If Trump Isn’t Dying, Why Is He Being Treated Like a Make-A-Wish Kid? | Spike Lee

Summary

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The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode: If Trump Isn’t Dying, Why Is He Being Treated Like a Make-A-Wish Kid? | Guest: Spike Lee
Date: September 9, 2025
Host: Jon Stewart

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Episode Overview

In this episode, Jon Stewart and The Daily Show team return from a summer hiatus to tackle the swirling rumors about President Trump's health, the media frenzy surrounding his public appearances, and the absurdity of how both Trump’s supporters and institutions treat him. The "Make-A-Wish kid" metaphor becomes the lens through which Stewart skewers the performative adulation and coddling received by the president, even as speculation about his mortality mounts. Later, acclaimed filmmaker Spike Lee joins Jon to discuss his latest project, creativity, and their shared love for New York City and the Knicks.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

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1. The Media Frenzy Around Trump's Health (01:45–11:50)

• Jon Stewart’s Return:
  Stewart opens with satire about being let back into the studio (“one of the windows was left unlocked”), and jokes about the abnormal political summer, setting up the episode’s tone.

• Trump Health Rumors:
  Stewart discusses the recent reclusive behavior of President Trump, the viral #TrumpIsDead, and media panics at his absence from public view.

  • "Guy can't take a few days for some R & R and a non-surgical breast reduction without everybody suddenly pulling out the toe tags on the President." — Jon Stewart (04:06)
  • The team mocks the sensational nature of the coverage, riffing on the public’s expectation of Trump’s constant presence.

• Medical Diagnosis and Mockery:
  The White House announces Trump has "chronic venous insufficiency." Stewart demands a more entertaining explanation, prompting Spike Lee to narrate in a David Attenborough-esque style:

  • "His ankles swollen and straining over his oxfords, aren't just unsightly cankles. They're flashing neon signs of a body under pressure." — Spike Lee (05:58)
  • Stewart continues the comedic thread: “Put that Attenborough right into my veins.” (06:20)

• Obsessive Superficiality:
  Stewart critiques the “Instagram culture” that obsesses over every minor physical detail, roasting the tendency to mistake “medical appraisals” for bullying.

  • "Why are his eyes so lumpy? Insiders have been calling the president Skippy because under his skin looks a little extra chunky." — Jon Stewart (08:06)

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2. The “Make-A-Wish Kid” Presidency (10:08–18:43)

• Supporters' Tone:
  Stewart highlights how Trump’s closest allies speak to him as if they’re saying goodbye, or treating him like a frail child.

  • "When history looks back on you, how would you like to be remembered?" — Kristen Bell as a question posed to Trump (11:11)
  • Montage of obsequious tributes from GOP.

• Theatrics of Tribute:
  Stewart shares clips of Trump receiving honorary badges and video tributes, lampooning the idea that Trump’s presidency has turned into a never-ending Make-A-Wish Foundation visit.

  • "Look how happy they made him. Gee whiz, Mr. A Real Marshall. This is even better than when they let me drive a garbage truck." — Jon Stewart (12:12)

• Satirizing Trump's Infinite Need for Praise:
  Stewart notes how accolades are endlessly invented for Trump, from Nobel Prizes in multiple disciplines to random tokens:

  • "Why not just fire up the 3D printer and print all the Nobels for Donny?" — Jon Stewart (15:10)

• Supreme Court’s Deference:
  Stewart argues that not even the Supreme Court is above ‘make-a-wish’-style coddling, pointedly mocking their favorable immigration rulings:

  • "Today, the Supreme Court bent over backwards to grant Trump even his most unconstitutional wishes. Like maybe you can arrest people for looking Mexican." — Jon Stewart (16:31)

• Twilight Zone Analogy:
  Comparing Trump not to a frail child but to the infamous ‘bad kid’ from the classic Twilight Zone episode, Stewart warns about the dangers of everyone tiptoeing around someone with unchecked power:

  • "I'm beginning to think Trump isn't a benign, suffering child at all...because he's that Twilight Zone kid that anytime somebody made him mad, he sent them out to the cornfield." — Jon Stewart (17:18)

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3. Spike Lee Interview: Filmmaking, Legacy, and New York (20:56–34:30)

Opening: The Power of Spontaneity and Collaboration (21:42–22:56)

• Jon and Spike discuss the making of Spike’s new film “Highest to Lowest.”
• Anecdotes about Denzel Washington’s improvisation and influence on set.
  • "The genius of Denzel lifted that whole scene, which lifted the movie, because this is at the end of the film, too. Like, it's a High Noon showdown." — Spike Lee (22:34)

New York Culture, Basketball, and Film Easter Eggs (24:21–25:06)

