Trump Bombarded by Epstein Q's in Scotland, MAGA “Caddies” Provide Cover Back Home | Peter Beinart

Summary

Summary of "The Daily Show: Ears Edition" Episode: "Trump Bombarded by Epstein Q's in Scotland, MAGA ‘Caddies’ Provide Cover Back Home | Peter Beinart"

Release Date: July 29, 2025

Introduction

In this episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition, Comedy Central host Jon Stewart delves into the latest political satire surrounding former President Donald Trump’s entanglement with the Jeffrey Epstein scandal. The show features a blend of comedic skits, sharp political commentary, and an in-depth interview with Peter Beinart, author of Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza: A Reckoning. The episode adeptly combines humor with serious discussions on contemporary political and social issues.

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Segment 1: Trump and Epstein Scandal in Scotland

The episode opens with a satirical skit where Donald Trump is portrayed attempting to escape the Epstein scandal by relocating to Scotland. The segment humorously critiques Trump’s evasive tactics and denial strategies.

• Trump’s Denial and Evasive Tactics

  Trump denies any involvement with Epstein, using humorous justifications to deflect accusations. At [04:49], Trump states:

  “I don’t do drawings. I’m not a drawing person.” ([05:25])

  This is a playful jab at Trump’s attempts to minimize his connection with Epstein by downplaying any alleged incriminating evidence.

• Comedic Portrayal of Trump's Defenses

  The host, Ryan Reynolds, impersonates Trump, highlighting his reluctance to address the scandal directly. At [07:12], Reynolds as Trump quips:

  “He did something that was inappropriate.” ([07:22])

  This vague statement mocks Trump’s tendency to provide non-specific reasons when confronted with serious allegations.

• Satire on Trump's Public Image and Support Base

  The segment continued to parody Trump’s reliance on his loyal supporters, referred to as “caddies,” drawing an analogy between Trump’s political maneuvers and golf tactics. For instance, at [08:57], Trump humorously claims:

  “I never went to the island, and Bill Clinton went there supposedly 28 times.” ([08:57])

  This exaggerates Trump’s denial strategies and attempts to shift blame or deflect attention from his controversies.

Notable Quotes

• “When the going gets tough, the tough pay someone to cheat for you.” – Ryan Reynolds as Trump ([09:40])

• “Why do black people matter?” – Jessica Williams ([19:26])

Segment 2: MAGA “Caddies” and Political Cover

This segment uses the metaphor of golf caddies to illustrate how Trump’s associates enable his actions and shield him from accountability.

• Trump’s Dependence on His Team

  The show likens Trump’s political support network to caddies who assist him in navigating difficult situations. At [12:00], the metaphor is extended:

  “Trump finds himself in the rough, but he’s a championship caliber golfersman, battle-tested.” ([12:00])

  This highlights the idea that Trump relies heavily on his close aides to manage crises and maintain his public image.

• Critique of Political Accountability

  The segment criticizes the lack of accountability among Trump’s supporters, suggesting that his network’s loyalty enables his continued influence despite controversies. At [15:47], the host remarks:

  “It's an open sewer. Democrats are all over the plain logs. It’s an open sewer.” ([15:47])

  This sharp criticism underscores the perceived corruption and lack of integrity within Trump's political support.

Notable Quotes

• “The only way to weaken Netanyahu at home will be to show Israelis that when Netanyahu does these brutal things to the Palestinians, that it actually has consequences.” – Peter Beinart ([35:02])

• “Trump is now calling for the imprisonment of all the most popular people in the country and Kamala Harris.” – Ryan Reynolds ([18:02])

Segment 3: Interview with Peter Beinart

In the latter half of the episode, Jon Stewart interviews Peter Beinart, a prominent Jewish writer and critic of Israeli policies towards Palestinians. The discussion centers on Beinart’s perspectives on Jewish identity, the Israel-Palestine conflict, and the moral responsibilities associated with both.

• Identity and Criticism within the Jewish Community

  Beinart addresses the backlash he faces from fellow Jews for his outspoken views on Israel and Gaza. At [25:35], he shares:

  “I have lost some pretty close friends over this, but I also don’t worry about having to feed my kids. They’re not starving. They’re not being killed.” ([25:35])

  This statement underscores the personal and communal challenges faced by Jewish individuals advocating for Palestinian rights.

• Human Rights and Ethical Governance

  Beinart emphasizes the importance of equality and human rights in ensuring long-term safety and peace for both Israelis and Palestinians. At [27:59], he articulates:

  “Palestinians can’t be safe unless they’re free. If they’re under oppression, if they live under conditions that even Israel’s own human rights organizations called apartheid, they are suffering radical amounts of violence all the time.” ([27:59])

  This highlights the ethical imperatives in addressing systemic injustices.

