Trump Blames the Left for Charlie Kirk's Assassination as Rhetoric Escalates | Rainn Wilson

Summary

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The Daily Show: Ears Edition

Episode Title: Trump Blames the Left for Charlie Kirk's Assassination as Rhetoric Escalates | Rainn Wilson
Date: September 12, 2025
Host: Michael Costa
Special Guest: Rainn Wilson

Episode Overview

This episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition takes on the aftermath of the high-profile assassination of conservative activist Charlie Kirk, the subsequent political finger-pointing, and America's escalating rhetorical temperature. Michael Costa, with the comedy news team, examines how political violence becomes a partisan blame game, questions the simplistic narrative around "dangerous rhetoric," and explores deeper root causes. The show also features a hilariously informative segment on climate change and cow emissions, and ends with an engaging interview with actor/author Rainn Wilson about his new film "Code 3," current healthcare issues, the role of spiritual community in society, and the wisdom of connection.

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Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. Political Violence and the Blame Game

(01:07–08:00)

• Charlie Kirk’s Assassination:
  Michael Costa opens the show by addressing yesterday’s assassination of Charlie Kirk. While condemning violence, he notes the facts around the crime remain unclear and makes a jab at Kash Patel’s FBI:

  "As of now, we don't know who did it. But Kash Patel's FBI is on the case, so we will never know who did it." (01:28)

• Condemnation from Leaders:
  The team relays bipartisan condemnation, with all four living ex-Presidents and Biden releasing measured statements urging national unity and peaceful debate. (02:15–02:53)

• Current President Trump’s Response:
  Contrastingly, Trump delivers a highly partisan statement, blaming left-wing rhetoric for the attack:

  “For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis...This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we’re seeing in our country today.” (03:11)
  Michael Costa responds, highlighting that this reaction is expected from Trump and lampooning the quick willingness to blame the other side.

• Escalation and Circle of Accusations:
  The Daily Show team pokes fun at the predictable cycle where Republicans blame Democrats, who then turn it back around:

  • “Democrats own what happened today.” – Grace Kulenschmidt (04:35)
  • "By that logic, do Republicans own the shooting of the two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota?" – Michael Costa (04:45)

• Complex Roots of Political Violence
  Costa suggests that rhetoric is only part of the problem, citing other factors:

  “The problem might be a toxic mix of our gun laws, lack of mental health collapse, social connection, probably a bunch of other things...” (05:29)

• Free Speech and Violence
  The discussion also highlights the difference between hate speech leading to violence (Rainn Wilson argues the link), but Costa counters:

  “The whole idea of free speech in America is you can say what you want and not expect to be shot.” (06:44)

• MAGA Reaction and 'Civil War' Paranoia
  The team mocks MAGA influencers fanning the flames:

  "... some of these MAGA guys are acting like this is a liberal declaration of war." (07:50)

  • “First off, it’s not that hard to radicalize Republicans. You guys almost burned down the country because Cracker Barrel changed its font.” – Michael Costa (08:34)

• Call for 'We', Not 'They'
  Costa closes the segment with a reflection:

  “We need to start thinking less in terms of what they should do and more in terms of what we have to do... The last time it felt like we thought in terms of we was on 9/11 when we all came together as a nation... But I don’t know what you do to get back to that...maybe...an alien invasion?” (09:40)

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2. Climate Change, Methane, and Cow Farts

(12:51–18:14)

• Introduction: The tone shifts to a satirical investigative segment on livestock methane emissions and state regulatory attempts. Costa jokes,

  “Cows. To most, they're just delicious animals, warming our planet with their farts. But to some, cow farts might be a new tool in the fight against climate change.” (12:51)

• Tracking Cow Emissions:
  Reporter Grace Kulenschmidt interviews Washington State Rep. Lisa Parshley about plans to monitor cow methane:

  “I’m trying to get a monitoring program for cows, burps, and farts.” – Lisa Parshley (13:35)

• Farmers’ Concerns:
  Jake Yancy (local farmer) voices worries about financial impacts and “Big Brother” surveillance. It’s clarified that cows primarily burp, but do fart as well (14:51–15:14).