• Jon lists trademark New York Easter eggs in Spike’s movies—cameos, sports jerseys, city icons (“All State Mayhem,” Jalen Brunson jersey, Nick Turturro).
• Spike revisits the passing of salsa legend Eddie Palmieri, who appeared posthumously in the film.
• Celebrating the chaos and vibrancy of New York.
  • "Your love of New York in all of its chaos...I love that part of it." — Jon Stewart (24:57)

Spike’s Family, Musical Heritage, and Moral Core (27:10–29:27)

• Spike shares stories about his father Bill Lee’s contributions to music (Simon & Garfunkel, Bob Dylan).
• Lee reflects on his parents' ethics and work ethic influencing his own career and the moral center in his films.
  • "But you also lace everything that you do with a moral. There's a moral center to everything. And it feels like...is that both your parents talking through you?" — Jon Stewart (29:10)
  • "Yes. And also, that's why I love this film." — Spike Lee (29:25)

The Film’s Central Dilemma and Loyalty (29:27–31:30)

• Synopsis: Denzel’s character faces whether to pay a ransom for a child who turns out not to be his, but is the son of a loyal employee and friend.
• Audience prompted to reflect: What would you do?
  • "So he's putting the limit. Am I gonna pay a ransom of $17.5 million in Swiss francs for a kid that's not mine?" — Spike Lee (29:57)

New York Basketball and Knicks Banter (31:32-34:30)

• Jon playfully spars over Spike’s casting of LA Laker Rick Fox as a Brooklyn basketball coach, citing NY icons.
• The conversation segues to memories of Brooklyn upbringing, local legends, and parental aspirations.
• Finally—Knicks fandom:
  • "The Knicks are going to win championship this year." — Spike Lee (34:08)
  • Jon jokes about how sentimental (and embarrassing) their response would be if it happened.

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

| Timestamp | Speaker | Quote | |-----------|---------|-------| | 04:06 | Jon Stewart | "Guy can't take a few days for some R & R and a non-surgical breast reduction without everybody suddenly pulling out the toe tags on the President." | | 05:58 | Spike Lee (Attenborough parody) | "His ankles swollen and straining over his oxfords, aren't just unsightly cankles. They're flashing neon signs of a body under pressure." | | 08:06 | Jon Stewart | "Why are his eyes so lumpy? Insiders have been calling the president Skippy because under his skin looks a little extra chunky." | | 12:12 | Jon Stewart | "Look how happy they made him. Gee whiz, Mr. A Real Marshall. This is even better than when they let me drive a garbage truck." | | 15:10 | Jon Stewart | "Why not just fire up the 3D printer and print all the Nobels for Donny?" | | 17:18 | Jon Stewart | "I'm beginning to think Trump isn't a benign, suffering child at all...because he's that Twilight Zone kid that anytime somebody made him mad, he sent them out to the cornfield." | | 22:34 | Spike Lee | "The genius of Denzel lifted that whole scene, which lifted the movie, because this is at the end of the film, too. Like, it's a High Noon showdown." | | 24:57 | Jon Stewart | "Your love of New York in all of its chaos...I love that part of it." | | 29:10 | Jon Stewart | "But you also lace everything that you do with a moral. There's a moral center to everything. And it feels like...is that both your parents talking through you?" | | 29:57 | Spike Lee | "So he's putting the limit. Am I gonna pay a ransom of $17.5 million in Swiss francs for a kid that's not mine?" | | 34:08 | Spike Lee | "The Knicks are going to win championship this year." |

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Important Timestamps

• 01:45 – Jon Stewart returns: summer hiatus, new owners, recap of “abnormal” politics
• 03:58 – Commentary begins on Trump’s absence & health rumors
• 05:58 – David Attenborough parody describing Trump’s health
• 11:10 – Satire of tributes to Trump and supportive sycophancy
• 17:18 – “Twilight Zone” kid analogy for Trump’s unchecked ego
• 20:56 – Interview with Spike Lee starts
• 22:34 – Spike on Denzel Washington’s improvisational genius
• 24:45 – Spike pays tribute to Eddie Palmieri
• 27:10–29:27 – Spike Lee reflects on family, heritage, and morality in filmmaking
• 29:57 – Central dramatic dilemma of Spike’s new film revealed
• 34:08 – Knicks championship hopes and Jon/Spike’s camaraderie

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Tone & Language

The episode is characteristically sharp and irreverent, blending biting political satire with warmth and playful banter. Stewart’s language is sardonic but affectionate towards his guests, and the rapport with Spike Lee is collegial and passionate, especially when discussing art, legacy, and New York City.

