Episode
The Daily Show: February 4, 2025 - Nicole Avant
Overview
Desi Lydic covers Elon Musk's purge of USAID, Louisiana Senator John Kennedy's lust for omelets, and Trump's January 6 revenge on top FBI officials. Plus, Troy Iwata checks in to answer the burning question: Is any of this legal? If your company is sucking up to Trump by dismantling DEI initiatives, The Daily Show has you covered with this HR training video to help workers unlearn all those "woke" teachings. Acclaimed producer and best-selling author Nicole Avant talks to Desi Lydic about the true story behind the Netflix movie "The Six Triple Eight" of an all-Black, all-female battalion that contributed to a victory in WWII and describes what she learned about the Coast Guard in her former role as Ambassador to the Bahamas. She also discusses her book "Think You'll Be Happy," which tells the story of her grief and path to healing after the tragic loss of her mother, and how her mother's last words to her serve as both the title of the book and her mantra in life.
Details
- Series
- The Daily Show
- Season
- Season 30
- Episode
- Episode 18
- Air date
- 2025-02-04
- Runtime
- 35 min
Episode context
February 4, 2025 - Nicole Avant is Episode 18 in Season 30 of The Daily Show. It aired on 2025-02-04. The runtime is 35 min.
Previous / Next
Episode 17: February 3, 2025 - Mo Amer
Jon Stewart examines Trump's attacks on trans people, Canada, and DEI as his first presidential orders of business and asks: How is that making America great again? Plus, the Best F**kin' News Team debate on where they rank in the DEI hierarchy. Mo Amer, a writer, stand-up comedian, and co-creator and star of "Mo," sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss the second season of his Peabody Award-winning Netflix series, inspired by his own refugee experience. They discuss how the series explores the complexities of statelessness and asylum, the absurdities of the immigration process, and how he leaned on Jon for support while figuring out whether to talk about Oct. 7 on his show.
Episode 19: February 5, 2025 - Julia Stiles
Desi Lydic tackles Trump's proposal to take over Gaza and push all the Palestinians out to build a resort. Plus, Republicans try to spin the president's plan, and Jordan Klepper gets in on the brainstorming sesh. Don't worry about trade wars, Starbucks's bathroom policy, or egg prices breaking the bank because Michael Kosta is back with guaranteed money-making tips in a new Ko$ta Doin' Business. Emmy and Golden Globe-nominated actor Julia Stiles sits down with Desi Lydic to talk about her feature directorial debut, "Wish You Were Here." They discuss being in the "driver's seat" as a director after years of acting, working with longtime friend Vanessa Carlton, balancing the humorous love story with universal issues, and how becoming a parent prepared her for managing film crews and actors on set.
More episodes from this season
Episode 16: January 30, 2025 - Vince Beiser
Michael Kosta on the tragic Washington D.C. plane crash and Trump's baseless blame of DEI for the catastrophe. Plus, the Best F**kin' News team breaks down which of Trump's nominees was least qualified at their Senate hearings. Dry January is ending, but Lewis Black can't figure out why it started. From Dry January to Damp January, Lewis Black asks the over-labelled generation why they'd pick the coldest, most chaotic month to go sober in this instalment of Back to Black. Journalist and author Vince Beiser sits down with Michael Kosta to discuss the paradox of electric vehicles and renewable energy and his latest book "Power Metal: The Race for the Resources That Will Shape the Future." They talk about how preventing climate change has led to a rush for "critical" metals, how China has dominated the field of mining and manufacturing, the minerals and metals behind Trump's Greenland obsession, recycling electronic waste, and the importance of reusing and repairing gadgets.
Episode 20: February 6, 2025 - Ke Huy Quan
Desi Lydic covers Trump's latest executive actions, including a combination walk back/double-down on his Gaza plan, a ban on trans athletes that he probably didn't proofread, and a "National Garden of American Heroes." Plus, Ronny Chieng and Josh Johnson debate which Americans are statue-worthy. Elon Musk needs Democrats to get their heads in the game and for Republicans to open their eyes before Elon Musk destroys the government like it's a SpaceX rocket. "Love Hurts" actor Ke Huy Quan joins Desi Lydic to discuss his upcoming action flick that's like "‘Die Hard' for hopeless romantics." The Oscar-winning actor shares why his character represents a different type of action star, whether co-star Marshawn Lynch went full "Beast Mode" on him, and his tearful onscreen reunion with "Goonies" co-star Sean Astin. Plus, Quan auditions for his dream role as a supervillain with some incredibly evil line readings.
Episode 15: January 29, 2025 - Rachel Mason
Michael Kosta tackles RFK Jr.'s confirmation hearing for health secretary, including protests from his family and medical professionals, his questionable stances on vaccines and AIDS, and Bernie Sanders's onesie interrogation. Plus, the polio virus (Troy Iwata) shares his excitement about returning to work. Now that Trump-aligned billionaires run various social media platforms, Grace Kuhlenschmidt asks New Yorkers if they will finally delete their apps. Filmmaker Rachel Mason sits down with Michael Kosta to discuss her new Max docuseries, "An Update on Our Family." She explains what attracted her to the story of the Stauffer family, popular YouTube vloggers who shared their overseas adoption online, the ethics of profiting off your children via content, and how she navigates oversharing on her own social media accounts.