• Policy and Fart/Livestock Credits:
  Parshley describes how accurate data not only informs taxes but helps farmers qualify for "fart credits:”

  “It’s about a balance between providing food, farts and burps, and protecting our environment.” (16:08)

• Kids Panel on Fart Taxes:
  The bit closes with a humorous “kids panel” asking how much a cow fart should cost (“1, 300,000”), culminating in a tongue-in-cheek visit to an actual cow for answers. (16:20–18:14)

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3. Interview: Rainn Wilson (Actor, Author of "Soul Boom")

(19:47–32:48)

On "Code 3" and Paramedics

• Wilson shares experiences training with paramedics for his new film ‘Code 3’, emphasizing how underappreciated and underpaid first responders are:

  "The population that we entrust to save our lives...they get paid about what someone who works at Starbucks gets paid." (21:47)

• Michael Costa adds:

  "There's a great line, that's something like, 'I'm your best friend on your worst day.'" (22:08)

• Wilson on healthcare reform:

  "You want to hear from a sitcom actor about how to fix the American health care system?...these systems are so colossally broken from top to bottom." (22:24)

• On burnout in the EMS/medical fields and personal experiences as an actor:

  "The average paramedic works from, like, two to four years on the job. And my character Randy's been working at it for 18." (23:40)

On Spirituality & Community ("Soul Boom")

• Wilson discusses his book and social project "Soul Boom"—calling for a spiritual revolution, using “tools from the world’s faith traditions” to heal and reconnect:

  "Perhaps there is...a wisdom that we can use to heal...if we simply turn to compassion and really harness it as an energy, we can affect some transformation." (24:36)

• Costa asks how to live this in practice:

  • Wilson cites Carl Jung:

    "Until we make the unconscious conscious, we will live our lives in a certain way and think of it as fate." (25:50)
    He recommends meditation and grassroots community-building as starting points.

• On the difference between communication and connection:

  "These like, microcomputers in their pockets...make you feel like you’re connected. But communication is different than connection." (26:55)
  "We have to foster that...it's going to happen IRL, in real life." (27:07)

• On the need for community outside religion and missed social fabrics:

  "We’ve thrown the spiritual baby out with the religious bathwater...it’s potlucks and community gatherings and bringing trays of food..." (27:19-27:30)

On Climate Change and Outreach

• Wilson addresses climate change denial, polarization, and how to communicate:

  "Of course science isn’t something you believe in. Science just is....One area that can unite both political left and right is again, looking at a sacred or spiritual connection to nature, which we have really forgotten about." (28:34-29:30)

• On why we need to teach environmental values:

  "We need to teach our children to cherish the land, to conserve the land...there are ways to bring people together around climate that we haven't fully explored." (29:30)

On Tennis and Life as ‘Dwight’

• Wilson shares his love of tennis and jokes about celebrity sightings, before addressing typecasting and gratitude for his career-defining role:

  "It is a challenge. You know, having played one of the most iconic characters on television history...But I am so grateful." (32:17)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• “I believe killing people is wrong, and I know that's a hot take...” – Michael Costa, opening note of satirical gravity (01:09)
• “My fellow Americans, we must come together to destroy each other.” – Michael Costa mocking Trump’s divisive rhetoric (03:18)
• “You can say what you want and not expect to be shot.” – Michael Costa on the principle of free speech (06:44)
• “First off, it's not that hard to radicalize Republicans. You guys almost burned down the country because Cracker Barrel changed its font.” – Michael Costa (08:34)
• “The best way to put this is I’m trying to get a monitoring program for cows, burps and farts.” – Lisa Parshley (13:35)
• “We have all the data from Denmark and California. At some point, somebody's going to...say, we need to tax this. But they'll be doing it based on an assumption instead of data.” – Lisa Parshley on sound climate policy (15:23)
• “It’s about a balance between providing food, farts and burps, and protecting our environment.” – Lisa Parshley (16:08)
• “The average paramedic works from, like, two to four years on the job. And my character Randy's been working at it for 18.” – Rainn Wilson (23:40)
• “We’ve thrown the spiritual baby out with the religious bathwater.” – Rainn Wilson (27:19)
• "Of course science isn't something you believe in. Science just is." – Rainn Wilson (28:34)

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Timestamps for Important Segments