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Summary Takeaways

• The episode hilariously skewers both the American media’s and political system’s absurdity in treating President Trump’s health as both a national security threat and a gossip item.
• Jon Stewart employs the “Make-A-Wish kid” comparison to highlight not just the fragility or spectacle of Trump’s presence, but the grotesque, sycophantic culture that surrounds him—including the Supreme Court’s deference.
• Spike Lee’s interview is lively and insightful, featuring stories about Denzel Washington, his family’s music legacy, unwavering love for New York, and the moral complexity that anchors his films.
• The closing banter about basketball is both heartfelt and humorous, underscoring the personal, communal touches that define both Stewart and Lee’s approach to storytelling.

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Transcript

[Kristen Bell]

Hi, I'm Kristen Bell and if you know my husband Dax, then you also know he loves shopping for a car. Selling a car, not so much.

[Jon Stewart]

We're really doing this, huh?

[Kristen Bell]

Thankfully Carvana makes it easy. Answer a few questions, put in your van or license and done. We sold ours in minutes this morning and they'll come pick it up and pay us this afternoon.

[Jon Stewart]

Bye bye Truckee.

[Kristen Bell]

Of course we kept the favorite.

[Jon Stewart]

Hello other Truckee.

[Kristen Bell]

Sell your car with Carvana today. Terms and conditions apply.

[Spike Lee]

Streaming now on Peacock. We sell toilet tissue and local newspapers. That is in order of quality.

[Jon Stewart]

It's gonna take a little time.

[Spike Lee]

From the crew that brought you the office, my name is Ned Sampson. I am your new editor in chief. Comes a new comedy series.

[Kristen Bell]

Have you read this paper?

[Spike Lee]

Uh huh. It sucks. But we are going to make it better. Meet the underdog journalists. I hope it's not too disruptive to.

[Jon Stewart]

Have me shake everything up. Don't be so self defecating with major issues, Oscar.

[Spike Lee]

Oh God, not again. The paper only on Peacock.

[Jon Stewart]

Streaming now.

[Spike Lee]

You're listening to Comedy Central from the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, John Doom.

[Jon Stewart]

Welcome to the Daily Show. How are you? Welcome. Thank you for having us. Goodbye. Welcome to the Daily Show. My name is Jon Stewart. Man, I gotta tell you, it feels so nice to be back at work after like four to five weeks of doing whatever I wanted to do whenever I wanted to do it. I was a little worried, you know, we took the back end of the summer off there and I don't know if you noticed, we have new owners here at the network. Didn't know if they would let us back in the building. But good news, we have not heard from them, but one of the windows was left unlocked, so here we are. We do have a tremendous program for you this evening. Spike Lee. We'll be right here. Spike Lee will be here this evening. He will be discussing his new film while I hector him about the New York Knickerbockers. So we'll see how it goes. Now normally, as many of you may know, been on this planet for a few rotations, August is considered a relatively quiet month for political doings. But as we have been told many, many times, this ain't normal. I'm going to try and catch up. Since we've been gone, the economy hit a brick wall, stalling on jobs while inflation continued to rise. So Trump met with Putin in Alaska to force Ukraine to accept crackle Barrel's new logo while Leboo Boo released a new Epstein file and Taylor got engaged. It's a blur. It's all a blur. But all of it takes a back seat to continuing concerns over the President's health. We haven't really seen much of the President over the last week.

[Kristen Bell]

Basically absent from the public eye.

[Spike Lee]

He's clearly hiding something about his health. The hashtag TrumpIsDead trends it on social media.

[Jon Stewart]

What the you people you reporters have no chill guy can't take a few days for some R and R and a non surgical breast reduction without everybody suddenly pulling out the toe tags on the President. It does say something about the ubiquity of Donald Trump in our lives, that we don't hear from him for 20 minutes and we're like, he's dead. I think he's check. Can we track him? How do you know he's dead? Well, it's been seven minutes since the word news scum has come up on my feed. He must be dead. But of course, Trump didn't die in office. But I wouldn't put it past him trying once again to take credit for something Biden had already accomplished. But that being said, Trump is alive. Although I definitively would not go so far as to say alive and kicking. Something is up with his health. New today, the White House revealing President Trump has been diagnosed with a condition called chronic venous insufficiency. Chronic venous insufficiency, a relatively common condition. Something that gets more common as you get older. Oh, I'm sorry. Did I wander into the wrong classroom at boring university? Can someone please explain his physical condition to me? In a way I'd be interested in the style of perhaps a world weary Brit.

[Spike Lee]

His ankles swollen and straining over his oxfords, aren't just unsightly cankles. They're flashing neon signs of a body under pressure.

[Jon Stewart]

Put that Attenborough right into my veins. The aging president struggles to keep up with the herd. And as night falls, it's clear the lions will eat well tonight on. On a menu. On a menu. Wait, I want to tell you own a menu of Cankel's poivre. It might not have been worth the walk, but I felt I owed it to you. By the way, it's not just the cankles he's got going. The whole meat bag seems to be having some kind of drainage issue.

