Sen. John Fetterman on Democratic Divides, DSA & Israel | The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

[GUITAR STRUMMING]. JON STEWART: Hello, everybody. Welcome to The Weekly Show podcast on this summer day--. August 4, Tuesday, primary day, election day. Hear ye, hear ye, I voted sticker. That was my one-man show called "Primary Day,". which happens in August, which, as you know, is great for turnout. We don't know, actually, what happened in those. We're taping this podcast before the results are in.

So by the time you hear it, you will. know the results of all the hot primaries in Michigan. and everywhere else. And it'll look like we don't and that we're ignoring it. But we're not ignoring it, people. I'm not a time traveler. But we are going to be talking to somebody who. has very strong opinions about what should happen. in this very primary season. And he doesn't know the results of it either. So we're going to be talking about elections,

and the results of elections, and what those elections might. mean for people, all while ignoring. the results of said elections, which might make us seem crazy. But there's probably so much more. in this conversation that's going to make it seem crazy. So let's just get to it. [MUSIC PLAYING]. So, ladies and gentlemen, we'll get right to it. We have with us today a senator, United States. Senator from the great state of Pennsylvania,

go Fighting Quakers--. ladies and gentlemen, Senator John Fetterman. Sir, first of all, where's Senator Fetterman? All I see is a guy wearing a suit and tie. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah, this is not AI. It's not AI. If I could AI impose this suit, I would. But, no, yeah, I'm in a suit. But, yeah, normally--. JON STEWART: You have a job interview today? [LAUGHTER]. JOHN FETTERMAN: I thought, hey, I'm already in it, so maybe I could just be a treat for everybody.

JON STEWART: I feel terrible now. I thought--. JOHN FETTERMAN: I'm sorry if you dressed--. JON STEWART: Underdressed. JOHN FETTERMAN: --in a business casual like this. JON STEWART: So how are things going down there? Do you like being a senator? Is that something that-- is that an enjoyable job? Or is it just you sit around just fighting with everybody? What's the vibe down there? JOHN FETTERMAN: Well, I mean, it's kind of a mixed thing. I mean, it's obviously an honor to be. one of Pennsylvania's voice here. in the United States Senate.

And some of it's professional wrestling, not really important stuff. But some of it's very important as well, too. And that's really why people, I assume, get into this, to be a part of that conversation overall. But I think, I've said this, people. would be surprised-- it's not exactly really glamorous. And now, like, for me, I have a 300 square apartment. here in DC back there. JON STEWART: Look at you. JOHN FETTERMAN: It's not, like--.

it's not a lot of snappy West Wing kind of dialogue. back and forth thing. A lot of it's more of like hmm kind of a thing. But sometimes it is really important thing. that will impact a lot of millions. and millions of Americans. JON STEWART: Are you guys going to have your recess in August? Or are they keeping you there? JOHN FETTERMAN: As far as I know. Last night, there was an overwhelming. bipartisan procedural vote last night.

for a continuing resolution. And I think it was 89-4. JON STEWART: Can I guess the four? Can I? JOHN FETTERMAN: No. Shutdown. No shutdown. Yeah. JON STEWART: Rand Paul. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah. Well, of course, he votes no on-- like, he would be, like, cheeseburger, and he would vote that shit down. I mean-- JON STEWART: Right. JOHN FETTERMAN: But, yeah. And then I think it was Warren and then I think Sanders. But overall, some people didn't go there. because it was a travel day. But that's a strong statement saying that we want.

to avoid another shutdown. And I'm elated to know that, without a doubt. I mean, we've been through the two longest shutdowns. of all American history. And that maybe, at some time, put me at odds with my party, because it's always a bad thing to shut our government down. And it shuts down parts of critical of our country. And it also punishes a lot of these workers. Now, everyone here in Congress are. paid, but the people that aren't are, like, the people on the front line, like at TSA.

and doing those things. So overall, we have to find a better. way to figure out things without shutting. down in a tantrum. JON STEWART: How at odds are you with the party? You said it sometimes puts you at odds. Clearly, you're the guy everybody. points to now as you're in the, I guess, Manchin or Sinema. role, the kind of contrarian. So what's your relationship now with--. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah, thanks for bringing that up. I mean, it's not that at all.

I mean, I deeply respect them as well, too. But I think it's, like, an easy take to assume that. And that's just not me. If you look at my voting record, I'm in 90-some percent. voting the Democrat line. And now, how I differ-- how I differ, and that's become much. more and more pronounced--. Israel, after 10/7, the Gaza war. And nobody really saw how things would continue.

We wouldn't be part of it. Now, here we have at the Iranian war now. And then, in smaller, other kinds of way, shutting our government down, countless kinds of vote. to shut our government down, I would. vote with the Republican side-- not because I'm a Republican, but just because the Democratic Party, we used to always be the party that says we must never. shut our government down. That was part of what the Democratic Party really was. And I represent Pennsylvania, really, the most purple state,

really, in the country. And, now, I don't represent just Democrats. I represent all people here in Pennsylvania. So these views are firmly rooted in basic kinds. of Democratic values. But after the Trump re-election, that just kind of flipped some things on its head. JON STEWART: And do you attribute that. to what they call Trump derangement syndrome?

Do you believe that the Democratic Party in. those instances is suffering? JOHN FETTERMAN: I agree. It is a real thing. And that makes it more difficult to try. to call balls and strike. And now, I'm aware that if I happen to disagree with, like, the party line, there's a price to pay. But I think it's more important to be, hey, I honestly think this is the right take. and I think what's appropriate. And, I mean, there's a lot of stories.

of how I've become increasingly more unpopular. with Democrats in my state. And I'm aware of it. But these were all very specific choices. because I think this is the correct take. And I would rather have people know what I happen to believe, because, again, they're rooted in very. democratic kinds of values. JON STEWART: Well, let me-- so let's tease that out a little. bit, because in America right now,

the Republicans have the Senate, the House, the judiciary--. JOHN FETTERMAN: They have the trifecta. JON STEWART: --Supreme Court, and they have the presidency. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah. JON STEWART: Democrats represent-- it's a pretty 50/50. country, wouldn't you say? I mean, we're, right now, at least, Democrats are represented by millions and millions. and millions of votes. But they don't really have, the way that the Republicans have. governed, any say in anything. And so wouldn't you say that trying to use any leverage that.

they possibly could have to get things like reforms to ICE. agents that don't seem to be trained, that are creating violence in the streets of America, that aren't going after the worst of the worst, but are frightening hard working immigrants into staying. in their homes-- don't you think that's a legitimate.

reason to try and leverage whatever. opportunity they would have--. TDS seems like a convenient excuse for a lot. of legitimate concerns. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah. Well, the only actual tool and the only. actual real leverage that Democrats. have, that's the filibuster. 100%. And I just had an op-ed in the Washington Post, and I was trying to remind America, and Democrats.

specifically, that we, including me, we. were so wrong about scrapping the filibuster back. in the 2022 cycle. Now, we all ran on that, and we all were committed. to eliminate the filibuster. And if we were successful, we may have passed. some things back in '22. But 100% in January of 2025, they. would have been able to run the table 100%-- run the table.

And if anyone that's listening have been horrified or troubled. by a lot of legislation being proposed, that would have been amateur hour compared to how they would. have been able to remake our society. because they would have had the trifecta. Trump was at the apex of his power, and they could have passed and done everything. And if the Senate was working on basic majority. like the House, we would have rendered. ourselves as, essentially, a smaller version of the House.

And they would have been able to remake our society. JON STEWART: Wouldn't you say that they. have remade our society? By using gimmicks like reconciliation, by using executive power in ways. it hadn't been used before, haven't they done that already? JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah, well, a lot of executive orders. were just overturned or stopped by the courts. And, now, I kind of got whacked when I said, well, what is.

a real constitutional crisis? That's when the President is going to defy court orders, because it doesn't describe the solution in the Constitution. That's a crisis. And as far as I know, the President hasn't. defied a single court order. Now, a lot of noise, but he hasn't. defied any specific ones. And that's the way the system is supposed to work. JON STEWART: Well, he has. I mean, he's defied court orders and congressional law. I mean, just even in the TikTok case, you guys voted that that had to be divested.

