The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode: TDS Time Machine | Young Activists
Date: December 7, 2025
Host(s): Jon Stewart, Trevor Noah
Guests: Malala Yousafzai, Greta Thunberg, Emma Gonzalez, Matt Dyche, Xiuhtezcatl Martinez

Episode Overview

This episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition spotlights "Young Activists," showcasing youth leaders who have become trailblazers in social, educational, environmental, and political causes. With interviews conducted by Jon Stewart and Trevor Noah, the episode explores the experiences, motivations, and philosophies of figures like Malala Yousafzai (education advocate), Greta Thunberg (climate activist), Emma Gonzalez & Matt Dyche (March for Our Lives anti-gun violence activists), and Xiuhtezcatl Martinez (environmental activist & hip-hop artist). The tone alternates between reflective, earnest, and comedy-tinged, exemplifying The Daily Show’s signature blend of real talk and wit.

1. Malala Yousafzai: Bravery, Education, and Global Responsibility

Segment Start: 01:17

A Conversation on Humanity and Hope

• Jon Stewart welcomes Malala, remarking on the difficult news of the day, prompting a reflection on hope and humanity.
• Malala emphasizes persistent tragedy:
  • “I have seen these kind of situations in my life when there is no justice, when there is no human feeling... for a second you think that no one has feelings at all.” (01:33)
• She insists on praying for peace and the prosperity of all (01:53).

On the Burden and Choice of Activism

• Stewart notes the burden society places on her as a Nobel laureate, but highlights her ordinariness.
• Malala responds:
  • “Sometimes people do think it has been forced upon me...but the reality is that I have chosen this life...If I wouldn’t have liked it, I could have said no after the attack.” (04:13)
  • She points to the thousands of “ordinary girls” whose courage is equal to hers.

Family Humor and Relatability

• Jon jokes about how Malala’s siblings measure up to a Nobel Peace Prize winner.
• Malala teases her brothers:
  • “He is getting a bit… not the good brother, really.” (06:03)
• Jon: “You enjoy taunting them.” (05:24)

Love for Country and Displacement

• Malala reveals heartbreak about not being able to return to Pakistan after the Nobel Prize:
  • “My mother felt really sad and she even cried that we don't have the opportunity to go back to our country.” (06:32)
  • “Whoever has this opportunity should be thankful.” (06:32)

Frustration and Progress in Education

• Malala recalls meeting girls worldwide, mentioning systemic obstacles to their education—poverty, lack of free education, cultural barriers (09:38).
• “I always encourage…that they should not wait for someone else to speak up for them. Their voices are really powerful...” (08:01)

Speaking Truth to Power

• Stewart points out Malala’s directness with world leaders, referencing her meeting with President Obama about drone strikes and Goodluck Jonathan about the kidnapped Nigerian girls (10:30).
• Malala:
  • “You have to sometimes ignore all the formal stuff and tell the truth.” (11:02)

Closing Call to Action

• Stewart prompts Malala to describe the Malala Fund; she urges continued support for girls’ education (12:43).

Notable Quote:

• “We never realize that [Martin Luther King Jr., Nelson Mandela] are normal humans like us. And if we step forward, we can also bring change just like them.” —Malala (04:13)

2. Greta Thunberg: Climate Panic and Youth Urgency

Segment Start: 14:04

Introducing Greta’s Activism

• Trevor Noah praises the global impact of Greta’s school strike.
• Greta:
  • “I don’t want your hope. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act.” (14:23)

Committing to Climate: A Zero Emissions Journey

• Greta explains her choice to sail, not fly, to New York:
  • “I am one of the very few people...who can actually do such a trip. So I thought, why not?” (15:25)

Changing Behaviors and Family Sacrifice

• Greta’s activism led her opera singer mother to quit flying:
  • “I don’t care, honestly, about how she performs…She had to change career, but it wasn’t that big.” (16:34)

Why Young People Care More

• “Others feel like, ‘I won’t be alive then anyway, so screw it.’ But we...know that these consequences will face us during our lifetime...” (17:18)
• She blames lack of education for insufficient awareness.

Pushing for Political Change

• “If I were to choose, one thing everyone would do, it would be to inform yourself and to try to understand the situation and try to push for a political movement that doesn’t exist because the politics needed to fix this doesn’t exist today.” (19:10)

Cultural Differences in Climate Discussion

• “Here it feels like it is being discussed as something whether you believe in or not…Where I come from, it’s more like it’s a fact.” (20:11)

The Sensory Shock of New York

• Greta, after her transatlantic sail:
  • “Everything is so much, so big, so loud, and...People talk so loud here...I woke up and suddenly it smelled something. And of course it was pollution, but still something.” (21:00–21:53)

Notable Quote:

• “I don’t want your hope. I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act.” —Greta Thunberg (14:23)