[Kristen Bell]

These images of the President have drawn attention in recent days, showing apparent bruising on his hands that was covered with makeup.

[Jon Stewart]

Jesus, Grandpa, put him away. Holy Shit. And what's with the makeup? It's not like you can treat leprosy at Sephora. God. By the way, may I remind you, these are just the parts poking out that we can see. I bet everything on that body not covered by clothes is all up right now. For all we know, the guy's gone full grimace, blotchy hands, puffy ankles. Although, to be fair to Trump, people got a little nitpicky.

[Kristen Bell]

We can see that there is sort.

[Jon Stewart]

Of like a lumpy situation going on on Trump's forehead. One of his eyes is half closed. All right, now you're just being mean. Oh, he's got swollen ankles. He's got a little bit on the thing. But look at his eyes. Lumpy. See, this is the problem with our superficial Instagram culture. We have unrealistic expectations in this country about the amount of fluid our bodies should be able to clear subcutaneously. It sends the wrong message to young people. These really. These. These really are not medical appraisals. It's just more like insults. Like, hey, according to the Mayo Clinic, why are his eyes so lumpy? Insiders have been calling the president Skippy because under his skin looks a little extra chunky. Hey, the president's neck looks so much like Betty White's vagina than Milton Berle. Too soon? Yeah, I was gonna do the. The reason we did so the tag to that was gonna be that Milton Berle tried to it, but you clearly rejected the premise. Why should I? I came with the. Now, normally, we might be able to dismiss these symptoms, but Trump himself seems very focused these days on securing a prime piece of afterlife real estate.

[Spike Lee]

I want to try and get to heaven.

[Jon Stewart]

Sure you do, but you know what? Hey, look, the first step is always admitting you have a problem. Maybe you can turn this thing around. If there's a will, there's a way for you to get yourself back up that golden escalator to the heavens.

[Kristen Bell]

Just moments ago, Democrats on the panel posted this image with a caption that reads, quote, here it is. We got Trump's birthday note to Jeffrey Epstein that the President said doesn't exist going down.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh, well, okay. It's okay. But it's not just the physical symptoms that make you think the President is transitioning from this mortal coil. It's that whenever any of his biggest supporters are with him, it sounds like they're saying, goodbye. Mr. President, working for this government for you is the greatest honor of my life.

[Kristen Bell]

When history looks back on you, how would you like to be remembered?

[Spike Lee]

I'LL never forget standing in the East Room with you, surrounded by the coal miners around this country where you said, hey, big beautiful coal.

[Jon Stewart]

Remember, Mr. President? And I said, no, these are humans. The coal is what they dig for. And that. Anyway, we'll miss you. And have you ever been to one of those funerals where there's a video of the recently departed? Well, six days ago, the White House released one of them. Let me share some of the biggest lessons I've learned from a lifetime spent building dreams. First, if you think that you're too young to do something great, let me tell you that you are wrong. You're not too young. There's no such thing as too young. I'm having trouble getting a read on these people. If you're watching this video, I'm already dead. But by the way, once you begin to notice this pattern, you begin to see, really, the whole vibe around this president is very Make a wish, kid. Everyone who shows up to his office tries to make one of his dreams come true. We thought it was only appropriate to present you with an honorary United States Marshal Service badge. Look how happy they made him. Gee whiz, Mr. A Real Marshall. This is even better than when they let me drive a garbage truck. Now, you might be saying to yourself, the make a wish thing is a little much. A grown man would recognize when people are condescending to him, treating him like a child, tiptoeing around his fragile ego with the idea that this person is so easily manipulated that even the cheapest of gestures could be persuasive. You wouldn't think that it is the.

[Spike Lee]

Trophy that the winner of the FIFA World cup wins. Only the FIFA president. And then those who win can touch it because it's for winners only. And since you are a winner, of course you can as well touch it.

[Jon Stewart]

Also, I have in the bag Thor's hammer. But only the bravest boy can pick it up. Only the bravest boy can. My God, you did it. You picked it up. You're sore. I'm telling you though, man, this goes way past trophy funneling and cereal box deputy badges. The people around Trump know that he is a never ending, insatiable black hole of wishes.

[Kristen Bell]

It's well past time that President Trump was awarded the Nobel Peace Prize.

[Jon Stewart]

When Operation Warp Speed was started, it was a massive success for our country. And I do agree that President Trump should get the Nobel Prize for that. I'm thinking that since he's basically taught the world trade economics, he might be up for the Nobel on economics. Ooh Donald Trump, the first recipient of the Nobel Prize. Variety pack. Economics, chemistry. Oh, here's one for monogamy. It's really entirely made up. Sure. Why not just fire up the 3D printer and print all the Nobels for Donny? Or perhaps they sell them at Spencer Gifts, which still exists. It's a real. You may have killed our bookstores, Bezos, but in America, we still shop in person for our lava lamps and our dildos. That suction cup to the wall, by the way, word to the wise, the seal is unreliable. Everything about the treatment of this president screams, make a wish kid.

