The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart Episode: Protests, Emergency Powers, and Petty Feuds Release Date: June 12, 2025
In this thought-provoking episode of The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart, host Jon Stewart engages in an in-depth discussion with two esteemed historians: Jill Lepore, Professor of History and Law at Harvard University, and Kevin Cruz, Professor of History at Princeton University. The conversation delves into the intricate dynamics of protests, the invocation of emergency powers, and the resultant political tensions shaping contemporary America.
1. Deployment of Military Forces Amid Protests
Jon Stewart opens the discussion by addressing recent protests on university campuses, particularly highlighting the deployment of the National Guard and Marines in Los Angeles. He questions the unusual nature of this military involvement, especially in areas where local law enforcement has previously managed without federal assistance.
"How unusual is this? Is this something throughout history that we have found quelling, as Trump called it, insurrections and rebellions?"
[04:06] Jon Stewart
Jill Lepore responds by situating the current scenario within a historical context, drawing parallels to past events like the Kent State shootings in 1970. She emphasizes the rarity and gravity of military intervention in contemporary protests compared to historical precedents.
"I feel like that's such a lousy analogy. Like, what piece of that really helps us to understand what's going on in LA and what I think is likely to be going on in cities across the country over the weekend?"
[04:06] Jill Lepore
2. Historical Comparisons to Past Protests and Military Responses
Jill Lepore elaborates on historical instances where the military was deployed to quell protests, such as the Kent State shootings and the Hard Hat Riot in New York. She highlights the complexity of public sentiment during these events, noting that a significant portion of Americans historically blamed protesters for the ensuing violence.
"A poor done right after that shooting, 58% of Americans blamed the students for the violence."
[04:06] Jill Lepore
Kevin Cruz adds to this by comparing the current deployment in Los Angeles to past interventions, emphasizing the provocational intent behind sending federal troops despite local law enforcement's claims of stability.
"These troops have been sent to provoke a reaction, to instigate a riot. Right. That's the ultimate goal, is Trump wants to be the law and order president, but to do that, he's got to have some excuse to lash out."
[08:45] Kevin Cruz
3. Trump's Use of Emergency Powers
The conversation shifts to President Donald Trump's frequent declarations of national emergencies. Jon Stewart questions whether Trump is exploiting loopholes within the American constitutional framework to wield excessive power without appropriate oversight.
"He has teams of lawyers and historians who comb through our nation's archives and they say, hey, here's something. The alien enemies act of 18. Pow. You could use that."
[09:03] Jon Stewart
Kevin Cruz underscores the unprecedented number of emergency declarations by Trump, contrasting it with previous administrations to illustrate the potential abuse of executive power.
"In less than six months, Donald Trump has done eight. And a lot of them are clearly not emergencies."
[11:46] Kevin Cruz
Jill Lepore provides historical perspective, noting that the use of emergency powers has been a bipartisan tool, with Democrats initially leading the charge. She points out that the current trend is a continuation of a broader pattern of executive overreach rather than a sudden shift.
"We've been living under an emergency presidency for about 20 years now."
[15:30] Jill Lepore
4. Impact on Institutions: Higher Education Under Threat
A significant portion of the discussion centers on the targeted assault on higher education by conservative factions. Jill Lepore and Kevin Cruz examine the strategic undermining of prestigious institutions like the Ivy League as part of a broader conservative agenda to dismantle liberal strongholds.
"They're coming for you. But I mean, what's."
[39:00] Kevin Cruz
Jon Stewart expresses concern over the lack of robust defense from universities against such attacks, emphasizing the need for these institutions to actively promote and defend their contributions to society.
"Surprised that they have not been more sophisticated in mounting what could be a very robust defense of everything that their research and their prowess has brought to the American experience over these last hundreds of years."
[29:51] Jon Stewart
Jill Lepore advocates for higher education institutions to actively showcase their positive impacts, suggesting that storytelling and public relations efforts are necessary to counteract the negative narratives being imposed by political adversaries.
"If we heard from the woman in a town outside of Cleveland whose youngest child of four was saved by research that was conducted at Harvard Medical School... that argument has to be made with specifics and with a relentlessness and tenacity that I'm not seeing."
