Jon Stewart’s Chickens Coming Home to Roost

Jon Stewart doesn’t know which way is up these days.

The former Daily ShowOnce, the host received media praises for his innovative spin on news. Far removed from his gig, these same reporters look back at him with curiosity, as if he were a forgotten ghost.

Host of Apple TV+ Jon Stewart: The ProblemJust as perilous.

His most recent film, 2020, was savagely attacked by critics Insistible. He dares to take an objective and fair look at politics. Why isn’t he “destroying” conservatives in every sequence?

His Apple platform is far less popular than Stephen Colbert’s rants.

Stewart is unable to recognize the cultural environment in which speech suppression has been cheered by academics, journalists, and even his own party. Stewart would have denied Cancel Culture was even possible a few short months ago.

Now, he’s scrambling to fight against it.

Stewart lashed out at those trying to cancel Joe Rogan’s podcast and demanded more voices. Rogan has been subject to a lot of criticism for sharing misinformation from many outlets, which is often the case with other podcasters.

Yes, Stewart just took a page from Andrew Breitbart’s playbook:

Don’t leave, don’t abandon, don’t censor, engage. I’m not saying it’s it’s always going to work out fruitfully, but I am always of the mindset that engagement, and especially with someone like a Joe Rogan who is not, in my mind, an ideologue in any way.

What is the secret to our success? Stewart is partly to blame.

This comedian turned late-night television into an partisan show, cheering for the progressives while demonizing conservative voices. It was a good job, he did. He mixed his trademark wit and a shocked look that he summoned upon request.

See how stupid the opposite side is! Half of America was dehumanized or demeaned in the process. He told his flock their opinions weren’t just wrong, but often cruel.

Seth Meyers, John Oliver, and Stephen Colbert were among his colleagues. Modern late-night shows are akin to Democratic SuperPACs, full of spin, misinformation, and attacks against the GOP.

The jokes are often not funny, but they do come out occasionally.

Stewart also famously took down CNN’s “Crossfire,” a show where liberals and conservatives slugged it out over public policy. Stewart demolished the show in person and caused its fall. He also showed how a popular celebrity could use his brand to stifle speech he didn’t enjoy.

Do you sound familiar?

Stewart could’ve spent his last years doing the same thing Bill Maher does on Friday nights. Praise the progressive bible and mock fellow liberals for their bad behavior.

That’s precisely what “Real Time with Bill Maher” delivers from his HBO pulpit. Maher continues to criticize Trump’s soft targets, but he also exhorts the left for embracing antiscience rhetoric and punishing freedom speech.

And again.

Maher, as it stands now, is fighting alone. Maher could benefit from some company, particularly from Stewart’s cultural gravitas.

Except Stewart’s heart isn’t in it.

Yes, Rogan was his advocate, but will that last for too long? Is he going to use Apple’s platform to silence free speech advocates? He has already done this (His Rogan defense was on his podcast). If so, then why not?

Stewart spoke all the right words about Rogan’s fight. Now, he’ll move on to attacking Gov. Ron DeSantis and President Donald Trump are his targets. While Stephen Colbert was stunned, he explained calmly why the theory of the lab leakage made complete sense.

Stewart was able to repeat the performance. Did he skewer other Fake News narratives tied to the pandemic, or the man responsible for so many of them – Dr. Anthony Fauci?

No.

Stewart can make a difference to the culture if he joins Maher and the fight against Cancel Culture, its facilitators, and other crooks.

Don’t hold your breath.

[Cross-posted from Hollywood in Toto]