• 01:07 – Show proper begins; political violence and Kirk’s assassination
• 02:15 – Former presidents and Biden react
• 03:10–04:00 – Trump and partisan blame escalation
• 06:12 – Rainn Wilson on hate speech, thoughts, violence
• 08:14–09:43 – Reflection on MAGA responses and America’s “we” moments
• 12:51–18:14 – Cow fart/climate change investigative comedy segment
• 19:47–32:48 – Rainn Wilson interview: Code 3, paramedics, burnout, spirituality, climate, community, tennis, and “Dwight” legacy

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Episode Tone & Style

Fast-paced, irreverent, sharply satirical but with moments of genuine introspection—especially regarding national unity, community, and societal obligations. The interview with Rainn Wilson moves from dry comedic jabs to earnest advice about compassion, connection, and the power of humor and storytelling.

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For Listeners Who Missed It

This episode deftly skewers political scapegoating in America after tragedy, delves into the comic realities and policy debates of methane emissions, and finishes with a heartfelt and humorous interview with Rainn Wilson. Major takeaways: violence is more complex than rhetoric, policy needs evidence (sometimes about farts), connection and compassion start locally, and even the man behind Dwight believes in the transformative power of community (and a good tennis match).

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Transcript

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[Lisa Parshley]

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[Narrator/Announcer]

You're listening to Comedy Central.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

From the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, Michael Costa. Welcome to the Bailey Show. I'm Michael Costa. We've got a lot to talk about tonight, so let's get into the headlines. By now you guys all know about yesterday's assassination of Charlie Kirk. And this probably goes without saying, but I feel like I have to say it. I believe killing people is wrong and I know that's a hot take. But as of now, we don't know who did it. But Kash Patel's FBI is on the case, so we will never know who did it. This is as good a time as any to say political violence is never acceptable and should be condemned. And thankfully, many political leaders think the same.

[Ned Sampson]

All four former presidents are reacting to the death of Charlie Kirk. Joe Biden posting on X. There is no place in our country for this kind of violence. Barack Obama shared a similar sentiment, writing, this kind of despicable violence has no place in our democracy. And a statement as well from George W. Bush who said this. Members of other political parties are not our enemies. They are our fellow citizens. And a message from Bill Clinton who says he hopes we all go through some serious introspection and redouble our efforts to engage in debate passionately yet peacefully.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Yeah, and let's not get sidetracked by who may or may not have been friends with Jeffrey Epstein. Just focus on the introspection thing. But, yes, it was comforting to see our living past presidents and Joe Biden attempting to lower the country's temperature yesterday. But none of those guys are running this place right now. So I want to hear from the current big guy. For years, those on the radical left have compared wonderful Americans like Charlie to Nazis and the world's worst mass murderers and criminals. This kind of rhetoric is directly responsible for the terrorism that we're seeing in our country today. My fellow Americans, we must come together to destroy each other. So, yeah, Donald Trump came out with a partisan message, blaming the left. And let's be real. Did we expect anything different? This is what this guy does. The last time Trump delivered a thoughtful message was apparently when he sent a birthday card to Jeffrey Epstein. Yeah, yeah, that's. I realize that's two Epstein jokes in a row. It's not my fault everyone was friends with this guy, okay? And by the way, I'm not singling Trump out. This is how our society behaves. Now a tragedy occurs. Instead of digesting and trying to understand, everyone sets their feet and starts throwing punches immediately. Like Nancy Mace, Republican congresswoman, and somehow the scariest type of Mace. She came out swinging, but apparently wasn't expecting a counter. I'm gonna say this.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

Democrats own what happened today.

[Rainn Wilson]

Then do.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

By that logic, do Republicans own the shooting of the two Democratic lawmakers in Minnesota?

[Rainn Wilson]

Isn't this on both sides?

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Are you kidding me? Is there a problem with political violence across the spectrum?

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

Yeah, we're talking about Charlie Kirk right now.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Yeah, okay. We're talking about my thing right now, not about things that make me look stupid. Because if we did that, we'd be talking all day long. Okay, all right. Now we're all. And now we're in very familiar territory. Republican accuses Democrats. So Democrat accuses.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

What do you say to people who are saying the Democrats need to lower the temperatures? Oh, please.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Right.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

Why don't you start with the President.

[Lisa Parshley]

Of the United States?