And he just-- he ignored that. He just didn't do it. And then he handed a pretty powerful. social media tool to his friends, the Ellisons and other people. I guess that's my point is I understand you're saying there. are certain norms or things that you. don't want Democrats to do. But, given the legitimate concerns. that people have about executive overreach,

these types of--. JOHN FETTERMAN: Absolutely, that's a real thing. JON STEWART: Of course. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah, but I'd like to revisit. this idea, the filibuster. The Democratic Party, and I am part of it, and I was definitely part of that. to eliminating the filibuster, how dangerous that. was if we were successful. And they would have been able to pass every single wish list. on the Republican playbook. And now, we would have been a whim. of the political extremism, and they'd. be able to pass everything.

The only thing that we we've ever stopped Save America Act--. JON STEWART: Yeah, that's the only thing the filibuster. has actually done. In fact, you've played kind of a role. in getting their nominees going. You've been the contradictory vote from the Democrats. to get him some pretty controversial appointees. I'm just curious, because the filibuster seems like it hasn't. really stopped them from getting the people. that they want, getting unqualified people.

into the cabinet, into the Department of Justice. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah. I mean, and many of them I didn't vote for. And if you're going to bring up Blanche, I'm not going to vote for him as well, too. There's some that I would vote for, and then there's many that I haven't because that I. don't believe that's the kind of right person. for the job overall. I really try to call balls and strikes. I do think, like, for example, Mayorkas, he did a terrible job. He never should be impeached.

He didn't break the law. You know, incompetence is not you for impeachment. But overall, trying to describe an honest assessment, as a Democrat from Pennsylvania, that's been my role. And if you look at my voting record, I haven't changed these core things, like pro-choice. I don't pick on-- turn our back on the gay or trans community. in America. And very, very pro-immigration, very, very.

pro-union-- all of those boilerplate kinds of. Democratic issues. That hasn't changed. So that's where we're at. And now, you talk about ICE. Absolutely. Like, I called for Noem. She has to go. And now, we brought in a new leader now. I've said this-- deport all of the criminals. 100%. Deport all of them. I hope we could all agree on those things. We need to secure our border. We do need to secure our border. And I've said do not target otherwise hardworking migrants.

that are a very important part of our economy, specifically, like in my state, in agriculture too, or tourism, or these other kinds of positions--. trying to find the right balance of secure border, deport all the criminals, but stop targeting. otherwise innocent kinds of migrants. here, including my family. My wife was a former dreamer. Yeah. JON STEWART: Right. But that's my point is so they are targeting those people. And there have been killings.

And even Homan has admitted that the training. on the killing in, I can't remember if it was Maine. or if it was the one in Minnesota--. there's quite a few of them. So I guess my question to you is. you're agreeing with the majority, I think, of Democrats on that, but not agreeing--. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah, I've been very clear, vocal. JON STEWART: Right, but not agreeing with their method of--. how do Democrats influence that if the Trump administration is.

running roughshod over what you just said-- they're. not just doing the criminals. They've deported citizens. Or they've jailed citizens. They've taken immigration, which. was generally a civil concern, and made it a criminal concern. They want to build giant warehouses where they just. bring people that are there on civil violations, or what used to be civil violations-- so if they can't.

use things like a threat of a shutdown--. where would you suggest they use their lack of power? JOHN FETTERMAN: Well, I work with the new Secretary Mullin. And now, all of those warehouses in Pennsylvania. were canceled. I mean, that's a fact-- and shut. the government down on that. There wasn't one single ICE reforms or anything. Like, you can want reforms, and you. can engage in those dialogue. But shutting the government down,

when that has zero impact on the way Homeland Security. is going to operate, because they. were funded through the Big Beautiful Bill. I did not vote for that as well too. They had unlimited money. So for me, it was a decision. So should I just vote to shut our government down, even though every single Democrat in my caucus. knew that it would have no direct or even. an indirect leverage over ICE to behave the way. that we all want them to do? So do that, that's a demand from an agitated, angry base.

And I'm willing to say, look, that's the wrong thing. That's the wrong solution for a reasonable conversation. to have with people saying, we want to make. those kind of changes for ICE. JON STEWART: So what is the way to make those changes? Because my understanding of the shutdown was they were saying, we will shut it down unless you make those changes, not that somehow those changes would be. made because it wasn't funded.

I understand that that's what you're saying. But that was the threat. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah. And there was no forced any kinds of things. So the Democratic caucus there walked away with empty pockets. about shutting our government down on both sides. So it's a reasonable kinds of concerns, but it's the wrong tool or the solution. in order to achieve it. Win elections. Win elections. And then that puts you in the better position. to make those kind of changes. [MUSIC PLAYING]. JON STEWART: Ground News, that's what I'm talking about.

Because these guys, they're not-- listen, you know me. I'm not a big fan of the news outlets, those bastards. That's right. Can I say that on this? Bastards? Ground News is a website and an app, because this. is America in the 2020s. You got to have an app. And it helps you better understand. the news you consume. They got a blind spot feed, helps you find. stories that aren't being covered by your side. It is instructional in a way-- you begin to see. the matrix-- the matrix.

Not the Matrix 3 or even 2--. The Matrix, the actual Matrix. The one with Neo. The real-- you know what I'm talking about. You can see who owns every news outlet. And you compare how these different outlets. frame their stories. Like, Bezos might frame it differently. No, that was just a name that popped into my head. No reason. No reason why. To get the same unlimited access to the Vantage. subscription, go to GroundNews.com/Stewart.

and subscribe to get 40% off. I've partnered with Ground News to get. you the discount that is available only. for a limited time. That's GroundNews.com/Stewart, or scan the QR code on-screen. Thank you to Ground News for sponsoring this episode. [MUSIC PLAYING]. JOHN FETTERMAN: And now, you have my party, they're returning back to the worst impulses--. abolish ICE, abolish the border, and say these kinds of extreme things.

JON STEWART: You're saying the Democratic. Party is returning to abolish ICE and abolish borders? JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah. I mean, a lot of the people that are winning-- like, when. we're filming this, in Michigan, the person that's going to win is calling to abolish ICE. And then the governor race in Wisconsin--. in fact, she even said abolish prisons as well, too. JON STEWART: But she said that she had said that previously, and she's walked that back-- in the same way that a lot. of people, in the heat of the George Floyd moment,

said "defund the police.". And then ultimately said, you know what? That was an emotional response. And I think that was the wrong policy. But aren't you elevating what seems to be a--. I mean, how many people have-- like, three? Three DSA or five? It seems like the Democratic Party is largely still just. the Democratic Party, and there are some people that associate. with either the DSA or social democracies.

that are gaining a foothold. But I don't imagine--. how many-- what are we talking about, three or four? JOHN FETTERMAN: Well, it's actually many more. There's one in Colorado. There's many in New York. And now, I just seen the recent poll--. over a third of Democrats identify. themselves as socialists--. JON STEWART: Or have sympathy towards. JOHN FETTERMAN: --in that kind of way. So it is a significant issue. We got wrecked in '24 because a lot.

of the extreme things that we were saying in 2020. now came back to haunt us. And that's why we found ourselves here in the minority. And I'm saying, hey, we can't go back. to the same extreme views because we have to win. actual battleground states. It's not echo chambers in Brooklyn or now--. and here, you see the people with these extreme views. are breaking through in Michigan, and in Wisconsin, and places like in Colorado in there.

So I'm saying let's resist these extreme kinds of views. to abolish everything. And now, the DSA is an emerging factor here. Now, I'm not elevating them. I'm just describing what I'm witnessing that's coming. as a regular Democrat. And now, that's the reality. And I expect El-Sayed will win by double-digits. JON STEWART: So let me see if I can frame this. in a slightly different way.

