Tonight’s Daily Show promises to be an interesting one, with Jon Stewart set to take on a topic he’s got some personal history with: Apple and China.
Stewart hosted 20 episodes of The Problem with Jon Stewart over two seasons on Apple’s streaming service Apple TV+ before abruptly parting ways in October 2023 just weeks before the show wass to begin taping episodes for a planned third season.
The New York Times reported at the time that the split came after Apple executives expressed concern over potential show topics, including one focused on China, apparently over concerns that it could have a negative effect on the company’s business operations in the region.
That, of course, ultimately led to Stewart’s Daily Show return in February 2024.
Time will tell whether he brings up his personal experience on tonight’s Daily Show, but it will almost certainly inform his discussion as he sits down with his guest journalist Patrick McGee. McGee’s new book, Apple in China: The Capture of the World’s Greatest Company, looks at how the tech giant’s business became wedded with the Chinese regime, and how it now placates Beijing in order to protect its business interests.
Although Stewart has not publicly discussed his clash with Apple in detail, he alluded to it during an April 2024 Daily Show interview with then-Federal Trade Commission Chair Lina Khan.
While discussing Khan’s work taking on tech monopolies, Stewart shared that he’d originally planned to interview Khan on the companion podcast for his Apple TV+ series.
“I wanted to have you on a podcast and Apple asked us not to do it,” Stewart told Khan.
“They literally said, ‘Please don’t talk to her,’” he continued. “Like, what is that sensitivity? Why are they so afraid to even have these conversations out in the public sphere?”
“I think it just shows the danger of what happens when you concentrate so much power and so much decision making in a small number of companies,” answered Khan.
The Daily Show airs weeknights at 11 p.m, ET/PT on Comedy Central, and is available to stream next day on Paramount+.