Episode 21: February 10, 2025 - David Remnick
Jon Stewart tackles Trump's attempt to be the Super Bowl MVP and examines the president's rejection of federal agencies, birthright citizenship, and basic constitutional checks and balances. Plus, John Oliver welcomes America to its monarchy era. The New Yorker editor David Remnick sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss the magazine's 100th Anniversary Issue and journey since its inception in 1925. They also talk about the importance of long-form journalism, especially under the overwhelming second Trump administration, as well as how the president is overstepping executive power, the danger of the tech oligarchy, and the need for Democratic politicians and citizens alike to finish licking their wounds and take action.
Episode 14: January 28, 2025 - Lil Rel Howery
Michael Kosta checks in on the latest Trumpworld news: new press secretary Karoline Leavitt, the banning of trans people in the military, and the aftermath of pardoned Jan. 6 insurrectionists. Plus, Troy Iwata sets up an elaborate sting for J6 sex offenders. Ronny Chieng and Michael Kosta debate Travis Kelce and Taylor Swift's Super Bowl "ring," Philadelphia's mayor's misspelled Eagles chant, and a nacho tray distraction at a NHL game in the latest installment of Sports War. Comedian and actor Lil Rel Howery chats with Michael Kosta about starring in the new animated film "Dog Man," how therapy has benefited his life and his comedy, and the "Get Out" tagline that follows him at every T.S.A. checkpoint.
Episode 22: February 11, 2025 - Jesse Eisenberg
Jordan Klepper on Trump's boredom over his own tariffs, Pete Hegseth's half-woke Fort Bragg rebrand, and Eric Adams's "get out of jail" card. Plus, Grace Kuhlenschmidt, Michael Kosta, and Troy Iwata take a lesson from Mayor Adams on how to multi-task at the salon. Jordan Klepper and Ronny Chieng face off in Sports War over the Eagles' blowout Super Bowl win, Shohei Ohtani's interpreter's sentencing, and Kendrick Lamar's brutal takedown of Drake during his halftime performance. Academy Award-nominated actor Jesse Eisenberg sits down with Jordan Klepper to discuss writing, directing, and starring in his Oscar-nominated film, "A Real Pain." They talk about carrying generational grief and grappling with his own life's meaning as a descendant of Holocaust survivors, how he got unprecedented access to film at a concentration camp in Poland, how his relationship with Kieran Culkin mirrors their characters, and how that influenced his role as director.
Episode 13: January 27, 2025 - Royal Ramey
Jon Stewart discusses China's new A.I. tool "DeepSeek," and urges Democrats to convince voters of THEIR plan rather than react to Trump's "fascist" first week of executive orders. Chief Royal Ramey, a formerly incarcerated firefighter, and CEO and co-founder of the Forestry and Fire Recruitment Program, joins Jon Stewart to discuss how his program helps other formerly incarcerated people find a career in the fire sector. They discuss the hands-on training he received while incarcerated, why the work appeals to those currently serving time, and how helping a community and experiencing the "prison-to-public servant pipeline" changed his life.
Episode 23: February 12, 2025 - Colman Domingo
Jordan Klepper covers Trump pushing his Gaza takeover plan even further and the hypocrisy, conflicts of interest, and terrible "jokes" behind the most powerful unelected bureaucrat in D.C., Elon Musk. Marco Rubio was not always the it-girl of D.C. With his humble Florida beginnings and perfect lack of moral integrity, he was able to sneak his way in with Trump's in-crowd. This is the Daily Showography of Marco Rubio narrated by Molly Ringwald. "The only agenda is looking into a person's humanity and filling it with art and hope. That's the agenda of the film." Emmy-winning actor Colman Domingo talks to Jordan Klepper about his Oscar-nominated performance in the film "Sing Sing," which is based on a real rehabilitation through the arts program at Sing Sing prison, including the meta experience of making the film with a cast of formerly incarcerated actors playing versions of themselves and the transformative power of art and theater.
Episode 12: January 23, 2025 - Al Madrigal
Ronny Chieng dives into Trump's first week: DEI snitches, affirmative action's rollback to 1965, and a block on a "blatantly unconstitutional" executive order. Plus, Al Madrigal joins to discuss an enemy greater than immigrant violence: face tattoos. Charlamagne Tha God on why canceling rappers who performed at Trump's inauguration is misplaced anger and how Democrats should move forward by following the GOP's model of staying mad. Former Daily Show correspondent Al Madrigal sits down with Ronny Chieng to talk about his role in the series "Lopez vs. Lopez." They discuss working with comedy legend George Lopez, the chain letters Rob Riggle passed down to correspondents from Stephen Colbert, and the beauty of LA's community mobilizing after the fires.
Episode 24: February 13, 2025 - Brady Corbet
Jordan Klepper tackles Trump getting "hot" and heavy with the Kennedy Center, the government confirming RFK Jr. as health secretary, and the president fumbling peace negotiations between Russia and Ukraine before they even start. Josh Johnson asks New Yorkers how they're dealing with eggflation and tries to get in on the egg grift. "Audiences do want daring, original, provocative films." Brady Corbet, writer and director of "The Brutalist," joins Jordan Klepper to discuss his ten-time Oscar-nominated film. He explains how Trump's first-term push to "Make Federal Buildings Beautiful Again" inspired the story, why the architect at the film's center, László Tóth, feels so realistic, the connection between Brutalist architecture and the immigrant experience, and how he pulled it all off using VistaVision and a meager $10 million budget.