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Right, so here we go again. It's Democrats rhetoric. No, it's Republicans rhetoric. Has anyone considered that the problem of political violence in America might not just be the rhetoric, but instead something extraordinarily complex? The problem might be a toxic mix of our gun laws, lack of mental health collapse, social connection, probably a bunch of other things I haven't even thought of yet. I'm sure Labubus are somewhere in there to blame. I guess I just don't think rhetoric is the Root cause of this thing. Political violence isn't going to go away if the people on the other side say exactly the right words from now on. Now, that said, if you turned on the 247 news coverage yesterday, you probably saw some unhelpful rhetoric.

[Rainn Wilson]

He's been one of the most divisive, especially divisive younger figures in this, who is constantly sort of pushing this sort of hate speech or sort of aimed at certain groups. And I always go back to hateful thoughts lead to hateful words, which then lead to hateful actions. And I think that's the environment we're in, that people just. You can't stop with these sort of awful thoughts you have and then saying these awful words and not expect awful actions to take place.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

I don't know, man. Okay. The whole idea of free speech in America is you can say what you want and not expect to be shot. Can. Can you be challenged? Can you be challenged? Sure. Can you get roasted online, sometimes? Told to leave a child's birthday party? Yeah. Even though I think I was right, that the cake sucked. Derek, all that was hardly only the bad take. Even some people understood that a cycle of violence was not the answer. They still wanted to make sure you knew who'd be coming out on top. The last thing I ever won is violence. Look, I spent nine years in and out of war. The last thing I want is that. But if these people keep pushing, they're gonna radicalize a huge portion of America that they don't want. I want us to be able to debate like Charlie Kirk always did on every campus, gave the airtime to opposing views. I want that as my America, not trading gunfire because I'll win. You could have just stopped with, the last thing I want is violence. You didn't have to add in because I'll win. But I guess it's like Jesus always said, turn the other cheek, but be ready to cut a mother. But by the way, who's they? No one knows who the shooter is or what his motivation was. And even if it was political, he doesn't represent half the country. But some of these MAGA guys are acting like this is a liberal declaration of war.

[Rainn Wilson]

If they could do this, they are capable of anything. I think that was the message. I believe that was the message. It's really hard to radicalize Republicans. Yeah, you know, it's like we're not the radical type.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

First off, it's not that hard to radicalize Republicans. You guys almost burned down the country because Cracker Barrel changed its font. Second Far be it from me to tell anyone how to do their job, but you couldn't lose the poop emoji mug for one day. When Walter Cronkite broke the news about the Kennedy assassination, he didn't come out in a wacky novelty bow tie. I did not expect a groan from the audience on the novelty botanic. And also, once again, who is they? Does anyone want to specify who they is or are we just going to keep talking about all that they do? They are at war with us. Whether we want to accept it or not, they are at war with us. Trump gets hit in the ear. Charlie gets shot dead. They came after Kavanaugh with a rifle to his neighborhood. They went after Musk's cars. Sort of petered out there at the end, huh? Jesse, if you're trying to rile people up for war, maybe leave out the car vandalism. I mean, look, I'm sure people in the media would love to talk about how they are responsible for what they've done and how they had better watch out or else they'll get what's coming to them. But I think it would be better if we as a country understood that we have a problem with political violence and we need to start thinking less in terms of what they should do and more in terms of what we have to do. And what's not lost on me today, that the last time it felt like we thought in terms of we was on 911 when we all came together as a nation. And we did, we did. Even if it was just for one day. You know, sure, we turned pretty quickly to scapegoating Muslims and blogging about how Bush did it. But on that one day, we were united as a country for 24 hours. We even admired Rudy Giuliani. That's how incredible our unity was. And I don't know what you do to get back to that. Obviously not another 9 11. I want to be very clear about that. But what about, I don't know, an alien invasion? You know, maybe if UFOs suddenly appeared over every important US city and also Los Angeles, that's the. That would jolt us off our phones and bring us back together. Or the aliens take over and enslave us all. But at this point, that might be worth a try. When we come back, we found out why climate change is cow's fault.

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[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Welcome back to the Daily Show. Cows. To most, they're just delicious animals, warming our planet with their farts. But to some, cow farts might be a new tool in the fight against climate change. Grace Kulenschmidt has more.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

2024 was the hottest year ever recorded.

