TDS Time Machine | Father's Day

Summary

The Daily Show: Ears Edition - TDS Time Machine | Father's Day

Date: June 21, 2026
Host: Jon Stewart & The Daily Show Team
Guest: Jim Gaffigan

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Episode Overview

This Father’s Day-themed episode, hosted by Jon Stewart and The Daily Show news team, humorously explores the complex cultural meaning of fatherhood, the search for strong father figures in American politics, the evolving model of masculinity, and society’s mixed messages about dad bods versus mom bods. With sharp satire and poignant cultural commentary, the episode features an extended interview with comedian Jim Gaffigan, author of the book Dad is Fat, along with running gags, field reports, and a segment on the influence of toxic masculinity figures like Andrew Tate.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Political “Daddies” and America’s Father Complex

[00:44–07:00]

• Satirical Take on Trump’s Supporters: The episode opens with comedic analysis of why Trump’s base is so loyal, suggesting many Republicans are looking for a “daddy,” not a president.
  • “Republicans aren't looking for a president, they're looking for a daddy.” — Comedian/Commentator [00:58]
• Political Satire: The hosts riff on Trump’s self-designation as “protector” with commentary likening him to a sometimes abusive or bullying father figure, citing his own family’s lukewarm praise and stories of favoritism.
  • “What if Don Jr. is a loser?” — Trump, quoted by reporter [03:16]
  • “He's treating the country like his children—red states are Ivanka, blue states are Tiffany.” — Comedian/Commentator [04:40]
• Mockery of Trump’s Bullying Behavior: A montage of Trump’s insults toward staff and allies borrows the abusive dad stereotype to lampoon his leadership style.

2. The Hunter Biden Pardon and Hypocrisy in Politics

[07:00–15:57]

• Biden’s Pardon of His Son: Satirical analysis of President Biden’s pardon of Hunter Biden, with a focus on how both conservatives and liberals react when it comes to defending or attacking “their own.”
  • “Mother, we were so—but you know what, fine. It’s good. It’s right. It’s his right... The pardon is a narrowly written, precisely drawn farewell note of compassion for a loved one.” — Jon Stewart [07:32]
  • “Shit’s going to get crazy.” — Reporter/Interviewer [08:55]
• Fox News Outrage: Jon lampoons Fox News personalities for their performative parent-child “tough love” stories while criticizing Biden.
  • “You get pinched, I'm not your first phone call. I don't know you.” — Jon Stewart, channeling Fox narrator [09:51]
• Political “Whataboutism”: Stewart mocks Trump’s response, equating pardoning Hunter with pardoning January 6th rioters.
  • “Oh, you pardoned your son. Well, what about the people who tried to help me overthrow the government?” — Jon Stewart [11:10]
• Democratic High Ground and Moral Dance: The show acknowledges Democrats’ moral struggle after previously pledging not to pardon Hunter.
  • “If you hadn't made Hunter Biden not receiving a pardon the Mason-Dixon line of morality...” — Jon Stewart [14:27]

3. America’s Changing Masculinity and Father Role Models

[23:36–31:20]

• Raising Boys in Modern America: Commentary on difficult questions surrounding masculinity, societal shifts, and the shortage of healthy role models for boys.
  • “We haven't been showing men what they should be. And that matters to young boys who are looking for an identity.” — Commentator/Analyst [25:00]
• Rise of Andrew Tate & Toxic Masculinity:
  • The team details how “King of Toxic Masculinity” Andrew Tate’s harmful influence reaches boys via social media algorithms.
  • “This whole idea of being toxically masculine is complete garbage. I think the most dangerous men on earth are the weak.” — Andrew Tate (clip) [26:18]
  • Teachers share anecdotes about boys parroting misogynistic attitudes rooted in Tate’s content.
  • Satirical advice is given: “The solution to this problem is not to cancel Andrew Tate...even if he disappeared, someone else would take his place.” — Commentator/Analyst [28:18]
• Alternative Role Models—Keanu Reeves: The show suggests Keanu Reeves, lauded for kindness and humility, as a much-needed role model.
  • “If you're looking for a complex, emotionally available male role model to counter their bullshit idea of manhood, just look at the guy who took the red pill, Keanu Reeves.” — Commentator/Analyst [29:00]

4. Dad Bods vs. Mom Bods: The Gendered Double Standard

[31:20–36:44]

• Cultural Embrace of the “Dad Bod”:
  • Lighthearted analysis of why “dad bods” are in—even for men who aren’t dads.
  • “You don't have to be a dad to have a dad bod. You just have to be really lazy.” — Kristen Schall [32:33]
  • Satirical description of “dad bods” as attainable and increasingly desirable compared to impossible fitness standards.
  • “Maybe dad bod is just the beginning and it opens the door to celebrating the mom bod.” — Jon Stewart [34:09]
• Unrealistic Pressure on Moms:
  • Juxtaposes society’s acceptance of “dad bods” with the relentless pressure on women to “bounce back” after pregnancy.
  • “We're already obsessed with mom bods. Or at least how fast moms can get rid of them.” — Kristen Schall [34:20]

5. Interview with Jim Gaffigan – “Dad is Fat”

[36:50–41:42]