3. Emma Gonzalez and Matt Dyche: Gun Violence, Voting, and Youth Power

Segment Start: 23:03

Turning Outrage into Action

• Trevor Noah discusses their sustained efforts after the Parkland shooting.
• Emma describes influence from Chicago Peace Warriors and MLK’s principles:
  • “Principle number four is accept suffering without retaliation for the sake of the cause to achieve the goal...” (23:47)

The Importance of Voter Mobilization

• Emphasis is placed on not just registration, but actually voting (24:42):
  • “Your vote really, really does count. What if it had been one vote?” (25:19)

Impact of Young Voters

• Matt: “Young people turn out at a rate about 1 in 5. If young people turn out at a rate of 2 out of 5, they can swing any election...convince one person...you can swing this election.” (25:54)
• “Congress does not reflect the wants and needs of the American people.” (26:14)

Practical Advocacy (QR Code Shirts)

• Their shirts have QR codes so anyone can register to vote instantly:
  • “It will get you registered to vote in under two minutes.” (26:41)

The End of “Normalcy”

• Matt:
  • “There is no normality in this country right now...Not a day has passed...where we haven’t seen a day go by where a new news story of someone else shot and killed another young person...It is up to us...to actually stand up and fight for each other.” (27:18)

Notable Quote:

• “There is no normality in this country right now...We have more important things to do.” —Matt Dyche (27:18)

4. Xiuhtezcatl Martinez: The Beat and the Battle for the Planet

Segment Start: 29:09

From Childhood to Movement Leadership

• Trevor Noah notes Xiuhtezcatl’s long history in activism (since age six).
• Xiuhtezcatl:
  • “I saw a documentary about the destruction of the planet. I was like, this is my destiny, right?...I was really, like, terrified by the thought that my future was gonna be tainted because people all over the world weren’t taking adequate action to protect us from climate disaster.” (29:53)
• His mother was his early manager (29:58).

Youth Mobilization

• Took over Earth Guardians at age 9, led campaigns to ban pesticides and fracking (30:53).
• “There was about maybe 10 of us…we gave our testaments or our speeches as to why we didn’t think that was a good, healthy option for our community.” (31:29)

Activist Opportunity for Young Generations

• “Now more than ever, we have an opportunity to re-approach an issue like climate change...If you see the thousands of lives…due to floods, you know, Hurricane Irma...Harvey that hit Texas...It’s about people’s lives.” (32:26)
• Leading a lawsuit with 20+ young plaintiffs against the U.S. federal government for climate inaction (33:48).

Changing History

• “We’re not gonna allow this era to be defined by Donald Trump.” (32:45)

Notable Quote:

• “Young people all over this country, more than we give them credit for, are actually really interested in being engaged, but don’t really have a platform.” —Xiuhtezcatl Martinez (31:47)
• “We are getting artistic. We are moving into the streets in a way we have never seen.” (32:45)

Key Memorable Quotes

• Malala Yousafzai:
  “If we step forward, we can also bring change just like [Martin Luther King, Nelson Mandela].” (04:13)

• Greta Thunberg:
  “I want you to panic. I want you to feel the fear I feel every day. And then I want you to act.” (14:23)

• Emma Gonzalez:
  “Doesn’t matter what you face as an individual. The goal is much more important than anybody.” (23:47)

• Matt Dyche:
  “There is no normality in this country right now...We have more important things to do.” (27:18)

• Xiuhtezcatl Martinez:
  “Young people...are really interested in being engaged, but don’t really have a platform.” (31:47)

Timestamps for Important Segments

• Malala Yousafzai interview: 01:17 – 13:32
• Greta Thunberg interview: 14:04 – 22:30
• Emma Gonzalez & Matt Dyche interview: 23:03 – 28:07
• Xiuhtezcatl Martinez interview: 29:09 – 34:59

Themes and Insights

• Youth Leadership: Across activism for education, gun control, and climate action, young people are not only involved—they are persistently leading movements and forcing older generations to reckon with urgent realities.
• Global Solidarity: Each guest draws attention to global contexts, from Malala’s advocacy for girls' education worldwide to Greta’s international movement against climate change and Xiuhtezcatl’s global view on environmental justice.
• Directness and Courage: Young activists display a combination of relentless honesty and pragmatic strategy, unafraid to challenge world leaders and entrenched authorities.
• Emphasis on Action: All guests urge their peers—and older listeners—to act: voting, self-education, protest, and direct engagement with leaders.
• Humor and Humanity: The show’s signature comedic banter, especially between hosts and guests, keeps heavy topics accessible and authentic.

Conclusion

This special episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition, “Young Activists,” highlights how a new generation is rising to meet some of the world’s most urgent social and political challenges—using their voices, refusing silence, and showing the world that meaningful change doesn’t depend on age, but on courage and tenacity.