TDS Time Machine | Video Games

Summary

The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode: TDS Time Machine | Video Games
Date: September 21, 2025
Host: Jon Stewart
Special Guests: Paul McCartney, Samantha Bee, Correspondent Team

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Overview

This episode dives headfirst into the cultural, political, and economic impact of video games. The Daily Show team, led by Jon Stewart, lampoons Congressional hearings on video game violence, the moral panic over gaming, regulatory efforts, and the explosive rise of gaming into the mainstream with esports, celebrity involvement, and new forms of "video game addiction." The episode also features interviews and sketches about video games’ influence, including an appearance by Paul McCartney discussing his music work for games. The relentless satirical take drives home the message that video games have long been a convenient scapegoat for societal ills, while ignoring underlying, more actionable causes.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Political Grandstanding and Video Game Violence (01:15–08:41)

• Congressional Hearings Satirized:

  • Politicians attack video games for corrupting youth, with mock testimonials cluttered by out-of-touch references (Pong, Donkey Kong).
  • Jon Stewart lampoons their performative outrage:
    • “Who wants to be the first person to sound like an out of touch jackass? Oh, you. Congressman Upton.” (02:36)
  • The rating system comes under fire, mocked as opaque and inaccurate.
  • Grand Theft Auto as the Scapegoat:
    • Congress singularly fixates on GTA: San Andreas as a proxy for all video game violence.
    • Notable multimedia presentations exaggerate the violence.

• Socioeconomic Arguments:

  • Testimonies suggest actual risk is tied to income and environment.
    • “Wealthy suburban kids don’t do that kind of thing. Like my good friends, those fine Columbine boys.” (05:52 - Jon Stewart, citing the flawed social calculus)
  • Samantha Bee, reporting from “San Andreas,” jokes about how “residents here want Washington to know they’re angry and they vote, or would, if not for considerable felony convictions.” (07:13)

• Debunking the Panic:

  • Satirical back-and-forth dismisses the alleged link between games and real-world violence.
    • Bee: “Politicians are just beating a dead hooker here.” (08:08)

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2. Supreme Court and Video Game Regulation (09:32–12:52)

• Supreme Court Decision:

  • The Court strikes down California’s law banning violent video game sales to minors.
    • Stewart mocks the irony: Schwarzenegger fights to protect kids from violent imagery.
      • “That’s gotta be a huge disappointment for Schwarzenegger—a man who fought so hard for so long to protect kids from images of gratuitous violence.” (09:52)
  • Discussion of the paradox: government may restrict sexual content but not violent content.
    • “If, while being disemboweled, this woman were to suffer, perhaps, a nip slip. Regulate away.” (11:37 - Jon Stewart)

• Judicial Ironies:

  • Stewart turns attention to a literal Supreme Court scuffle in Wisconsin.
    • “These are people whose job is interpreting what a group of dead founders were thinking 200 and some years ago, and they can’t agree on what happened right in front of their eyes.” (13:40)

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3. Celebrity & Video Game Crossover — Paul McCartney Interview (14:15–19:14)

• Pop Culture Meets Gaming:

  • Paul McCartney discusses writing a song for the game Destiny, his grandkids’ gaming, and generational divides in entertainment.
    • “These are franchises. These are bigger than major motion pictures.” (16:28 - Jon Stewart)
    • McCartney admits: “I would get killed within the first couple of seconds, hand it back to them. Go on. Okay. And so, you know, I was Mr. Cool. Come on, give it up.” (16:44)
  • Stewart underscores the mutual struggle of connecting with kids’ interests and evolving entertainment.

• Generational Disconnect:

  • Stewart shares: “Do you know what my son said to me the other night? Why can’t you do a show like Ellen?” (17:27)

• Humor about Video Game Power:

  • Stewart jokes about game developers giving McCartney a "cheat code" for writing the Destiny song.
    • McCartney: “No. I don’t play them... the kids do. I go in the first room. And they’re shooting at me, John.” (18:14–18:29)

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4. Presidential Politics and Video Game Blame (20:49–25:58)

• Trump’s Rhetoric on Games and Violence:

  • The show mocks President Trump’s tendency to blame video games for increasing violence, depicting him as parental bystander.
    • “‘Look at the violence this kid is watching. Isn’t someone gonna stop him?’ But you’re his dad, Donald.” (21:23 – Correspondent)
  • Daily Show stages a spoof audio-only “White House meeting” with Trump and Mitch McConnell as a Koopa Troopa.