• Origin of the Book Title:
  • Gaffigan tells the origin of his book’s title: his young son wrote “Dad is fat” as his first sentence.
  • “The first sentence he wrote on a dry erase board was 'Dad is fat.'” — Jim Gaffigan [37:25]
• Fatherhood, Catholic Guilt, and Parenting Fails:
  • Humorous discussion about raising five kids in a small NYC apartment.
  • “One more and I can be a Republican nominee.” — Jim Gaffigan [39:00]
• Parenting Gallows Humor:
  • Gaffigan and Stewart connect over the challenges and comedic silver linings of parenting.
  • “If you're complaining about parenting, that means you're involved, right?” — Jim Gaffigan [40:57]

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Notable Quotes and Memorable Moments

• Political Daddy Issues
  • “If you got daddy issues, don't go into politics. Become a stripper like a normal person.” — Comedian/Commentator [01:59]
  • “You thought he only denied housing to Black people. Turns out he also denied it to his son.” — Comedian/Commentator [04:16]
• On Hypocrisy in Politics
  • “It's like going, you know, oh, you're gonna let the kids stay up to watch SNL, but you're not even gonna try to help me burn the neighbor’s house down?” — Jon Stewart [11:10]
• Masculinity and Role Models
  • “If we don't talk to our boys, Andrew Tate is going to talk to them. And that means 10 years from now, I’m going to be talking to him.” — Commentator/Analyst [31:09]
• On Gendered Double Standards
  • “If that woman had a belly at all, they would not let her on that show.” — Kristen Schall [34:09]
  • “We're already obsessed with mom bods. Or at least how fast moms can get rid of them.” — Kristen Schall [34:20]
• Jim Gaffigan on Parenting
  • “I didn't want to do a book that was, I hate my kids, and I didn't want to do a book that was, I worship my kids and Jesus. I just wanted it to be funny, you know?” — Jim Gaffigan [40:34]

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Timestamps for Key Segments

• Political Daddy Issues: [00:44–07:00]
• Biden and the Political Pardon: [07:00–15:57]
• Modern Masculinity and Andrew Tate: [23:36–31:20]
• Dad Bod / Mom Bod Culture: [31:20–36:44]
• Jim Gaffigan Interview: [36:50–41:42]

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Tone and Style

The episode is sharp, irreverent, quick-witted, and characteristically satirical—balancing cultural criticism with absurd humor and heartfelt reflections on fatherhood and masculinity. The interview segments maintain the same comedic energy, blending self-deprecation with astute social observation.

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For Listeners Who Missed the Episode

This episode weaves together politics, culture, and the comedy of everyday parenting—using the lens of Father’s Day to scrutinize America’s complicated relationship with paternal figures both at home and in the Oval Office. From Trump-as-daddy jokes to a call for better models of masculinity, and culminating in an honest, hilarious conversation with Jim Gaffigan, the show delivers both laughs and insights on growing up, raising kids, and leading a country that sometimes acts like one big dysfunctional family.

Transcript

[John]

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[Narrator]

You're listening to Comedy Central.

[Comedian/Commentator]

One of the big mysteries of the Trump era is how so many Republicans can see everything Trump is doing and not say anything. The blatant corruption, disregarding the Constitution, that MAGA masturbation dance. Mr. President, I don't know who you've been jerking off this whole time, but if they haven't come by now, they never will. Okay, look, the whole point of a democracy is that the President is not an all powerful figure who's always right and can never be questioned. That sounds more like a little kid's idea of their father. And I think that's the answer. Republicans aren't looking for a president, they're looking for a daddy. Yeah, and that's not me just saying it, it's them.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

There are thousands of people here. They started screaming and chanting, daddy's home and daddy dog.

[Jim Gaffigan]

It's like daddy arrived and he's taking his belt off.

[Commentator/Analyst]

When dad gets home, you know what he says? You've been a bad girl. You've been a bad little girl and you're getting a vigorous spanking right now.

[John]

Check the stat. Stop throwing stones and straighten up, sucker. Cause Daddy's home.

[Comedian/Commentator]

What the hell? What the helly? Uh, you're. You're 54 years old. You can't be talking about needing a daddy if you have an AARP card, okay? My God, if you got daddy issues, don't go into politics. Become a stripper like a normal person. Okay, creepy porn shit aside, when most MAGA folks say they want a daddy, what they mean is they want somebody to protect them. And that's what Trump promised. Promises all the time.

[John]

You will once again have a protector in the White House. I'm going to be a protector. I will protect women at a level never seen before. I will protect our workers. I will protect our jobs. I will protect our borders. I will protect our families.

[Comedian/Commentator]

Yeah, Trump is protection. The same way a condom is. Like you see him coming and you know you're gonna get. But here's the thing that I don't get about making Trump your father figure. If you listen to his own family. He sounds like he's a terrible father.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

He would not really be a dad. Which would take them for the stroll in the Central Park. In the stroll. Or go and play the soccer with them or do something like that. He was always on the telephone making the business.

[John]

I'll supply the funds and she'll take

[Comedian/Commentator]

care of the kids.

[Commentator/Analyst]

Right? No, it's not like I'm going to

[John]

be walking the kids down Central Park.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Donald Trump was never keen on bequeathing his name to anybody. It was Ivana who wanted to call their newborn sick. Donald Jr. You can't do that. Trump is quoted as saying in Ivana's memoir. What if he's a loser?