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The world's glaciers shrinking at a dramatic.

[Rainn Wilson]

Pace right before our eyes.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

These days, it seems like every little thing we do makes the planet hotter. Driving to the store, flying home for Christmas, burning plastic outdoors.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Hey, you can't do that.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

It's okay, I'm on tv. And now Washington State Representative Lisa Parshley wants to track another source of climate change emissions. I sat down with her to find out.

[Lisa Parshley]

The best way to put this is I'm trying to get a monitoring program for cows, burps and farts.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

Yes, cow farts. The bovine blast that governments around the world are cracking down on. Denmark, taxes, livestock, gas, and even California has started to track farm farts. Is Washington state about to join the fight against this silent but deadly problem? So is the next step collecting human farts? Because for the record, I'm not using your bathroom here. I refuse.

[Lisa Parshley]

No, we're not going to collect human farts. I don't think they'd be worth it. We know at one point it's possible that the methane emissions from cows in California was as high as 40, 50%. And we don't know how much of a problem Washington actually has. So data is always best.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

Okay, I guess that makes sense. But how do farmers feel about this? I reached out to local farmer and mustache enthusiast Jake Yancy to hear his thoughts on the government's plans. So this bill that would track cow's gas, how would it affect you?

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

The biggest concern is what the financial impacts are going to end up being.

[Rainn Wilson]

Ranchers, aren't making a million dollars and having cooks.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

It feels like Big Brother is monitoring farts. I kind of feel like we should write a new version of 1984, the Farts.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

The number one thing is cows don't fart.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

They don't fart.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Cows burp.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

I spoke to a farmer recently, a best friend of mine whom I met yesterday, and he told me that cows don't fart.

[Lisa Parshley]

Well, they burp a lot, there's no doubt, but they do fart.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

Whether the gas came out of one end or the other was never clarified. But there's one thing we Lisa knows for sure. If a cow is going to fart, it's going to have to pay.

[Lisa Parshley]

We have all the data from Denmark and California. At some point, somebody's going to put the dots together and say, we need to tax this. But they'll be doing it based on an assumption instead of data. And that's not a good way to do policy, nor is that a good way to put in taxes. And if we can find an accurate measurement of how much they're reducing the methane expected, we can give them credit in the future for their work.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

So she wants to accurately count the farts to help the farmers qualify for fart credits to offset the farting. But how the fart would that work?

[Lisa Parshley]

The European Union has developed a mathematical equation for the average cow.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

A fart plus burp algorithm.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Yes.

[Lisa Parshley]

I'm not trying to attack the farmers. They're producing food for us, which is critical. It's about a balance between providing food, farts and burps, and protecting our environment.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

I feel like everything in 2025 is ruined. This has been the worst year of my entire life. It actually was really good until I heard that farts are harmful. This would have a huge impact on our future. So I decided to gather a panel of experts on the topic of farts and burps. I want to know how scary this is to you. Do you guys worry about how much cows are farting and burping?

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

I'm not worried at all.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

You're not worried at all? Do you guys think the government has the right to make a fart mandate? No.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Who thinks?

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

No, me. Who thinks? Yes, me. It's okay to be confused right now. If there was a way for farmers to make cows fart and burp less, do you think they should try? I think if they try to stop it, it's a no, because if they try to stop it, they might fart on it. If Washington were to implement a tax on farts, how much do you think a fart should cost? 1, 300,000. And you think farmers can afford that? Ye. Do you think this will be effective in reaching our climate goals? I think you guys should really be researching this. It's gonna affect your lives a lot. I keep doing the research.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Wrong.

[Grace Kulenschmidt]

Where are you doing your research? In my brain. In a world full of farts, the confusion continues without any answers. So I went directly to the source. So how often are you burping and farting? Sadly, the answer was the problem. Oh, burped right now in my face. At the end of the day, all I could do was let the voiceless know I was fighting for them. I support you. Oh my God.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Thank you, Grace. When we come back, Rainn Wilson will be joining me on the show. Don't go away.

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[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Welcome back to the show. My guest tonight is a best selling author and Emmy nominated actor whose new film is called Code 3. Please welcome RAINN Wilson. What a response.