• Historical Perspective on Fear of Games:

  • Vintage clips show politicians have always blamed video games for violence—even in the pixelated age of primitive shooters.
    • “To them, this was hyper realistic violence. To me, it looks like you’re pointing a dildo at a Nazi dance crew.” (23:26)

• Studies Debunk the Myth:

  • Correspondents cite countless studies finding no link between violent games and violent acts.
  • Contextualizes with Japan’s $12B gaming market and near-zero gun crime:
    • “In 2015, this nation of 127 million counted only one gun murder.” (25:21)
    • “If you’re the only gun death in a country of 120 million people, you probably deserve it.” (25:24 – Correspondent)

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5. Game Addiction, Fortnite, and Cultural Impact (28:11–31:35)

• The Fortnite Frenzy:

  • Rise of gaming “addiction” as a diagnosis; WHO now recognizes "gaming disorder".
  • Satirical comparison: “Fortnite addiction is like heroin, okay? … Elvis wasn’t passed out on the toilet with his veins full of Pac-Man.” (28:49–28:55)
  • Critique of double standards: "Why does 20 straight hours of Fortnite mean you’re addicted, but binging Marvelous Ms. Maisel means you’re sophisticated?" (29:03)
  • The notion of sending kids to “video game rehab” lampooned:
    • “Cooking and laundry is not rehab. It’s what makes you want to play video games in the first place.” (30:03)
  • Blame shifts to games for relationship failures:
    • “Don’t blame Fortnite for your shitty marriage… Guess where she is now, buddy? She’s at my house watching me play Fortnite.” (30:37)

• Fortnite as Military Recruitment:

  • The US Army uses esports as a recruiting tool.
  • Stewart: “This is a great idea until those dumb kids stop fighting and start dancing in the middle of the war.” (31:15)

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6. The Legitimacy and Economics of Esports (32:56–38:00)

• The Rise of Esports:
  • Michael Kosta visits the Team Liquid training facility, finding the sophistication and dedication of esports pros.
  • Skeptical comparison between “real” sports and esports—debunked by the scale of gaming’s reach.
    • Taco, Team Liquid: “This finger killed at least 1 million people.” (34:12)
  • Esports salaries cited:
    • “Best top laner in the world... probably 800,000.” (35:54)
    • “Other top gamers earned upwards of $4 million… revenues to top $1.4 billion this year.” (36:01)
  • Kosta’s tongue-in-cheek response: “Are video games a sport? Who cares? I’m rich. Time to try to buy my dog back.” (38:00)

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7. Notable Moments & Humor

• Video Game Jesus (38:11–39:27):
  • Satire of the upcoming "I am Jesus Christ" video game.
    • “I don’t want to play a video game about Jesus. However, I do want to play as Jesus in other video games. … He’d be amazing in Grand Theft Auto.” (38:40–39:15)
    • “At least we all know the cheat code. Up, down, up, down, left, right, A, B, start.” (39:27)

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Notable Quotes (with Timestamps)

• “Who wants to be the first person to sound like an out of touch jackass? Oh, you. Congressman Upton.” – Jon Stewart (02:36)
• “Politicians are just beating a dead hooker here.” – Samantha Bee (08:08)
• “If, while being disemboweled, this woman were to suffer, perhaps, a nip slip. Regulate away.” – Jon Stewart (11:37)
• “I used to think your reality shaped your politics. It’s clear now. Your politics shapes reality.” – Jon Stewart (13:40)
• “These are franchises. These are bigger than major motion pictures.” – Jon Stewart (16:28)
• “Do you know what my son said to me the other night? Why can’t you do a show like Ellen?” – Jon Stewart (17:27)
• “To them, this was hyper realistic violence. To me, it looks like you’re pointing a dildo at a Nazi dance crew.” – Correspondent (23:26)
• “In 2015, this nation of 127 million counted only one gun murder.” – Correspondent (25:21)
• “Why does 20 straight hours of Fortnite mean you’re addicted, but binging Marvelous Ms. Maisel means you’re sophisticated?” – Correspondent (29:03)
• “This finger killed at least 1 million people.” – Team Liquid’s Taco (34:12)
• “Are video games a sport? Who cares? I’m rich. Time to try to buy my dog back.” – Michael Kosta (38:00)
• “I say unto you, it’s a me.” – Correspondent, about new Jesus game (38:40)

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Timeline of Important Segments

| Timestamp | Segment | |-------------|---------------------------------------------------------------------------| | 01:15-08:41 | Satirical Congressional Hearings on Video Game Violence | | 09:32-12:52 | Supreme Court Decision on Violent Game Sales to Minors | | 14:15-19:14 | Paul McCartney Interview: Music, Gaming, and Generational Gaps | | 20:49-25:58 | Trump Blames Video Games for Violence; Historical Perspective | | 28:11-31:35 | Fortnite, Gaming Addiction, and Gaming Culture Satire | | 32:56-38:00 | Esports as Legitimate Sport & Industry | | 38:11-39:27 | Satirical Segment on “I am Jesus Christ” Video Game |

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Conclusion

The episode thoroughly skewers the conventional wisdom about gaming's hazards, exposing Congressional scapegoating and public moral panics with sharp humor and investigative skepticism. Interspersed with personal anecdotes, celebrity insight, and lively correspondents’ sketches, the show reinforces the view that political energy spent blaming video games is often a distraction from real problems (like gun regulation). The rise of esports, the normalization of gaming pop culture, and the frequent generational disconnect make video games a lens for broader issues of media, influence, and authority.

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For anyone not listening:
This episode of The Daily Show is a rollicking satire and critique of America's ongoing love/hate affair with video games, blending political parody, cultural analysis, and laugh-out-loud commentary from Jon Stewart and his team. Whether policy, parenting, celebrity, or esports, no gaming topic is left un-poked.

Transcript

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[Jon Stewart]

Last week Congress found a topic everybody in any party could grandstand about.