• Call for Listening and Understanding

  The conversation pivots to the necessity of listening to Palestinian voices to foster understanding and empathy. At [41:08], Beinart states:

  “When you listen to Palestinians, you stop just talking always about Palestinians and telling them, and listen to Palestinians talk about their own lives. You realize how brutal the experience has been.” ([41:08])

  This emphasizes the importance of platforming marginalized voices to effect meaningful change.

Notable Quotes

• “Jews around the world were bound up in a single garment of destiny.” – Jon Stewart ([28:09])

• “If you want Israeli Jews to be safe, and I care passionately about the safety of Israeli Jews in the long term, Palestinians also have to be safe.” – Peter Beinart ([30:35])

• “The most moderate Palestinian leader, Salam Fayyad, said Israel has defeated me.” – Jon Stewart ([38:50])

Conclusion

This episode of The Daily Show: Ears Edition skillfully navigates through biting political satire and earnest socio-political discourse. The portrayal of Donald Trump’s evasive maneuvers surrounding the Epstein scandal serves as a comedic critique of political accountability. Concurrently, the in-depth interview with Peter Beinart provides a thoughtful exploration of Jewish identity and the complex realities of the Israel-Palestine conflict. By juxtaposing humor with serious dialogue, the episode offers listeners both entertainment and substantial commentary on pressing issues.

Key Takeaways

1. Political Accountability: The satirical depiction of Trump’s handling of the Epstein scandal underscores the broader issue of political irresponsibility and the lengths to which politicians may go to evade accountability.

2. Ethical Responsibilities: Peter Beinart’s insights highlight the moral imperatives within the Jewish community to advocate for human rights and justice, emphasizing that the safety of one group is intrinsically linked to the well-being of another.

3. Importance of Dialogue: The conversation stresses the necessity of listening to marginalized voices, particularly Palestinians, to foster understanding and drive meaningful change towards equality and peace.

4. Role of Media and Satire: The Daily Show continues to leverage humor as a powerful tool to critique political figures and bring attention to significant social issues, making complex topics accessible and engaging for a broad audience.

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This summary aims to provide a comprehensive overview of the episode's key discussions and insights, capturing both the comedic and serious elements presented by Jon Stewart and his guests. For a full experience, listeners are encouraged to watch the episode on Comedy Central or stream it on Paramount+.

Transcript

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[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Jon Stewart]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

It's all good. Happens all the time.

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[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Jon Stewart]

See mint mobile.com you're listening to Comedy.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Central from the most trusted journalists at Comedy Central. It's America's only source for news. This is the Daily show with your host, John Stewart. Wow. Hi, everybody. Sometimes I forget. I forget sometimes I have no band. I do the band thing. Boom. Welcome to the dance show. My name is Jon Stewart. We got a show for you tonight. A great show. A great show for you tonight. Oh. Author Peter Beiner will be here later to discuss. We will be discussing Israel and Gaza. So, you know, start your angry emails now. But let's begin tonight with a young man by the name of Donald Aloysius Ropp. As you know, this young man has been embroiled in the Jeffrey Epstein sex trafficking scandal and did what anybody who is innocent when facing an accusation of this type did what anybody who was innocent would do. He fled the country. He fled the country. Taking a jaunt to bonny old Scotland. That's probably not the right accent. To leave his troubles in the United States behind and finally gain an ocean's distance between himself and the Epstein scandal and focus on his new trade deal with the EU I'm sorry. Yes, you there from the Inverness Castle Times. Mr. President was part of the rush to get this deal done to. Not the Jeffrey Epstein story.

[Donald Trump]

Oh, you got to be kidding with that.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Donald Trump, he's all like, how did you even hear about. I thought you guys just got Baywatch, like, three months ago. Doesn't anybody here have a question about this trade deal sinking both of our economies with tariffs? How high do I have to make the tariffs before you guys shut the up about Epstein? But, of course, how do you expect the media to move on when even Trump has trouble doing so? So it was on the day of striking a trade deal with the EU Donald Trump presented once more, this time for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival, his classic Epstein defense. 13 reasons why I'm Not Involved with a Pedophile.

[Donald Trump]

Those files were run by the worst scum on earth. If they had something, they would have released. Now, they can easily put something in the files that's a phony, which is.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Why I can't release it. It's simple. If I, Donald Trump, was in the files, they would have released it. So clearly I'm not in the files. But of course, I'm clearly in the files, which makes them phony. I mean, what do they even have on Trump? A creepy drawing Trump gave to Epstein? Please.

