Jon Stewart turned his comedic crosshairs on CNN Monday night, ripping the network for what he called the “f—— weird” promotion of anchor Jake Tapper’s new book Original Sin, which examines President Joe Biden’s cognitive decline.
Stewart’s Criticism
Stewart accused CNN of selling viewers “news they should’ve told you was news a year ago for free.” He opened with a montage of Tapper repeatedly plugging the book, co-written with Axios’ Alex Thompson, which claims the White House covered up Biden’s age-related issues during his final years in office.
“Don’t news people have to tell you what they know when they find it out? Isn’t that the difference between news and a secret?” Stewart quipped. “Breaking news — in a week.”
Timing and Awkward Optics
The host contrasted CNN’s heavy promotion of Original Sin with the sudden announcement that Biden had been diagnosed with stage 4 prostate cancer. “Nothing could slow down this coming, feeding news frenzy… other than maybe a report on his actual physical health,” Stewart said, noting the awkward pivot CNN had to make from an upbeat book rollout to somber coverage.
He mocked the network’s attempts to frame Biden’s illness as a reason to buy the book: “It’s just fun to watch them not only continue to push the book in light of this difficult news, but to actually frame this difficult news as perhaps even more of a reason to buy this book.”
Taking Aim at CNN Personalities
Stewart jabbed at CNN’s Brian Stelter for saying Biden’s cancer diagnosis made the reporting in the book “even more important now.” “Why are they hawking this f——- thing? Do these CNN people work on commission?” Stewart asked.
Trump’s Reaction and Stewart’s Take
Stewart also mocked Donald Trump’s restrained initial response to Biden’s diagnosis. On Truth Social, Trump wrote, “Melania and I are saddened to hear about Joe Biden’s recent medical diagnosis… we wish Joe a fast and successful recovery.”
“That’s it? No exclamation points, no all caps, no insults. Whole thing spelled correctly?” Stewart said, likening it to a ChatGPT-generated message. He noted how quickly right-wing media pivoted from expressing concern to spreading conspiracy theories.
Why It Matters
Stewart’s takedown targeted both the media’s commercialization of political news and the partisan whiplash surrounding Biden’s health. His critique questioned whether major networks are serving the public interest or simply chasing book sales — and whether even moments of bipartisanship are genuine or fleeting.
News
‘That Old Man Again,’ the Groom Mocked — But When His Father Recognized Me, the Entire Wedding Hall Fell Silent
When Love Demands More Than Words My hands trembled as I pressed Timothy’s contact for the fourth time in thirty…
A 1986 Field Trip Ended in Mystery — Decades Later, the Missing School Bus Was Finally Found
The Discovery at Morning Lake The emergency dispatch came through at 7:12 AM on a Tuesday morning that would forever…
At dinner, my dad never noticed my empty plate—Mom always said, ‘She already ate.’ For years she controlled every bite. The day I finally spoke up at school, she shifted the blame.
The Rules I Wasn’t Allowed to Break For three years, my dad sat at the dinner table and never noticed…
I Couldn’t Understand Why My Fridge Was Always Empty—Until I Got Home Early One Evening
Grace Bennett had always felt that the essence of her family thrived most vividly in her cooking. For twenty-five years,…
I Mocked a Stranger at Walmart—What Happened Next Humbled Me Forever
The Unexpected Angel in Aisle Seven I never expected that a routine stop at the local grocery store would completely…
On My Wedding Night, the Housemaid Whispered at My Door: ‘Change Clothes and Escape Now—Before It’s Too Late.’ By Morning, I Was on My Knees, Thanking the One Who Saved My Life.
The Night I Chose to Live The wedding night is supposed to be the happiest moment of a woman’s life….
End of content
No more pages to load