Why do you think it is that there is a kind of momentum. behind these more, as you would call them, extremists, or I would say they're a mix-- there's a certain nuance to it. But don't you think that that's happening for a reason? In other words, it's not happening--. the same sort of impulses and energies that drove Donald. Trump's rise-- economic populism, a dissatisfaction.

with the status quo--. on the Democratic side, couldn't you. say that this is happening because establishment. Democrats, the party that you're talking about, that you think is the more reasonable party, hasn't delivered for people in the way. that they think is appropriate? These moments don't happen out of thin air. These are conditions on the ground. where people are dissatisfied with the status quo.

And you have candidates that come up, and they present economic proposals. and other proposals that feel more urgent to the moment. In other words, why are you blaming them. when, in some ways, you could be blaming. yourself and your colleagues? JOHN FETTERMAN: It's not-- well, I'm not blaming. I'm describing here where we're at. and what's happening now, too. And I'm like, when we have people winning elections.

saying absurd kinds of positions that were absolutely. toxic back in 2020 and saying, stop. saying these kind of extreme things. that are not workable in the real world overall. And don't we want to win? Do we want to be the people leading the conversation. instead of having another kinds of subordinate position. like we are currently in and have. been since January of 2025? JON STEWART: So you think you lost.

in 2024 because of the extremism. of Kamala Harris and Tim Walz? JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah, absolutely. JON STEWART: Or the Joe Biden administration? JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah. I mean, I was on--. in fact, El-Sayed, for example, he. was a big leader in the uncommitted, saying, don't vote Democrat. Don't vote for these people. And now, like, some things that I've never done--. I drove thousands and thousands of miles. all across Pennsylvania to try to elect Vice President Harris.

And I've done that. But on the ground, it's very clear, we're going down, because the energy and a lot of the way. that they've been positioned as people that. are not in touch with people. And now we've lost the argument. And at no point did I had a strong feeling. that we can win this. And anyone spent time in Pennsylvania there. during that election, we all understood. we have a serious challenge. JON STEWART: But don't you think this new sort of energy.

and economic populism is a response to that? JOHN FETTERMAN: Well, what is that? Is that socialism? And, in more, it's communism. That's not an economic model that has. never worked in the history. JON STEWART: But aren't you just--. that sounds like a caricature. El-Sayed is running on he wants to ban corporate money, wants to tax--. I guess, higher taxes on billionaires. for housing and education, Medicare for all. When you say that's communism, that feels like-- that.

feels like a caricature. JOHN FETTERMAN: No, no. I never said that. I call real communists that are cheering for communism, people. like Hasan Piker, for example-- he's. a big, big influence on the Democratic Party conversation. And he is a communist. He celebrates Mao and describes, and is going to be proud to visit Cuba and stand.

on people on those sides. That's not a smear. That's just using the kinds of words and the positions. that he has made part of his platform. JON STEWART: So you're saying he says, I'm a communist. And I want America to be communist. JOHN FETTERMAN: No, I'm saying that he has the kinds. of views-- now, you were very, very instrumental in delivering. aid for victims of 9/11. Like, you've been here, and you've been. very effective for doing that.

For an individual that says that America, we deserve that-- hey, I'm deeply offended by that. And I don't support that. And I'm certainly not going to campaign with him. or I'm not going to explain that way. JON STEWART: Well, Bill Maher said that the 9/11. terrorists weren't cowards. And you went on his podcast. And you talk to him all the time. So I guess what I'm saying is, aren't you cherry. picking certain things and maybe losing. the forest for the trees?

JOHN FETTERMAN: The two things are not the same. Making a statement compared to saying that we deserve that, as opposed to describing it in different terms--. so that's just not the same. JON STEWART: But he's not running. JOHN FETTERMAN: And Bill Maher is not a communist. Bill Maher does not describe Hamas. as 1,000% better than Israel. JON STEWART: So for you, it literally. is, they've made statements in the past. or their economic policies are more sympathetic to socialism.

So let me shift it a bit. You want capitalism to survive, yes? JOHN FETTERMAN: Absolutely. I'm absolutely proud American capitalist. And I do think--. I'm much more concerned about our country losing to China. in the AI race. And now, for me, another unpopular view. that I might have as a Democrat-- data centers. Data centers, if we ban them or we have a long term moratorium,

China would be elated-- elated on that. And you have frontier models, like Mythos. and now the new AI version 1, they've been able to break out. They've been able to break out and to hack and go attack. other kinds of organizations. Thank god that they're American companies. The second the Chinese are able to have those frontier models. and unleash them, that's going to make these small potatoes. in terms of the kind of economic damage.

that an AI model with those kind of capabilities. like Mythos, in the Chinese hands or, say, another one that's what I'm really concerned about for me. For me. JON STEWART: But, I mean, that's. a case for stronger regulation, which we aren't doing, because the AI companies--. JOHN FETTERMAN: We should have--. we should have regulation. But. JON STEWART: We're not doing it because the AI companies. are paying millions and millions of dollars. into our government. But I want to get back to what we're talking about.

You're saying you're a capitalist. So I just want to reframe the argument a little bit, because Piker, I don't think, is a communist. I think he said he's socialist. But the point being, do you think capitalism isn't one. of the reasons there's so much energy on the left. now for this type of populist rhetoric. is that many people believe that capitalism, as we are practicing it--. meaning a lot of corruption, crony capitalism,

a lot of the playing field is tilted. towards capital investment and away from labor--. that capitalism, as it is being practiced in America, is increasing inequality and leaving. too many people behind--. and that this energy is not there, necessarily, to destroy it, but to reform it in a way that. will re-balance the scale.

I guess, what I'm asking is, don't you. think this is coming from the lived experience of people. under the way capitalism is being practiced. in America in this moment? JOHN FETTERMAN: I think I return it back to this idea. that AI is transforming the world, 100%, whether you. have to like it or not. It's like if someone is going to win-- and, for me, I want America to win that because we.

are the good guy in this. The second we hinder our own ability. to develop these kind of tools, the Chinese. will seize the lead. And then they would weaponize that in ways. And the kinds of damage they could inflict. are untold trillions. And that's my real concern for a lot about that overall.

JON STEWART: No, I think I'm understanding. your position on AI. I'm talking about the broader conversation on your being very. critical of those on the left. JOHN FETTERMAN: No, no. I'm not being critical. I'm just describing. And I'm saying if anything, the left is very critical about--. as a Democrat, for me, I have very strong views on Israel, and I think it's the wrong thing. to shut our government down. JON STEWART: Understood. But I'm talking about the broader--.

you're saying you don't like these people. because they're socialists and communists. and that you're a capitalist. don't know It's not a personal thing. It's not a personal thing. don't know You've called them the dirtbag left, which is somewhat personal. don't know The dirtbag left. Yeah, absolutely. Yeah, that is a term--. that is a term. Absolutely. don't know I mean, yeah, it's somewhat derogatory. But I guess I'm trying to get to the point saying, do you think the way capitalism is working.

in this country is working-- is working the way that it should? And don't you think that your voters--. and you described yourself as a progressive years ago. You don't do it anymore. But don't you think your voters are feeling. the effects of a system that benefits capital. and disadvantages labor? JOHN FETTERMAN: I mean, for me, this idea. there, in terms of what is a progressive right now.

But, increasingly, the defining issue within Democratic Party. is Israel and the Gaza war overall. That has become, like, the defining. issue right now in a lot of these elections overall. And that's just my take more than anything else--. my proud standing with Israel through everything after 10/7. has put me at odds more than anything, individual. than anything else overall.

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See website for more details. [MUSIC PLAYING]. So you're saying, though, just to be clear, you believe that capitalism is working very well. and that we really don't need--. JOHN FETTERMAN: What I'm saying, Jon, is that's a fair question. And I'll respond-- where is an example across the globe where. it's working better, socialism or communism. have behaved in a better way that's more fair or equitable--.

