Jon on Alex Pretti's Killing, DHS vs. Video Evidence & MAGA's Gun Rights Surrender | Jason Rezaian

Summary

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The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode: Jon on Alex Pretti's Killing, DHS vs. Video Evidence & MAGA's Gun Rights Surrender | Jason Rezaian
Date: January 27, 2026
Host: Jon Stewart
Guest: Jason Rezaian

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Episode Overview

This episode dives into the government’s shifting narrative surrounding the killing of protester Alex Pretti by federal law enforcement in Minnesota, highlighting the clash between official statements and video evidence. Jon Stewart and The Daily Show team lampoon the government's credibility, MAGA’s sudden about-face on gun rights, and the administration's attempts to redefine victimhood. The show concludes with an in-depth interview with Jason Rezaian, Washington Post journalist and former Iranian political prisoner, discussing the Iranian protest movement and the importance of press freedom.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. The Killing of Alex Pretti & Government Spin

• The episode’s focus is the controversial killing of Alex Pretti by law enforcement in Minneapolis, and the Department of Homeland Security’s (DHS) conflicting accounts on the event.
• Stewart and correspondents dissect government statements, highlighting their contradictions with widespread video evidence.
• The segment makes pointed use of satire to expose the absurdity of official narratives and government media spin.

Notable Quotes & Moments:

• “Well, it looks like we’ve got a real case of he said video totally disproves what he said.” — John (05:45)

• “I’m hearing there may be some grainy Zapruder-like footage from, I don’t know, every angle imaginable that contradicts the government’s versions of events.” — Jon Stewart (05:05)

Timestamps:

• 03:28–05:57: The show parodies government officials’ statements, including claims that Pretti was an armed domestic terrorist, before introducing viral footage that undermines these claims.

2. DHS Credibility in Question

• Jordan Klepper joins from Minneapolis, mocking the DHS’s shifting accounts and satirizing their attempts to justify the killing, even lampooning the fantasy-like elements in their narratives.
• The team pokes fun at law enforcement’s lack of transparency and the tendency to shut down questions at press conferences.

Notable Quotes & Moments:

• “I think the lowest bar that a government ever has to clear in terms of earned credibility to its population is obvious reality.” — John (08:47)
• “You just gotta clear obvious reality. I believe it’s what the political philosopher Seneca referred to as the don’t piss on my leg and tell me it’s raining doctrine.” — John (08:57)
• “Oh, good luck finding the real killer, O.J.” — Jon Stewart, on DHS investigating itself (10:40)

Timestamps:

• 06:11–08:47: Klepper delivers a grotesque, hyperbolic retelling of DHS's various explanations.
• 09:42–10:14: Press conference parody; two questions in, officials refuse to answer more.

3. Gaslighting and Shifting the Narrative

• The hosts call out the administration for gaslighting the public, especially on law enforcement’s actions and motives.
• When evidence disproves the official story, officials redefine the true “victims” as the ICE agents themselves.

Notable Quotes:

• “That actually might be the definition of gaslighting.” — Jon Stewart (12:20)
• “You’re telling me trained and armed ICE agents can’t handle what the average geek squad member at Best Buy has to?” — Jon Stewart (13:16)

Timestamps:

• 11:05–13:16: Satirical exploration of the government’s redefinition of “victim” to ICE agents.

4. MAGA and the Sudden “Gun Rights Surrender”

• Stewart and the team highlight the irony of right-wing figures suddenly blaming Pretti’s legal gun ownership as justification for the killing, pointing out this stands in stark contrast with MAGA’s usual Second Amendment absolutism.
• The hypocrisy is underscored by referencing recent conservative icons celebrated for open carrying at protests.

Notable Quotes:

• “Are you saying…that the problem was the guy had a gun? Are you saying that the guns are the problem?” — Jon Stewart (17:14)
• “Guns are your whole personality… There’s no human activity that can’t be made better without the pulsing heat of your Armalite best friends.” — John (20:58)

Timestamps:

• 16:42–21:25: Satirical takedown of MAGA, their sudden embrace of restrictions on armed protest, and NRA-propagated gun culture.

5. The Trump Factor: Constitutional Abandonment

• Stewart skewers MAGA’s readiness to abandon their supposed constitutional principles for Trump, referencing Trump's apathetic, trivial responses to national tragedies.

Notable Quotes:

• “A political party has jettisoned their entire knowledge of the founding documents. And Trump’s out there like, hey, everybody, we’re all going to get laid.” — Jon Stewart (22:54)

Timestamps:

• 21:58–23:15: Contrast of gun rhetoric, constitutional backsliding, and Trump’s distraction with personal grievances.

6. The Real Threat: Witnessing & Video Evidence

• The group concludes that the biggest threat to an authoritarian regime is not violence, but witnesses with cameras.
• Stewart and John underscore the brazenness of official lies in the face of undeniable public evidence.

Notable Quotes:

• “Because there is nothing more dangerous to a regime predicated on lies than witnesses who capture the truth.” — John (24:31)

Timestamps:

• 24:00–24:49: Final reflection on the importance of public scrutiny and documentation.