[Kristen Bell]

In a generation of kids being desensitized to aberrant sexual behavior, children who then.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Are involved in an interactive way with the video games have an increased tendency to act aggressively. As a father of three young boys, 11, 8 and 6, who are avid gamers, I'm very concerned about the content included in the games.

[Jon Stewart]

And as I stand there watching them play these violent games, helpless to do anything about it, I can't help but wonder where the system has failed. Yes, violent video games were the latest target of Washington's election year. Ire hearings were held to what exactly?

[Correspondent/Reporter]

I want to learn more about how these games are rated, how they are marketed, and to whom, who's making profit from them, what retailers have to say about selling to underage children without parental approval, and what they're going to do.

[Jon Stewart]

About it, said the first witness. I pleaded the fizz. You know what I was doing there in my head? Can I tell you? I was already working on my Italian accent and so when I saw English in the prompter there, it threw me completely off, you know, because I was in another language. I was already translating, rendering in real time. I have something to tell you people. I can't read. The whole show is done phonetically and by ear. Anyway, at issue is the video game industry's rating system. Many feel the M for mature rating is too vague in describing content, not to mention completely inaccurate. To describe anyone who plays video games, they proposed a three tiered system that would start with D for dropout, W for Waistoid and max out it CMB Child in man's body. That would be me. Just want to make it clear I play these a lot. All right, but enough preliminaries. Let's get right to it. Who wants to be the first person to sound like an out of touch jackass? Oh, you. Congressman Upton.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

I'm a gamer myself. I was an expert in Pong. That was a great game.

[Jon Stewart]

Also a big fan of, I believe it was Donkey Kong. I enjoyed Missile Command. Lately, I've been playing a lot of Gran Turismo.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Vroom, vroom.

[Jon Stewart]

All right, who's next?

[Correspondent/Reporter]

I'll have to confess, Mr. Chairman, that I am also a video game player. I have worked my way up to civilization 4. I haven't yet been able to beat it, but I have at least understand the fundamentals of it.

[Jon Stewart]

Of course, Congressman Barton's favorite game, Whippersnappers 2. Get off my lawn. But it was, as always, Grand Theft Auto San Andreas that emerged as the committee's favorite whipping boy. To illustrate the video game's violence, the chairman provided a brief multimedia presentation.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

I thought we'd give before your opening.

[Jon Stewart]

Statement, start a sort of overview of.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

What we're talking about.

[Jon Stewart]

I think one of those wasn't a game. After a full day's worth of powerful testimony on this vital issue, Congressman Joe Pitts admitted that not every child was at risk.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

It's safe to say that a wealthy kid from the suburbs can play Grand Theft Auto or similar games without turning to a life of crime. But a poor kid who lives in a neighborhood where people really do steal cars or deal drugs or shoot cops might not be so fortunate.

[Jon Stewart]

Wealthy suburban kids don't do that kind of thing. Like my good friends, those fine Columbine boys. They were just.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

There's almost certainly a child somewhere in America who is going to be hurt by this game. Maybe his dad's in jail or his big brother's already down on the corner dealing drugs.

[Jon Stewart]

Maybe he buys a gun, steals a car, tries to run. But he doesn't get far in the ghetto.

[Paul McCartney]

In the ghetto.

[Jon Stewart]

For more on the. Seriously, the House of Representatives is filled with insane jackasses. For more on the Grand Theft Auto controversy, we go to Daily show senior playstationologist Samantha Bee. Samantha. Sam. Sam.

[Kristen Bell]

Sorry, John. Sorry. Thought I saw some money and some life power behind a dumpster. Turns out it was just a body. Anyways, I'm here in San Andreas, where people feel their way of life is being attacked by the morality police in Washington. There are good people here. Well, a Good person. Actually, I think he may have been in that car that just exploded. But residents here want Washington to know they're angry and they vote, or would, if not for considerable felony convictions.

[Jon Stewart]

But, Sam. So what are the people of San Andreas going to do about this?

[Kristen Bell]

Well, the city council is planning to lodge an official protest with Washington. Though whether that will take the form of spraying Capitol Hill with machine gun fire or just a good old fashioned Molotov cocktailing remains to be seen.

[Jon Stewart]

Sam, you. You would agree, though, that Grand Theft Auto San Andreas isn't really appropriate for young children?

[Kristen Bell]

No, on the contrary, John. Our kids could learn a lot from this little town. It's a place where with a little hard work, a little hand eye coordination and the right cheat codes, anyone can work their way up from a burned out moped to owning a tank.

[Jon Stewart]

Sam, what. What about the concern that young children might copy the violence that they see in this game?

[Kristen Bell]

Oh, come on, John. Nobody believes there's really a connection. This issue has been resolved in studies. Politicians are just beating a dead hooker here.

[Jon Stewart]

Sam, what about the rating system for video games? Do you think that the current standards could. Could be. Sam, is everything okay over there?

[Kristen Bell]

Oh, is it just another hump day, John? People blowing off a little steam? Anyway, the important thing is that parents groups, legislators and video game manufacturers say.

[Jon Stewart]

Hey, hey. Mother.

[Kristen Bell]

Get your mother.

[Jon Stewart]

Hands off my mother. What? What? What?