[Comedian/Commentator]

What if Don Jr. Is a loser? I guess those hats are true. Trump really is right about everything. Okay. And Daddy Trump does something even worse than insult his children. He plays favorites among them. For instance, here's a fun Christmas story from Donald Trump Jr. Himself.

[Commentator/Analyst]

I got re gifted all of the

[John]

things that were monogrammed for him at times.

[Commentator/Analyst]

So, you know, there was one Christmas where he made or may not have given me the gift that I had given him the year before because I monogrammed it and it was like, oh, yeah, here.

[Comedian/Commentator]

Now, see if you can spot the subtle difference between giving the child. He hates a re gifted tie and what he gives the child he actually likes.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

A great gift that my dad gave me recently is an apartment because I'm graduating.

[Comedian/Commentator]

See? See, you see that? You thought he only denied housing to black people. Turns out he also denied it to his son. And maybe you're thinking, come on, Trump is proud of all his kids equally. He's not.

[John]

I'm very proud. Cause Don and Eric and Ivanka and you know, to a lesser extent because she just got out of school, out of college. But Tiffany,

[Comedian/Commentator]

that's kind of how he's treating the country, isn't it? Like the red states are Ivanka and the blue states. Yeah, we're Tiffany. You see, Trump isn't just any dad. He's a particular type of dad, the bully. Sometimes that's great for, you know, if you're having problems with another kid at school or immigrants or the president of Ukraine, he'll bully them for you. But the thing is, a bully dad will bully his own kids, too.

[John]

President Trump has slammed Bolton as a wacko and incompetent, calling Rex Tillerson dumb as a rock. And Jim Mattis overrated, called Attorney General

[Comedian/Commentator]

Jeff Sessions mentally retarded.

[Commentator/Analyst]

And a dumb Southerner called Omarosa a

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Low life and a dog.

[John]

John Kelly.

[Commentator/Analyst]

He's one of the dumbest people I've ever met.

[John]

Are stupid generals like Mil.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Stupid person.

[John]

A person known as Nicky. Birdbrain. Haley. Birdbrain.

[Comedian/Commentator]

Look, man, if you hate your kids that much, at least have the decency to go out for cigarettes and never come back, okay? It's okay. We won't miss you. And when you have an emotionally unavailable dad, you're constantly having to beg for his love. And then you get stuff like this.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Your entire life, you have stood for doing things that other people thought they couldn't do.

[John]

He is the most important, the smartest, the most capable leader in the world.

[Commentator/Analyst]

The greatest negotiator, the greatest dealmaker, the greatest diplomat, and the greatest peacemaker. Every day is like waking up to Christmas.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

President, your first 100 days has far exceeded that of any other presidency in this country ever. Ever. Never seen anything like it. Thank you.

[Comedian/Commentator]

Yes, you're damn right. We've never seen Dick riding like this. Okay. All right. This is unprecedented. Glazing. All right? Or at least it's weird to talk about a president this way. But an emotionally abusive father, then it's very normal. Some of you know the drill. You stay on Daddy's good side because you know when he has a bad day, he's putting belt to ass. All right. But Republicans, to paraphrase the immortal Maury Povich, he is not your father. Okay? All right. If you see him stepping out of line, accepting bribes from foreign countries and violating the Constitution, call it out. Because the truth is, America doesn't need a daddy. It needs to grow up and not be a damn child itself. But that's just my opinion.

[John]

Faith and the rule of law is all that separates us from the otters, the penguins, the apes. Really, the entire cast of Madagascar. It's the only thing faith in the rule of law. Finally, Democrats have a moral perch from which they can judge without shame, hypocrisy or nuance.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Breaking news. President Biden has issued a pardon for

[John]

his son, Hunter Biden. Mother, We were so. But you know what? Fine. It's good. It's right. It's his right. An 82 year old man doesn't want to spend the rest of his life visiting his son in prison. Republicans get away with this shit all the time, I'm sure. The pardon is a narrowly written, precisely drawn farewell note of compassion for a loved one. The pardon sweeping, covering offenses that Hunter Biden, quote, has committed or may have committed or taken part in over the past 11 years. 11 years is a very specific. And not rounded amount of time. So, Hunter, I'll give you a pardon. A few years? Five years? Ten years? It needs to be eleven. And if you would be so kind, make sure this upcoming New Year's Eve is also covered.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Shit's going to get crazy.

[John]

I didn't know pardons could cover crimes you may have committed. I'm surprised Biden didn't include the phrase on Earth One or any of the Earths in the multiverse. Now, some would say that's what any loving father would do for their troubled son or daughter, should they have the power. But on Fox News, it was this love, in fact, that may have caused the problem in the first place.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

My dad always told me, ainsley, if you get arrested, don't call me. I'm not your first phone call. I'm leaving you in there.

[John]

Good night, sweetie. By the way, your dad always told you that. Were you a degenerate, or was your dad De Niro? No, listen. Listen to me.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

No.

[John]

You get pinched, I'm not your first phone call. I don't know you. It's ten grand and a gun on the floorboards. Good luck, kid. And by the way, not just Ainsley, the rest of the Fox Cinematic universe was no happier. Not only the worst president in U.S. history, but also the most corrupt.