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Interview: Jason Rezaian on Iran & Press Freedom

Overview:
Jon welcomes Jason Rezaian, Washington Post journalist and former Iranian political prisoner, who shares his personal experiences and perspectives on Iran’s protest movement, regime repression, and the importance of press freedom.

Key Points

• Rezaian’s imprisonment: Held 544 days in Iran’s Evin Prison — endured solitary confinement, was cut off from the outside world, relied on humor and family to endure.

  • “Seven weeks of solitary confinement, lights on 24 hours a day, endless interrogations by morons. You know, the whole bit.” — Jason Rezaian (28:55)

• Iranian Protest Movements:

  • Protests have become more frequent and widespread since 2009, transcending ethnic and class lines. The internet blackouts are now more effective and total, further isolating protesters.
  • “This is just mass discontent at a level that we've never seen before. … Our standard of living is decreasing by the day, and you have no answers and no credible path to a better future for us.” — Rezaian (32:29, 33:10)

• Regime’s Hold on Power:

  • The regime retains loyalty among its security forces not through ideology alone, but material support — when that fails, defections may increase, signaling potential regime collapse.

• Internet Blackout:

  • Unlike previous uprisings, this time the blackout was nearly total. Rezaian calls for robust international support to keep Iranians online.
  • “Every time each one of these rounds of protests when they slaughter innocent people, America says… we’re going to keep you online, we’re going to help you organize. And we haven’t done it yet.” — Jason Rezaian (37:04)

• US Policy and Iranian Exile Community:

  • Rezaian argues the US has failed to engage with Iranian dissidents and intellectuals in exile, many of whom have valuable insights for policymaking but are largely ignored.

• On Press Freedom in the US:

  • Rezaian reflects on the US government’s raid on a Washington Post reporter’s home, warning that continued encroachments on press freedom could erode American democracy.
  • “We’re at the front line of this every single day. We’re going to be continuing to do that… keep breaking stories, keep holding power to account better than anybody else.” — Jason Rezaian (43:15)

Timestamps:

• 27:59–31:01: Rezaian details his prison experience and staying connected with family.
• 31:10–33:10: Discusses the evolution and increasing scope of Iranian protests.
• 36:12–37:47: The deadly crackdown, internet blackout, and calls for international action.
• 40:23–41:01: Describes the lack of support and engagement for exiled Iranian opposition in US policy.
• 42:08–44:02: On the threats to US press freedom and the Washington Post’s resolve.

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Memorable/Recurring Satirical Bits

• Gaslighting:

  • Stewart and co-hosts playfully “gaslight” each other and the audience to mock the administration's denials.

• Gestapo/Gestapo References:

  • The pronunciation and fashion sense of officials are lampooned as “full Gestapo.”
  • “If you love the Gestapo coat, you may want to change the Gestapo hair, because together, it’s really stappo.” — John (15:00)

• Snowstorm/Ice Puns:

  • Double entendre with ICE (the agency) and ice (the weather) amidst a blizzard in Minneapolis.

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Closing Remarks

Jon Stewart wraps up on a note of dark humor, expressing frustration with low expectations for government and lambasting the administration for combining “bad policy…with extreme dickishness.” The show ends with a call to support real journalism and a salute to Jason Rezaian’s courage and perseverance.

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Episode Timeline: Quick Reference

• 03:28–08:47 – Satire of government narrative vs. video evidence in Alex Pretti’s killing
• 10:14 – DHS shuts down press conference after two questions
• 12:05–14:01 – Administration’s attempt to redefine “domestic terrorism” and victims
• 16:42–21:25 – Irony of MAGA/pro-gun right giving up on gun rights
• 22:21–24:49 – Reflections on government lies and the power of video evidence
• 27:59–44:02 – In-depth interview with Jason Rezaian on Iran, protest movements, and press freedom

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Transcript

[Announcer]

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[Jon Stewart]

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, Jon Stewart.

[Jason Rezaian]

Boom.

[Jon Stewart]

Hey, everybody. Welcome. Welcome to the Daily Show. Oh, man, I got a new one for you. My name is Jon Stewart. Great show for you tonight. My guest tonight, Jason Rezaian, will be talking about Iran. Fabulous story.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Iran right now an authoritarian state currently being rocked by protests that threatened to tear the whole nation apart. I mean, can you imagine? But yes. Like most of the country, I spent the weekend consumed by the awful news out of Minnesota. And I will say, hearing about this has somehow done the impossible, which is it has dampened my enthusiasm for this week's premiere of the Melania documentary.

[Announcer]

Everyone wants to know.

[Jon Stewart]

So here it is. Move over Avatar sequels. Here's another movie that wasn't necessary.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

No, I was actually really looking forward to it. Go behind the scenes, find out what.

[Jon Stewart]

Went into deciding on such an unusual hope.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Was it courage or was it madness? Either way, 10 out of 10, no notes. Also love the tagline to the movie Melania. The inspiring true story of how an online shopping billionaire paid millions to curry favor with the president. Am I in trouble? I can't wait for the sequel. Oh, f it, just take the money. It's in the hat.

[Jon Stewart]

But back to the main story. For the second time in two weeks.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Another American has been tragically killed on the streets of Minneapolis.

[Jon Stewart]

Now, obviously all the facts are not.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

In yet, but here is, as best.