[Donald Trump]

I don't do drawings. I'm not a drawing person.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Your Honor, I submit to the court, if there is one thing I would never do, it is draw. As you know, I suffer from tiny hands. I cannot physically even perform the task of drawing. I do not possess the motor skills and muscle strength required. Oh, I cannot draw. Not now, not ever.

[Donald Trump]

Although sometimes people say, would you draw a building and I'll draw four lines and a little roof? You know, for a charity stuff. But I'm not a drawing person. I don't do drawings of women. That I can tell you.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I mean, sometimes people would say, would you draw a woman? I draw a parenthesis for breasts and a triangle for bush. For charity. For charity. I wouldn't call them drawings. More of a cubist pastiche of punctuation and geometric shapes to trick the eye. Some would see a naked woman, of course. Others would see an old woman holding a falcon, riding a hoverboard with a triangle for a vagina. Look, the point is this. I don't draw in Trump's defense, He did end his relationship with Epstein in the aughts. Perhaps a look into why he ended it will exonerate Trump.

[Donald Trump]

That's such old history. Very easy to explain, but I don't want to waste your time by explaining it. He did something that was inappropriate.

[Ryan Reynolds]

What he said was Epstein had done something inappropriate, and that's why they're no longer friends. You see, Donald Trump recognized that Epstein had finally crossed a line. Now, if it were me, obviously giving this explanation in front of reporters, I probably would have stopped there. But since I am not. And Trump went on to describe Epstein's inappropriate behavior. And wait till you hear what was the Rubicon that Epstein crossed.

[Donald Trump]

He hired help. And I said, don't ever do that again. He stole people that work for me. I said, don't ever do that again. He did it again, and I threw him out of the place. Persona non grata.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes, you all know him as Jeffrey Epstein, the sex trafficker. But I knew his dark side. He was. I mean, the sex trafficking. I was like, okay, but he was also a low level employee poacher. And that I cannot ask. Anyway, Mr. President, do you want to slice this bologna any thinner?

[Donald Trump]

By the way, I never went to the island, and Bill Clinton went there supposedly 28 times.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You expect me to believe that Bill Clinton went to the island only 28 times? No way. I mean, if anybody had VIP Diamond island status, there's probably still parrots alive on that island going, hey, Bill, back again.

[Jessica Williams]

Hey, Bill. Hey, Bill. How you doing, Bill? What's up, Bill?

[Ryan Reynolds]

But here comes. Yeah, it's okay. It's okay. I'm okay. That is truly the best parrot impression you'll hear. Here comes my favorite part of the defense. Trump's ego and narcissism are so central to his being that even his denial of going to the island comes with a caveat.

[Donald Trump]

I never had the privilege of going to his island, and I did turn it down.

[Ryan Reynolds]

The privilege. The. Hey, Donald, wanna go to the island this weekend? Well, first of all, Jeffrey, thank you for thinking of me. Unfortunately, that's the weekend that the teen pageant that I bought is installing the indoor security locker room cameras. Really? But luckily for Trump, it wasn't all Epstein related pressers. He was able to get in some of his beloved. Whack a ball. Mr. Trump, are you enjoying the Scottish hospitality? Are you enjoying the Scottish hospitality? See, there you are. You enjoying. Get in my belly. Are you enjoying. There you go. That's what it's about. That's gotta soothe Trump's. Soul. Mr. Trump, can you escape the Jeffrey Epstein crisis? Is Epstein what they yell in Scotland instead of four what? Epstein? Boy, this, you know. But this is tough. To extend the golf metaphor, Trump finds himself in the rough, but he's a championship caliber golfsman, battle tested. And I think we all know how the best golfers in the world get out of a bad lie. Donald Trump being busted cheating at golf. We can see a caddy dropping a ball there for the President while he played at one of his courses in Scotland. When the going gets toug, the tough. Pay someone to cheat for you. But this moment on the course, seemingly random, could not be more representative of Trump's entire existence. He moves with complete confidence in this world because he requires that everyone in his orbit do whatever they can, including cheating, to ensure that things go Trump's way. This has been his whole life. Don't want to go to Vietnam. Get a podiatrist friend of the family to bone spur you up. Your casino is failing. Perhaps daddy can illegally float you 3 million in chips to try and save it. Impeached for an attempted coup. Your caddy today is the Kentucky Fried Reaper. And never like to speak ill of the de. Why would you even say that? And obviously, for the Epstein case, Trump has no shortage of caddies willing to shame themselves. Here's Congressman Tim Burchett. Pre Trump being named in the files. Congressman, why do you think so many Democrats are committed to protecting the list of a dead pedophile? Too many of my colleagues, I'm afraid, are compromised in this area for whatever reason.

