger to society, who isn't, and those kinds of things? Is that an area that can also be improved upon?

JB PRITZKER: Yeah, our frustration led us to pass. a law that actually requires--. we've gotten rid of cash bail. Let me explain why cash bail is a terrible idea. and that should go the way of the dodo bird. And that is that what happens is whether you committed. a violent crime or a non-violent crime, you get in front of a judge, and they essentially. put a price on whether or not you can get out of jail, awaiting trial. Well, guess what? The worst of the worst, people who have allegedly committed.

really terrible violent crimes, can buy their way out if they. happen to have enough money. People who have committed a low-level felony. or a misdemeanor can only get out if they. can buy their way out as well. The question is, should you keep somebody. in jail who's committed a low-level offense, nonviolent offense, if they don't have. $500 for bail, as opposed to somebody who's. committed a attempted murder?

And so, yes, we've given judges and prosecutors and defense. attorneys the ability to hold a hearing to determine. whether somebody is, in fact, a danger to the community. and should be held, and whether, in fact, somebody ought to be let go. And you know what? We've had this in place now for coming on two years, and it turns out that the same percentage of people. show up for their trials as did before we had no bail.

And that's what you want. JON STEWART: But what about the discretion of the--. have the judges shown good discretion. in actually holding people who are dangerous to the community? JB PRITZKER: Yeah. I mean, the answer is they've made mistakes, but let me just say that bail doesn't make it any better. Just buying your way out doesn't. say whether somebody, you know, is a danger to the community. or not. And so the way we're doing it now is much more. likely to keep somebody who is a danger. to the community in jail.

JON STEWART: Right, OK. And do you have recourse when you find. there are certain judges whose discretion. seems to be off-kilter? JB PRITZKER: Vote them out. JON STEWART: Oh, that's the only recourse? JB PRITZKER: Yes. Judges cannot be removed unless they've violated a judicial. canon, some oath of office. But they are making judgments. Sometimes, they're not good judgments,

but they make judgments. But what I find ironic is that Republican judges--. ours are elected all across the state. Republican judges often like to-- when they've let somebody. out who then goes and commits another crime, they like to blame the law that disallows cash bail instead. of taking responsibility for having made. a bad decision themselves. Which would you rather have? Would you like the perpetrator to choose if they have. enough money to just buy their way out,

or do you think we ought to have a system where judges. and prosecutors are helping to determine. whether somebody is a danger to the community. and keeping them in jail? JON STEWART: So a judge is allowed to say, no matter what, we believe this person is a danger to our community, therefore, bail is not granted? And then they also have the discretion to say, this is a misdemeanor, and this person is not a threat. to the community, therefore--. money does not change hands, but that doesn't mean. that the judge cannot hold whoever.

it is that they want to hold. JB PRITZKER: Only for felonies and serious crimes, the decision is made by the judge. For misdemeanors, they are--. unless there is some other extenuating circumstance, that person is let out without bail. Obviously, they have to show up at trial, and as I said to you, we have the same percentage of people showing up for trial now. as we did before we got rid of cash bail. JON STEWART: Right. In your mind, as the governor of a state that has--.

is it a lack of resources that allows. this sort of entrenched poverty and misery. in certain areas of cities? Why have these issues been so intractable? JB PRITZKER: Yeah. I mean, look, I try to address this every day. It's part of my job to think about, how do we lift. up communities, reduce crime? How do we give people more hope? And I would argue to you that there has been.

massive disinvestment from certain communities, especially in Chicago, but I would say all. across the state of Illinois, and I guess we. could apply that nationally. The disinvestment means that the dollars have flowed instead. to the most powerful communities, to the most. powerful people, and away from people who don't have. much political power at all. And I'll give you an example of something. that I've worked on over the course of my lifetime, early childhood education. Let me explain how this is related.