[Jon Stewart]

We can tell, the account of what.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Happened on this terrible day.

[Todd Blanche]

This individual who came with weapons and ammunition to stop a law enforcement operation of federal law enforcement officers.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh.

[Greg Bevino]

The agents attempted to disarm the Individual, but he violently resisted.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Oh, dear God. They must have been petrified.

[Todd Blanche]

This individual attacked those officers, wishing to inflict harm on these officers. Coming brandishing like that from fearing for.

[Greg Bevino]

His life and the lives and safety of fellow officers. A Border Patrol agent fired defensive shots.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Of course the defensive. I mean, he had to stand his ground.

[Greg Bevino]

This looks like a situation where an individual wanted to do maximum damage and massacre.

[Todd Blanche]

Law enforcement committed an act of domestic terrorism. That's the facts.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Whoa.

[Jon Stewart]

Committed an act of domestic terrorism.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

That's the second worst kind of terrorism.

[Jon Stewart]

But, hey, those are the facts. That's the facts. There's really no reason to doubt them. No evidence exists to contradict. Hold on.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

I'm getting a. Oh, really?

[Jon Stewart]

I'm hearing there may be some grainy zapruder like footage from, I don't know, every angle imaginable that contradicts the government's versions of events.

[Greg Bevino]

Videos of the shooting of Alex Preddy have contradicted the government's account of what happened.

[Jon Stewart]

All he has in his hand is.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

A cell phone, not a gun. He's trying to help a woman who's just been pushed to the ground and pepper sprayed. He's trying to go help her with his hands up. They engage him and they're dragging him back.

[Todd Blanche]

The videos also appear to show Preddy's legal registered firearm being removed from his person by an officer just seconds before those shots were fired.

[Jon Stewart]

Wow.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Well, it looks like we've got a real case of he said video totally disproves what he said. You know, this is also confusing. Perhaps to help get some more clarity on what's going on, we go live.

[Jon Stewart]

To Minneapolis, where our own Jordan Klepper has been standing outside in the cave. Jordan, thank you so much for joining us. What's the latest that you're hearing, John?

[Jordan Klepper]

DHS has finally completed their analysis and now has a definitive account of what happened. Let me. Let me take you through it step by step because it paints a more complete picture. This all took place in an area where illicit activity by illegal immigrants was occurring and terrible stuff. Peddling drugs, selling knockoff labubus, showing football games without the express written consent of the NFL. You know, heinous shit. Now, shortly after protesters arrived at the scene to create a barricade. That's when, as. As you can see here, the ICE agents arrived.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

I see. I'm sorry, you're telling me that according to dhs, those are the.

[Jordan Klepper]

The ICE agents? Yes. And contrary to all the mainstream media spin, all these ICE agents want to do is keep America safe and occasionally lick their own puckered buttholes. But before they could do their job, a gang of Soros funded protesters arrived on the scene. As you can see, these gu. These guys were packing heat, posing an imminent threat with their girthy leftist dongs.

[Jon Stewart]

This is the DHS account. I mean, first of all, it's Minnesota.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

It's winter.

[Jon Stewart]

You would think they'd be wearing clothes.

[Jordan Klepper]

No, don't be naive, John. If you got it, you flaunt it. This is the moment when the armed suspect finally appeared and shit got real. Pow. Pow.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Pew, pew.

[Jordan Klepper]

Meow, meow. Hiss, hiss. John, as you can see, the suspect left them no choice.

[Jon Stewart]

Look, I don't even know where to begin. That doesn't. This scene doesn't match any of the video that we've seen. And that's clearly Doc Ock from Spider Man. That's Doc Ock, John.

[Jordan Klepper]

John, I can see this isn't resonating with you. And luckily DHS is not married to this version. Here's another one. They're pitching. What? What if I told you the ice agents just do this on the side and they're actually all K pop stars?

[Jon Stewart]

Well, that's just the plot of K pop Demon Hunters. That's.

[Jordan Klepper]

You didn't let me finish. And they're all gay hockey players.

[Jon Stewart]

The ice agents, everybody. John, that last one's intriguing. Jordan Klepper, everybody. Thank you, Jordan.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

I think the lowest bar that a government ever has to clear in terms of earned credibility to its population is obvious reality.

[Jon Stewart]

You just gotta clear.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Obvious reality. I believe it's what the political philosopher Seneca referred to as the don't piss on my leg and tell me it's raining doctrine. But watch Border Patrol commander. In short, Greg Bevino.

[Jon Stewart]

Who by the.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Way, appears to be just a new.

[Jon Stewart]

Character the Trump Cinematic Universe has introduced. Where the did this guy even come from? It's his first season on the show. Anyway, this guy Bovino very clearly stated that the guy they killed was a.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Terrorist attempting a massacre. I'm sure that version of events will.

[Jon Stewart]

Be able to withstand even one follow.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Up question at the presser.

[Greg Bevino]

Questions?

[Todd Blanche]

First question, when did agents Gordon that.

[Jon Stewart]

He had a gun?

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Did he ever brandish that weapon?

[Progressive Insurance Sponsor]

Allie.

[Greg Bevino]

This. This situation again is evolving. This. This situation is under investigation.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Oh, now it's an investigation?