[Spike Lee]

Ooh.

[Jon Stewart]

You'll meet your favorite celebrities and they'll dress up for you. Oh, I know why you're president. You won't be able to sleep at your home, and it probably feels a little scary and a little uncomfortable.

[Spike Lee]

So.

[Jon Stewart]

Makeover. Oh, and did you get an owie? No, no. It doesn't look weird at all. In fact, we're all wearing them. It looks. It looks so cool. But if you think there's some government in some institutions that are above this kind of insulting obsequiousness, you would be wrong. Today, the Supreme Court bent over backwards to grant Trump even his most unconstitutional wishes. Like maybe you can arrest people for looking Mexican.

[Kristen Bell]

Breaking. At this hour, the Supreme Court again has backed President Trump's approach towards immigration. It is now ruled that they are allowing federal agents to proceed with raids in Southern California if they target people for deportation based on their race.

[Jon Stewart]

Hey, the good news. The Supreme Court supports affirmative action based on race. The bad news is that action is ICE deporting you. What the. What kind of a make a wish kid wants to nullify the Fourth Amendment? I'm beginning to think Trump isn't a benign, suffering child at all. I'm beginning to think everybody treats Trump like this. Not because he's the make a wish kid, but because he's that Twilight Zone kid that anytime somebody made him mad, he sent them out to the cornfield. You're a bad man. You're a very bad man. And you keep thinking bad thoughts about me. Think I'm wrong? Let's play a game. I'll play you two clips, and I'll bet you won't be able to tell the difference between scared townspeople trying not to be sent to the cornfield and Trump's sycophants.

[Spike Lee]

It's good what you've done to Dan. You've been doing an amazing job. That was swell.

[Jon Stewart]

It was just swell.

[Spike Lee]

Great job, sir.

[Jon Stewart]

Okay. The production value's given away. But you gotta admit, it's weird. And it never ends good that you've done that.

[Spike Lee]

Oh, it's real good.

[Jon Stewart]

People were applauding you. You're a good boy, Anthony.

[Spike Lee]

You're not just courageous, you're actually fearless. Everybody love you, Anthony. They love you, son.

[Jon Stewart]

The most consequential president of the modern era, if not all American history, only American history to the cornfields. But this is where we're at, America. This is where we're at for your consideration. A nation held hostage by the fragile ego of a man baby president who may or may not be dying of hand syphilis but is puffy. He's very. He's certainly. I don't know if he's dying, he's weirdly puffy. And who we're trapped with for at least three more years in the Twilight Zone. When we come back, Spike Lee will be joining us. Don't go away.

[Spike Lee]

Welcome to Only Murders in the Building the official podcast.

[Jon Stewart]

Join me, Michael Ciro Creighton as we go behind the scenes with some of the amazing actors, writers and crew from season five.

[Spike Lee]

The audience should never stop suspecting anything. How can you not be funny crawling.

[Jon Stewart]

Around on a coffin?

[Spike Lee]

Yeah, that's true.

[Jon Stewart]

Catch Only Murders in the Building official.

[Spike Lee]

Podcast now streaming wherever you get your.

[Jon Stewart]

Podcasts and watch Only Murders in the Building streaming on Hulu and Hulu on Disney for bundle subscribers terms apply.

[Kristen Bell]

This episode is brought to you by Greenlight. Get this, adults with financial literacy skills have 82% more wealth than those who don't. From swimming lessons to piano classes, Us parents invest in so many things to enrich our kids lives. But are we investing in their future financial success? With Greenlight, you can teach your kids financial literacy skills like earning, saving and investing. And this investment costs less than that. After school treat start prioritizing their financial education and future today with a risk free [e-mail] Spotify greenlight.com Spotify.

[Jon Stewart]

Welcome back to the show. My guest tonight, legendary Oscar winning filmmaker. His latest is called Highest to lowest. Please welcome Spike Lee. That's scene. Yes. Asap Rock. He's a, he's a young musician. He's going toe to toe with Denzel Washington.

[Spike Lee]

Well, that, that was, that scene was not scripted.

[Jon Stewart]

He came in with Nas. He who?

[Spike Lee]

No, that was Denzel that came with.

[Jon Stewart]

That's what I'm saying.

[Spike Lee]

Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

And then Rocky, he's right there. He's just writing it right there.

[Spike Lee]

Wow. Asap. Didn't know. I didn't know Denzel. But it Made this seem better. That's the genius of Denzel Washington.

[Jon Stewart]

It's amazing. But he doesn't. The young man. The young man was not intimidated to do that.