[Rainn Wilson]

Thank you.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Cheers to them. Thank you. You know, unbelievable. Unbelievable.

[Rainn Wilson]

We gotta have some time for a conversation here. Long time watcher, first time.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Are you the first time seated at the desk. This is amazing. Come on, bro. Well, in all your acting, you've never been to the Daily Show.

[Rainn Wilson]

I have never been to the Daily Show.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

So glad you're here. Yes. And so are they, which is great, apparently. Seriously. Wow. This. I will. You. I will. Seriously. No. You know, I always like to shut it. Thanks for this movie. Wow. Really fun. Thanks. Really touching. Very funny. You're a paramedic in this film. Did you. How'd you train for that? Looked like you knew what you were doing.

[Rainn Wilson]

Well, we underwent some serious training with other paramedics. In fact, the co author of the film is here in the audience somewhere. And all of the stories in Code 3 are based on his real life experiences.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Wow.

[Rainn Wilson]

And so as people on the front line workers, Ms. Workers are seeing this film, they're ecstatic. They're like, finally a film that. That really gets us. But I did a ride along with in South Central with the LA Fire Department. That was really eye opening. Yeah.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

There's a wonderful part in the film where they walk through a hospital and they show you what everyone's making as far as money goes. And it's depressing that the paramedic is averaging like 42,000 a year or something.

[Rainn Wilson]

Yeah. Yeah. The number one thing I would learn from this film was that this population, the population that we entrust to save our lives, to save our grandmother's lives, to come at a single call of 91 1, they get paid about what someone who works at Starbucks gets paid.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

There's a great line that's something like, I'm your best friend on your worst day.

[Rainn Wilson]

Yeah.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Why are we paying our best friend on our worst day? Nothing. Well, you know, answer that for me.

[Rainn Wilson]

I'm gonna.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Yeah. Tell me, tell me how the healthcare system can be improved. Professional actor. Yes.

[Rainn Wilson]

Okay. You want to hear from a sitcom actor about how to fix the American health care system? You know, these systems are so colossally broken from top to bottom. You can talk to anyone, you know, from a hospital administration staff to the insurance companies, to, you know, the emergency room workers.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

That's crazy.

[Rainn Wilson]

It's. Everything is upside down and backwards. We've got to really kind of reinvent the system. But I did that guy, you know, Dr. Mike, he has a big popular doctor podcast. And, and he was saying, like, trying to fix it. The problem is, is that people die if you're trying to fix it while it's operating, because it's like fixing an airplane while you're in midair. So it's a Tricky one. It's beyond me.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

I was skiing in France one time and. And my friend went off piste and tore his acl. And the French ski patrol takes the snowmobile up, and before they even put him on the stretcher, they swipe his credit card, and I'm like, that's how we gotta do it. That's it. Yeah, yeah, yeah. Let's talk about burnout, because what's so fun in this scene of the film that we just saw was, you're done. Like you said, you didn't even know you could feel happy again.

[Rainn Wilson]

They said the average paramedic works from, like, two to four years on the job. And my character Randy's been working at it for 18.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

18 years.

[Rainn Wilson]

Yeah, but he's the guy you want saving your life. But, yeah, burnout is very real in all of the medical service industry.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

How have you managed burnout at all in your life that isn't medical and acting? Is there such thing? I mean, you were on a very, very grueling, scheduled sitcom for a long time. Was it.

[Rainn Wilson]

Oh, that was tough.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

That was tough.

[Rainn Wilson]

It was. You know, we had so few breaks, and trying to eat the lobster rolls on those breaks was just having enough time to get one in the gullet before your next scene with Steve Carell and John Krasinski was tough.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

I'm feeling sarcasm.

[Rainn Wilson]

Yes.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Yeah. I want to talk to you about Soul Boom, because I love Soul Boom. Oh, my gosh. It's one of these only positive, breath of fresh air things that ever comes across on my Instagram. Tell us about it. Tell the audience about it. The people who aren't sure what it is.