[Jon Stewart]

Oh, the investigation is evolving.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

I thought evolution was a generational thing.

[Jon Stewart]

Not three seconds after you confused you accused a guy of terrorism.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

And by the way, here's what they.

[Jon Stewart]

Said at the presser after just the second question.

[Announcer]

All Right.

[Jason Rezaian]

No more questions. Sorry, no more questions.

[Announcer]

Sir.

[Jon Stewart]

I'm ready to take your questions to no more questions and two questions.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

And it's too bad because I happen to have a lot of questions, like.

[Jon Stewart]

Who'S gonna investigate this horrific killing by the Department of Homeland Security that the Department of Homeland Security has clearly misrepresented.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

The Department of Homeland Security says they'll investigate the shooting.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh, good luck finding the real killer, O.J.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

We'Re rooting for you. And pardon me for not trusting that the administration is going to do a fair and free investigation when they are.

[Jon Stewart]

Already going out on TV moving the.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Goalposts on why the shooting was justified, whether he was brandishing the weapon or not. He was not protesting peacefully.

[Jon Stewart]

He was screaming in the face of ice. He had a phone up right to the right into ice's face. I mean, we all see the same thing. I mean, you shouldn't try to gaslight the administration about what happened. Somebody's on therapy talk. We're gaslighting you. You gaslighting? No, I'm gaslighting you. Gaslighting me? Are you gaslighting me? A little bit.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Little bit.

[Jon Stewart]

We're gaslighting you. What the f. By the way, we're gaslighting you. Speaking of gaslighting, here is Todd Blanche.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

A day after accusing all of us of gaslighting the administration about what happened.

[Jon Stewart]

I don't think anybody thinks that they were comparing what happened on Saturday to the legal definition of domestic terrorism. Oh, you don't think anybody's doing that? Well, they were certainly insinuating it. I mean, it might be hard to find someone explicitly using those exact words.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

But we found it.

[Todd Blanche]

Violence against a government because of ideological reasons and for reasons to resist and perpetuate violence, that is the definition of domestic terrorism.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

I mean, we're gasl.

[Jon Stewart]

I think that actually might be the definition of gaslighting.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Look, the administration realized pretty quickly that the public is not buying their description.

[Jon Stewart]

So they had to make a choice.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Come clean and commit yourself to finding the truth, no matter where it may lead. Or just redefine who the victims of this tragedy really were.

[Greg Bevino]

The victim are the Border Patrol agents.

[Reporter/Guest]

I think when it comes to the ICE agents, I think you see the incredible frustration that they feel. You know, someone screaming in your face f you. You suck. Get out of. That's tough to take for an eight hour day.

[Jon Stewart]

Now look what you've done. People screaming you eight hours a day.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Is basically every customer service job in this country.

[Jon Stewart]

That's all it is. And the National Pastime of Staten Island. You're telling me trained and armed ICE agents can't handle what the average geek squad member at Best Buy has to? I told you, I didn't spill any coffee on it. Just fix it.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

I was upset. I'm sorry.

[Jon Stewart]

Greg Bevino, You've got more to say.

[Greg Bevino]

Politicians, community leaders, and some journalists engage in that heated rhetoric, calling law enforcement names like Gestapo.

[Jon Stewart]

I'm sorry. Oh, I'm sorry. Could you. Could you pronounce that again? You went full stopo. Gestapo. Stoppo. Gestapo. I thought you guys hate when people do that. The way a Latino newscaster might throw.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Out a Maduro, a Nicolas Maduro.

[Jon Stewart]

But you're out there full Gestapo like you're an extra in jojo Rabbit. Gestapo. I'm Gestapo.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

In America, we pronounce it Gestapo. And I get that people's language can be hyperbolic, certainly. But one thing that may not be helping your case, Sergeant Bevino or whatever.

[Jon Stewart]

Can we get a quick fit check on this mother? You know, first of all, it is.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Slightly terrifying to Americans that you seem to be dressing for the job you want.

[Jon Stewart]

So if I can say if you love the Gestapo coat, you may want.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

To change the Gestapo hair, because together, it's really stappo.

[Jon Stewart]

So if you love the coat, keep the coat. But instead of the fashy, you might.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Want to give yourself the Garfunkel.

[Jon Stewart]

Changes everything. Or if you're really into the reverse Larry David, keep the hair, but maybe a slightly less threatening uniform. That nice. Very nice. Very nice.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Nobody is buying your shit right now.

[Jon Stewart]

We can't even.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

You know what? We can't even get through a snowstorm without being reminded of how badly this is going for you.

[Todd Blanche]

The biggest threat, though, continues to be and always really generally, is ice. Ice still causing dangerous conditions.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Ice creating some precious conditions on the.

[Greg Bevino]

Roads and on the sidewalk.

[Announcer]

There hasn't been an ICE warning this.

[Todd Blanche]

Severe in 12 years.

[Jordan Klepper]

When it comes to ice, all the bets are off.

[Todd Blanche]

You need to just still be careful because ice can still be out there.

[Jon Stewart]

Just don't mention the storm might be.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

The result of El Nino or it.

[Jon Stewart]

Might get dragged out of the car.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

In front of the kids.