[Spike Lee]

And that's a big thumbs up to Ace of Rock, because, you know, Denzel's one of the greats. And it's.

[Jon Stewart]

You know, I know even when I'm not acting, just saying hello to him, and I always feel like.

[Spike Lee]

But Ace, he stood right there, and they were going toe to toe. So the genius of Denzel lifted that whole scene, which lifted the movie, because this is at the end of the film, too. Like, it's a High Noon showdown.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh, it's. Yeah. I mean, the scene in the movie, when you see it, like, it really is the climax between the glass, and they're just two alphas just going at it.

[Spike Lee]

The young buck and the, you know, the old gun.

[Jon Stewart]

It's. Yeah, it's. It's an amazing scene.

[Spike Lee]

It's a western right there.

[Jon Stewart]

And the music that he is singing when Denzel first comes in, is that. Is he just doing that, too? The. The. He's singing. He's. He's recording something.

[Spike Lee]

Oh, yeah, that's the song he had two songs in.

[Jon Stewart]

In the film he's on. He was unbelievable. I think he.

[Spike Lee]

Who's he married to? Rihanna.

[Jon Stewart]

Rihanna.

[Spike Lee]

Give it up.

[Jon Stewart]

Come on. But you think I don't watch the Tik Toks? I watch the Tik Toks. Do you have to call him asap?

[Spike Lee]

I call him that.

[Jon Stewart]

You call him asap. That's what he answered to. Okay.

[Spike Lee]

Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

And Denzel just Denzel. How many films have you made with Denzel?

[Spike Lee]

This is the fifth one. Bo Betta Blues.

[Jon Stewart]

No.

[Spike Lee]

Yeah. Bottom Blues, Malcolm X. He Got Game, Inside man, and Now. But Denzel did not know that inside man was 19 years ago. He didn't realize that inside man was 19 years ago.

[Jon Stewart]

That's crazy.

[Spike Lee]

We didn't know it until the journalist told us that while we were doing press.

[Jon Stewart]

And you guys had. You know, what's amazing also about your body work is there's so many things layered into this movie that are nods to all these other whole lot of stuff. A whole lot of stuff. And it makes it so enjoyable.

[Spike Lee]

For All State Mayhem, you know, Allstate Mayhem.

[Jon Stewart]

He's throwing in All State Mayhem. He's got Jalen Brunson's signed jersey up on the wall. He's got Nick Turturro in a subway car chanting about the Yankees.

[Spike Lee]

No, he says Boston sucks.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh, he did. Boston sucks as well. But he's got like New York Yankee carved into his. Eddie Palmero doing the King of Salsa.

[Spike Lee]

He died. He passed away three days before the premiere here in Brooklyn. Oh, yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

I mean, that's a beautiful scene too. And it's so your love of New York in all of its.

[Spike Lee]

Comes through, doesn't it?

[Jon Stewart]

In all of its chaos and that's. I love that part of it.

[Spike Lee]

Thank you.

[Jon Stewart]

But also the moral themes, you know, I know like school days, where it ends with like some wake up. You know what I mean? And then, you know what?

[Spike Lee]

No, what? Do right thing began with Sam Jackson. Samuel Jackson.

[Jon Stewart]

Samuel Jackson doing Wake up. Wake up. Yes. The first.

[Spike Lee]

Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

Why am I saying it back to you?

[Spike Lee]

You know, I was checking to see if you knew.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Wake up. Wake up. And this movie feels like that come to life.

[Spike Lee]

Well, it was a novel written by Ed McBain. It's called King's Ransom. And then the great Akira Kurosawa did it. High and low, 1963, post war Japan, right? And out of the blue, Denzel called me. I didn't even know what the number was, right? He said, spike, I got this script. I'm not gonna tell you anything. I'm gonna send it to you. Before he hung up the phone, I knew I was doing it, but I didn't even know what it was. But I said, I'm doing it.

[Jon Stewart]

Let me ask you a question. You just answer the phone when you don't know the number. Like, I could just. I could just call you up and you'd be like, hello?

[Spike Lee]

I just felt that this phone call really going to be a good one. Deep, deep, deep down inside of me. Me and Denzel got that.

[Jon Stewart]

You do have that. Does that. So in that world, you got an actor who has that kind of charisma and status and weight.

[Spike Lee]

He's one of the goats.

[Jon Stewart]

Does he ever say to you, I think we're done here, like with a scene? Or do you. How do you guys do that dance?

[Spike Lee]

Well, he might say, spike, how much more we got? But, you know, he knows when we got it.

[Jon Stewart]

He feels it.

[Spike Lee]

Yeah. I said, okay, can we just fight? Go on. I said, let's go on. Right, Next setup. Next setup.

[Jon Stewart]

And the music is so important to this film. There's so much that's from all my films.

