Episode
The Daily Show: March 18, 2025 - Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson
Overview
Jordan Klepper breaks down how Trump's attempt to mass-deport Venezuelans by invoking a racist wartime law has led to a feud with the federal judge and an all-out constitutional crisis. Plus, Troy Iwata checks in on sick MAGA children who have just learned that their letters from the president were signed by... an autopen. The recent string of plane crash catastrophes has air traffic controllers overworked and travelers worried. In an all-new "Back In Black," Lewis Black breaks down America's airline problem, the insufferable ways fliers ease their anxiety, and how Elon Musk is making it all worse. New York Times Opinion columnist Ezra Klein and staff writer for The Atlantic, Derek Thompson, talk to Jordan Klepper about their new book, "Abundance," which details how lawmakers can solve the affordability crisis by "building and inventing more of what we need."
Details
- Series
- The Daily Show
- Season
- Season 30
- Episode
- Episode 34
- Air date
- 2025-03-18
- Runtime
- 33 min
Episode context
March 18, 2025 - Ezra Klein & Derek Thompson is Episode 34 in Season 30 of The Daily Show. It aired on 2025-03-18. The runtime is 33 min.
Previous / Next
Episode 33: March 17, 2025 - Sen. Chris Murphy
Jon Stewart highlights how the Democrats' divisiveness over Trump's budget bill is emblematic of their lack of vision, plummeting approval ratings, and continued losses against the MAGA cult. Third-term Senator Chris Murphy of Connecticut sits down with Jon Stewart to talk about the Democratic party's path moving forward. He explains why he disagreed over the Dems' decision not to filibuster the GOP budget, why his colleagues should be willing to take more risks, how misaligned priorities cost them voters to Trump, and the need to rally behind long-lasting ideas.
Episode 35: March 19, 2025 - Anthony Carrigan
Jordan Klepper covers the backlash against Elon Musk, including town hall rage against his unconfirmed DOGE position and sweeping Tesla vandalization. Plus, some advice for the returning NASA astronauts on how to acclimate to Trump and Elon's new world. Trump is getting rid of all DEI celebrations... except for St. Patrick's Day! Michael Kosta takes to the streets of NYC on St. Paddy's Day to ask Irish Trump supporters what makes them so lucky. Emmy-nominated actor Anthony Carrigan sits down with Jordan Klepper to discuss his new film "Death of a Unicorn." They talk about working with unicorns through practical effects, experimenting with a Scottish accent, how Bill Hader opened the door for his character's continuation in "Barry," and his upcoming role as Metamorpho in James Gunn's "Superman."
More episodes from this season
Episode 32: March 6, 2025 - Antoni Porowski
Michael Kosta on Trump doubling down then ditching Canada and Mexico tariffs, the GOP pretending the plunging stock market is normal, and the president pissing off China. Plus, Josh Johnson takes inspiration from Trump flip-flopping on tariffs. These days in America it's easier to get a gun than get rid of one. Desi Lydic headed to Michigan to get to the bottom of the state's "buy back" initiative that turned out to be refurbishing guns instead of destroying them. Bestselling author and culinary expert Antoni Porowski talks to Michael Kosta about hosting his new National Geographic show, "No Taste Like Home," which uses a dish significant to each guest as an entry point to a journey through their family and ancestral history. They discuss the extensive research process that goes into the show, some of the most emotional moments of the season, and why food is so important to Porowski and how he connects with his own family.
Episode 36: March 20, 2025 - Peter Wolf
Jordan Klepper covers Trump's anti-DEI fallout, including the Pentagon's erasure of Jackie Robinson and The Enola Gay. Plus, Troy Iwata joins the Republicans' campaign to revive Tesla stock and keep Elon Musk rich. With many Americans preparing for doomsday, the apocalypse has become good business. Michael Kosta visits Fortitude Ranch, a post-apocalyptic survival community where preppers can wait out the end times in country-club glamour with their own rooms, artillery, and food supplies…for a hefty amount of cash. Legendary musician, artist, and New York Times best-selling author Peter Wolf joins Jordan Klepper to talk about his new memoir, "Waiting on the Moon." The former J. Geils Band frontman recounts the era in which he wrote their album "Full House," and how he strived to write a "not-boring" memoir by sharing vignettes about the people he idolized.
Episode 31: March 5, 2025 - Julien Baker & Mackenzie Scott aka "Torres"
Michael Kosta explains why Trump's joint session speech felt like a theatrical production with appearances by co-star Elon Musk, over-the-top trolling, and blatant lies as the Democrats helplessly wielded their props. Critically acclaimed musicians, Julien Baker and Mackenzie Scott aka "Torres" sit down with Michael Kosta to discuss their forthcoming album, "Send A Prayer My Way." They talk about banding together during lockdown to create a country album, navigating a spiritual relationship with the divine, and writing a song about the unconditional love of a dog. Julien Baker and Mackenzie Scott perform "Bottom of a Bottle" from their forthcoming album, "Send A Prayer My Way."
Episode 37: March 24, 2025 - Paul Rudd
Jon Stewart goes old-school Daily Show on Trump and Republicans who pride themselves on "saving" free speech, all while censoring anybody who doesn't agree with them. Paul Rudd sits down with Jon Stewart to chat about his latest starring roles in the films "Death of a Unicorn" and "Friendship," watching their kids grow up, and, of course, pharmaceutical side effects to the perineum.