[33:57] Jill Lepore
5. The Conservative Strategy Against Liberal Institutions
The historians delve into the historical continuity of the conservative movement's efforts to erode liberal institutions. Jill Lepore traces this back to the 1950s, highlighting alliances aimed at discrediting the press, the courts, and universities—cornerstones of liberal democratic society.
"They made an alternative press that took a long time, took decades... They tried finding an alternative to higher education, these various Christian and evangelical and other kind of right wingy kind of institutions of higher learning, but they weren't very successful."
[38:19] Jill Lepore
Kevin Cruz discusses the strategic planning behind undermining educational institutions, noting that despite their best efforts, conservatives have struggled to establish credible alternatives to the Ivy League system.
"But as Jill said, education was the one that they couldn't do. So what do they do? They tried to tear it down."
[40:43] Kevin Cruz
6. Authoritarianism and the Erosion of Democratic Norms
The dialogue intensifies as the guests explore the broader implications of emergency declarations and military interventions on American democracy. Jon Stewart and his guests express deep concern over the gradual shift towards authoritarianism, where executive actions overshadow legislative oversight.
"You have to be willing to stand with the people that you disagree with and say, I disagree with you about everything. But the one thing we agree about is that we get to decide how to govern ourselves."
[53:17] Jill Lepore
Jill Lepore warns of a "state moving toward authoritarianism," where ordinary political activities are suppressed under the guise of preventing emergencies, leading to widespread fear and self-censorship among citizens.
"If you have thought twice about it, that is a concern. And I would suggest that I don't know anybody who is not fearful of that kind of thing right now."
[43:56] Jill Lepore
7. The Musk-Trump Feud and Its Symbolism
A fascinating segment of the episode examines the public feud between Elon Musk and Donald Trump, using it as a metaphor for the broader authoritarian tendencies in governance. Jon Stewart likens their interactions to mythical battles, emphasizing the destructive potential of their personal vendettas on national stability.
"They both start threatening the vindictive consequences based on having their feelings hurt... you will suffer the full consequences of their power."
[44:48] Jon Stewart
Jill Lepore draws historical parallels, noting how personal power struggles can have far-reaching implications for democratic institutions and societal norms.
"Project 2025 wasn't the first time they released the script. Go back to the memo Lewis Powell wrote for the Chamber of Commerce in 1971..."
[39:03] Kevin Cruz
8. Pathways Forward: Resilience and Accountability
As the conversation approaches its conclusion, the historians offer a cautiously optimistic outlook on rebuilding and strengthening democratic institutions. Kevin Cruz emphasizes the necessity of accountability and the role of both personal responsibility and systemic reforms in fostering resilience.
"Resilience comes through accountability. It comes through both personal and holding them accountable."
[56:16] Kevin Cruz
Jill Lepore calls for civic renewal and the cultivation of democratic values through grassroots organizations and community engagement, drawing inspiration from historical movements that successfully countered authoritarian impulses.
"We can't just be like, who's got the ball? Thank you, thank you... We need to bring people together."
[60:45] Jill Lepore
Jon Stewart echoes these sentiments, advocating for collective action and a recommitment to democratic principles as essential for overcoming the challenges posed by authoritarianism and political polarization.
"Unless something is put up with the same financial backing and tenacity and principle to reverse that trend, I think we'll find ourselves on the back end."
[61:08] Jon Stewart
Conclusion
This episode of The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart offers a compelling exploration of the intersections between protest movements, the abuse of emergency powers, and the overarching threat of authoritarianism in modern America. Through the insightful perspectives of Professors Jill Lepore and Kevin Cruz, listeners gain a deeper understanding of the historical patterns that inform current political dynamics and the critical importance of safeguarding democratic institutions against encroaching authoritarian tendencies.
Notable Quotes:
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"We are living under an emergency presidency for about 20 years now."
[15:30] Jill Lepore -
"Trump has both houses of Congress... he simply wants to sit back and issue emergencies."
[17:27] Kevin Cruz -
"This is a complete, it's... a complete, you're... you're absolutely right."
[46:57] Jill Lepore -
"We cannot have that. We all serve at the pleasure of the king."
[49:16] Jon Stewart
This detailed summary encapsulates the key discussions, insights, and conclusions from the episode, providing a comprehensive overview for those who have not listened to the podcast.