You know, the children who need preschool and who need zero. to three services are the children. who are in the poorest communities, whose parents. are the poorest people. JON STEWART: And all that's probably funded. by their property taxes. And if you're in a place where property taxes are. negligible because properties aren't worth a lot, I imagine that snowballs. JB PRITZKER: Well, unless it's funded by the state. or by the federal government, as you're pointing out,

when it's not, and that's disinvestment. and there's nothing in the community to support it, then yes, there are no services. So the point is that the investment that needs. to be made--. we know that when you give those kids early childhood. education, when you provide them with early childhood. development resources and their parents, those kids are much more likely to end. up graduating from high school, much more likely--. JON STEWART: You're talking about Head Start and programs. like that. JB PRITZKER: Yes. And we have all kinds of programs on top of Head Start.

that are hugely beneficial. And so we've invested in those things in Illinois. And again, you talked about how complex it is to fight crime. But guess what? Someone who goes to preschool is. much less likely to end up in prison during the course. of their life. And they've done longitudinal studies over 40 years. to determine these things, so it's not like we're guessing. So I just think that, as you were suggesting earlier, when you talk about education, housing, these are really about fighting crime, too.

They're also about being humane and being. the wealthiest country in the world, and the ability for. us to--. JON STEWART: Helping families stay together, you know, the kind of things that provide stability. JB PRITZKER: Indeed. And that's the country I want to live in, where. everybody has an opportunity. I'm not suggesting everybody gets a huge handout. and gets to live free, you know, on everything. It's just, everybody ought to have a reasonably similar. starting line, at least when you're born, you know,

and given the same opportunities to grow up, have. a decent education, and be able to look at a potential job. and aim for it and get it. So that's a world that we're far from right now, and especially when we're moving backward. under this administration. [LIGHT TUNE]. JON STEWART: Have you been surfing the web recently, and you've been on some sites, and you think, oh, well, let me just go on the private. Let me just go--. oh, you know what I'll do? I'll do a little private window there, and the thing--.

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four extra months of the VPN. [LIGHT TUNE]. Well, that's the thing, you know, Governor. When we look at these funding cuts that are being made, these grants that are being taken away, they disproportionately affect blue cities, blue states. There's clearly a vindictiveness about the way. that this administration is approaching. funding commitments, whatever their priorities are.

You know, you see, the National Guard goes into Los Angeles. They defund a lot of programs for Chicago. He's always talking about his kind of nemeses, and they're always blue states and blue cities. And they've been very effective at being able to do that. I guess my question to you is, what can. be done as collective action? Let me roll it back, because I think this. is actually a larger issue. 70-plus million people voted for the Democrat in this last.

election, or voted for Democratic representation, whether it be in the House or the Senate. In my lifetime, I don't recall an era. where taxation without representation was higher. Democrats have no representation. at the federal level. House Democrats are neutered. They don't control any committees. Senate Democrats are neutered, hindered by arthritic.

leadership, and the 60-vote majority rules, all those kinds of things. The Supreme Court, very clearly, there is no liberal real representation there. The executive, obviously, has been supercharged with sort. of a unitary principle. The only real representation right now. that Democrats can look to are blue state governors.

You're kind of carrying the mantle. for anything that a voter who voted for a Democrat. can hold on to. And it feels like there must be some collective action that. can be taken by these blue state governors. to find ways to leverage their strength. and power against a vindictive federal government.

Donald Trump is-- he excels at one thing, finding the pressure points and pushing. the limits of his authority to be vindictive. and push what he wants. Why is it that the Democratic Governors are not in a room. together right now, discussing what they can withhold. from the federal government, or how they can leverage. their collective power? That's was a long question. JB PRITZKER: No, no, but let's start with--.

I wish you'd have this conversation with some. of my Democratic colleagues who are. governors across the country. I know you have with one or two. JON STEWART: Yeah, yeah. JB PRITZKER: Because I believe, for example, at the moment, that Democratic governors should be standing up. and speaking out, fighting forcefully, rhetorically, because that's--. JON STEWART: But not individually. Like, Newsom is out there. He's got a great social media strategy. It's really funny. I think it's effective.

You know, Shapiro kind of stays out of the way. Beshear, a little bit as well. But there's no one voice. JB PRITZKER: I understand what you're saying, and I mean, I can't speak to why others haven't joined the fight. See, this is what I would argue. I know what you're saying. Like, why don't we have a council, and, you know, act as one? And I would argue that it's because there seems. to be a difference of opinion. I'm on team fight. I believe that we all ought to be standing up right now.