Episode 30: March 4, 2025 - Mae Martin
Michael Kosta tackles Trump launching a trade war with Canada, Trudeau responding to Trump with a "disappointed dad" message, and the GOP blaming Biden for stock market issues. Plus, Grace Kuhlenschmidt unlocks American pride as things with Canada get ugly. Trump voters, Tesla owners, and Yeezy wearers are all suffering from buyer's remorse right now. Ricky Velez offers some advice for dealing with the disappointment and getting rid of your now Nazi-affiliated purchases. Mae Martin, an award-winning comedian, actor, and writer, sits down with Michael Kosta to discuss "I'm a TV," their debut album as a singer-songwriter. They talk about the differences between performing as a stand-up and as a musician, finding new vulnerability as a songwriter after their top surgery, the solemn inspiration behind the song "Big Bear," and that one time they got a tattoo using a stick and poke kit.
Episode 38: March 25, 2025 - Michelle Wu
Ronny Chieng tackles Republicans' desperate attempts to defend Trump administration officials accidentally adding a journalist to their Signal group chat for planning missile strikes on Yemen. Ronny Chieng and Jordan Klepper face off in a March Madness edition of Sports War, where the two debate the McNeese student manager's rise to fame, fans' upset over a lack of upsets, and the NCAA tournament's link to vasectomy season. Plus, a special Sports War halftime report from Grace Kuhlenschmidt. "We're the safest city because we are safe for everyone." Boston Mayor Michelle Wu sits down with Ronny Chieng to discuss blazing a trail as Boston's first female and first Asian-American elected mayor. They talk about winning over Boston's passionate and diverse constituency by focusing on solving their everyday challenges, valuing immigrants for a safer environment, investing in affordable housing, and why Boston remains the safest big city in America.
Episode 29: March 3, 2025 - Matthew Desmond
Jon Stewart dives into the Oval Office meeting between Trump, Vance, and Zelenskyy, which shocked viewers more than John Cena's heel-turn. Plus, Jon calls bullshit on Elon Musk's challenge to an interview. "Investing in American people and stabilizing communities that need it the most is the best way for all of us." Sociologist at Princeton University and Pulitzer Prize-winning author of "Evicted," Matthew Desmond sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss his latest book, "Poverty, by America." They talk about America's welfare state, how society benefits from poverty, the opportunity to close the poverty gap if the top one percent paid their taxes, and empowering the poor with better choices like building worker power, and expanding housing choice. They also highlight how Democrats need to get more serious about economic justice to fully commit to poverty abolitionism.
Episode 39: March 26, 2025 - Steve Coogan
Ronny Chieng dives into the churn of Signal-gate as Pete Hegseth downplays the war chat, Michael Waltz makes excuses, and journalist Jeffrey Goldberg brings receipts. Chris Distefano jumps in to solve America's issues, from export tariffs to immigration to DOGE cuts to Canada and Greenland sovereignty. Comedian and actor Steve Coogan joins Ronny Chieng to discuss his expansive career and new film, "The Penguin Lessons." They talk about their experiences at Edinburgh Fringe, his West End run portraying four roles in a "Dr. Strangelove" adaptation, why comic characters like his infamous Alan Partridge speak to both political parties, and his experience on-set with real and robotic penguins.
Episode 28: February 27, 2025 - Gabrielle Union
Desi Lydic rates the Democratic Party's methods of opposing Trump on the cringe-o-meter: from off-key protest chants to interpretive dance to podcasts. Plus, with so many Dems saying "Fuck Trump," Grace Kuhlenschmidt thinks that might just be a great idea. As Black History Month comes to an end, Josh Johnson asks New Yorkers if they can censor Black history just as well as the White House has. "You have to be willing to do the right thing even if it makes you uncomfortable or even if it doesn't actively benefit you, because real equality and real liberation is what benefits all of us." Actor, producer, and entrepreneur Gabrielle Union sits down with Desi Lydic for a conversation about making the new film she stars in, "Riff Raff," and how she uses her power as a producer to enact positive change in the industry and uplift people who are typically overlooked. They also discuss Union's pride in her daughter Zaya's activism work for the queer community and trans rights.
Episode 40: March 27, 2025 - Bill Murray
Ronny Chieng covers the upcoming Wisconsin Supreme Court election, including Elon Musk's $20 million intervention in Republican Brad Schimel's campaign, attack ads against the wrong Susan Crawford, and alternating pro-paedophilia smear campaigns. Also, Grace Kuhlenschmidt sees how billionaires are turning elections into games. Ronny Chieng on JD and Usha Vance's big trip to Greenland, where native protesters are chanting "MAGA: Make America Go Away". Bill Murray sits down with Ronny Chieng to discuss his latest film, "The Friend", as well as his legendary career in TV and film. Murray talks about his philosophy of trying to stay in the moment, why he moved to France with his family after starring in a string of comedy blockbusters like "Ghostbusters", his pivot to working with independent filmmakers like Wes Anderson, Jim Jarmusch, and Sofia Coppola, and what he gained from being a part of comedy institutions at The Second City and "Saturday Night Live".