[Spike Lee]

I'm the son of a great, great musician. Bill Lee.

[Jon Stewart]

Yes.

[Spike Lee]

He did my scores for She's Gonna have It. School Days. Do the Right Thing. No, Better Blues. Play with. He played in Simon Garfunkel's first album. Gordon Leifer's album. Well, Bob Dylan is All over now. Baby Blue. That's him on base.

[Jon Stewart]

Wow. That's insane.

[Spike Lee]

And then.

[Jon Stewart]

And that history.

[Spike Lee]

But here goes the thing, though. Here goes the thing, though.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah.

[Spike Lee]

When Bob Dylan went guitar, I mean, went electric.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah.

[Spike Lee]

My mother had to work. He was not.

[Jon Stewart]

He wasn't going with him. He wasn't plugging in. Really.

[Spike Lee]

She had to take a job. She's a teacher. Taught at St. Anne's in Brooklyn. Huh. Brooklyn Heights. My father was not.

[Jon Stewart]

He wouldn't do it.

[Spike Lee]

St. Anne's he was not gonna play electric. And I'm the oldest of five, so there's five of us. Anybody saw Crooklyn? That was autobiographical.

[Jon Stewart]

How many times did you, when you were, like, 11 years old, go just plug in?

[Spike Lee]

You know what? Seeing how hard my mom, she was working then coming home.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah.

[Spike Lee]

Cooking, cleaning. Five crazy kids. Five crazy Brooklyn kids.

[Jon Stewart]

So he stayed acoustic, but he wouldn't do chores.

[Spike Lee]

He would cook. He would cook once. But here's the thing, though.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah.

[Spike Lee]

As I got older, I saw. You know, before, I was like. I had a certain feeling. But as I got older, understood, you know, he had scruples and morals, and he was not gonna play electoral base.

[Jon Stewart]

Isn't it interesting to think about where you come from? You have this. For those of you who don't know Spigley, your work ethic is second to none. When he's not writing films. Jordan got me documentaries. I'm telling you, you just do it. Like, that's. But you also lace everything that you do with a moral. There's a moral center to everything. And it feels like. Is that both your parents talking through you?

[Spike Lee]

Yes. And also, that's why I love this film.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah.

[Spike Lee]

Because from the novel La Curacao before us. But Denzel's character is in a dilemma.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah.

[Spike Lee]

A dilemma. And he's so great that the audience is in his shoes. Like, if you have. I'm gonna give it away.

[Jon Stewart]

Everybody dies.

[Spike Lee]

There's a kidnapping, and he thinks that it's his son.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah.

[Spike Lee]

But was the wrong kid. So he's putting the limit. Am I gonna pay a ransom of $17.5 million in Swiss francs for a kid that's not mine?

[Jon Stewart]

Mm.

[Spike Lee]

And also Jeffrey White.

[Jon Stewart]

And it's just. It's not just a random kid. It's really a very loyal employee.

[Spike Lee]

They grew up together.

[Jon Stewart]

Friend. They grew up together in Harlem.

[Spike Lee]

They grew up together.

[Jon Stewart]

That guy's had a rougher life. It's.

[Spike Lee]

He went upstate for a little while and now he's back.

[Jon Stewart]

That's right.

[Spike Lee]

But I'm telling you, if you see the film, hope you do this on Apple, you're gonna be in it. And you're gonna be asking yourself, who?

[Jon Stewart]

Who?

[Spike Lee]

Let's do a survey. Now raise your hand if you. If you had it. If you had it like that.

[Jon Stewart]

17.5 million for kid is not yours.

[Spike Lee]

Who's making that? You're lying. You're lying. It's not your kids.

[Jon Stewart]

And you're to do that. These are good. These are upstanding people. These are good people. I like how a lot of people are just like, yeah, that now I only have one real. There's only one. You know, in watching it. And by the way, the walls of the movie, if you want to live. Language. The walls of the movie are just etched with beautiful paintings and artwork and memorabilia. That is so much you. It really is beautiful.

[Spike Lee]

Thank you.

[Jon Stewart]

But.

[Spike Lee]

But I was waiting for that.

[Jon Stewart]

If I met the kids in the film, play basketball. They show up to practice. New York City, Brooklyn.

[Spike Lee]

Liu.

[Jon Stewart]

Liu, the coach of the team, with all the great players that have come through those burrows, is a Los Angeles Laker named Rick Fox. How could you, sir?

[Spike Lee]

Rick Fox said he got game.

[Jon Stewart]

Okay. I'll give you that.

[Spike Lee]

He's a friend.

[Jon Stewart]

You heard. Alan Houston, John Starks, Latrell Sprewell.

[Spike Lee]

Bernard, can I tell you something real quick?

[Jon Stewart]

Yes.