This is about preserving our democracy, and we should talk about the issues. that really matter to voters. Democracy matters to some portion of voters, but we need to talk about the rest. Anyway, let's put that aside just for a moment. On democracy, that is a point that we all. should be gathering around. JON STEWART: I'm even talking just about funding. So let's say somebody-- if he's taken away. all the appropriation, what he does. is-- how many times has he threatened. Illinois with the removal of federal funding? Look what he just did at Northwestern University. JB PRITZKER: Yes. And he's-- we've had to take him to court consistently.

I think we've had 38 cases that we've had to take to court, just about what you just described. Appropriations were made by the Congress. that were signed into law, and he's. just not abiding by the law. And so that's where we have been fighting him. JON STEWART: When you talk to your fellow governors--. you know, there is a Democratic Council. JB PRITZKER: Yes. JON STEWART: When you say, can someone bring up, what could. we-- can we withhold funds? What can we use to protect ourselves.

JB PRITZKER: We do share that information. I created an organization of governors who are focused. on preserving democracy. We have a group of attorneys general. that work with the governors because those are our lawyers. Those are the guys going to court. The courts, by the way, vitally important in this moment. If they fail, our democracy is going to fail. But our attorneys general and the courts. are what we have to rely upon for a lot of what.

we're doing at the moment. There isn't-- remember, like, I've got ICE. agents coming on the ground. There's almost nothing I can do, except monitor them. And I've told the people of Chicago, pull out your iPhone, your Android phone, you know, video absolutely everything you see. with an ICE agent involved. And, of course, knowing the rights--. you know, people on the ground knowing their rights. JON STEWART: But what about withholding federal monies. that you're going to be sending upstream to get. distributed to red states?

What are the levers of coercion? You're being coerced and extorted. JB PRITZKER: Yeah. JON STEWART: In all kinds of different ways, whether it be education, whether it be social programs, whether it be--. JB PRITZKER: Yeah, but we don't collect a lot of revenue. for the federal government. They collect their own. So there isn't a lot that we can withhold. And so it's frustrating. Believe me, it's frustrating. And that's why I think we all have to focus on the 2026.

congressional elections. I wish I could tell you that there is some other method. And believe me, I talk to governors all the time. I mean, I am friends with all of the Democratic governors. We talk all of the time. You know, whether it's Gavin Newsom, or Gretchen Whitmer, or Andy Beshear, Tony Evers, Tim Walz, and Gretchen and Andy, we are the Midwestern. Democratic governors. We talk all the time because we share a lot in common, and especially the protection of our Great Lakes,

which Donald Trump doesn't care a whit about. But that is, FYI, 80% of the country's freshwater. 80%. JON STEWART: Jesus. JB PRITZKER: Yeah. And so if you--. I mean, if there's something that we all. ought to be focusing on protecting, that's one of the big ones. Donald Trump doesn't give a damn. JON STEWART: Right. JB PRITZKER: But anyway, the Democratic governors, you know, Maura Healey, and so on, I mean, we talk all the time. There are slightly differences of opinion, maybe not so slight, about how hard you should be fighting.

And I personally believe now is when you. got to put it all on the line. I mean, I helped to build a--. I led the building of a Holocaust museum. And what the survivors taught me is that--. what they like to teach young children who come to the museum. is to ask yourself about what your values are. And I would say this to all Democratic elected officials. right now, what are your values? I mean, are you-- in this moment, are you a collaborator?

Are you a bystander, just letting things happen? Are you a rescuer, an upstander? The survivors would tell you, be an upstander. JON STEWART: But people need a roadmap, because I've heard. a lot of this, and Ken Martin says this a lot. from the Democratic Party. We fight, and we need to raise our voices. And I think a lot of people are going like, OK, what exactly does that mean? And is there-- like, even why don't the blue states. file a class action lawsuit?

Why don't--. JB PRITZKER: We are. We do. We do. Yeah, we do. Our attorneys general, this-- so that. happens a lot with our lawyers. The attorneys general actually do a lot of--. Democratic attorneys general do a lot of work together. They file suits together. They join together. So that is happening. JON STEWART: Any promising out-of-the-box. ideas that you've heard? JB PRITZKER: There are no crazy new ideas that I've heard. There's, you know, protecting our--. I mean, all these things.