JON STEWART: Social democracies. JOHN FETTERMAN: --or have raised the living standard. JON STEWART: So here's what I'm trying get at, is that you're saying the argument is between capitalism. the way it is. You get what you get and you don't get upset--. or socialism and communism. And I'm saying the greatest threat to capitalism. is that it's not delivering for the majority of people, because the system is rigged for those who have.

capital and investment money. There's a million different ways. that they do it-- lower tax rates on capital than labor, untaxed or barely taxed unrealized gains, corporate tax cuts, corporate loopholes, offshoring friendly rules. There's a million different things. So let's go back to the '30s. In the '20s and '30s, Norman Thomas was the socialist. candidate for president. Eugene Debs was a candidate for--. these were socialists. They were people that--.

they felt like it was the Gilded Age, inequality, it wasn't working for people. The Depression hit. The New Deal basically incorporated a lot. of those socialist ideas for a social safety net, for better laws for labor, unions. benefited greatly from that. Those reforms, and a lot of that energy,

came from what you would call the dirtbag left at that time, I would say, saved capitalism and saved. America from having a more socialist. or communist type revolution. And don't you think we would be better off. using the energy from the left for ideas like banning.

corporate money and strengthening labor unions, all stuff that I imagine you support, rather than denigrating them and caricaturing them? Why not work with them so that the capitalist system. you love--. JOHN FETTERMAN: What does that mean by "working with them?". And now, like, so, overall--. I don't necessarily agree with everything of your argument. JON STEWART: Sure, sure. JOHN FETTERMAN: Well, it's like the Great. Depression-- we're not in the Great Depression, you know?

And our economy continues to grow overall, without a doubt. And then some things are too expensive. Without a doubt, they are. But eventually, I think the market will address that. Back in '24, the whole world was. eggs, eggs, eggs, eggs, eggs, you know, out of control. And now, when it returned back to a normal price, people don't talk about eggs anymore. So it's a lot of these other things overall. And then World War II-- and that.

reminds the world that we saved democracy in our country. And we are the good guys. And there are people on the far left now, they're making it seem that America is the problem, or we are the aggressor, or we are behind many of the troubles. here across the globe. JON STEWART: In other words, if El-Sayed, or AOC, or Bernie. Sanders has proposals that strengthen a social safety. net, or readjust corporate tax rates,

or change the way that-- or here's. just a simple one-- tax capital gains in the same way. you would tax salaries. Like, work is for suckers. Work is taxed at a higher level than investments. Doesn't that tilt the playing field to people. who already have money? And if the progressive left is saying. these are the types of things that we need to do,

wouldn't that appeal to you? JOHN FETTERMAN: Well, what appeals to me. is eliminating unlimited money in politics, without a doubt. JON STEWART: And that's a position that they hold. JOHN FETTERMAN: Well, it's not-- they don't own that. It's like I've been saying that--. I mean, any reasonable person realized. that unlimited money is a poison in American democracy. I've been saying that from the beginning. It's not something that they own or for that. Now, my race-- my race was $320 million in my race in '22.

And then in the '24 cycle, it was half a billion. dollars for a Senate race. And now, watch how out of control that race. is going to get here in '26. And then in '28, it's going to make my race look quaint. in terms of the billions of dollars. that are being thrown at that. That, more than anything, is the accelerant. And it's fueling a lot of the extremism for now too. JON STEWART: Right. JOHN FETTERMAN: And also, another problem. is the primary system too. The extreme, extreme views are the most activated.

And they are the most part of the primary. JON STEWART: Sure. JOHN FETTERMAN: And then that pushes people. away from a reasonable kind of solution. for things to-- whether on both sides, left or right too. And I reject both the extremes on either side. JON STEWART: But it seems like you're more comfortable angrily. denigrating the extreme, or what you consider. the extreme, on the left than the right.

in the way that you talk to--. El-Sayed, like, why call them pro-Hamas if they. just want to criticize--. JOHN FETTERMAN: Well, because he's--. I said that because he's campaigning with people. that are absolutely pro-Hamas. JON STEWART: Well, who-- you mean Hasan Piker, you say, is pro-Hamas? And so you're basing this just on that? JOHN FETTERMAN: He said he is. Like, if you campaign and proud to align yourself. with very pro-Hamas people, it's a reasonable person. to conclude. It's like, yeah, I have a pro view for Hamas.

JON STEWART: But I guess what I'm. saying is I feel like you're caricaturing people's views. If they're critical of Israel-- if someone says, I think Hamas and Israel are both criminal organizations--. killing people for terrible reasons, how is that pro-Hamas? JOHN FETTERMAN: No, what I'm saying, it's like people that just says Hamas. is 1,000% our democratic--. or ally Israel, then, yeah, that's pro-Hamas.

JON STEWART: But saying they're less evil than Israel, if they think Israel is evil, is not the same as pro. I'll give you an example--. JOHN FETTERMAN: No, like, Piker's. said a lot of incredibly very pro-Hamas kind of thing. It's like if you support Hamas and campaign with people. that support Hamas, then that identifies. someone as pro-Hamas. JON STEWART: I guess what I'm saying is I have. not seen statements where these candidates. say "I am pro-Hamas.".

What I have seen is statements where. they are very critical of Israel, the Israeli government, and the way. that they have conducted themselves in Gaza. And, by the way, they're not alone. The ICC, and the UN, and Human Rights Watch. have all been unbelievably critical. And I guess I'm having trouble figuring out why--. I feel like you're caricaturing it. Let me go at this a different way.

You're pro gay rights. Yes? JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah. I'm coming up on the 13th--. I'm on the pro 13th anniversary. I was the first person to solemnize. a gay marriage, when it was illegal in Pennsylvania. JON STEWART: Beautiful. And you're someone who is pro trans rights or--. JOHN FETTERMAN: Absolutely. I was the only Democrat that's saying, when they. actively were trying to ban trans Americans.

from our military. JON STEWART: Right. So what the right would say about that. is that you're pro mutilation of children. That's what they would say. That would be-- that would be their caricature. of your position. Do you agree that that's what they would say? JOHN FETTERMAN: What I would say is-- what I'm saying. is right now our party is starting to elect people that.

are going to struggle to win in the kinds. of places that are going to define. who's going to win in '28. That's a fact. And, now, a lot of these ideas and a lot. of these extreme views are coming from the kind of people. that have never won a real competitive election in a state. that holds both sides and hold people accountable to explain. a way forward when we live in a very divided country right now. I think the responsibility is to police your own ranks.

And it's like there's plenty of people, as I've been criticizing some of the Republican views. But overall, describing what garbage is garbage, like P-hustle in Maine. Like, he was an absolute garbage. JON STEWART: Who? Oh, Platner. JOHN FETTERMAN: Platner. Yeah. I mean, like, so that's not a caricature. JON STEWART: And you were saying that. before the allegations of of rape? JOHN FETTERMAN: What I'm saying it's. like a Nazi tattoo on your chest means,

like, yeah, you probably have Nazi inclinations. And if you are accused of roughing. up your ex-girlfriends, yeah, that's a non-starter for me. And if you think an American hero that's being w shot. by the Taliban is a dumb motherfucker. that deserves to die, I think that's disqualifying. I think Maine has a better person to represent my party. JON STEWART: So there's just a couple of things there. And I appreciate you having the conversation. JOHN FETTERMAN: You too.

You've been very fair here. Absolutely. JON STEWART: If your concern is winning elections, I don't know if you coming out and calling people pro-Hamas, which I think is a caricature of many of their positions, is that helpful to them. And second of all, you've been very-- you called President. Trump a jagoff in 2016. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah, absolutely. I put it on a shirt. I sold them. JON STEWART: You put it on a shirt. And now, you've been very complimentary of him.