[Kristen Bell]

It's okay. I'll blow him up later.

[Jon Stewart]

All right, well, thank you very much, Samantha. Samantha Bee. We'll.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

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[Jon Stewart]

Many of you know, many of you follow the court. The Supreme Court's term ended this week with a raft of new rulings. One ruling in particular caught my eye.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

The court struck down a law passed by the California legislature in 2005 and signed into law by then Governor Arnold Schwarzenegger that made it a crime to sell or rent video games depicting violence to anyone under 18.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh, wow. That's gotta be a huge disappointment for Schwarzenegger, a man who fought so hard for so long to protect kids from images of gratuitous violence. It's all right. The state has no place keeping kids from buying violent video games. Big deal. You know what? I agree with that. I used to play video games. Space Invaders, Doom. How bad could the games really be? And then. Oh, my God.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Oh.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh, oh. Oh. Oh, my God. I think I'm gonna be sick. Oh. Oh, that. Oh, get some ice. Can the states place any restrictions on content sold to minors? Justice Scalia, in his opinion, said that government might be able to restrict sexual.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Materials, but not violent and other materials.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

What?

[Jon Stewart]

So I guess that's good news for today's graphically violent video games. Bad news for older sexy gaming classics like Super Mario Boners. Nice job, Sam. Let's be clear what we're talking about here. Fair warning. This is really fair warning. You may find this next clip. In fact, I'd be truly surprised if you don't. In all seriousness, shocking and offensive. It's like an interactive animated snuff film. So if you are sensitive to violent imagery, now might be a good time to go to another room and have filthy, disgusting, deviant sex. In this case, Brown v. Entertainment's merchants association, the U.S. supreme Court determined 7, 2 that the state of California has no interest in restricting the sale of this game. No interest in restricting the sale of that game to children. But if, while being disemboweled, this woman were to suffer, perhaps a nip slip. Regulate away. Personally, I don't know if video game violence affects children, but I am worried that the games are affecting judges that have to look at them. Like in the Wisconsin Supreme Court, Justice.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Anne Walsh Bradley is accusing fellow Justice David Prosser of trying to choke her during a heated defense. Prosser denies it. What Justice Bradley says is that she asked Justice David Prosser to leave, that he put her head. She put her neck in a chokehold.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh, judges fighting each other. Sounds like a good case for my new show, Court. Court. So literally a bench clearing brawl happening in the midst of an ideologically charged debate over collective bargaining rights. It's the biggest political fight in recent Wisconsin history. But it's he said, she said. I mean, how do we ever know who's right?

[Correspondent/Reporter]

The altercation allegedly took place in front of their court colleagues.

[Jon Stewart]

Oh, my God. Thank God. Eyewitnesses. And not just any eyewitnesses. The other Supreme Court justices, pillars of the Wisconsin legal establishment. The very people entrusted with the solemn judicial duty of weighing facts and determining justice.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

And they, too, are divided over exactly what happened?

[Jon Stewart]

The other justices were there and they're still. Let me guess, party lines. They're divided on party lines. These are people whose job is interpreting what a group of dead founders were thinking 200 and some years ago, and they can't agree on what happened right in front of their eyes. I used to think your reality shaped your politics. It's clear now. Your politics shapes reality. Please welcome Paul McCartney.

[Paul McCartney]

They all do, son. Love it.

[Jon Stewart]

Unfortunately, that's all the time we have for today. Now, I'm going to go with thunderous. That was. That was a thunder.

[Paul McCartney]

That was thunderous. That was stunning. Thank you.

[Jon Stewart]

That was stunning. Now they're doing it again. Just keep doing it.

[Paul McCartney]

I love it. I love it. Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

I understand why now, musicians have the hearing problems because the thunderous ovations.

[Paul McCartney]

This is. Right. Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

Who else gets that in the. You know, I get that. You walk out, people applaud.

[Paul McCartney]

Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

Do you remember, I've had a lot of jobs where I show up, no applause.

[Paul McCartney]

Bartender.

[Jon Stewart]

Sure. I waited tables.

[Paul McCartney]

No applause.

[Jon Stewart]

Never. Oh, he's coming with the menus.

[Paul McCartney]

Nothing.

[Jon Stewart]

Nothing.

[Paul McCartney]

Well, that's why I went into music, John.

[Jon Stewart]

I think it was, you know, a wise choice. I hope it works out for you. I think a fallback plan is always.

[Paul McCartney]

That's what my dad said to me.

[Jon Stewart]

Did he really?

[Paul McCartney]

Oh, yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

Now, how long. How much success did you have before family, friends thought, we're going to get off his back now we're going to let him go? Like, where were you? Was it. Was it charting? Was it Ed Sullivan? What was the moment where everyone went, okay, you're going to do that for a living. That's fine. That's fine, boys.

[Paul McCartney]

Yeah. Yeah. I think it was just. Yeah. The first record in the charts, probably. Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

Right. Or was it A Song for Destiny, for the video game? Was that. Well, was that where they said, okay, now he's made it?

[Paul McCartney]

It's only just happened? Yeah. They never believed it, but, yeah. No, it's a song for Destiny. I'm not here to plug.

[Jon Stewart]

No, no, I'm not here to plug it either.