That's why-- and I think we've all discovered-- here, let me. just differentiate because you said you've. never seen it like this. I just want to say, if you look--. you know, here's what's different about this moment. There have been times in the past. Obama had both houses of Congress that were Democratic. That's happened in the past, where it's all one party. controlling Washington. The difference is that what is happening now. is there used to be moderate Republicans.

There used to be Republicans who were independent, who actually did something different than what. the president would want. The Republicans have completely abdicated any independence. And even the ones who you might have had private conversations. with in the past or currently who disagree with the president. go along with him anyway because they're afraid, and they're giving in to that fear. Why are you in public office in the first place? I used to work for a guy named Terry Sanford. He was the governor of North Carolina.

in the early '60s and then became. a US Senator in the 1980s. He was the president of the university I went to, Duke University. And Terry Sanford, in the early '60s, when it was very. unpopular to do so, did the right thing. and integrated the schools. He integrated-- this is in the South, when George Wallace was popular in the South. Terry Sanford--. JON STEWART: The last time that the National. Guard was sent in to states without their consent. JB PRITZKER: Yeah, although that was--.

the reason for that was abrogation of a federal law. JON STEWART: No, that's what I'm saying. I'm saying, though, that that's the difference. between how that power is being used, I guess, is my point. JB PRITZKER: Exactly. And I would just point out that people. who are elected to office ought to be more like Terry Sanford. That is to say, yes, you've got--. it's great to be in office and to do all the duties, you know, cut ribbons and give speeches and what have you. But it's these moments, right? It's this moment when you should be standing up, speaking.

out, doing everything you can to fight back against what. clearly is an authoritarian, maybe even fascist end to this, and the attempt to, in my view, to take over the elections. in 2026 and 2028. That's why the militarization. JON STEWART: Well, he signed an executive order as well. on no mail-in ballots, and, you know, he's creating a federal regime for elections. JB PRITZKER: And you know what he wants, right? He pushed the Stop the Steal movement. He pushed January 6.

He pardoned the January 6 rioters. JON STEWART: Because he backs the blue. He's a law and order guy. That's why. JB PRITZKER: Right, exactly. And so anyway, this is the difference in this moment. Republicans are not independent at all. We have blue dog Democrats. I mean, look back just a few years, and there were Democrats who would occasionally vote. with Republicans on things. But now, you've got no Republicans willing to talk. JON STEWART: You've got Republicans and Thomas Massie.

Is any of the difficulty in coordinating have to do with--. and maybe this is an uncomfortable question. to even ask, but, you know, a lot of Democratic governors. have presidential aspirations. I think a lot of people think, whoever is the next in line. for controlling the Democratic Party, it's not coming from Washington. It's probably going to be coming from the states. And are the competing interests of people who have aspirations, including yourself, for national office, is that preventing collective action because.

of individual ambition? JB PRITZKER: I can't speak for others. Here's what I think gets somebody. elected, getting things done, actually delivering. And when you're a governor, you have to deliver. I mean, we are literally managing a state day to day. every day we're in office. And so raising the minimum wage is something that I. fought for and succeeded at. I got a massive infrastructure bill passed before the Congress. ever got around to it because we needed it,

and Congress wasn't acting at the time. And so I got that done. Protecting workers with a workers' rights Amendment, I mean, these are all things that--. JON STEWART: But I'm saying in terms of-- so there's. a slightly different mandate here for the governors. because they're carrying the burden. and the mantle of sort of the last vestige of power. invested in Democrats in this country. It's not just anymore about running your states. and getting those things done. It's about creating a kind of bulwark against--.

it's the only thing other than a few district. courts standing in the way. JB PRITZKER: Yeah. So I'll give you an example. Again, look, we have certain powers, and I am exercising those powers. Here's an example. We have created a sanctuary here. for people who are looking to exercise. their reproductive rights. All around me, Missouri, Indiana, Iowa, et cetera, Kentucky, they've made it hard for people.

or impossible for someone to get an abortion. In Illinois, we are not only allowing them to come. into Illinois and creating resources that. are available to them, but also, we are protecting them, once they get here, from being prosecuted in their home state, whether you're a healthcare provider. who does abortions or someone who actually needs an abortion. And that's something I can do that pushes back. on what Donald Trump and the Republicans. have tried to do in Washington. I can't do everything. I mean, it is just true.