[Jon Stewart]

Too soon. All right, fair enough. But as all of the administration's descriptions.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Of the events and reasoning behind the events fell apart, the right did seem to coalesce on one aspect of the incident.

[Todd Blanche]

When you are bearing arms and you are confronted by law enforcement, you are raising the risk of force being used against you.

[Greg Bevino]

You cannot bring a firearm loaded with multiple magazines to any Sort of protest that you want.

[Todd Blanche]

I don't know of any peaceful protester that shows up with a gun and ammunition rather than a sign.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Don't let the left kid you with this. That this is just a normal protest. Peaceful protesters don't have nine millimeter weapons with two extra magazines.

[Jon Stewart]

Are you kidding me right now? Are you kidding. Are you saying. Is that what you're saying on the right is that what. Is that what the right. Are you saying that the problem was the guy had a gun? Are you saying that the guns are the problem? Are you saying. If I may. Are you saying. Is everyone on the right coming together to say carrying a legal firearm was the problem? Am I hearing things?

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Is that.

[Jon Stewart]

Is that really what you're saying? Really? Is that what you're saying?

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

I guess that's what they're saying. Yeah. I want to hear it again. I want to hear you say it again, but this time not from some, you know, Congressman. I want to hear it from a cabinet level secretary.

[Jon Stewart]

And it doesn't have to be a.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Cabinet level secretary who deals with security or anything along those lines. Just someone who wants to jump in and comment on it.

[Jon Stewart]

In fact.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

And I want this secretary to deliver this line like it's a mic drop, even though. Oh, is it not?

[Reporter/Guest]

He brought a gun.

[Jon Stewart]

Have you ever gone to a protest, Jonathan? I mean, we do have a second.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Amendment in this country that.

[Jon Stewart]

Jonathan, have you ever gone to a protest? I mean, have you gone to a protest? I mean, I've.

[Greg Bevino]

I've.

[Reporter/Guest]

No, actually, as a reporter covering it.

[Jon Stewart]

Okay, I've been to a protest. Guess what? I didn't bring a gun. I brought a billboard. I didn't bring a. Huh?

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

I brought a.

[Jon Stewart]

It wasn't a. It was a. I brought a billboard. I brought three billboards. The protest was outside of Ebbing, Missouri. It was three billboards. I brought them all. By the way, people don't bring billboards to protest. They call them signs. I brought a billboard. I brought a billboard. I didn't bring a. Bang bang.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

I brought a. There is nothing that I love more than watching somebody delivered a practiced line that they think is devastating only to trip on their own dick. This is blowing my mind. The people that brought you, this guy and these guys and these guys as.

[Jon Stewart]

Heroes who are brandishing their weapons are telling you the big mistake was letting.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

A citizen legally carry a gun. I mean, listen, I wasn't shocked when you guys gave up the First Amendment and I wasn't shocked when you gave up the Fourth Amendment and the 10th Amendment and the 14th Amendment at Trump's behest.

[Jon Stewart]

But the second.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Isn't that kind of the load bearing wall of the don't tread on me flag?

[Jon Stewart]

You're snakes down to a newt.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Your deeply felt constitutional principles are suddenly the night in Monty Python.

[Jon Stewart]

Ah, come back. Come back. Ah. I'll bite you to death. I'm still a Constitution. Ira. Ira.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Rent it. It's very good.

[Jon Stewart]

Come on, guys.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Guns are your whole personality. Guns are your zoom backgrounds, your decorative lapel pins. Guns are how you show displeasure at documents. Guns are your Christmas car. There's no human activity that can't be made better without the pulsing heat of your Armalite best friends.

[Greg Bevino]

Of course, in Texas, we cook bacon.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

A little differently than most folks.

[Progressive Insurance Sponsor]

Mmm.

[Jordan Klepper]

Machine gun bacon.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

I'm not really one to talk, but it is clear how much heavy lifting his beard has to do.

[Jon Stewart]

Like that dude, that was like.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

That's some weapons right there.

[Jon Stewart]

The crazy thing is the right has.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Jettisoned the entire integrity and belief of their political worldview, the entire foundation of it.

[Jon Stewart]

For a guy who really doesn't give a. You gave it all up. This is your president on this harrowing weekend of bloodshed.

[Todd Blanche]

At 11:31am this morning, he wrote on Truth Social to complain about a lawsuit and say that stopping construction of his White House ballroom, in his view, quote, would be devastating to the White House, our country and all concerned. Just a few moments ago, he posted again, lamenting the NFL's new kickoff format.

[Jon Stewart]

This is who you threw it all away for kickoff. Blood runs through the streets of Minnesota. A political party has jettisoned their entire knowledge of the founding documents. And Trump's out there like, hey, everybody, we're all going to get laid. This is what makes this entire Minnesota adventure so maddening. Because ultimately, we as a country are not asking for too much from our government.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

We're just not.

[Jon Stewart]

We have the soft bigotry of low expectations. All. We want insane policies actually competently executed without you all being huge dicks. That's all we. Oh, no, that's not. That's not what we. We'll work on the acronym, but instead we get the bad policy executed with extreme dickishness.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

And to add insult to injury is the denial of the reality that we all witnessed. They're lying. We saw it. And that's how brazen they lie when.