[Jon Stewart]

The trash can is very deep.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It's not a swamp. It's an open sewer. It's a sewer. Democrats are all over the plane logs. It's an open sewer. I'm sorry. Trump was also on Epstein's plane. Need a ball drop over here. You know, President Trump admitted that he flew on his dadgum plane. Just because somebody flew on a plane doesn't mean they're a dadgum pedophile. Wow. You know what? I always find that the worse it is, the folksier they get. Well, well, Mr. Mr. Trump, he not a dag on gosh darn dagnabbit pedophile. I mean, kiss my grits. I don't. I'll guarantee you he's not using that terminology in other sex offender cases. Well, gosh darn, if Diddy ain't two biscuits short of a country biscuit, he's two biscuits short of a country breakfast. But that don't make everyone at the freak off crackle barrel us. I honestly think my favorite thing about this is watching conspiracy theorists have to unravel the red string that they themselves originally strung out. Here's the OG conspiracy theorist Glenn Beck at his excitement for Trump's beginning of the second term. The only thing I care about is the, the scandal of the pedophiles. And in the next 10 days, you're going to see the Epstein file released. Day number one, Cash Patel walks in. By the end of the day, it will be released. Day one, deep state exposed. Oh, I'm sorry. Trump's in the rough. I'll get right on that ball drop. What the left is saying. And some people now on his team are saying he's in the report with 15 year olds.

[Jon Stewart]

Really?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Do you actually believe that? I have seen some clips that would be consistent with did buy a teenage beauty pageant. But listen, Beck, you're the master at making connections, so let's see you unconnect it. I mean, let's be honest, 20 years ago, if you know, this was like, hey, he was on an island with 25 year old models, I would be going, probably, okay, 15, 16 year olds. That's not Donald Trump. It's not Donald Trump. I don't believe that. Do you? I say that's no way that's true. You can't. What? No, you're not. There's no magic X. You can't just magic X. Conspiracy theories, white people being replaced by voting, illegal immigrants. No, the X has spoken. But of course, Trump's caddies can't do everything. And it's given Democrats hope that they finally have Donald Trump. For so long, the Democrats have been Wile E. Coyote to Donald Trump's roadrunner. The Democrats thought they had Trump with the felony convictions. They thought they had Trump with the Access Hollywood tape, but every time he got away. But now with the reporting on the Epstein files, the only way that this guy wiggles out of this one is if for some reason convicted sex trafficker Ghislaine Maxwell swears under oath that Trump had nothing to do with it. But why would she do that? Coyote. You finally got the roadrunner, Mr. President. But can you immediately rule out a pardon for Ghislaine Maxwell who landed? Is that something you would ever consider? And why?

[Donald Trump]

Pardon for who?

[Jon Stewart]

For Ghislaine Maxwell?

[Donald Trump]

Well, I'm allowed to give her a pardon.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But now, of course, of course, until the pardon happens, there is other stuff Trump can do. President Trump went on Truth Social last night and said that Beyonce, Oprah and Vice President Kamala Harris should all be prosecuted for receiving or giving endorsement money during the last election. That's right. Trump is now calling for the imprisonment of all the most popular people in the country and Kamala Harris. And the most concerning thing about this is that. No.

[Jessica Williams]

Oh, no, no, no. Not Beyonce, John. That is some bullshit right there.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, and ladies and gentlemen, it's Jessica Williams. I can't believe. This is so exciting. My God. It's Emmy nominee Jessica Williams. Wait, Jessica, where are you?

[Jessica Williams]

I'm in Scotland, John. And I am here because I have had it with Trump. He's gotta come clean about Epstein. I am sick of this.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I agree. He's been doing this for weeks, though. How much longer can he avoid talking about it?

[Jessica Williams]

I mean, obviously, it depends on how many black people he has left.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Black people. Why do black people matter?

[Jessica Williams]

Why do black people matter?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Jon?

[Jessica Williams]

What the.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Dude.

[Jessica Williams]

Well, John, we still got a lot of work to do.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I know, and I. And I will take this time to listen, but let. I meant, why do they matter to the Epstein story?

[Jessica Williams]

It's because Trump is trying to throw every black person he can think of in front of this scandal to distract us. First, he released the Martin Luther King Jr.

[Carvana Representative]

Files.

[Jessica Williams]

Then he accused Obama of treason, and now he wants to prosecute Oprah and Beyonce. The nerve, John. The nerve. He's coming after all of our greatest black people. Who's next? Michael Jordan. Michael B. Jordan. Michael C. Jordan.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Jessica, Who? I'm sorry, Who. Who is Michael C. Jordan?

[Jessica Williams]

I don't know, Jon, but he better watch his back. I'm scared for him. Trump is gonn every exceptional black person.