I can't stop ICE from doing the things that they're. doing that I don't like. But, you know, we're doing the things that we can think of. And I'm always looking for new ideas. And that is why you are right, why Democrats. and Democratic governors need to and are talking to one. another and sharing ideas. We did this. Good news, we figured out how to do this, many of us, during COVID because we needed each other. JON STEWART: Right, that collective action. JB PRITZKER: And also in the face of uncertainty, right?

I needed to call up Gretchen Whitmer. I needed to call up Andy Beshear. and say, hey, what are you doing about this problem? Is it OK for high school football to be played? What are your doctors saying? How are you handling that? Just examples like that. We all had to talk to one another, and they were about things that really mattered in our states. And so those relationships, Tim Walz, Tony Evers, Gretchen Whitmer, Andy Beshear, they. have been here, all of us together for nearly. our entire two terms.

And so we, at least speaking of the Midwest, we do talk to one another, and we. do coordinate with one another, and we agree on so many things. I'm not suggesting that we don't get along with Gavin. Newsom or with Maura Healey. I'm only suggesting that Democrats. do talk to one another. And I have talked to Gavin Newsom when he has had. a good idea there that I'm like, hey, is that something we should do? Or where he has talked to me about, what are you doing about this issue?

So those conversations occur, but it's very hard. to create a council to move in some direction. because we control our individual states. One last thing on that point, I just want to say, I'm frustrated. Once again, I'm frustrated by the fact that--. and I'm not just talking about governors now. Democrats have not stood up for the fight in a way. that I think they should. JON STEWART: Well, there's no real--. I mean, when you look in Washington,

there really is a dearth and a vacuum of leadership and ideas. At first, it was worrisome. Now, it feels pathetic. JB PRITZKER: I don't disagree with you, and I'm screaming every day and reasoning with people, too, every day about this. All I can say is it's moving in the right. The good news is it's kind of moving in the right direction. It's just moving at about 15 miles an hour,

and it could be going at 100 miles an hour. So I'm frustrated. Here's the next thing that I think we all should be paying. attention to, are they going to shut. down the government or not? Are Democrats simply going to go along. with the big beautiful bill and the budget that's associated, or are they going to stand up and fight? And I think that's a decision that's. going to get made in Washington, but boy, I think we all should be advising them. about what they should do. JON STEWART: Right. And if I could--. a piece of advice for your attorneys. general, you know, be creative because that's.

how we got in this situation. And I think what the Republicans don't understand. right now is Donald Trump is also leaving. a roadmap for the next leader that might. not be a part of their party. JB PRITZKER: That's right. JON STEWART: And that the government. doesn't only spend money on things blue states want. They spend them on things that red states want as well. And if you think-- if the new normal is vindictiveness. and unitary power and a Supreme Court that allows the executive. this kind of a leeway, don't think it.

won't be used the other way. JB PRITZKER: Exactly. What about-- I mean, the example I'll give. is if you allow the president to use the military to impose. his will on states, well, how about in the reverse situation, some Democrat, you know, wants to impose. their will using the military by taking your guns away? And there might be people who are in favor of doing. something like that, but should that be constitutional allowed?

Should the Supreme Court go along with that? No, none of us should be OK with that sort of thing. JON STEWART: But if the Fourth Amendment means nothing, why does the Second Amendment mean something? I mean, that's really where we're at in this. I mean, they're picking and choosing. their constitutional poison. JB PRITZKER: The Supreme Court, especially. The Supreme Court, especially, because we can have. bad guys who get elected to office, but the Supreme Court, at the end of the day, is supposed to be the arbiter of actually. what's constitutional and what should be allowed.

JON STEWART: Right. Well, Governor, I appreciate you spending the time. We wish you the best. Chicago, we were there for the convention. What a wonderful place. I've been there many times, had some really memorable nights. there that I will not talk about. But it's great, and I wish you guys the best, and I hope things don't escalate in the ways. that you don't want. And I hope that the other governors take seriously. the idea of creative collective action. because it's so necessary. JB PRITZKER: I'm with you. Thanks so much for having me on.

JON STEWART: Thank you, Governor Pritzker. Talk to you soon. [LIGHT TUNE]. Hey, everybody. I know most of you are probably just. fast-forwarding through the pod to get. to these ad reads because they are delightful, and you love them. And today's episode is brought to you by Ground News. If you didn't fast-forward through the podcast. to get to the Ground News, then you don't know. what you're talking about. Ground News is this website, and it's an app, and they're on a mission. They're giving readers an easier, more data-driven. way to read the news. So they, unlike the way that I read in a completely.