[Rainn Wilson]

Oh, thanks so much. So Soul Boom is based off a book I wrote two years ago. That is why we need a spiritual revolution. And it's using and looking at spiritual tools both for personal transformation, but also on how to make the world a better place, a more just place that, yes, we've been looking at political parties and partisan politics. We've been looking at different kinds of legislation. But perhaps there is in the reservoir of wisdom from the world's faith traditions and indigenous faith traditions, perhaps there's a kind of a wisdom that we can use to heal. And we're seeing that in the divisions that are happening right now, that perhaps if we simply turn to compassion and really harness it as an energy, we can affect some transformation.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Are you. How do I live that? How do I live it? I'm trying to get on the C train. It's full. Someone told me my backpack hit him I don't make enough money at work. Not me. I make plenty. But I mean, like, how do we live the compassion? Is it knowing we're all human and connected?

[Rainn Wilson]

Well, Carl Jung said, until we make the unconscious conscious, we will live our lives in a certain way and think of it as fate. So it's taking the unconscious habits that we have throughout our life, getting on the C train, waking up in the morning, brushing our teeth, doom scrolling on our phones and bringing more and more consciousness. I think a meditation practice is a great place to start for everyone, whether you're an atheist or a theist, to bring more kind of loving attention to being in the moment. That's one place to start. And then we have to look at it in terms of building at the grassroots, building community and connection, social connection.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

It's so important. It feels like. It feels. It feels like now, maybe just now, we're starting to realize this is an antibody for feeling isolated and depressed. But we almost need to prescribe social connection. I almost need someone to go, michael, get off the couch. There's a world out there. Connect with people.

[Rainn Wilson]

Yeah.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

It's hard to do it.

[Rainn Wilson]

And think about how bad it is for our kids right now. They're growing up with these, like, microcomputers in their pockets that make you feel like you're connected. They certainly allow you to communicate. But communication is different than connection.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Oh, yeah.

[Rainn Wilson]

So we. Yeah. That. We have to foster that. And I think it's going to happen. Not online. I think it's going to happen IRL in real life.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

And that.

[Rainn Wilson]

And that's one thing. That's one thing that we've lost in. What I say is we've thrown the spiritual baby out with the religious bathwater.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Right.

[Rainn Wilson]

So we've chucked out religion, but we've lost a lot in the doing.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Yeah.

[Rainn Wilson]

Where it's potlucks and community gatherings and, you know, bringing trays of food to people that are sick and checking in on each other. So we have to find new ways of coming together.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

It's a tricky one because I hear church and I. And I back off. A lot of people do. Yeah. A lot of people do. But soul. Boom.

[Rainn Wilson]

Yeah.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

I'm in connection. Yeah. Or community.

[Rainn Wilson]

Right.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

And we are losing that. So that's interesting that that's something we should really be focusing on.

[Rainn Wilson]

Yeah.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

You know, you talk a lot about climate change. You talk a lot about the fires that you've had to endure and deal with living in Los Angeles.

[Rainn Wilson]

Yeah.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

But then you also are about compassion, and yet Half this country doesn't necessarily even believe in climate change. Or I see some of what you post in the people that write back. They say really vile and mean things to you.

[Rainn Wilson]

You've been reading my comments.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

How do you soul boom an asshole is what I'm trying to say. How do you. How do you navigate that?

[Rainn Wilson]

I just caught a glimpse of myself.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

I look pretty good. You look pretty good.

[Rainn Wilson]

Clean up nice. Clean up nice. Listen, there is about a little less than a third of the United States that doesn't believe in the science of climate change. Of course science isn't something you believe in. Science just is. We need to just forget about them. We're never going to change their mind. I do believe that there is a movable middle of people that are really confused and they hear the science and they read the studies and they look online and they know there's gotta be some truth to it, because you've got factories belching smoke into the atmosphere for 200 years now, and every year is getting hotter and drier and weather is getting more extreme. So I think one of the failings that we've done is, especially on the political left, is communicate climate effectively. You guys do it great with humor like the cow farts, so. And also I think one area that can unite both political left and political right is again, looking at a sacred or spiritual connection to nature, which we have really forgotten about. We need to be in nature more. We need to train our children in nature more, educate them. I mean, we're still teaching them, like Home EC and cursive. And we need to teach our children to cherish the land, to conserve the land is something that people, maybe on the political right, can get behind. And there are ways to bring people together around climate that we haven't fully explored.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Nature is just such. Badass, huh? Badass. I was sitting on a deck this summer and this bee was behind me doing its thing, and my first New York City reaction was, God, this bee is so loud. I was mad about that. I was mad at the bee. And then you really watch what's happening and it's like, man, we're all connected with this shit, dude.