[Jon Stewart]

He can think of.

[Jessica Williams]

We're about a week away from him saying that Urkel did 9 11. Urkel. Did he do that? No, Jon. No, he didn't. He was nowhere near the towers that day. He was nowhere near em. Honestly, like, seriously, I just hope this whole thing wraps up before Trump gets to meet Jessica.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Don't. God, I hate to even hear you talk. Don't be nervous, Jessica. Trump isn't gonna come after you.

[Jessica Williams]

Wait, wait, wait, wait.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Excuse me.

[Jessica Williams]

He won't come after me. What, I'm not an exceptional enough black person for Trump?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Hmm?

[Jessica Williams]

I'm not famous enough to be publicly accused of treason or doing 9 11. You don't know where I was that day. You don't know me. I'm sorry, but I'm nominated for n Emmy for supporting actress in a comedy.

[Donald Trump]

You're very good.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You're very good in that show.

[Jessica Williams]

I can at least be accused of Misdemeanor election fraud. You butthead.

[Ryan Reynolds]

What? I'm sorry, of course you'd be on that list.

[Jessica Williams]

Aw, okay, but like, where on that list.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Above Urkel?

[Jessica Williams]

Technically, I'm just below Urkel.

[Ryan Reynolds]

For now. Look, Jessica, I. And I mean this sincerely, you are notable enough for Donald Trump to accuse you of treason to distract from a pedophilia scandal.

[Jessica Williams]

Aw, John, that is just so sweet.

[Jon Stewart]

Thank you so much.

[Jessica Williams]

It's really nice.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Now, doesn't that make you nervous? No.

[Jessica Williams]

We have a fail safe. Trump is so desperate for black approval. One compliment, we're off the prosecution list and in the Oval Office being named Secretary of Hood. Because if there's one thing old white guys love, this is getting a compliment from a black person.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I'm not sure you can generalize all old white people.

[Jessica Williams]

Oh, wait. Oh my God, John, I meant to say I like love your haircut.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Are you serious?

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know, I asked for a fade.

[Jessica Williams]

Did you ask for a fade?

[Ryan Reynolds]

You proved your point, Williams.

[Jessica Williams]

Did I do that?

[Ryan Reynolds]

Yes.

[Jessica Williams]

Take that, Urkel.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Jessica Williams, everybody. When we come back, Peter Beinert will be joining us. Don't go away.

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[Jon Stewart]

It's on Prime.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Oh, here we go. Welcome on to the Daily Show. My guest tonight is the editor at large of Jewish Currency. He writes the Beinert Notebook on substack, and he's the author of Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza A Reckoning. Please welcome to the program Peter Beinert. Sir, thank you for joining us. You are Jewish. I am Jewish. People yell at me about what I say sometimes about Palestine and what's going on in Israel, and they call me a bad Jew. Apparently, you can lose points. What are you experiencing as someone who is writing very clearly about your upset at what is occurring in Gaza?

[Jon Stewart]

Well, I have lost, you know, some pretty close friends over this, But I also don't worry about having to feed my kids. They're not starving. They're not being killed. I have freedom. I really have an incredibly fortunate and blessed life. And even though, you know, it's hard sometimes to have other Jews really not like me, because Judaism is everything to me. It's at the center of my life. I've also met so many other people from so many different walks of life who care about the same things that I do, who believe that all human beings are created in the image of God. And I know a lot of people caricature a lot of these people who care about Palestinian rights and freedom as, like, being anti Semitic. But to be honest, the vast, vast majority of people I meet, they strike me as like the kind of people who would have stuck up for us when we were in trouble. You know, the kind of people who are willing to risk something because. Because when they see people suffering and being abused, they act. And those are the people who I want to be around.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know, you bring up such an interesting point because it does cut to the idea of who qualifies as a good Jew and a bad Jew. And admittedly, I don't know all the different things in the nuance of the history here or what happened in 93 at the agreement that might have been turn, but I know what I'm seeing, and I have a moral clarity about what I'm seeing and what I'm seeing. I think as someone who was raised in Judaism, that's what taught me that this is wrong. What I'm seeing happening in Gaza is wrong. You know, we learn, and Judaism is funny. You know, you learn that you're the underdog. That's kind of the history.

[Jon Stewart]

Right? Right.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know, I always looked at the chosen people as kind of awry. You know, when you read the history of the Jews and like you're the chosen people and you want to say to God like if you could choose someone else, but what happens when David becomes Goliath? And the responsibility there. Is that what troubles you?