[Spike Lee]

There's a. I grew up in Fort Greene, Brooklyn. There's a hospital called Cumberland Hospital.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah.

[Spike Lee]

Bernard King was born there. Albert King, Mike Tyson and Michael Jordan all in that.

[Jon Stewart]

Michael Jordan.

[Spike Lee]

Yes. Really? Yes. Cumberland Hospital, Fort Greene, Brooklyn.

[Jon Stewart]

Huh?

[Spike Lee]

Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

You know, Brooklyn.

[Spike Lee]

The house.

[Jon Stewart]

I built his name up. So my grandparents. My father grew up in Brooklyn, Coney Island. And then he went to Abraham Lincoln. No, he went to.

[Spike Lee]

It's a high school. Abraham Lincoln.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah. Yeah. No, no, no. Jewish. So he went to Stuyvesant. Oh.

[Spike Lee]

So he was smart. For those who know you have to take a test, you gotta get Taylor Bronx Science.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah. Yeah. But back then, this is a 1930s, 1940. So my grandfather drove a cab. They moved to. Because back then, before Uber and Lyft and all that, your medallion was your retirement. Right. So he had.

[Spike Lee]

Those are hard to get to back then.

[Jon Stewart]

Right? Hard to get. So he worked his ass off, got a medallion, and then was able to move everybody out of Coney island over to Bensonhurst. 8th Street Avenue.

[Spike Lee]

Oh.

[Jon Stewart]

And so they lived above this little candy store. But.

[Spike Lee]

But it was a pizzeria. Bensonhurst.

[Jon Stewart]

It was. Yeah. No, it was Benson Hurst back then was not the Bensonhurst of Do the right Thing. It was slightly, slightly different.

[Spike Lee]

Man. Jungle Fever's best not do the right thing. Do the right thing is bed style.

[Jon Stewart]

Bed style. Bed Stuy. You gotta really start watching your film. I love your stuff stuff so much, man. I love you so much.

[Spike Lee]

I want you to know me and him are tight.

[Jon Stewart]

We're tight. We go back.

[Spike Lee]

We go back.

[Jon Stewart]

We go back.

[Spike Lee]

Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

Are we going to have ourselves a year?

[Spike Lee]

The Knicks are going to win championship this year.

[Jon Stewart]

I hope. If they do, I'm telling you, man, we're going to be in an embarrassing. Me and you hugging, tears running down our faces and both of our, our children that we bring to the games. Just looking at us like this is just sad. You're going crazy.

[Spike Lee]

I just have a feeling. Thank you.

[Jon Stewart]

Highest to lowest theaters and you're the man. Hey, it's Ryan Reynolds here for Mint Mobile. Now, I was looking for fun ways to tell you that Mint's offer of unlimited Premium Wireless for $15 a month is back. So I thought it would be fun if we made $15 bills, but it turns out that's very illegal. So there goes my big idea for the commercial. Give it a [e-mail] Switch upfront payment.

[Kristen Bell]

Of $45 for a three month plan equivalent to $15 per month required new customer offer for first three months only. Speed slow after 35 gigabytes of networks busy. Taxes and fees extra.

[Spike Lee]

See mintmobile.com your sausage McMuffin with egg didn't change your receipt did the sausage McMuffin with egg extra value meal includes a hash brown and a small $5 only at McDonald's for a limited time.

[Jon Stewart]

Prices and participation may vary. Hey, let's go for tonight. But before we go, let's check in with your host for the rest of the week, Mr. Michael Costa. Michael, what do you. What do you got on deck this week, Michael? Finally, we got some great news, John. Florida is preparing to overturn all of their vaccine mandates.

[Spike Lee]

Covid, polio, tb, all gone.

[Jon Stewart]

The state will be doing what scientists call raw, dogging the immune system. Why are you so positive about that? That sounds like terrible news. Well, it's terrible for everyone who lives in Florida, that's true. But as a dad looking for a.

[Spike Lee]

Reason not to take the kids to.

[Jon Stewart]

Disney World, it's great telling them, no.

[Spike Lee]

Sweetie, we can't afford. Well, that can be traumatizing.

[Jon Stewart]

But now I can let him down.

[Spike Lee]

Easy and just tell him that Donald.

[Jon Stewart]

Duck got measles and died. Michael Kosta, everybody. Here it is your moment of day. 70,000 monks just broke their vows of silence to nominate Trump for The Nobel.

[Spike Lee]

Today.

[Jon Stewart]

70,000 Cambodian Buddhist monks are wholeheartedly supportive to nominate you for the Nobel Peace prize.

[Spike Lee]

Please accept Mr. President. Explore more shows from the Daily Show Podcast universe by searching the Daily Show Wherever you get your podcasts, watch the Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount. This has been a Comedy Central podcast.

[Kristen Bell]

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