[Jon Stewart]

They know we've seen the truth. That's how they lie. When they know we know.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Imagine how they lie when there's no evidence to contradict them. And maybe that, more than anything explains.

[Jon Stewart]

Why Alex Preddy really was a threat.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Because he was brandishing a weapon. A handheld aluminum 1080p 60fps weapon of mass illumination. Because there is nothing more dangerous to a regime predicated on lies than witnesses who capture the truth.

[Jon Stewart]

When we come back, Jason resigned at a journey don't go.

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[Jon Stewart]

Welcome back to the Daily Show. My guest tonight My guest tonight. He is a Journalist who was wrongfully.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Imprisoned in Iran for 544 days. He now serves as director of press freedom initiatives at the Washington Post. Please welcome to the program Jason Rezaian.

[Todd Blanche]

Hello.

[Jason Rezaian]

How are you?

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

I'm doing very well. Thank you so much for being here. It has been. You were held for 544 days, were you, in the notorious Evan prison system?

[Jason Rezaian]

Yeah, I was the unfortunate next guest after.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

After your friend Maziah Mazra Bahari, who was a journalist who. A friend of the show who was held there in solitary confinement. And I'm assuming you got that same VIP treatment.

[Jason Rezaian]

Oh, yeah.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Torture.

[Jason Rezaian]

Seven weeks of solitary confinement, lights on 24 hours a day, endless interrogations by morons. You know, the whole.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

The whole bit, though you did. There's a story, and I'm sure you've told this before, but they told you to call at one point your mother. Yes. And the idea being that this would break you and this would break her. What happened with that?

[Jason Rezaian]

So I said, look, I've been in your custody for the last three months. I don't know where my mom is. I don't have her phone number off the top of my head. But if you think you can figure out how to get her on the phone, I'd love to talk to Mom.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Right.

[Jason Rezaian]

I've been incommunicado for months. And I reached her and we spoke for. Gosh, it turned out to be about a half an hour. And it became, I think, one of the most surreal experiences of the whole ordeal. And when she and I talked about it afterwards, reminisced, I was like, mom, we kind of ran out of shit to say.

[Jon Stewart]

So you were literally. You're talking to your mom for prison.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

And you're doing this show anyway, so what's.

[Progressive Insurance Sponsor]

Yeah.

[Jason Rezaian]

And, you know, after some time, after many months, she was able to come visit me. And we would have these meetings like you do in the prison, as you see in a movie, you know, behind a thing. And, you know, I get glimpses of news from the outside world. And I had been told that Muhammad Ali had called for my release, which is a pretty big deal.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Pretty big deal.

[Jason Rezaian]

And so, you know, I wanted to verify this with mom. And I said, mom, is it true that Muhammad Ali called for my release? And she said, yeah, that was something. I said, you're telling me that the two most influential Muslims in America have called for my release? She said, muhammad Ali and Keith Ellison? And I said, no, Muhammad Ali and Obama. You gotta keep laughing in those situations.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

It's not easy Said the same thing, that the only thing that kept him through the darkness was that sense of humor and attachment to those that he loved. And that was 10 years ago. 11 years ago.

[Jason Rezaian]

10 years ago.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

I got out 10 years ago.

[Jason Rezaian]

Just last week. Yeah.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

And is it. You know, and I'm not. What Iran is going through right now is so heartbreaking. You came out of, you know, the Green Revolution was this moment in 2009 where it sort of. You really thought, maybe there is this reformist Mosavi that's going to run against Ahmadinejad. And then those protests end violently and all that. And they've gone through the Mas Amini and all these other protests. They end violently. Did this moment feel different to you when they started protesting in Iran before the horrible crackdown, Was it different than what we saw in.

[Jason Rezaian]

Yeah, I think what we've seen over the last 17 years, since 2009, was the rate of protests picking up. You know, for the last 47 years of the existence of the Islamic Republic, there's always been protests, but sporadic, fewer and farther between. And in the last five or six years, it's almost been annually and spread across the entire country. And this time around, people all over the country in vast numbers. And, you know, it's a kind of feat of nature. It's organic because all opposition leadership has been snuffed out, executed, imprisoned, exiled.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Sure.

[Jason Rezaian]

So, you know, this is just mass discontent at a level that we've never seen before. People calling for the end of the system. You'll remember in 2009, they wanted their vote. You know, even in this very restricted system, they still felt as though every four years, they had the opportunity to go out within a tightly managed situation and say, hey, look, these are eight terrible guys. This is the least terrible as far as we're concerned.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Right. This is who we want.

[Jason Rezaian]

And that was taken away from them that time around. Now it's, let's just break this whole thing down. This is not working. This is not tenable. Our life is getting worse and worse.

[Greg Bevino]

Our.

[Jason Rezaian]

Our standard of living is decreasing by the day, and you have no answers and no credible path to a better future for us. And so really begging the world to help them and not finding too much help.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Well, that, you know, the help. One thing also to discuss with Iran, there are parallels here. Obviously, here what's going on is a hint of that is a slight coloring of it, but it's not what they're experiencing over there, the horror that they're experiencing. But there is in Iran, the protests were always there is an artistic educated elite Tehran. It's based in the cities. It's considered, you know, if you want to break it down into red and blue.