[Jon Stewart]

Yeah, I mean, our responsibility is to remember, is to remember what was done to us, to remember what we would have wanted. People around the world. I'm not saying that what's happening in Gaza is the equivalent of the Holocaust or anything like that, but what's happening in Gaza is not enough.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But I mean, it may be a slow mo. You know, I saw an article in the Times, Bret Stephens, I think, and his argument was this can't be a genocide because Israel is so strong they could kill them much quicker.

[Jon Stewart]

Right.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And I thought, well, that's the most cynical description of a military siege and a purposeful starvation that I've ever seen in my life.

[Jon Stewart]

Right? I mean, even Israel's leading human rights organization B'Tselem has just come out with a report saying they believe this is genocide. So it seems to me if we want to remember our history, if we want to honor those in our own families and of our people who were slaughtered and who were genocided, who were starved to death while nobody in the world cared who. Our obligation is to care. Our obligation is to risk something.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I've been. Listen, man, this has rocked my. I feel like a crazy person. I feel like I'm watching something that is so self evidently inhumane and horrific and to be told that I have to shut up because I risk the Jewish state by speaking out, I would say the opposite. I think they're putting the likelihood of a surviving Jewish state much more at risk with this type of action. I think they're the ones that are. That are being anti. If you wanted to find Netanyahu with the definition of anti, Semitism would probably have to bomb himself.

[Jon Stewart]

I mean, you know, Martin Luther King said that white and black Americans were bound up in a single garment of destiny, right? Palestinians and Israeli Jews and in some ways Jews around the world were bound up in a single garment of destiny. If we want Israeli Jews to be safe, and I care passionately about the safety of Israeli Jews in the long term. Israeli Jews are only going to be safe if Palestinians are going to be safe. And Palestinians can't be safe unless they're free. If they're under oppression, if they live under conditions that even Israel's own human rights organizations called apartheid, they are suffering radical Amounts of violence all the time, even before October 7th. Do we think, when we think about all these kids in Gaza who are watching their parents starving to death, who are watching dozens of their family members being killed, is that good for Israel? Is that good for Israeli Jews? In the long term, how you treat people has an impact on how they treat you, right? And if you want Israeli Jews to be safe, Palestinians also have to be safe.

[Ryan Reynolds]

How does. And look, listen, this is a tough conversation because we are two people that I think see this situation very similarly.

[Jon Stewart]

Right.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I obviously see it from a more secular perspective because I am, even before Gaza, a bad Jew. Like, first night of Passover for me was like Meatball Parmesan hero. Like, I was not good, I was not good. But you see, you know, all of our holidays, the entire ethos for me of being Jewish. And I don't doubt that there are people that have a radically different interpretation than I do, but it's all about like, we were about to be wiped out. We were in a cave, we had three days of oil, and then suddenly the Maccabees overcame it all. Or Purim, you know, Esther, she was almost destroyed by Haman and the Jewish people were. But she went to Mordecai. And now we wear costumes and do like. It was always like, oh, they almost got us. But wait, Right, right. It's more complicated than that, isn't it?

[Jon Stewart]

It's true. Because if you really, if you read, if you read the Hebrew Bible, if you read the Talmud, what you see is that our religious texts describe us in the full range of humanity. We're human beings. Nothing human is alien to us. We can be horribly victimized. And our texts talk about that. But the end of the book of Esther, from which the Purim story comes, also ends with a massacre by Jews of the Jews enemies. The story of Hanukkah doesn't. And the story of the Chazmanaim who became the Maccabees, became in power. It moves from them liberating the Jewish people to them becoming oppressors themselves. So part of recognizing us as human, as Jews, as fully human, is recognizing that we are capable of being victims and being victimizers. And we have to recognize that in order to prevent us from falling into the trap of thinking that every single situation is the equivalent of what was happening in the Czarist Russia or in Nazi Germany. In some situations, the power dynamic is reversed. In Israel, Palestine, it's Jews who all enjoy legal supremacy and citizenship and Palestinians who are denied basic rights. And we have to recognize that that's possible. And we have to fight against for our own sake and for the sake of our honor.

[Ryan Reynolds]

How do we get past those conversations with fellow Jewish people? Like, it's been. I feel like it's been shut down, that they. They're horrified by things that I would say about the injustice of it all. And I feel like I don't know how to talk to even friends of mine that have gone there. And I imagine they feel the same way about me. But there's an urgency about it now because, like, right now in this situation, we can't be like, but Jews are not getting along with other Jews. Like, that's not the important thing right now.

[Jon Stewart]

Absolutely.

[Ryan Reynolds]

How is the world not stepping in.

[Jon Stewart]

Right.

[Ryan Reynolds]

And stopping this atrocity? I don't understand this in any way, shape or form. It's boggling my mind.

[Jon Stewart]

It's worse than just not stepping in. It's our weapons that are enforcing this siege that is enforcing this mass starvation.