[Commentator/Analyst]

This entire administration has been nothing but a sham.

[John]

He and his family are so full of slime that Nickelodeon is going to sue for trademark infringement.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

You Joe Biden.

[John]

You, Joe Biden. Megyn Kelly. Who do you think you are? Me? What am I supposed to say now? You is my line. You've stolen my line. At long last. Have you no decency?

[Narrator]

Me?

[John]

Of course, no one was more outraged than America's judicial compass, Donald Seneca Trump.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

President elect Trump weighing in as well. He says, does the pardon given by Joe to Hunter include the January 6th hostages who have now been in prison for years? Such an abuse and miscarriage of justice.

[John]

Oh, you pardoned your son. Well, what about the people who tried to help me overthrow the government? That's kind of a leap there. It's like going, you know, oh, you're gonna let the kids stay up to watch snl, but you're not even gonna try to help me burn the neighbor's house down? So, obviously, Republicans are gonna criticize. But Biden did make this line of attack particularly available, seeing as how he spent so long saying he wouldn't do it because of how much he respects the system.

[Comedian/Commentator]

I'm not gonna do anything.

[John]

I said I abide by the jury decision, and I will do that, and

[Comedian/Commentator]

I will not pardon him.

[Commentator/Analyst]

Will you accept the jury's outcome, their

[John]

verdict, no matter what it is?

[Kristen Schall]

Yes.

[Commentator/Analyst]

And have you ruled out a pardon for your son? Y.

[John]

Now watch this dive. Look, here's the thing. I don't know if you've ever found yourself in this situation. If you ever find yourself in a situation where you are being questioned about pardoning your son, do not do it at the swim up bar of a Club Med. And also, not for nothing with an old guy. I mean, Biden squints indoors so you don't face the guy in the sun and try and get an honest answer. He immediately looks untrustworthy, you're gonna give him a pardon. But you know what, ladies and gentlemen, hypocrisy isn't illegal, nor is it particularly unusual in politics. It's not like he's ever gonna run again. So why not take care of your kids even if you said you weren't gonna. I respect it. I don't have a problem with it. The problem is the rest of the Democrats made Biden's pledge to not pardon Hunter the foundation of their defense of America. This grand experiment. One political party remains committed to the rule of law and the other doesn't. It's that simple.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Hunter Biden's not above the law.

[John]

No one is above the law. Democrats stand for the rule of law.

[Jim Gaffigan]

We accept the outcome because that's how the rule of law works.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Because the justice system that convicted his only surviving son is the same justice system he's vowed to protect. And if that doesn't tell you who Joe Biden is, I don't really know what does.

[John]

I think I know what does. And now look at the dance Democrats have to do.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Be honest.

[Commentator/Analyst]

The only reason why they went after Hunter the way they did, and I've

[John]

talked to many federal prosecutors about this, is because he's the President's son.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

People have to remember the President has lost two children already, and he does not need to lose another one to more political witch hunts, the, you know, crowing from Republicans.

[Comedian/Commentator]

But we're talking about, you know, Donald

[John]

Trump is a convicted felon who literally pardoned his daughter's father in law and just made him ambassador to France.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

So for anyone that wants to clutch their pearls now because he decided that he was going to pardon his son, I would say take a look in the mirror, ma'.

[John]

Am. We will take a look in that mirror, but we are taking off. So. If you could just put this shit on airplane Mode and let us get home for the holidays. Yes, yes, yes, yes, yes. To everything that you guys were saying. If you hadn't made Hunter Biden not receiving a pardon. The Mason Dixon line of morality between Democrats and Republicans. There's a big gap between the law is the only thing that separates us from the animals. And the monkey threw shit at me first. I had no choice. This is what Biden's decision has done. Look how confident and eloquent our Democratic representatives were back when they thought they had the moral high ground on this issue. I've not heard a single Democrat anywhere in the country cry fraud, cry fixed, cry rigged, cry kangaroo court. You don't hear a single peep out of any Democrat saying that.

[Comedian/Commentator]

Why?

[John]

We believe in the rule of law. And now look at what even he, one of the most verbally dexterous attorneys we have on Capitol Hill has been reduced to.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Do you think President Biden should pardon Hunter Biden?

[John]

So there are lots of claims of political prosecution and political.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

And was Hunter politically?

[John]

Well, I mean, obviously that's a judicial point and you've got to look at what the evidence is. And I don't know enough about it.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Should the president pardon him?

[John]

I mean, again, that is a unilateral executive power, you know, power that.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

And should he use it?

[John]

Well, you know, the power exists for the president to show mercy for people. I mean, we have an executive and we have a judicial and then a legislative and then smoke bomb.

[Host]

Thank you.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Thank you.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Wow.

[John]

First time I've crouched since Thanksgiving and. Oh, that did not go well. But then why this weekend? Normally you drop a controversial pardon like the way you buy porn at a gas station in a flurry of other distracting purchases and pardons. Give me that. Breathman's there to WD40 to squeegee there. One of those anal magazines, Some corn nuts. Pardon for my son, the big dicks like chicks pamphlet. So why did you do it now? As NBC News first reported, the president did decide to reverse course over the holiday weekend at his family's annual Thanksgiving getaway in Nantucket. Thanksgiving.