[Jason Rezaian]

Right?

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

That's there's the blue states in Iran and there's the red states. The power of the mullahs is in the red states, certainly. So it would be like normally when they crack down, like in 2009, it's like sending a masked force of thugs into like a blue city, like, I don't know, Minneapolis. So it's like that. Yeah, this is much broader than that. This is not the elites rising up.

[Jason Rezaian]

This is everybody, you know. And Iran, we forget, is a multi ethnic country. Lots of different languages, Azeri, Turks in the north, Baluchis, Kurds, Afghans, everybody rising up. And actually, what's really unique about these protests and the Mahsa AMINI protests in 2022 is this sort of a call and response between these different ethnic and religious groups saying, we support you. You know, I think the truth is that Iranians, whether they're Muslim, Shia, Sunni, Christian, Jewish, Zoroastrian, Baha', I, they think of themselves as Iranian first. And that's something that, you know, goes back 2,500 years. And I think it's something worth, worth preserving.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Why do you think, you know, in 79, when they had the more fundamentalist revolution, the Shah's army turned. The revolution happened because the guys with guns went, you know what?

[Jason Rezaian]

We can't do this.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

These guys. We're going with you.

[Jason Rezaian]

Yeah.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Why do you think that hasn't happened? I saw there was a few pieces of footage I saw of some besieging, you know, sort of the guys that you see on the motorcycles with the gloves switching.

[Jon Stewart]

But that's it.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

It doesn't seem like it's gotten through to them.

[Jason Rezaian]

I think it's the ideological fervor mixed with the fact that they can still sort of buy the loyalty of those kinds of people. When they can't buy that loyalty anymore, you'll start to see them switch real fast. But that hasn't happened yet. And I think when it does happen, that's game over. Right. But I haven't seen visible signs of that yet.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

And what we're talking about, you know, Even with the 2009 protests where people were killed and the Masamedi protests where people were killed, you know, early numbers that came out of there were, I don't know, 2,500 people or something along those lines. And now they're saying, no, it's actually.

[Jason Rezaian]

Tens of Thousands, tens of thousands of.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

People were slaughtered by this regime.

[Jason Rezaian]

It's not something that people can go back to their daily lives. After I've been able to communicate with some relatives and friends back in Iran and you know, the bearing witness and sharing what's happened is what's so important to them right now. People are just saying, you can't imagine what we've just experienced. And then to be shrouded in an Internet blackout, you know, it is mindful.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

And this time they've gotten, you know, they've always had the Internet blackouts and there's always been VPNs and satellite dishes and ways to go about it.

[Jason Rezaian]

Total blackout for this.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Feels like they're more sophisticated with their methodology.

[Jason Rezaian]

Yes. And I think, you know, one of the things that we can incredibly do as the United States and you know, the entire global community of nations is support Iranians. And it's the thing that we've been promising them since 2009. In 2009 they did shut down the Internet. Internet wasn't as big a part of Iranians lives as it is right now. And every time each one of these rounds of protests when they slaughter innocent people, America says doesn't matter if it's a Democrat or Republican, we're not going to let this happen again. We're going to keep you online, we're going to help you organize. And we haven't done it yet.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Well, there's, listen, I got a lot of problems with Elon Musk and a lot of the things he does and says. But the one good thing he does, I think he sends a bunch of starlinks over there and that helps keep.

[Jason Rezaian]

Look, I mean I say airdrop them in. You know, they don't have air defenses at this point. Those were taken out back in June. Drop a million terminals.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Donald Trump was really clear.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah, air drop them.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Today. He was really clear that, you know, he said to the, to the people of Iran, keep protesting, keep going out in the streets, if they do anything to you, we're a coming. What do you think happened between we're a comin to let this play out for a little bit longer.

[Jason Rezaian]

I mean it's an incredible question. And last summer when, you know, when we decided to enter into the war that Israel had started. That's right. You know, up until the very last minute he was saying, hey look, we want to make a deal with these guys. And just today he said, you know, my armada is at your front door, but I want to make a deal. I think making a Deal with them at this point would be the worst case scenario for the people of Iran.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Of course. Well, look, in Venezuela, you make.

[Jon Stewart]

What's the deal?

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

How about this? You give us the oil and we'll let one of you guys still remain in charge. And things will get incrementally better for the people of Iran, but they still won't have their own self determination ever.

[Progressive Insurance Sponsor]

Right.

[Jason Rezaian]

And it buys these guys who seem to be at their last gasps of life, many more years in power. And I think that would be the worst possible outcome.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Do you see, you know, there's now obviously the Shah, his son.

[Jason Rezaian]

Yeah.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Reza Pahlavi lives here. Does that have any credibility within, you know, or even Mosavi, who was the Reform candidate in 2009 who's been under house arrest? I don't know. Is he their Nelson Mandela figure? Is there someone in the way that Khomeini led them in 79 from out of the country and then into the country? Does a figure exist like that?

[Jason Rezaian]

Not in the way that Khomeini was organized and had support rallying behind him without a lot of dissent.

[Progressive Insurance Sponsor]

Right.