[Ryan Reynolds]

8.

[Jon Stewart]

In November of 2024, something like eight months ago, the International Criminal Court issued a warrant for the arrest of Benjamin Netanyahu for the war crime of starvation. Right.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Eight months ago.

[Jon Stewart]

Eight months ago. And the United States responded by trashing the International Criminal Court, even under Biden, and then under Trump, imposing sanctions on the International Criminal Court. And so the message to Israel was very clear. You can get away with worse. And so then for almost three months in this early this year, Israel cut off all food, all medicine, all water into the Gaza State.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It's a siege. It's a military siege.

[Jon Stewart]

Yes, that we are deeply complicit in. It could not happen without us.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Then why can't we use our leverage? Surely the United States can't believe that this is in the best interest of the region. And when Donald Trump says something like finish the job, what job is he talking about? What does that mean?

[Jon Stewart]

Well, I mean, the Trump plan made it pretty clear. The mass expulsion of all Palestinians from Gaza, and that is official Israeli government.

[Ryan Reynolds]

But do you believe in. The people of Israel would second that. There must be a robust.

[Jon Stewart]

There are many Israelis who are appalled by this. Absolutely. But the problem is when a leader like Netanyahu can get away with this again and again and again, it actually makes him stronger. The way to weaken Netanyahu at home will be to show Israelis that when Netanyahu does these brutal things to the Palestinians, that it actually. That there are consequences. Not consequences in human lives. I don't want an Israeli to die, but there have to be some consequences. So Israelis see that this is not.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Good for them, but it feels like they are not capable of being the arbiters of this dispute. It feels like the occupying power is not allowed to dictate the terms of freedom for the people they occupy. That seems inherently illegal. I don't understand how the world doesn't step in and separate these two factions. It's not. I don't even. I don't even want to call it a war. It's a guerrilla operation facing an actual army with planes and bombs.

[Jon Stewart]

Right. And to be clear, I know you agree what hamas did on October 7 was despicable. These were war crimes. But the thing we have to ask ourselves is, how does Israel react? How does America. How do America react when Palestinians fight for their freedom in an ethical way, in a way that respects of Israelis? In 2018, there was a mass march, overwhelmingly nonviolent, in Gaza. Palestinians did exactly what we wanted them to. They behaved like Gandhis. And did people applaud? No. Israel put sharpshooters with American weapons on the fence and shot thousands of people. So many people that the Gaza had to start an amputee soccer team. After that, when they do nonviolent boycotts, we criminalize the boycotts. When they go to the International Criminal, we sanction the International Criminal Court. We essentially send the message to Palestinians that nonviolent protests, that ethical protest, resistance doesn't work. And that makes it easier for Hamas to commit the crimes that they did on October 7th.

[Ryan Reynolds]

You know, it's. It's a situation. And look, and I know what the pushback is like Israel. Israel ceases to exist if this doesn't occur. But I remember, look, look, I was raised in the story of Israel being necessary for the safety of Jews, which, by the way, if that's the case, we have a much bigger problem in this world than anything else. The idea that a people have to have an armed fortress of a homeland just to be safe living in this world is an absolute failure of humanity in the first place. But I remember Ariel Sharon withdrew from Gaza and Hamas took over. And I remember thinking like, oh, this is going to be. What an interesting moment of opportunity. You almost have an experiment set up. You have, here's what happens to the Palestinians if they choose a radical route. Hamas. But in the west bank, here's what happens to you if you choose a more moderate route. And what happened in the west bank then was not the flourishing of rights. It was the building of more settlements. It was the empowering of settler violence. It was the crushing of the Palestinians authority to do anything. And I unders. You know, it felt like that was the moment that hope was removed in any real way. For me, that's when I went, oh, I think I don't believe anymore.

[Jon Stewart]

I mean, the most pop. The Palestinian politician who Israelis loved the most was a guy named Salam Fayyad. He was the most moderate Palestinian leader, the most opposed to any armed resistance at all. And when he left Palestinian politics in 2013, he did an interview and he basically said, israel has defeated me. I did everything they wanted. I couldn't stop settlement growth for a single day. And he said, you know, who's going to be empowered by this? Hamas. If you actually want to keep Israeli Jews safe and you want to weaken Hamas and you want to make sure that a terrible day like October 7th never happens again, you need to stop criminalizing and killing Palestinians who fight for their freedom in accordance with international law in an ethical way. But our government and the Israeli government do exactly the opposite.