And if you're concerned with Graham Platner is you didn't. think he was very nice to women, you're ignoring an awful lot of evidence. for the current President about his relationship with women. So my point is there seems like there's a way to go about this. that embraces, as you said, the 90% of things. that you agree with and try and utilize that energy to reform. a party that has a worse public image than herpes in terms.

of getting things done. This feels like it's playing into the hands. of Republican caricatures. JOHN FETTERMAN: Why can't people on the Democratic side. finally figure out why Trump was so competitive. and winning two out of the three last cycles? Why is he still here? Why are we still doing it?

Because we keep losing. And now, we keep returning back to some of the extreme things. That's not a caricature. That is a fair assessment of where we. are with these kind of things. JON STEWART: But we didn't--. Kamala Harris was not a progressive left candidate. She was not a Tim Walz-- like, they're--. I guess everybody said Donald Trump couldn't win. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah. I campaigned all across it that. And now, all those signature kinds of Trump things--. Big Beautiful Bill.

I did not vote for that. And SAVE Act, I said, will not vote for that-- and some. of these big signature ones. And when we vote for Blanche in this week when we're filmed, I won't for him either. JON STEWART: Right. JOHN FETTERMAN: So what really matters is the votes. and what's behind that. And what's really set me apart of most of the Democratic Party. is Israel. And that's fair. Criticize John Fetterman on Israel, without a doubt, 100%. So that's been primarily-- and that's been driving our party. JON STEWART: So for you, you could agree with them 90%,

but Israel is the red line. JOHN FETTERMAN: Absolutely. Israel for me. Like, I can't ever turn my back to Israel after where it's at. JON STEWART: And I mean no disrespect on this, but that is not our country. You're saying that these candidates may have great ideas. for our economy, they may want to do the exact same thing you. want to do in terms of getting money out of politics, they may want to increase the social safety net, they may want to change the balance of power.

from capital back to labor-- but if they. don't agree with you on Israel, you. don't want them in your party. JOHN FETTERMAN: Well, I don't know who you're. referencing to specifically. JON STEWART: No, I'm referencing what you just said. JOHN FETTERMAN: Name one. JON STEWART: So, in other words, Sayed, or AOC, or Bernie Sanders, I assume you agree with a lot. of what they say economically. JOHN FETTERMAN: What I'm saying is, like, if you are a DSA member, if you.

are a member of a specific political party, run under your own banner. And, now, I think Bill Maher said something very insightful. He said, the DSA are colonizing-- colonizing--. the Democratic Party. So just be Democrats if you're going. to run under the Democratic Party for that. Why have a DSA party overall? So run on that. And you all understand. JON STEWART: It's just an organization. It's not-- we have a two-party system. We don't-- it's like the Freedom Caucus.

in the Republican Party. There's Randy Fine, and Ogles, and all these nutbags that. are also part of an area-- and Republicans, I'm sure, may not agree with all of them on all kinds of things--. but there is no other party. I guess you could try it. But my point is, if you don't disagree. with them on a lot of things, why. not use some of that energy? And even, like, Mamdani in New York is DSA. But there are things in the DSA platform.

that he disagrees with. And I'm assuming there's probably. things in the Democratic platform. that you might disagree with. But you don't disavow the entire thing. You're literally saying, we can all. have discussions except when it comes to Israel, which is not America. It seems like a weird line to draw. JOHN FETTERMAN: Well, I don't think that's weird. I think what history demonstrates. is that when people, or a government, or people turn their back to the Jewish community,

things end really badly. And it's a danger--. JON STEWART: Jewish community and Israel are not. the same thing, brother man. That is not the same thing. JOHN FETTERMAN: No, no, no. It's like, hey, if I have to pick a side. for after 10/7 and after Iran, I'm always. going to stand with Israel. I'm always going to vote and support whatever that's. necessary to protect themselves and to prosecute Hamas, Hezbollah, and Iran, too. And the very left never said a peep after Iran executed 30,000.

to 40,000 young people in there just. for protesting for democracy. JON STEWART: You think that the left is pro-Iran? Not the country, but the regime? JOHN FETTERMAN: What I'm saying though, is, like, if anyone in the Democratic Party. is fine with Iran building a nuclear bomb, I disagree with that person. JON STEWART: I think most people are--. again, I think you're caricaturing the issue.

Is there anything you would criticize Israel about? JOHN FETTERMAN: No. What I would say is that I have not. a single Democrat that's willing to go. on record saying I'm cool. It's OK if Iran builds a nuclear bomb. And I supported, last summer, bombing the. Iranian nuclear facilities. I think that was a necessary and important. thing because Iran is becoming close to building. a nuclear bomb. And that would transform--. JON STEWART: I think the case was.

not made by this administration that Iran was close. Netanyahu has been claiming they're two weeks. away for the last 20 years. But my point is, so would you say everything Israel is doing. is for their own self-defense? JOHN FETTERMAN: Destroying its enemies, yeah. Yeah. That is-- destroying its enemies--. JON STEWART: Or flattening a tiny area. and pushing two million people into 30% to 35% to 40%. of that territory and having a siege of that area. Is that in their self-defense?

JOHN FETTERMAN: No. What I'm saying, it's like people forget. that Hamas were just rapists. And they were terrorizing and killing civilians. And then they stole five--. no, how many-- 250 people from their families. And they kept them underground, and brutalized. them, and raped them, and starved. them for over two years. And that's why they refused to give them back. And that's what forced Israel to engage in that Gaza war. when they refused to send their people.

JON STEWART: And there is nothing. in the prosecution of that war that gives you pause? JOHN FETTERMAN: What do you mean? JON STEWART: The killing of tens of thousands of children. JOHN FETTERMAN: Absolutely awful. Absolutely. Because Hamas has embed themselves behind these people. and using the Palestinians as human shields. Sinwar described the death of innocent Palestinians. as a necessary sacrifice. That's how Hamas has designed that.

JON STEWART: There are people in Netanyahu's cabinet. who have said they would like to nuke the Palestinians. Not Hamas, the Palestinians. I guess what I'm trying to get at is I don't understand why we. can't criticize even someone that you think. is an ally for actions that we deem. to be morally reprehensible. Like, I don't understand how you can defend the settlements. in the West Bank. Like, I don't understand how you have no criticisms.

over their actions, over their increasingly messianic, ultra. right wing government that seems. to think relentless war is--. like, that you can bomb people out of resistance. Have you ever seen a movie called Gatekeepers? It's people that have been in Shin Bet. and ran the army in Israel, and they're. talking about how the strategy that Israel has, of disproportionate retaliation,

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They were offered a two-state solution. I actually got a chance to talk to former President Clinton. about that, and reminds the people that they were offered. 96% of the West Bank, and they'd get. to pick 4% for part of Israel. And they had East Jerusalem as the capital, and they would have had their entire nation. now going on 26 years. Now, they rejected that. They did not want a two state solution. They have a one-state solution, and that's. from the river to the sea. And that's part of why anti-Semitism.

has run amok in our college campuses and in the streets. And now there are protesters showing up in my office. at my home and following me, and screaming, and calling about, and claiming about genocide. And now, it's not a genocide. And if there was a genocide, that's. because Iran refuses to relinquish this idea. that they can destroy Israel--. now, live in peace and now live your lives. and stop funneling billions into Hezbollah and Hamas.

trying to destroy Israel. That's the honest and the dynamic in the region. And, now, there will be a Democratic election. in Israel in October. Will Netanyahu win or not overall? But that's the true only democracy in the entire region. So it's, like, I've never said that Israel is perfect. What I'm saying, though, that's our special ally. And until we're, admittedly, at war, I'm going to stand with our special ally. and describe the circumstances with Hamas,

or Hezbollah, or the way Iran continues to behave. JON STEWART: No one's saying it's not. a dangerous neighborhood, but I think. the behavior of that government is worth more than--. and as their not just special neighbor and ally, we're the ones who fund a great deal of it. Israel has made, in the way that they've. sort of indirectly funded Hamas, it very difficult for moderates.