[Commentator/Analyst]

Accusations against our groper in chief as governor of New York. This guy was made a hero when he seems like he's maybe the biggest predator in American politics today.

[Narrator]

In recent weeks, Donald Trump Jr. The oldest, least Ericky son of Donald Trump, has been complaining that a politician has not been punished for his alleged sex crimes. It raises an uncomfortable question. Does Don Jr know who his father is? Seriously? That's this week on Unsolved Mysteries. MAGA Edition. You might imagine that Donald Trump, Trump Jr. Definitely knows who his dad is. The man says the words my father more than the Pope.

[Commentator/Analyst]

My father, my father, my father, my father.

[Narrator]

And yet, in recent years, a mysterious thing happened. Don Jr started talking like a man who had no damn idea that Donald Trump was his dad. Listen to this.

[Commentator/Analyst]

I wish my name was Hunter Biden. I could go abroad, make millions off of my father's presidency. I'd be a really rich guy. It would be incredible.

[Narrator]

He knows who his dad is, right? Because this is like the Kool Aid man complaining about other people crashing through walls and leaving Kool Aid man sized holes.

[Commentator/Analyst]

Whether it's Hunter, whether it's Joe Biden's brother, whether it's his sister, they've all spent their entire lives profiting of Joe Biden's taxpayer funded offices. Here, son. Here's every job you've ever had.

[Narrator]

Does Don Jr think that he got that job at the Trump Organization because he wrote a good cover letter? Does Donald Trump Jr. Not know what the word junior means? Just like he thought Saturday Night Live was abbreviated S and L. What explains this mystifying lack of self awareness? Is it possible that the unthinkable is true? That Don Jr doesn't know that Donald Trump is his father? Investigators have combed through days of footage of Don Jr. Jr. And Donald together, but have not found a single hug or even an affectionate look between the two. Because really, if Don Jr. Does know that Donald Trump is his father, what could explain this?

[Commentator/Analyst]

Joe Biden as a presidential contender, is likely the most corrupted and potentially corrupted person to ever run for office of the presidency.

[John]

Joe Biden doesn't know where he is

[Commentator/Analyst]

50% of the time. The guy can't complain form a complete sentence.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

It's almost like the whole Biden family is entirely dependent on Joe holding public office.

[Narrator]

Am I the only one seeing this? If you have any information as to why Donald Trump Jr. Doesn't seem to realize that his father is Donald Trump, please contact Unsolved Mysteries before he starts complaining that Joe Biden is a racist tax cheat who couldn't even run a casino. No, it's coming. Get off this dock. It smell like. Smell like old foots.

[Commentator/Analyst]

Just a few miles away from the convention here in Chicago, and all the Democratic stars and our Grace Kuhlenschmidt went over to try to interview one of the biggest.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

I came to the convention with a dream to interview Tim Walls, also known as America's Dad.

[Commentator/Analyst]

This is America's Dad. Quote, big dad energy, Big Dad Energy.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Unfortunately, America's dad seemed to be a very difficult interview to get.

[John]

Governor Walts. Governor Waltz. Governor Waltz.

[Commentator/Analyst]

Governor Waltz is doing his best job

[John]

ignoring me right now.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

If I was going to catch Tim Walls, I needed to lure him in with a trap that a dad could not resist. Can anyone help me with this tie for my date?

[Commentator/Analyst]

Shoot, shoot, shoot.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Does anyone know how to use a stud finder? Does anyone know how to fill out a baseball score sheet by hand? Does anyone want this copy of Rudy on Blu Ray? Come on, I know you want it. And now we wait. Who are you most excited to hear talk today?

[Comedian/Commentator]

I'm really looking forward to seeing Barack Obama.

[Kristen Schall]

You're cute.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Do you happen to have a convertible you could recklessly drive me around in? Hope no one's within earshot who might want to put their foot down and stop this ill advised romance. Got hot dogs leading up to a Ben Gang and a beer. Perfect trap for Tim Walls. I'm gonna smoke a cigarette unless someone stops me. Hope no one catches me. Makes me smoke the whole pack to learn a lesson.

[Host]

Whoa.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

I'm going absolutely crazy now. Oh, geez. Oh, my God. I just got a ticket to a Roy Orbison cover band. Does anyone want it? Anyone know if there is an LL Bean nearby? I don't know if I'll get to the voting booth this year. I don't know how to drive stick. Is there anyone here who could teach you? Downtrodden and deflated? I had one last idea. Anyone around here know if this fire extinguisher is up to code?

[Comedian/Commentator]

I see that. I see the 2024 are on here.

[John]

I see February punched out.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Are you Tim Waltz?

[Narrator]

No.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

All right, never mind.

[Commentator/Analyst]

You know, as part of my job, I talk to a lot of men. A lot of dumb men. We treat women with respect here.

[Narrator]

Yes, we do.

[Commentator/Analyst]

That's an American ideal.

[Narrator]

Yeah.

[Commentator/Analyst]

Tell me about your shirt. What's it say?

[John]

It says Hillary sucks,

[Jim Gaffigan]

but not like Monica.

[Commentator/Analyst]

Read the transcript, right? Have you read the transcript? I have not read it. Look at the transcript, right?

[Comedian/Commentator]

Yeah, look at the transcript.