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[LIGHT TUNE]. You know, I always forget, you're talking to these guys, like, you have got to help us on a national level, and they're like, you know, I'm running a state. [LAUGHTER]. GUEST 1: A big one, too. Not one of the small ones, yeah. JON STEWART: Right. He's not one of those guys running. those states where they're like, how many people you got? 700,000? GUEST 1: Yeah, like you might be able to walk and chew gum. if you're, like, the governor of Rhode Island,

but, you know-- JON STEWART: Well, now it's--. GUEST 1: Oh, shit. JON STEWART: Very hard to--. you know, the smaller states are surprisingly tricky. It's the Wyomings and the I don't know. where they got all that space. Boy, you could do whatever you want. GUEST 1: Land management. JON STEWART: That's what I'm--. that's what I'm talking about. I do wonder how they're going to avoid. the kind of provocations that can accelerate these conflicts. GUEST 2: Yeah. I mean, the fact that Texas, too, like, sent 50,000 immigrants to Chicago and is now potentially.

the one sending their National Guard to round up. these immigrants, it's like--. it just feels like it's, like, manufactured crises. all the way down. JON STEWART: It is--. the only thing I would push back on that. is, Texas really was at the center. of a large influx of migrants. That put a tremendous strain on their state. They didn't have to be so dickish about it, but the truth is, they had a point about how--.

GUEST 1: And to get covered that way. JON STEWART: How that stresses the resources of an area. And if you think about even in New York, if you send 40,000 people to New York, it's a city. of 10 million people. What that did to-- you know, people were running around. like their hair was on fire. The thing that bothers me the most about all of this. is it seems so disingenuous. There is no collective, hey, how. do we work together to tackle what. our actual intractable problems?

It's more like, how do I do a performative, outrageous. act that elevates my profile? GUEST 2: They have no interest in addressing. the actual underlying problems. JON STEWART: Well, I thought that was really interesting. when he said, look at what they're doing with the grants. for violence reduction. GUEST 2: And the ATF, the proposed budget cuts there. Like, if you are actually interested in solving these. problems, we could chip away.

We could at least keep funding the ATF. of where it is currently. You don't have to cut. JON STEWART: I have never understood. how they are able to remove the influx of illegal guns, and the ease at which people get these incredibly powerful. weapons from the idea of--. I mean, look at the meals they're. making on those terrible tragedies. from people who've been killed by-- undocumented people, or what happened in North Carolina on that train.

GUEST 2: They're naming these operations after them. JON STEWART: Right? But what about the names of the people killed by--. it's as though that doesn't exist. It's a separate universe. You can't say you're for law and order and not address that. GUEST 1: I just think about Nathan Dom in those moments, where it's just--. it is. It is the most important, and that's. the end of that conversation. JON STEWART: Nathan Dom, of course, is a state senator from Oklahoma. And I remember saying, like, does requiring training.

for firearms make it safer? Yes. But you've removed those requirements? Yes. So you're making us less safe? No. GUEST 1: No. GUEST 2: No. JON STEWART: Brittany, while we were gone, did anybody-- did people chime in over the break? Do they have things they need to know? Is there--. BRITTANY: We have so many questions for you, but we're going to start with just a couple today, yeah. JON STEWART: Two, two. BRITTANY: Two. All right, Jon, would you say the fusion of Fox News. and Trump's presidency is finally Roger.

Ailes' wet dream come true? JON STEWART: Oh, first of all, I. don't know if there is a mental image. for me that is more disturbing than Roger Ailes' wet dream. Now, I have to think about Roger Ailes waking up, going, what happened to the bed? What the heck? All right. Did someone spill applesauce? What the hell is going on around here? So that's--. GUEST 2: I've never wanted to be blasted to the moon,

like, as much as right now. Thanks, Jon. JON STEWART: [LAUGHS]. BRITTANY: Jon? JON STEWART: I think Fox News and Trump's presidency--. I mean, I do think, you know, look, this was their dream. to create this thing that would inoculate. a Republican president from criticism. I think it's been an incredible tool. for de-emphasizing any institution. and any institutional knowledge that. may have been viewed as corrosive.

to the Republican experiment. So, yes, I would imagine that wherever he is, and I won't. look up, but he is coming in his Lederhosen. or whatever it is that they wear. GUEST 2: It's got to be Lederhosen. JON STEWART: In the place that-- in the place. that he finds himself. [LAUGHS] What else have we got? BRITTANY: Jon, what--.