[Paul McCartney]

Is this a casual mention of.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

This is.

[Jon Stewart]

You and I, we'd probably be talking anyway about that.

[Paul McCartney]

Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

Or just hanging out, as we often do.

[Paul McCartney]

We often do. Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

Me outside your house, you in it.

[Paul McCartney]

You know. Yeah. But, you know, I.

[Jon Stewart]

How do they get you to do that? You know, I. There's a lot of things I think to myself, geez, I'd love to have Paul McCartney do a song for this, but you wouldn't.

[Paul McCartney]

I might. It depends how you asked me.

[Jon Stewart]

Really? That's an interesting thing. Well, I guess these video games people don't realize these are now billion dollar industries. These are franchises. These are bigger than major motion pictures.

[Paul McCartney]

That's right. And that's what was pointed out to me by the people who asked me, why don't you do this, Paul? It's bigger than anything. And no, the thing was, you know, I'd seen my grandkids mainly playing them, and I kind of would say, you know, give me a go of that. Come on. I would get killed within the first couple of seconds. Yeah, hand it back to them. Yeah, go on. Okay. And so, you know, I was Mr. Cool. Come on, give it up.

[Jon Stewart]

How crazy is that a Paul McCartney? Cause it is. I find myself doing that as well, that whatever my kids are interested in, I try and do a little something for her. Because they don't care about this.

[Paul McCartney]

They don't care. No.

[Jon Stewart]

Do you know what my son said to me the other night? Why can't you do a show like Ellen?

[Paul McCartney]

You could have something there, Joan.

[Jon Stewart]

She said, do a show like Ellen. He goes, I watch your show. I don't even understand it. I watch her show and I really enjoy it.

[Paul McCartney]

And does she give out CDs and things and holidays?

[Jon Stewart]

You're wishing you were on Ellen, too.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

No.

[Jon Stewart]

You are, I should say.

[Paul McCartney]

No, I'm not. No, I'm not. I'm really happy to be here.

[Jon Stewart]

I really am. This is so not right.

[Paul McCartney]

This is so good.

[Jon Stewart]

If you do this for them, is there, like, a cheat code for the guy who wrote the song for the video game where you, like, are impervious to damage? Can you, you know, do you. Do you play it now and they tell you how to win?

[Paul McCartney]

No.

[Jon Stewart]

So you still get blown up. Do you play them?

[Paul McCartney]

Basically, no, I don't play them.

[Jon Stewart]

No. But the kids do.

[Paul McCartney]

The kids do. Yeah. I've tried them, but I'm no good at them. I go in the first room. Yes. Come on.

[Jon Stewart]

Yes.

[Paul McCartney]

And they're shooting at me. They're shooting at me, John.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah.

[Paul McCartney]

I get killed and hand the control back.

[Jon Stewart]

That's really one of the big drawbacks in these games, is that they are relentlessly trying to keep shooting at you all the time. I just. I find it fascinating that, like, for me, there's nothing I would rather be than a pop star than a rock star. To me, it's such a magical way of expressing yourself in a. You know, comedy is so linear. It's language. Everybody knows somebody who's funny. Not everybody. Music is such a different language, such a beautiful, more abstract language. It's shocking to me to know that there's something that you're not that good at that you think to yourself, that'd be fun to be good at that.

[Paul McCartney]

What's that?

[Jon Stewart]

Are you going to the Rock? Are you going to go when Ringo goes to the Hall?

[Paul McCartney]

I am, yeah. I definitely am.

[Jon Stewart]

This is very exciting.

[Paul McCartney]

I'm really excited about that.

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah, yeah, yeah, yeah. And that's so now. And you're in. He's in. Everybody's in. You know what? Maybe I'll go. It's in New York, is it not? Don't they do the ceremony in New York?

[Paul McCartney]

Do they? I don't know. I'll find out, though, before the night.

[Jon Stewart]

I really don't know where you go. They just point you in a direction. As far as you know you were coming on Letterman. You don't even know where you are.

[Paul McCartney]

I thought this was Alan.

[Jon Stewart]

Do it.

[Kristen Bell]

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[Correspondent/Reporter]

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Trade is not the only issue that Trump has been focused on recently. Since the school shooting in Florida, the president has also been trying to address gun violence. And while he has proposed a number of gun control measures, there are a few additional culprits that he has in his sights.

[Jon Stewart]

The video games, the movies, the Internet stuff is so violent. I have a young, very young son who I look at some of the things he's watching and I say, how is that possible? And this is what kids are watching. But these things are really violent. No.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Trump talks about his kid like he's not his parents. It's like, look at the violence this kid is watching. Isn't someone gonna stop him? I mean, you know what this kid needs in his life? He needs a John Kelly. That's what he needs in his life. But you're his dad, Donald. Isn't it your fault? No. This kid started playing games under Obama.

I inherited a mess. Folks.

The point is, Trump is not a big fan of video games, partly because the controllers are too big, and also because he believes they inspire real world violence. So this afternoon, he summoned the heads of the video game industry and their critics to roundtable discussion. For a change, Trump decided to be camera shy. So there's no footage of this meeting, although we here at the Daily show were able to get exclusive audio of what went down.

[Paul McCartney]

Okay, let's get started.