[Commentator/Analyst]

Have you read the transcript?

[John]

I trust the word of our president, man.

[Comedian/Commentator]

Come on, fake news. What you got? Go find yourself a safe space.

[Commentator/Analyst]

Let me get this straight. You're yelling at me to find a safe space and you have elevated yourself with a megaphone and you have a shield. Oh, we, you know, we never kept in touch. But outside of my job interviewing dumb men, I'm also the father of a young son. And as a father, my biggest goal is to not End up interviewing my son as part of my job, make sure that happens. And he's gonna need some help. And that's what I want to talk about in tonight's Long story short, America is in the midst of some long overdue changes around gender and power. Reexamining ideas of masculinity, femininity, the spectrum in between, and how fluid it all is. It's a difficult and necessary conversation, but luckily for us, we get to have these nuanced debates on Twitter. Now, this cultural change is important, and I'm glad it's happening. But when there is a cultural shift, it's easy to get lost within it. And even though it feels strange to say this, a group that is being left out is young boys. And I know, I know, I know. War on men. I sound like I'm on a network that just got sued out of $780 million, but I know, I know. Joke's on you. Comedy Central doesn't have that kind of. My point is, we've had a great conversation about what men shouldn't be. Men shouldn't be toxic. They shouldn't be overly aggressive. They shouldn't pay a porn star to keep quiet about an affair they had right after their son was born. It's a high, high bar. But we haven't been showing men what they should be. And that matters to young boys who are looking for an identity, for a narrative about what it means to be a man. And that vacuum is being filled by people with the worst possible idea of manhood. Former kickboxer and Big Brother contestant Andrew Tate, infamous for being the self proclaimed king of toxic masculinity. Tate's core message centers around the belief that masculinity is in the crosshairs, and he's defending it. His target audience, young men.

[John]

This whole idea of being toxically masculine is complete garbage. I think the most dangerous men on earth are the weak.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Men.

[John]

Feel, feel, feel, feel, feel. Leave the feelings to the girls. Right? That's what they do. We act. We're men of action. Empowering females is the easiest way to weaken the will of men. Study, study, study. Give up your whole life in school. Then you get to be a doctor. You can't even buy a sports car. The problem with most of you is that I am sitting here with my sunglasses, bald head, millions of dollars, nearly unmatched fighting skills. I am Morpheus. I need action. I need constant chaos in my life to feel content. I need to be driving a supercar and fighting a bunch of champagne and going Crazy.

[Commentator/Analyst]

Okay, okay, okay, we get it. You have a small penis. Even through the video you can tell this guy wears too much cologne. And by the way, not to tarnish his sparkling image, but Andrew Tate is currently under investigation for human trafficking. I know it's always the first one you suspect. Now, maybe you don't know Andrew Tate. Maybe you're thinking, who is this porn parody Vin Diesel? You may not know him, but trust me, your sons do.

[Narrator]

With over 13 billion views on TikTok,

[John]

Tate's rhetoric is moving from online to the classroom.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

So I'm a teacher and I teach 6th grade. The amount of young 11 year old boys that have told me me that they love Andrew Tate is ridiculous.

[John]

One teacher says she hears blatant misogyny from the boys in her class. Hearing them say that girls belong in the kitchen and only exist for reproduction. And another claiming they talk about alphas in sixth grade.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Now, one teacher in South London noticed that his students were parroting Tate's ideology. About a third of the 30 students in the class passionately argued that women were responsible for their own sexual assaults. One of Tate's.

[Commentator/Analyst]

Wow, times have really changed. When I was in sixth grade, the most toxic role model for boys was Michelangelo. He eats pizza for breakfast, lunch and dinner. That turtle doesn't give a. Seriously, how can you be misogynistic in sixth grade? That's like the one year in life where all the girls are bigger than you. I wouldn't be running my mouth about Allison if Allison could hang me by my underwear on the flag. The solution to this problem is not to cancel Andrew Tate. Interpol is probably gonna do that for us. Because even if he disappeared, even if he disappeared, someone else would take his place and spew toxic shit at young boys just as well. And social media algorithms would pump it into young boys eyes and ears just as fast. Because that's really all this is about. Andrew Tate is not interested in being a role model. He wants clicks for money. He doesn't want to raise your son. He's taken dad's seat at the table. But he's really the loudmouth uncle. That uncle who seems cool when you're a kid, but when you grow up, you realize living in a hotel is not a vacation. What we need is an alternative positive narrative for young men to follow. And it's ironic that these guys are talking about taking the red pill and using these matrix metaphors because. Because if you're looking for a complex, emotionally available male role model to counter their bullshit idea of manhood just look at the guy who took the red pill, Keanu Reeves. This, This is a man who is wildly considered to be kind and decent. He donates huge sums of money to cancer research. He gives up his seat to women on the subway. He bought Sandra Bullock champagne and truffles because she had never had them before. He's the perfect man. Maybe his movies glorify gun violence, but nobody's perfect. And that makes him even more perfect, because our children shouldn't strive for perfection. That will only make them sad. And those movies sometimes are pretty cool. The point is, young boys need a cultural role model who is kind and comfortable in his. Not guys who are so fragile in their masculinity that they can't puff a cigar without putting it on every social media platform like they invented fire. Hell, Keanu Reeves, he isn't even on social media. That's how healthy he is. So. So as a society, we have two options. We can either follow Keanu Reeves around and put everything he does on TikTok, or probably better, we make sure that the conversation about modern society includes a role for men that young boys can look up to. Because long story short, if we don't talk to our boys, Andrew Tate is going to talk to them. And that means 10 years from now, I'm going to be talking to him.