JON STEWART: No, by the way, no one is still listening, because as soon as we went into Roger Ailes' wet dream, I think people were just justifiably went, yeah, I'm out. GUEST 1: Yeah, I crawled out. GUEST 2: That's enough of this. JON STEWART: Yeah, yeah. Yeah, yeah, yeah. I get that. BRITTANY: Jon, help me. [LAUGHTER]. JON STEWART: Good segue, Renee. BRITTANY: I am trying. OK. Jon, what name do you think bugs Donald Trump more? Jeffrey Epstein, Stormy Daniels,

or Barack Hussein Obama? JON STEWART: Ooh. So Barack Hussein Obama, I actually. think he loves, because that's a weapon for him. So he views Barack Hussein Obama as he's got. that arsenal in his pocket. He pulls it out whenever he needs it. You know, something's going on. In fact, Barack Hussein Obama is. almost like, if this was a Harry Potter. thing, so, like, you know--. who's the guy? Voldemort comes in, Jeffrey Epstein!

And then Donald Trump, Barack Hussein Obama! It's like, deletrius salapetrius! You know, and gets to throw it. And Stormy Daniels, I think, he looks upon as, like, you know, you bring up an old girlfriend from high school. And you're like, oh, yeah, yeah, yeah. But, you know, we're past all that now. Like, he-- GUEST 2: I wish her well. That was, like, three gazillion news cycles ago. JON STEWART: That's right. That's right. And he's-- and what is it? You know, imagine you have a situation with someone.

like Stormy Daniels. You do that. Your wife is like, boys will be boys. And your lawyer and your accountant. are the ones who go to jail. So I'm sure for him, that's just a dodged. It wasn't even a bullet. It's just a small cone in there. It wasn't even a detour. But Barack Hussein Obama, Jeffrey Epstein, I think, are the two polarities that exist in his life. He's got one that actually presents a little bit. of intrigue and danger to him. And then he's got the other that he. uses when he's in trouble.

It's like a flare that he sends up. So--. GUEST 1: Yeah. JON STEWART: That's right, I'd go there. I love that we take all these questions very seriously. I do feel like--. I think those three names like Barack Obama, Stormy Daniels, Jeffrey Epstein, that's, like, the most obvious marry, fuck, kill I've ever heard. [LAUGHTER]. BRITTANY: Yes! GUEST 2: There's no question. JON STEWART: There's no question. of who you're killing in that. Brittany, how can they keep in touch with us? BRITTANY: Twitter, we are weeklyshowpod. Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky, we.

are weeklyshowpodcast. You can like, subscribe, and comment on our YouTube channel. with The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart. And I'm very excited to announce our new OnlyFans. account, Johnny's Hot Takes. GUEST 1: Hmm? GUEST 2: Yeah. BRITTANY: [LAUGHS]. JON STEWART: Are we on OnlyFans? [LAUGHTER]. BRITTANY: Your wishes come true. GUEST 2: We have negative subscribership. JON STEWART: Come on. No, baby! I'm bad baby, baby! I'm going to cash it outside.

Very exciting. BRITTANY: For legal purposes, I'm kidding. [LAUGHS]. JON STEWART: I'm deflated. I thought we were in. Well, it's good to be back. It's good to see everybody. Everybody looks well rested and fired up. Thanks again to lead producer, Lauren Walker, Producer Brittany Mehmedovic. Now, video engineer, Rob Vitolo, was unable to join us. this week, but capably in the hands of Sam Reed. And of course, our audio editor and engineer, Nicole Boyce, researcher and associate producer, Gillian Spear, and our executive producers,

Chris McShane, Caity Gray. We are back, and we shall see you all next week. Thanks so much for listening. Goodbye. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart. is a comedy central podcast that's produced by Paramount. Audio and Busboy Productions. [MUSIC PLAYING].