[Jason Rezaian]

I don't think that there's any of the leadership of the system now or people who are in prison that folks inside Iran look to as their savior. A lot of people have been calling the name, you know, Reza Pahlavi in the streets during these protests, but I don't know that. I mean, he's lived in exile for 47 years. That's kind of a lot to ask.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Right, Right.

[Jason Rezaian]

And I don't think we have a great track record just to roll in.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Their country and be like, so what's your Netflix password? Let's just get this going. Yeah. We don't have a great track record that, but it does leave us like, is this just. There are no good options for the people of Iran who are suffering at an incredible level.

[Jason Rezaian]

I don't think there are any good obvious options. But I do think that over the last, gosh, you know, 17 years, since 2009, we should have been making inroads to opposition. Folks I know from personal experience and relationships, hundreds of Iranian intellectuals and dissidents now exiled here in the United States who, many of who drive Ubers. Right. People that should be informing our policy and helping us understand this place. And there hasn't been a great space for them in these conversations.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

No.

[Jason Rezaian]

And I think, you know, it's never too late, but it's pretty frickin late.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Right. And in terms of understanding our ability to understand those things is getting worse and worse. You know, you, you are at the Freedom Desk at the Washington Post. Which. It's the Washington Post. Like, you're on the Freedom Desk. Do you get like a window or are you in the door? Like, are you in a closet? Like, it's the Washington Post. Like, these guys, they spend $80 million on a Melania documentary and yet they're cutting all the reporting overseas. I mean, you must. Do you just walk in there and.

[Jon Stewart]

Go, like, where's Bezos?

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Or Bezos?

[Jon Stewart]

However you're.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

What, you know, you know what?

[Jon Stewart]

Let's spend a little less on the boat foam wedding party and keep some reporters in Tehran.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

I know that you can't say anything, so I'm just gonna keep talking.

[Greg Bevino]

Well, one.

[Jon Stewart]

Can I keep talking?

[Jason Rezaian]

I'm not here to trample on your First Amendment rights.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

You know what? Thank you so much for saying that. Is the level, what is just in terms of being there, the level of frustration? I mean, the United States government just raided a reporter in the Washington Post.

[Jon Stewart]

Raided their house.

[Jason Rezaian]

Seize devices.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

Seize devices. Do all things. You're on the press Freedom desk at that, at that newspaper. Your owner has, I would assume, 247 access to him.

[Jon Stewart]

They just did a screening.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

How can this happen? How do we protect the press freedom at home so that we don't become Iran?

[Jason Rezaian]

Well, I can't speak to anyone else's.

[Jon Stewart]

Thinking besides my own, but careful, careful, Jason.

[Jason Rezaian]

No, but I will tell you that day in and day out, and we've seen our staff increase and decline in numbers throughout the entire time that I've been at the Washington Post. Coming up on 14 years, we've consistently punched above our work, broken incredible stories from Ukraine to the White House. Right? We're at the front line of this every single day. We're going to be continuing to do that. You know, no matter.

[Jon Stewart]

Bring it home, Jason. Come on, Jason. Bring it home. We need you on that wall. Come on, brother. Preach.

[Jason Rezaian]

The Washington Post is never going to back down from covering these stories. We have the money, incredible staff in the business. And I promise you, I promise you, whoever goes to work in that building tomorrow, the next day, a month from now, is going to keep breaking stories, keep holding power to account better than anybody else.

[Jon Stewart]

Sign up for the Freedom Next newsletter at the Washington Post. Let me tell you something. If there's anybody that I can trust.

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

To continue this effort without fear or fear, it's a guy who had to spend 544 days in one of the most difficult places on this entire earth. And to do so with your integrity and your soul intact is a monumental human achievement, sir. And I cannot help but salute you in all of that.

[Jon Stewart]

Jason Rosellian. We're gonna take a quick break and we'll be right back after this. My man.

[Progressive Insurance Sponsor]

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[Jon Stewart]

That's our show for tonight. Before we go, we're going to check in with your host for the rest of the week, Desi Lydic. Desi, What's going on this week?

[Todd Blanche]

Well, John, Kanye released a full page ad in the Wall Street Journal apologizing to Jewish people for his Nazi phase. So, John, as the representative of all Jewish people, do you accept?

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

I'm really not. I'm not the representative of all Jewish people. I'm not.

[Progressive Insurance Sponsor]

Oh.

[Todd Blanche]

Oh, okay. Well, can you at least, like, bring it up in the next meeting or whatever?

[John (Co-host or Correspondent)]

We don't. We don't really have meetings, so it's really.

[Todd Blanche]

It's not what Kanye said. When did you guys decide to ruin his Adidas deal?

[Jon Stewart]

All right, Desi Lydic, everybody. Here it is, your moment of day. We didn't ruin it.

[Reporter/Guest]

As soon as they organize, who's out there? You've got the liberal media, the National Socialists, all those communist groups that are there to divert. And that's exactly what they want. They're anarchists. They're in Congress. They want to destroy our country. They hate our country. They hate our flag, they hate our veterans, they hate our gods, they hate democracy, and they hate capitalism. They want to destroy it and create some kind of wokotopia.

[Jon Stewart]

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.

[Jason Rezaian]

This has been a Comedy Central podcast.