[John]

You know, a lot of times on this program, we're always talking about the problems in our society. But our society has much to celebrate.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Everybody's talking about dad Bobs, guys who look like they go to the gym, but they also maybe enjoy a little

[John]

pizza, a little beer.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Elizabeth and I find it really attractive. Leonardo DiCaprio, Jason Segal, and Seth Rogen have all been called dad bots.

[John]

Undefined abs and maybe even a little bit of flab are actually in women

[Reporter/Interviewer]

admitting that normal looking guys are the sexy ones.

[John]

Yeah, it's like Christmas came early this year for dudes. Cause everywhere you look, there's Jolly Fatman. For more on the new look that's driving women crazy, we're joined by senior Women's Issues correspondent Kristen Schall. Kristen, hello. Well, thanks, John.

[Kristen Schall]

And what a great day for men. It's time society finally accepted that a man's body changes when he has kids. He spent nine months eating too much because his pregnant wife is stressing him out. And then there's a screaming baby at home. He's got to get out for pizza and beer as much as he can. It's just biology, John, you know, but

[John]

a lot of those guys we just heard about, they're not even dads.

[Kristen Schall]

You don't have to be a dad to have a dad bod. You just have to be really lazy. And women are lining up at the dad bod buffet, which is great news because now you don't have to worry about magazines like this shoving an impossible body image down your throat. Like this chiseled triangle thing. You know what I'm talking about? It's like the borderline between where the chest ends, you know, and then the fun begins. You know what? Let's just forget about these names because it is gone. Thank you. That sounds compelling. Josh. Here you try. Rip this guy up.

[John]

Good luck. There we go.

[Kristen Schall]

Absolutely.

[John]

Here we go.

[Kristen Schall]

Yes.

[John]

Okay.

[Kristen Schall]

Yeah, yeah, yeah. Get rid of it. Good job, John. Just put all your. Well, you know who really loves this dad bod trend? Guys like you, who get most of their exercise by turning from camera one to camera three.

[Comedian/Commentator]

As a 40 something year old dad,

[Reporter/Interviewer]

I find this notion profoundly reassuring. Show us your dad bod.

[Commentator/Analyst]

I wish I could.

[John]

I'm going to get a beer pizza after the show. I think women think you're sort of nuts if you got this six pack

[Reporter/Interviewer]

of you come in like a dad bod sandwich, right?

[Kristen Schall]

They're all having a really good belly laugh. Well, the guys are. If that woman had a belly at all, they would not let her on that show.

[John]

Well, I don't know. I mean, maybe this is a good thing. Maybe, maybe dad bod. Dad bod is just the beginning and it opens the door to celebrating the mom bod. It.

[Kristen Schall]

Oh, sweet, sweet John. We're already obsessed with mom bods. Or at least how fast moms can get rid of them.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

There's a new breed of mom on the playground dubbed mom shells. They're a hybrid of mommies and bombshells.

[John]

That's 11 months after giving birth.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

She looks amazing. She had a baby seven months ago. She has a five month old three months after having a baby, looking impossibly svelte. Perfect. Amazing.

[John]

Incredible.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Just weeks after giving birth. Look at that figure too. She's just had a baby.

[Kristen Schall]

They're not real people, they're celebrities. Beyonce, Scarlett Johansson, J. Lo, Michelle Duggar.

[John]

Michelle Duggar from the reality show with the 19 kids.

[Kristen Schall]

Yeah, that's how hot she is. Her husband is never not her. Why do you think she has to hide her body under that sister wife dress to stop tempting the rest of us?

[John]

Why is there so much pressure though on women to be skinny? You know, it hasn't always been that way. Look at the Rubenesque Women in those older paintings by.

[Kristen Schall]

Oh, right, Picasso. Ugh, talk about impossible body standards. I spent years trying to get my nose on the side of my face. Admit it, John, women will never be able to relax about their bodies the way that men can.

[John]

Well, it's too bad because it feels great to be able to, you know, to not think about it. The old feel good in the old dad. Bottom line.

[Kristen Schall]

Well, you earned it, Daddy. O. All that not working out, focusing on other things besides your body. You know, why don't you stand up and give the audience a little treat? Show them what a mostly adequate physique looks like.

[John]

I don't need to be objectified.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Come on.

[John]

Hey, Santa. Come on. Yeah, You look. Wear what your mama gave you that you didn't take care of for 50 years.

[Kristen Schall]

I don't have to ask if fries go with that shake because they obviously did show off how your looks are not what society values most in you. Ah, looks good.

[John]

Wait, hold on.

[Reporter/Interviewer]

Yeah, there it is.

[John]

I'm starting to feel it. Oh, yeah, I'm starting to feel it.

[Kristen Schall]

Yeah, keep posing.

[John]

Keep it positive. Oh, yeah. I'm starting to feel it now. Uh huh. Oh, yeah. Here comes a twerk. I'm a twerk. I'm gonna.