[Jon Stewart]

Wait, wait, wait. Why isn't Mario here?

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Mario's not coming, sir. Video game characters don't exist.

[Jon Stewart]

Okay, but then why is that Koopa troopa here?

[Correspondent/Reporter]

I'm Mitch McConnell.

That's just what a Koopa would say. Let's jump on him.

Ow, ow, ow. Mr. President. Ow, my neck. Now, Trump is hardly the first person to blame gun violence in part on video games. In fact, this has been an idea that's been around for decades. Now.

This is the handheld implement with which you play the game by shooting it at the screen. Instead of enriching a child's mind, these games teach a child to enjoy inflicting torture.

Of course it affects our children, and it affects our kids in a very negative way. Yeah, you see, it turns out politicians have been warning about the dangers of violent video games way back when. I mean, like this is back when games looked like this. Remember this?

Yeah.

To them, this was hyper realistic violence. I mean, to me, it looks like you're pointing a dildo at a Nazi dance crew. I don't, I don't see the violence. And, and here's what I don't get about this argument. How come video games are supposedly so influential, but only when it comes to guns?

Right?

Cause I mean, if they really were as influential as politicians say, then shouldn't games influence us with everything? Like, as kids, we spent every day playing paperboy. But that never inspired anyone to go out and commence mass paper deliveries. No one was like, it's because of the games.

Extra, extra.

[Jon Stewart]

Read all about it.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

And here's the thing. There have been hundreds of studies on this issue, and they have shown. They have shown that there isn't any connection between violent video games and violence activities. Now, that doesn't mean that video games have no influence on you, because let's be Honest. Everything we consume as human beings affects us somehow, right? Sex and the City might make you want to go to brunch. Karate Kid might have made people join the local dojo. Hell, if it wasn't for Instagram, I would have never gotten my butt implants. Okay, yeah, I. I got it on the back. Cause I already had a real ass. I just wanted another one. It's like. Cause two asses? I mean, come on, why not? So, yes, I agree that video games can affect your behavior, but so can TV and movies. And I mean, hell, there's even violence in the Bible. Mother were killing people with jawbones in there. Like, you can't take violence out of the world. What you can do is limit the tools violent people have, which is exactly what they've done in Japan.

The Japanese play many of the same violent video games that we do.

[Jon Stewart]

In 2015, gaming revenue in Japan was over $12 billion, behind only the United States and China. Japan has some of the strictest gun.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Laws in the world.

In 2015, this nation of 127 million.

Counted only one gun murder.

[Jon Stewart]

Wow.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Only one gun murder. That is impressive. And I'm sorry, but if you're the only gun death in a country of 120 million people, you. You probably deserve it. I'm just saying. I'm just saying. Look, man, the. The truth is, many countries around the world have figured this out. The most effective and realistic way to limit gun violence is, is to regulate who has access to guns. And while the President is talking about video games, interestingly enough, lawmakers in Florida have decided to take action.

New state gun legislation is headed to.

The desk of Florida Governor Rick Scott.

This morning after last month's deadly school shooting in Parkland. The bill raises the minimum age for buying firearms to 21, imposes a three.

Day waiting period for gun purchases, bans.

Bump stocks, and establishes new mental health programs in schools.

I'm gonna say a sentence that I'm assuming has never before been uttered on this show. Well done, Florida.

Well done.

I mean, usually the news coming out of Florida is like, man arrested for threesome with two rattlesnakes. So this is a step in the right direction. Now, the bill does do one other thing that might not be as popular. The most controversial provision in this legislation is the Marshall program. That's a program that would allow teachers and other school personnel to be armed as long as they go through training. In this case, 144 hours of training. Yep, Florida teachers about to get strapped, which means that kids are gonna be A lot more engaged in class. Gonna be like, who wants to answer the next question? Wow. A lot of hands up. A lot of hands going up. Two hands. Look at you. Yeah. Here's what I find interesting about this law.

All right?

Florida lawmakers have decided that the teachers, the people they trust with their kids, need to meet strict standards before they can carry a gun. Right? 144 hours of training and passing a psychological exam and random drug tests and additional training every year, which makes sense, but when it comes to anyone outside of a school, they go, yeah, just give that random dude a gun. I mean, what's the worst that could happen, right? I feel like you guys were so close to figuring this out. Just take that same law, cross out teachers and write in everyone. Problem solved. Why doesn't everyone have to go through those same steps?

It makes sense.

So, uh, if you'll excuse me, I've been playing a ton of Angry Birds, so I've gotta go outside and throw some pigeons at pigs. We'll be right back. Thanks, Trevor.

The most popular video game right now is Fortnite. And why not? It's got everything people love. Hanging out with your friends, killing your friends, and dancing over your friends dead bodies. But just like every other thing that's popular, people have started to blame it for all their problems.

[Kristen Bell]

The popular video game Fortnite now has more than 200 million registered players worldwide. Problem is, experts say it's incredibly addicting.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Behavioral health experts have seen an increase in young adults seeking treatment for their addiction to video games. In fact, earlier this year, the World Health Organization recognized gaming disorder as a diagnosable condition.

[Jon Stewart]

A British behavioral specialist says Fortnite addiction is like heroin, okay?