[Rainn Wilson]

Yeah.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Come on, Ray.

[Rainn Wilson]

Yeah. Are you.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

We're all in it. We're all in it.

[Rainn Wilson]

Are you. You're on mushrooms now, aren't you? Yeah. I love that you thought a bee was loud. You live in New York City with, like, garbage cans and people screaming and honking horns, like, bzz.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

I guess it's. I guess.

[Rainn Wilson]

Shut up, Pollinate.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

I guess it's the Noises We're Used To.

[Rainn Wilson]

Yeah.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

You know what I mean?

[Rainn Wilson]

Yeah.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

That's the name of my new book, the Noises We're Used To. Oh, you were at the US Open. Tennis. Yeah. They showed you a lot. They love showing the celebs. You're sitting next to Anna Wintour. You're sitting with Hugh Jackman.

[Rainn Wilson]

Yep.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Jon Bon Jovi. Tell me about the tennis, huh?

[Rainn Wilson]

You know, I love tennis. I've taken it up as a kind of a middle aged sport. I play a lot. I do USTA matches and stuff like that. I, I lumber around the court and you know what? I'm better than I look like I would be.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Yeah. So.

[Rainn Wilson]

That'S all you want?

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Yeah. It's a great sport.

[Rainn Wilson]

I read your incredible autobiography about your tennis.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Thank you.

[Rainn Wilson]

And it was great.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

That's what this was about.

[Rainn Wilson]

His story was great. But yeah, I think it's an amazing sport. And that's another. You know, we talked about climate change, communication. We need to communicate tennis better because people need to get into tennis way more. We're losing the audience for it. It's such an amazing. It's an amazing sport. The average age of like a tennis viewer is like 68 years old. No offense.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

And I completely agree. People ask me, do I play pickleball? And I say, no, I have a good relationship with my parents. Last question. Thank you for being here. But look, a lot of people know you as Dwight. They must. I know that Dwight yell, is this a positive? Is this a negative? Are you ready to move on from Dwight? Talk to me a little bit about that.

[Rainn Wilson]

You know, it is a challenge. You know, having played one of the most iconic characters on television history.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Woo. That's nice. No.

[Rainn Wilson]

It'S a challenge. But I am so grateful. I mean, the doors that open have opened because I've played Dwight. I got to write a book.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

I get to go to the US Open.

[Rainn Wilson]

I get to play other roles, like the lead role here in Code 3, opening tomorrow, September 12th in theaters near you.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Rain Wilson, everybody. Code 3 will be at theaters nationwide tomorrow, September 12th. Rain Wilson brings you clean up. I got through this. Thank you, man. You're the man. Explore more shows from the Daily show podcast universe by searching the Daily Show.

[Podcast Promo Voice]

Wherever you get your podcasts, watch the.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Daily show weeknights at 1110 Central on Comedy Central and stream full episodes anytime on Paramount. Plus.

[Narrator/Announcer]

This has been a Comedy Central podcast. Mike and Alyssa are always trying to outdo each other. When Alyssa got a small water bottle, Mike showed up with a 4 liter jug. When Mike started gardening, Alyssa started beekeeping.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Oh, come on.

[Narrator/Announcer]

They called a truce for their holiday and used Expedia trip planner to collaborate on all the details of their trip. Once there, Mike still did more laps around the pool.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Whatever.

[Narrator/Announcer]

You were made to outdo your holidays. We were made to help organize the competition. Expedia made to travel.

[Carvana Customer]

Hey, this is Sarah. Look, I'm standing out front of a.m. p.m. Right now and, well, you're sweet and all, but I found something more fulfilling. Even kind of cheesy. But I like it. Sure, you met some of my dietary needs, but they've just got it all. So farewell.

[Michael Costa (Daily Show Host)]

Oatmeal.

[Carvana Customer]

So long, you strange soggy.

[Narrator/Announcer]

Break up with bland breakfast and taste AM PM's bacon, egg and cheese biscuit made with K tree eggs, smoked bacon and melty cheese on a buttery biscuit. AMPM Too much good stuff.