[Comedian/Commentator]

I'm gonna.

[John]

Kristen Chao, everybody. We'll be right back. Bye.

[Host]

My guest tonight, a very funny comedian whose new bestselling book is called dad is Fat. Please welcome the brilliant Jim Gaffigan. Than. Thank you, Jim.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Jim, so nice.

[Host]

Thank you for being here. We all appreciate it.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, thank you.

[Host]

The book, dad is Fat.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes.

[Host]

I mean, it's subjective, isn't it? For a start, yes. Where does a title like that come from?

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, the title comes from my now 7 year old son. When he was 4 or 5. The first sentence he wrote on a dry erase board was dad is fat. And then he showed it to me and I put him up for a doll.

[Host]

So he thought for four to five years and thought, what do I want this first statement to be? Dad is fat. Almost like a poem in a way.

[Jim Gaffigan]

And then he knew that I would laugh. Well, it's not like the first time he had called me fat, you know, it was like a daily occurrence.

[John]

Right.

[Host]

It's the first time he formalized it in writing.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes, he worked on it.

[Host]

So the background to this book. Let's just crunch the numbers.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yeah.

[Narrator]

Yes.

[Host]

Okay. Five children.

[Comedian/Commentator]

Do I have five?

[Host]

Yep.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Oh, my God.

[Host]

Five children. And yet you live in a two bedroom apartment.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes.

[Host]

In New York. Those numbers don't seem to match up.

[Jim Gaffigan]

No, no, they don't. Well, you know, it's not as if we're trying to prove something. It's not like we're gonna raise our kids in a box. It's just, you know, circumstances. You know, my wife gets pregnant looking at babies, so it's real. She is very. I don't even let her hold avocados, John. No, but you can't, you know, over the past couple years.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Jim Gaffigan]

You can't really turn to someone who's seven months pregnant. Like, hey, let's pack up and move.

[Host]

Yeah.

[Jim Gaffigan]

So we've been waiting, and eventually we'll move or we'll have another kid. I don't know.

[Host]

Five children. You are the definition of a committed cat.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I am.

[Comedian/Commentator]

I.

[Jim Gaffigan]

One more and I can be a Republican nominee.

[Host]

I think one more and you get an official medal from the Vatican.

[Comedian/Commentator]

Yeah.

[Jim Gaffigan]

I mean, hey, the Pope gave me these shoes, so they are fly. They're very rare because he.

[Host]

Fly for a white guy as the song.

[Jim Gaffigan]

You know, I'm Catholic, but my wife is very Catholic. She's a Shiite Catholic. So. Yeah, again, there is no goalie.

[Host]

The numbers back that up.

[Jim Gaffigan]

There's no goalie.

[Host]

Jim, you are. You are so funny.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Oh, thank you.

[Host]

You are my wife's favorite comedian, very much, including me.

[Comedian/Commentator]

Yeah.

[Host]

She hadn't seen you, but you remember we did that charity gig for Bob Saget.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Yes.

[Host]

For the Scarod Ower Foundation. She'd never seen you live before, and you were doing your subway bit, and I could hear laughs coming out of her. I have never heard before. And you got to the end of it, and she was literally crying, and she turned to me and said, why can't you do that?

[Jim Gaffigan]

That is very flattering. Well, your wife is very beautiful. We both.

[Host]

Oh, we.

[Jim Gaffigan]

We're out of our league.

[Host]

So I think biologically, we can both objectively say we traded way up.

[John]

Yes.

[Jim Gaffigan]

You know, I. If my wife. Whenever I'm with my wife and people find out she's my wife, there's usually an audible wow, which I suppose is flattering, but it hurts my feelings. You know, it's like, I'm not a caveman. Not all of my.

[Host]

This is so fun. This is like a laugh out loud book. And there's a canon of comedians writing books about children and fatherhood.

[Jim Gaffigan]

You know, we were hoping. I wrote this with my wife Jeannie, and we were hoping. I didn't want to do a book that was. I hate my kids and I didn't want to do a book that was. I worship my kids and Jesus. I just wanted. I wanted it to be funny, you know? So hopefully it worked.

[Host]

Well, it's the perfect book about children because there's a lot of love and a lot of contempt, and in that contempt is some of the greatest love.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Well, you. I think you have to. You know, there's a gallows humor when you're handed a baby that it's just hard. If you're complaining about parenting, that means you're involved, right? I went, John, I went to a birthday party three weeks ago for my daughter, her friend, at 8am on a Saturday.

[John]

What?

[Jim Gaffigan]

And I was like, who's running this party, the Taliban? I mean, who has a birthday party at 8am but if you have kids, you're complaining. I mean, there's a certain gallows humor like don't throw the baby out with the bathwater. That phrase came from someone who thought about throwing out the baby.

[Commentator/Analyst]

True.

[Jim Gaffigan]

Cause it's a lot of work.

[Host]

It's absolutely fantastic. Dad is Fat is on the bookshelves now. It's brilliant. Jim Gaffigan.

[John]

Explore more shows from the Daily show podcast universe by searching the Daily Show. Wherever you get your podcast, watch the Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount.

[Commentator/Analyst]

Plus,

[John]

this has been a Comedy Central podcast.