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Fortnite is not like drugs, okay? There's no rock star who died from video games. Elvis wasn't passed out on the toilet with his veins full of Pac man, right? No wonderful entertainment gets the bad rap that video games do. I mean, why does 20 straight hours of Fortnite mean you're addicted, but binging marvelous, Ms. Maisel, means you're sophisticated. Oh, and so what if I sometimes miss work because I was up all night playing Fortnite? I just tell my idiot boss I lost my voice like he does all the time. All the time. You have one job, but fine. These so called specialists say it's an addiction. And now the innocent kids are paying the price.

[Kristen Bell]

Some parents are so worried their kids are spending so much time playing the popular game, they're taking a drastic step and sending their kids to video game rehab.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Well, this year, the drug of choice, as we call it, is Fortnite. Michael Jacobus runs Reset Summer Camp, a four week program that focuses on teen tech addiction. When kids are at your camp, is it like a detox? Yes, absolutely. With no devices for a whole month, the camp focuses on therapy and teaching life skills like cooking and laundry.

Okay, cooking and laundry is not rehab. It's what makes you want to play video games in the first place. Okay? No kid has ever been like, hey, washing my filthy clothes is so much fun. I'll never play video games again. If I wanted to cook and do laundry, I'd play the Sims. All right? And the blame keeps going. Because according to some, Fortnite isn't just damaging kids, it's ruining marriages.

An online UK divorce service says 200.

[Kristen Bell]

Divorce petitions cited Fortnite this year.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

That was the reason for the split. Put the controller down, Fortnite.

Don't blame Fortnite for your shitty marriage, okay? You made your wife sit and watch you play Fortnite day after day, until one day you look over and she's gone. Well, guess where she is now, buddy? She's at my house watching me play Fortnite. Guys, Fortnite is harmless fun. In fact, the only place I draw a line is using it to train real killers.

You can serve your country and play Fortnite.

[Kristen Bell]

Well, the Stars in the Stripes newspaper says yes.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

The army is forming a team of.

[Kristen Bell]

Pro gamers to compete in tournaments as a recruitment tool.

[Jon Stewart]

The plan is actually to have recruiters.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Playing those games in their uniforms at.

[Jon Stewart]

Tournaments to provoke questions about their jobs from the players.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

This is a great idea until those dumb kids stop fighting and start dancing in the middle of the war.

[Jon Stewart]

Right? And just getting shot in the.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

The only way the army should use Fortnite is to drop it on ISIS. Then they'll start playing it 20 hours a day and we'll have won the war on terror. And that's when we really get to dance.

Disney and Pixar. Zelio has a new home now streaming on Disney. That's amazing. Critics agree Helio is fun and full of heart and humor. These are the lava tunnels.

[Kristen Bell]

I am not fireproof. Just get in my mouth.

[Jon Stewart]

Actually kind of comfy in here. It is.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

It's certified fresh and verified.

[Jon Stewart]

Hot.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Ta da.

Helio's bringing the whole family together on Disney.

[Kristen Bell]

One, two, two and a half, three.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Disney and Pixar's Elio. Now streaming on Disney. Rated pg. I'm Scott Hanson, host of NFL Red Zone. Lowe's knows Sundays hit Different when you earn them. We've got you covered with outdoor power equipment from Cobalt and everything you need to weatherproof your deck with Trex decking. Plus with lawn care from Scotts and of course pit boss grills and accessories, you can get a home field advantage all season long. So get to Lowe's, get it done and earn your Sunday. Lowe's official partner of the NFL I'm Michael Kosta and before I started covering the news on cable tv, I was a successful professional athlete. What sport? Tennis. Duh. I was ranked 864 in the world. So I was a natural to investigate the newest sport sweeping the nation. Video games.

[Jon Stewart]

Competitive video gaming known as esports is booming.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

There's even a training center with five training rooms and six locker rooms.

[Jon Stewart]

The Olympics are considering adding esports.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

I went to California to a so called training center in someone's garage to talk with these ethletes about why video games isn't a sport. What the hell is this? This was the alienware training facility for esports team Liquid. Complete with scrimmage stations, a war room, PR department, a team coach, and even an in house chef. The team star, whose name is Taco, was acquired from Brazil's top team.

[Jon Stewart]

This is a real sport.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

You call yourself an athlete?

[Jon Stewart]

Yes, of course. We compete, we go to tournaments, we travel a lot, we got some money.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

What does an esport athlete Mr. Taco do every day?

Just practice.

Yeah. I'm a former professional tennis player. That's what I would call a real sport. There is an opponent and you would relish the opportunity to defeat them with your racket. What do you actually have to show for what you're doing?

[Jon Stewart]

Come on.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

I have a really strong finger.

A finger? Yes.

This finger killed at least 1 million people.

That finger's killed 1 million people?

@ least.

Taka was referring to his kills in Counter Strike. A game where guys shoot other guys before a bomb goes off, apparently. How is this a sport? I won the Ann Arbor junior open at 11 years old. How hard could it be to pound on these dorks? What are you staring at, huh? I'm gonna whoop your ass.

[Paul McCartney]

Next to the left.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

To the left, to the left. You think it's.