I mean, we're getting into a whole thing here. But I think you believe Netanyahu and his government. are operating in good faith, that they. really want a peace deal. And I'm saying they're not. Netanyahu has been very clear that he doesn't. want a two-state solution. He said it. He said it's not going to happen. There will be no two-state solution. And yet, they say that they are a democratic state. But demographics there would say.

they can't be a true democracy because they'd be worried. about that diluting what they consider. to be their Jewish state. Now, that's a whole other argument of whether states. should be this or that. But the point being that when we went to war in Iraq. or we went to war in Afghanistan, I criticized America for the way. that they were prosecuting that war and the cavalier way. in which we were wasting American treasure. and American lives. That doesn't make me pro-al Qaeda.

In the same way that if you criticize Israel. for devastating an enormous group. of people because of Hamas-- not Palestinians, Hamas--. they are not the same. Jews are not the same as Israel. JOHN FETTERMAN: They are the government. that the Palestinian people, have elected. JON STEWART: They elected them in, what is it, 2008. And there hasn't been an election since. And it was a desperate people in a siege situation. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah, because they. elected a murderous system.

JON STEWART: Sharon pulled out the settlements from Gaza, and then you had a double blind study, where was Israel. going to help the moderates? Or was it going to empower the extremists? And Israel's actions during that time. empowered the extremists and undercut the moderates. And they've done that over and over and over again. Look, you can say that the Palestinians are trying. to kill the Jews, right? But let's say it's Hamas, or Hezbollah,

or whatever it is-- or Iran. Jewish settlers are killing Palestinians. And when they asked Netanyahu about it, he said, well, it's just, like, 100. to 150 juvenile delinquents. And we can't quite get a handle on it. Meaning Israel wasn't able to control this small element. that was killing people. Does that mean that the international community should. say you don't deserve a state because you. don't have total control of the violent elements in your midst?

But that's what they're saying. Why does Israel get to decide? JOHN FETTERMAN: Well, the defining question is, does. Israel engage in a genocide? JON STEWART: In Palestine. Well, according to the people that define those things, yes. JOHN FETTERMAN: OK. Well, and I strongly disagree with that. By definition, that wasn't a genocide. The Jewish community actually experienced a true, true. genocide for that. Now, if Israel's goal was to eliminate as many Palestinians.

as possible, they could have accomplished. that in a long time ago. They were not engaging in a genocide. JON STEWART: Just because you're. killing a group slowly doesn't mean. you're not killing a group. Just because you could do it faster--. JOHN FETTERMAN: No, no, no. That was the terrible collateral of an urban war that. forced Israel to fight behind because Hamas was holding. their hostages and refused to disarm.

and send our people back home. JON STEWART: I think they've killed, like, 1,200 Palestinians since the ceasefire. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah. And most of them were killing Hamas leadership. And I think that's necessary. When you have people that were responsible. for organizing 10/7, I think it's entirely. appropriate to eliminate them. JON STEWART: I think eliminating. the people who organize 10/7 is entirely appropriate. That is absolutely correct. But in the same way that if we had gone into Afghanistan.

and just flattened it, the American people. would have been outraged that we had no discernment, that we. couldn't tell the difference. The issue here is dehumanization. Whether you're dehumanizing Jews and relating them. to Israel-- when you dehumanize a group, when you're. unable to discern the difference between the worst. of the worst, the same way we're doing.

with our immigration policy, it all ties together. through Middle East policy. If we allow dehumanization in any form, then we are complicit in the results. of those dehumanizing actions. And by being unable to tell the difference. between a democratic socialist, and a social democrat, and a Hamas supporter, and a communist, and a Zionist,

and a Jew, and Netanyahu, and an actor in good faith, we lose the ability to solve the problems. that we're facing because we are. caricaturing and dehumanizing. JOHN FETTERMAN: Jon, is it a fair question here--. has become the term "Zionist," that's become. a slur on the Democratic side. If someone refers to you're a Zio or you're a Zionist, that's become, essentially, a slur.

for people to say that thing. And that's part of where the party has lost its way. You're describing people that I'm. very supportive of a Jewish state. and they've weaponized that against people. JON STEWART: I think if they believe that that Jewish state. is acting in a manner that is overly violent, and dehumanizing, and constantly. at war in a region, that's where that's coming from.

JOHN FETTERMAN: Or it's like if Hamas refuses to disarm. and they refuse to send their people back home, I mean, then still, right now, they've. never been willing to just disarm, start the process that made them viable targets. And I support Israel eliminating people that. were part of planning 10/7. JON STEWART: I think most people. support people eliminating those who support 10/7. But will Israel disarm the settlers?

I mean, they've given them weapons. And those weapons are being used to kill--. JOHN FETTERMAN: They're moving parts. But what makes it impossible right now, because Hamas, and Iran, and Hezbollah refuse to say, look, we've lost. And now, we have to find a better. way to rebuild our society. And I'd remind people that Iran has eliminated and just killed, in their streets-- and just killed tens of thousands. of its own young people.

JON STEWART: Yes. Awful. JOHN FETTERMAN: They're hanging teenagers for just. asking for a democracy too. I don't see the kind of college protests. outrage and saying how Iran has done and they continue--. JON STEWART: Because they don't consider Iran an ally. They don't give money to Iran. We don't give billions of dollars a year to Iran. We sanction them. We try to do various things to remove--. we try and scorn them. We try and create the situation to undermine that regime. But what we haven't learned is that 40 and 50 years.

of endless wars don't get us the peaceful results. that we are searching for. They don't make it that--. the whole point of all of this is. to build coalitions of nations of good faith. to try and create a safer and less violent world. and not just play into it with bigger. weapons and more weapons, because we see what happens. All the bombing that we've done in Iran,

and they've got some lawnmower parks and a couple of Radio. Shack things, and they continue to keep the Strait of. Hormuz closed. Like, when are we going to learn that violence, or, in Stephen Miller's thing, might makes right--. when are we going to learn that's not. necessarily the case? That the whole point for us should. be to create a society and institutions that move. us away from that violence? JOHN FETTERMAN: Because we've already discovered, a quarter. century ago, that peace and negotiating.

an incredibly, insanely fair settlement, they rejected that. They don't want that. We've tried other things right now. And if Hamas and Iran had not done what's happened in 10/7, we wouldn't be having this conversation right now over--. JON STEWART: I don't know that we wouldn't be having. this conversation right now, because at every turn, the answer has always been tighter control over areas. that Palestinians live in, and more bombing, and more things.

I don't necessarily know that that's the case. And all the Arab states in 2002 offered Israel. to normalize relations for the granting. of a Palestinian state. And Israel rejected it. And Rabin, who was trying to make peace. in that area with the Palestinians, was assassinated not by Hamas, but by an Israeli extremist. So the idea that they are somehow blameless or have. done nothing wrong is--. I don't understand why we can't criticize them.

JOHN FETTERMAN: Well, I am not ever going to think, well, they have a valid point if they're killing, and firing rockets at civilians, and now they're raping them, and they're. filming setting families on fire. for the way they behave that thing. And they abuse the Palestinians too. JON STEWART: Sure. JOHN FETTERMAN: And all of the accusations have been. proven about starving people. And now the UN just acknowledged, actually, Hamas has been stealing all of the aid.