[Ryan Reynolds]

How, Peter, to me, like, I can, if there's a Jewish people who are conservative thinking a different way out there, who are right now boiling with rage at us, and I truly do want to understand, like, is it that they think their existence and the existence of Israel is fragile to the point where that disagreement puts them at risk, or that we're not understanding just how hard they've bent over backwards to make this work? Cuz that's the part that I, I don't see. Like, well, we gave the Palestinians every chance and they didn't take it. So now we get to do whatever we want.

[Jon Stewart]

Right? I mean, what I would say to those people living in the United States is like, what are we basing our safety on? The safety of our children? We're basing our safety on the idea of equality under the law. The idea of a government that treats people equally, irrespective of their religion or ethnicity or race. That's what our. That's what most Americans believe keep us safe. So why would we not believe it was right for Jews in Israel as well? When you treat people equally under the law and you don't submit one group of people to brutal racism and oppression, everybody is safer because everyone can participate in government. And I don't understand why it is that some American Jews think that equality under the law is right for us, but wrong in Israel and Palestine.

[Ryan Reynolds]

They would say that they have it. They would say that they have it. I've heard them say. They've said it to me. They've said to me you don't understand Arab Israelis. They're doctors.

[Jon Stewart]

I know, right. But this is why we need to listen to Palestinians.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Right?

[Jon Stewart]

This is why it's such a problem that Palestinians are so rarely on the mainstream media. It's why it's a problem in our community that Palestinians are not invited to speak in synagogues, that kids aren't given books by Palestinians in Jewish schools and Jewish camps. Because when you listen to Palestinians, you stop just talking always about Palestinians and telling them, and listen to Palestinians talk about their own lives. You realize how brutal the experience has been. And you also begin to understand how dehumanizing the discourse of always talking about them without listening to them.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Have you ever been able to broach this with someone who believes as vehemently on the other side as Jewish? Have you ever found a way in that allowed you to fully explain the passion that you feel for this and why you think it's so devastating? And have you had them hear you with not necessarily changing of the mind, but with a grace that doesn't accuse you somehow of undercutting the entirety of our people?

[Jon Stewart]

I would say the thing that I've seen has the biggest impact on people is not anything that I say it's actually going and seeing for themselves, and it's actually encountering what it's like to live for Palestinians their entire lives under the control of a state that has life and death power over them, but over which they have no influence because they can't be a citizen, they can't vote, they need military permission to travel around. They live under military law with a 99% prosecution rate. When you stop just talking about Palestinians and you go and see and you listen to them and you face their humanity and you could imagine yourself being in their shoes and you see what Israel has done to them. That's what I find changes people.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Right. Well, Peter, I tell you this, it's a painful book, not gonna lie, it is a painful book, but I think it's an important book and I think people should read it. And look, make up your own minds. You're not gonna, you know, us two talking about it is not gonna do that much. But Being Jewish after the Destruction of Gaza is available now. Peter Byner, thank you for being here.

[Jon Stewart]

Thank you.

[Ryan Reynolds]

It's foreign. This episode is brought to you by Lifelock. When you visit the doctor, you probably hand over your insurance, your ID and contact details. It's just one of the many places that has your personal info. And if any of them accidentally expose it, you could be at risk for identity theft. LifeLock monitors millions of data points a second. If you become a victim, they'll fix it. Get guaranteed or your money back. Save up to 40% your first [e-mail] podcast terms apply.

[Jon Stewart]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

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[Jon Stewart]

Visit liquidiv.com to learn more.

[Carvana Representative]

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[Ryan Reynolds]

That'S our show for tonight, but before we go, we're going to check in with your host for the Desi Lydic. Desi. What's on deck? Come on, tell the people what's on deck for next week. Well, John, we'll be breaking down President Trump's outrageous 15% tariff on Europe.

[Carvana Representative]

Americans will now have to pay more for their European products.

[Ryan Reynolds]

We love French wines, German cars, Romanian butt cream, Italian olive oil.

[Carvana Representative]

It's a absurd.

[Ryan Reynolds]

I'm sorry, I don't want to drink wine and the olive oil. Did you say Romanian butt cream? Yes, yes, I did. Yeah. Why do you use American butt cream? I don't use any butt cream. And it shows Desi Lydic, ladies and gentlemen, on the screen. Here it is. He trundled over the golf course here.

[Jon Stewart]

To a soundtrack a number of songs.

[Ryan Reynolds]

That he had picked. Let me tell you, we heard Uptown.

[Jon Stewart]

Girl first as he stood right there teeing off.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Then we had Elaine Page from the.

[Jon Stewart]

Musical Cats with the song Memories. And then probably the most eyebrow raising.

[Ryan Reynolds]

Moment of all was Bridge Over Troubled Water. 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.

[Jon Stewart]

Plus.

[Ryan Reynolds]

This has been a Comedy Central podcast.