Oh, Jesus Christ. I shot him four times, he shoots me once and I die. These games were clearly rigged against more muscular athletes. Ah, Jesus. How do I keep dying, Taco? But who's paying for these cucks to sit around all day and mash buttons? Apparently guys like three time NBA champion Rick Fox, owner of esports franchise Echo Fox. What are you doing with these nerds, man? You're a real athlete.

[Jon Stewart]

And so are they.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

What the shit are you talking about? Me and you, we played real sports. You know, you could see our balls in our pants when we played.

[Jon Stewart]

Were you an athlete?

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Oh, yeah, yeah. I played professional tennis. I was ranked 864 in the world.

[Jon Stewart]

Okay, you win a couple tournaments?

[Correspondent/Reporter]

No, I didn't win the tournaments. But how much money did you make in your career? You made $11,000 about. But there's a whole system and I was, you know, right in there playing as a pro athlete.

[Jon Stewart]

Okay. In our era, I think there was no shame around pursuing a career in professional sports because you could get a scholarship the college, which by the way, you can get as an esport player. Now there's a number of colleges that are building esports arenas on their campuses.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

This is all great, but let's get down to brass tacks here. How much do these e th make?

[Jon Stewart]

Probably the best top laner in the world. In one of our games, he makes probably 800,000.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

What? And while players like Taco made over 800k last year, other top gamers were earned upwards of $4 million. And thanks to advertising and sponsorships, revenues will top $1.4 billion this year. 1.4 billion?

[Jon Stewart]

Are you kidding me?

[Correspondent/Reporter]

But what really makes it legit is Vegas sportsbooks take bets on it. So I did what anyone would do. Sold my dog for 3,000 bucks and put it all on Team Liquid at the Barclays Center. I'll buy them back after I win. Amsterdam, London, Cologne, Montreal. I don't give a shit. You're in Brooklyn now, baby. This is the Barclays Center. This is where champions play. And the Brooklyn Nets. We're gonna heal as a team or we're gonna die as individuals. Did I make myself clear? Yeah.

[Jon Stewart]

Come on.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Alright, ignore all that.

[Jon Stewart]

And then we just follow the game plan. Let's go, guys.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

It was time for Team Liquid to win in the semifinals and make the me some money. Let's go, baby.

[Jon Stewart]

Let's go.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

It definitely felt like a real sport. These gaming gladiators were ready for battle. Ladies and gentlemen, the moment you've all been waiting for. Team Liquid versus Gambit. Click your mouse. They flex their fingers. They clicked their buttons. They adjusted their headsets. Come on, Liquid Taco.

[Jon Stewart]

Liquid Taco.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Hey. Let's start the wave. Starting over here.

[Jon Stewart]

Woo.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Watch the stairs. Watch the. They fought to outmaneuver, evade and shoot their opponents heads off. And just when it looked like Team Liquid was on the ropes. They rallied. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Your next grand finalist is. It's Team Liquid.

[Jon Stewart]

That's what I'm talking about. That's what I'm talking about, ladies. Woo. Number one, Team Liquid.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

Are video games a sport? Who cares? I'm rich. Time to try to buy my dog back. All right.

And finally, have you heard the good news about Jesus? Yeah. Now have you heard the bad news about Jesus?

This might actually be the holy grail.

Of new video games.

[Kristen Bell]

It's called I am Jesus Christ and it lets gamers play Jesus to heal.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

A blind man, make fish appear in.

[Kristen Bell]

A bucket and end a thunderstorm.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

The New Testament inspired game has not been released yet, but it is expected to launch soon.

Okay, this, this is extremely offensive, especially for me, someone who has already accepted Super Mario as my video game savior. I mean, and I say unto you, it's a me. Look, I'll. I'll be honest. I don't want to play a video game about Jesus. However, I do want to play as Jesus in other video games. Think about it. Yeah. When Jesus was alive, he rolled with sinners and prostitutes. So he'd kick ass in Grand Theft Auto. He'd be amazing. Or even better, I'd want Jesus to be in Madden as a quarterback. Be like, what's the play? Jesus, Hail Mary, same as every play.

[Jon Stewart]

Or. Or.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

I'd want to play Jesus in Mortal Kombat. Yeah, just ripping out dudes spines, then immediately healing them.

Resurrect him.

So look, I. I don't know about this video game, but if you are gonna play it and you do get stuck, at least we all know the cheat code. It's gonna be up, down, up, down, left, right, A, B, start. That's it.

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.

Plus.

This has been a Comedy Central podcast. Limu Emu and Doug. Here we have the Limu Emu in its natural habitat helping people customize their car insurance and save hundreds with Liberty Mutual. Fascinating. It's accompanied by his natural ally, Doug. Uh, Limu is that guy with the binoculars watching us. Cut the camera. They see us. Only pay for what you [e-mail] Liberty Liberty Liberty.

Liberty Savings Ferry unwritten by Liberty Mutual.

[Jon Stewart]

Insurance company and affiliates excludes Massachusetts.

[Correspondent/Reporter]

For a limited time at McDonald's, get a Big Mac Extra Value meal for $8. That means two all beef patties, special sauce, lettuce, cheese, pickles, onions on a sesame seed bun and medium FL prize. And a drink. We may need to change that jingle. Prices and participation may vary.