And they keep the prime stuff. And they resell the stuff to the poor Palestinians. as well, too. JON STEWART: Yeah. JOHN FETTERMAN: A lot of that things--. JON STEWART: I just got to--. I mean, even senior military officials. had told the New York Times in July of 2025. that there was no evidence that Hamas. systematically stole UN aid. But that's not the point. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah, well, in July of '26. is that there was evidence there. They were right. It's actually proved. JON STEWART: I think if we don't have the ability. to criticize a so-called ally for egregious and violent.

behaviors, then we are not an ally. And we shouldn't be. Because we should have the ability to stand up morally. in situations that we need to, even. for people that we believe to be on our quote unquote "side.". And our inability to do that is a real detriment. to our own moral foundation. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah. I mean, I'm very much aware what the Democratic base would.

demand of me and to have these specific kind. of beliefs, and views, and take the kind of votes. And I refuse to do that, knowing exactly that that would. put me in political peril. And I don't have any regret about those things. But overall, for me, when you have this existential kind. of a war after 10/7 and how things. continues to continue under those terms, it's like, what side--. Hamas, Israel? Israel, that's an easy choice.

Hezbollah firing tens of thousands of rockets. at civilians in Israel--. I'm absolutely going to support Israel. Iran, same thing right now. JON STEWART: What about team humanity? JOHN FETTERMAN: Oh, yeah. I mean--. JON STEWART: Where it's not actually that choice. It's about why are we willing to sacrifice. so many young people that have nothing to do with any of this. in that region for this idea that it's. merely Hamas versus Israel? That's just an over, I think, simplification.

of what's happening there. JOHN FETTERMAN: I mean, and what's becoming. is this entire conversation. JON STEWART: Yeah. You're right. You're right. You're right. JOHN FETTERMAN: This has been a very fair conversation. JON STEWART: No, no, no, no, no. I appreciate it. JOHN FETTERMAN: And it's like this. become like the ultimate litmus as Democrats. emerging right now. And I'm not dumb. I know voting against the War Powers thing--. I know that's incredibly toxic as a Democrat right now. But I do think it's fundamentally important. to make sure that Iran is not able to build. a nuclear bomb now.

So that's just put me where I'm at. We have different views, and that's. defining the Democratic Party. JON STEWART: In some ways, I think we have the same views. but with different strategies. I guess what I would say is I'm not down with the nuclear bomb. And I'm not down with Hamas. And I'm not down with a murderous Israeli regime. that dehumanizes a huge group of people either. I'm not down with a world that has lost the ability.

to solve its problems through collective action. and diplomacy. That's the biggest problem. And our government is complicit in that as well now, you know, that dysfunction. How do we get back to that, senator? How do we get back to a functional-- like, even the immigration system. Langford comes up with a solution. that both parties sign off on. And Donald Trump comes in before the election. and says, tank it because I want to run on the dysfunction.

of the immigration system. JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah. And I knew we would get rolled on that. I'm like, there's no chance a Trump. is going to hand over one of their largest kinds of issues. Like, I fully expect that we were. going to get rolled over the bipartisan deal on. immigration now. So that's what happened. JON STEWART: So, in your mind, is it. possible to get back to that? Or are we now just in a dysfunctional cycle? And are you more worried about the progressive left.

than you are about the right? JOHN FETTERMAN: I'm worried about people. are forgetting-- it's like, how do we win elections? It's like, have the kind of views. that the majority of people that. are going to define who's going to be. the next wave of leadership. You have to win these people over and not offend them. or to put them off the way that's already. happened and have made the Trump administration so. competitive over the last three cycles,

winning two of the three, and could have easily won the one. in the middle now, too. Now, there was no voter fraud in Pennsylvania. I was the lieutenant governor. I've described that-- secure, absolutely fair, fair, fair. If you only complain about an election if you lose, then, obviously, that's demonstrating that that's. what's behind those things. So that's where we're at. And these extreme views that have never, one, have never won a meaningful election overall.

I'm saying, let's consider-- like, let's. not revisit that after we've seen how badly that's ended. JON STEWART: Any possibility they're. running to the left in the primary. and will tack a little bit to the center. in the regular election? JOHN FETTERMAN: Well, I mean, who. knows how that's going to be? Under these extreme things, Trump. administration has made virtually. anything politically possible. And that's why you have some of these people in our party.

winning that have described things in extreme views. that it's made it's OK, or they dismiss it, or say. that it doesn't really matter. JON STEWART: Well, we certainly appreciate. the conversation, senator. You've been very generous with your time. You've been wearing-- you've been wearing. a suit, which, I have to tell, you, gives you a little gravitas. As you were talking, I was like, I wasn't going to listen to this guy. JOHN FETTERMAN: But overall, Jon, I've always been a long term fan, like we discussed, where,

when you made some guys famous because of the six degree. from Bacon-- JON STEWART: Kevin Bacon. Yeah. JOHN FETTERMAN: That's how long I've been with you back then. JON STEWART: Did you go to college with those guys? JOHN FETTERMAN: Yeah, yeah. I went to college with those guys. Yeah. All right. JON STEWART: The six degrees of Kevin Bacon guys. Yeah, yeah. JOHN FETTERMAN: They found out the genius. that Kevin Bacon was connected to the universe overall. So that's really just how long I've followed you. But thank you for having me on. And this was a very fair conversation.

JON STEWART: Well, that's very kind of you, sir. And I appreciate your time. And I appreciate your passion. And enjoy the rest of your day. JOHN FETTERMAN: OK. Well, you as well. JON STEWART: Thank you, sir. JOHN FETTERMAN: Thank you, Jon. OK. Take care. [MUSIC PLAYING]. JON STEWART: Hey, folks, I know most people look at me. and they think to themselves, well, that that's a fashion play right there. But, actually, you know what I am? Comfortable. You might be thinking, well, sure, if you wear. the same t-shirt as last week.

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B-O-L-L A-N-D Branch--. BollandBranch.com/TWS. Code TWS to unlock 15% off. Exclusions apply. [MUSIC PLAYING]. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: How are you? [LAUGHTER]. JON STEWART: That wasd that was interesting. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: Yeah. JON STEWART: I'm not really sure what to think here.

He definitely feels very strongly about certain issues. GILLIAN SPEAR: One in particular. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: Yeah. JON STEWART: Yeah. I feel like we all just got out of one of those movies--. [LAUGHTER]. You know those movies where it's, like, sort of-- it's. like there was, like, a weirdly traumatizing. scene in the movie, and now we're all just like, did you guys. GILLIAN SPEAR: So I'm going to take the c-train. JON STEWART: Do you want to go get something--. I'm just going to go get a slice and maybe go home. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: Just sit in the quiet together.

JON STEWART: Yeah. But I'm weirdly thrown off right now. GILLIAN SPEAR: Yeah. I mean, what I will say in looking into him is, like, he's right. He does vote with Democrats over 90% of the time. And even though he doesn't grant that same leniency. to other people that vote with him, that would vote. with Democrats 90% of the time because he. disagrees with them over Israel, like, he is better--. I think about it in baseball terms--. like, he has a high WAR. He's better than Mehmet Oz in terms. of wins above replacement.

JON STEWART: Holy shit, Gillian. GILLIAN SPEAR: But I would still rather--. JON STEWART: You have no idea how happy. you're making me right now. If you start going into advanced Senate analytics--. GILLIAN SPEAR: He has a high WAR. He's better than a Republican in his position. JON STEWART: Fantastic. GILLIAN SPEAR: And I think a lot of Republicans. would say he has a high WAR in that he's. better than a Democrat in that position. But I think both parties would rather somebody more in line. with their viewpoints in that position. And so the fact that he's running again, I think, is totally delusional. JON STEWART: Well, he's going to have to pull. either an independent--. I don't think Republicans--. I mean, maybe he can win there as a Republican.

I just don't know how. GILLIAN SPEAR: No, I don't think he can win there--. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: I don't. No. JON STEWART: I don't know what he would have. to do to flip that around. GILLIAN SPEAR: He made a totally fair point. that in terms of the signature legislation. of this administration, he has not been on board with it. What he has done is made it a little bit--. he's greased the wheels a bit on tough votes for them. He's made it so they can peel off a couple. people here and there. Susan Collins, guess what? You get to look good to Maine because Jon. Fetterman has flipped sides.

And that's called politics. And if you're not good at doing that, you shouldn't be in politics. JON STEWART: And the other thing. that I think he didn't acknowledge. is that it's one thing to vote with Democrats 90% of the time. It's another thing to recognize people's frustration. with Democrats not delivering when they had power, when they're out of power. Like, the reason why the energy is coming from the left. is dissatisfaction with this-- it's not extremism. Kamala Harris didn't lose because the country thought.

she was nuts and extreme. It's that Democrats didn't believe in her enough. GILLIAN SPEAR: Didn't present a vision. She didn't present a vision. JON STEWART: She only had 107 days. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: What? JON STEWART: I memorized the days. You guys brought it up last time. And I didn't know that it was 107. And now this time, I know. GILLIAN SPEAR: He's never going to forget it. Tattooed on his arm. JON STEWART: I'm never going to forget it ever again. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: Should we take a deep breath. and do some questions? JON STEWART: Yeah. GILLIAN SPEAR: Can we take a shot and do some questions?

JON STEWART: Let's all--. I do feel like, what the. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: All right. JON STEWART: All right. What do we got, Brittany? BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: OK. Jon, did Senators Cornyn and Tillis just. get bamboozled by Trump and Blanche? Or will Trump and Blanche keep their word? JON STEWART: Oh, I think they'll keep their word. You know, there's a saying in Washington--. there is no more honorable a promise than a Trump promise. [LAUGHTER].

That's why-- they don't just build triumphal arches. for everybody. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: Of course not. JON STEWART: You have to earn the triumphal arch. You have to earn the drained reflecting pool. [LAUGHTER]. No, I think that, in many ways, Tillis. and Cornyn took a large knife to the lining of the Senate--. [LAUGHTER]. GILLIAN SPEAR: To their own integrity as well. JON STEWART: To their own--. I mean, even in the thing-- like, it's not just the weaponization fund,

the $1.8 billion, which I'm sure he'll reconstitute. in some other--. GILLIAN SPEAR: Hey, it's $1.776, all right? JON STEWART: $1.776. That's a good point. And, watch, we're going to find out. there's a weird $1.776 billion gap in SNAP benefits. to babies that don't have formula. Like, he'll find it somewhere. But the idea that they didn't have the balls to be like, oh, and you're not immune from the IRS. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: Yeah. GILLIAN SPEAR: Yeah.

JON STEWART: Like, you don't just. get to do whatever the fuck you want whenever the fuck. you want to do it. Like, that was their principled stand? And they've got nothing to lose. GILLIAN SPEAR: Nothing. They've already lost it all. JON STEWART: You know what's nice to know. about that, though? Sometimes you think, you know what? These guys are cowards, that they. hold what they really believe for political expediency. They don't ever say it. They don't stand on principle because they're. fearful of losing their livelihood in the Senate.

And it's nice to know that for these guys, they're actually just shitty. [LAUGHTER]. That there is no moral principle that they're standing. on-- that freed from the bounds of primaries. and losing your job, they still suck. GILLIAN SPEAR: Period. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: That's the worst. JON STEWART: Love it. What else we got? BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: Jon, do you think a third party created. by Tucker Carlson and Marjorie Taylor Greene.

is the answer to the flaws of the two-party political system? JON STEWART: You know, I don't know. But, obviously, being one of the first people. on their mailing list--. [LAUGHTER]. --I'm going to assume that I'll find out. To get into the platinum subscriber circle. that I had to do, just a few fealty-- my favorite thing. was the picture of it.

Like, it's a picture, but it's taken--. like, I don't know if there was an adjunct restaurant or, like, a different-- like, there was a little area over there. by the sundae bar. And they were like, do you guys want to take a picture of this? Oh, and make sure no one can recognize us. Sure, I can do that. I can do that from way back-- you. want to make sure you get in the entirety of the restaurant. You want to get in all the decorations. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: I think it was Tucker's house. GILLIAN SPEAR: Oh, my god. You're right. JON STEWART: He lives in a Cracker Barrel?

GILLIAN SPEAR: His basement, it literally. looks like an Applebee's. JON STEWART: So this is the new Tucker, by the way. This is--. GILLIAN SPEAR: The cabin in Maine Tucker. JON STEWART: Yeah. The old Tucker was I'm Buckley. I've got the thing. I'm a young conservative with a sassy mouth. and a contrarian streak. And now, he's like, no, I'm actually the Marlboro man. [LAUGHTER]. Honey, I'm going to head on out to the podcast mines,

put in my eight hours a day toiling with the microphones. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: Get some dirt under his fingernails. JON STEWART: Let me get that dirt under-- let me rub. a little bit on my forehead and take one of them. pictures in there-- what do you call there? Sepia. Let me put five Zyns in my pants. Is that chewless tobacco, or are you just happy to see me? GILLIAN SPEAR: America first, baby. JON STEWART: All right, what else we got? BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: Last, not least.

What is James Carville? JON STEWART: Ooh. That is-- did you see Disclosure Day? GILLIAN SPEAR: Yeah. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: No. JON STEWART: Now, you know what he is. GILLIAN SPEAR: Oh, that's not fair to the alien. JON STEWART: At the end, when he stood up. [LAUGHTER]. Listen. GILLIAN SPEAR: Cut to black.

JON STEWART: Cluck, cluck, cluck, cluck. Listen. You know my favorite part about it was when he goes, I'm not going to be a part of-- any part of a party. that Hasan Piker's a part of. Well, didn't you just say, like, he's a Communist? So he's not part of your party, so don't worry about it. Or he has-- I'm not going to play a part in a party. that Hasan Piker has a role in. And you're like, don't worry, you won't. [LAUGHTER]. Like, I don't know if he understands how time works. GILLIAN SPEAR: Yeah.

JON STEWART: Like, I mean, and not to be gross about it, but, like, yeah. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: It's OK. GILLIAN SPEAR: No, I think that's fair. JON STEWART: That young guy that's. a fiery preacher for economic populism and other things--. nope, I'm going to wait till he burns himself out, and then I'm going to come back in in 2040. GILLIAN SPEAR: It's the '90s, baby. Let's go. JON STEWART: Me and Mary Matalin are going to do a show. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: Why do they keep putting him on TV? GILLIAN SPEAR: Because he's available.

JON STEWART: Because he'll say things that get aggregated. Like, they-- in the same reason, like, they clip things, he's a guy that will say--. and, by the way, contradict himself every couple of months. GILLIAN SPEAR: As soon as he's been proven wrong. JON STEWART: Which, by the way, like, when was the last time. you won something, fucko? Like, he tries to still go-- remember, Clinton had, it's the economy, stupid. GILLIAN SPEAR: Yeah. BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: Yeah. JON STEWART: So now, he's playing on that still. It's like that was, I don't know, 1992?

GILLIAN SPEAR: It was. Yeah. JON STEWART: And he was out there-- now, like, it's. the socialism, stupid. And everybody's just like, was that a play on--. what is he talking about? Like, he's literally out there like Tippecanoe and. communism too. GILLIAN SPEAR: Like, 40% of the electorate. did not vote in that election. JON STEWART: Right. I don't like Ike. I don't like Piker. You're just like-- nobody understands even the ref--. nobody understands my reference point,

and I'm fucking 20 years younger than that dude. All right. How do they keep in touch with us? BRITTANY MEHMEDOVIC: Twitter, we are WeeklyShowPod. Instagram, Threads, TikTok, Bluesky, we. are WeeklyShowPodcast. And you can like, subscribe, and comment. on our YouTube channel, The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart. JON STEWART: Oh, and I'm sure they will this week. Holy shit. [LAUGHTER]. As always, unbelievable job. Producer Brittany Mehmedovic, producer Gillian Spear, video editor and engineer Rob Vitolo, audio editor and engineer Nicole Boyce, and our executive producer is Chris McShane and Caity Gray.

We shall see you next week. [MUSIC PLAYING]. The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart. is a Comedy Central podcast that's produced by Paramount. Audio and Busboy Productions.