“He looked me in the eye and said, ‘You owe me everything’” – Jon Stewart recalls a CHILLING encounter deep inside Fox News, where Roger Ailes tried to dominate him with threats, ego, and an eerie sense of ownership that still haunts him today
Jon Stewart isn’t done telling the uncomfortable truth. In a gripping moment of reflection, he opened up about a disturbing behind-closed-doors meeting with Roger Ailes—describing it as an hour-long shouting match in a windowless room buried beneath Fox News. What was Ailes really trying to do? Control him? Break him? Or remind him who built the machine he fought against?
What Stewart revealed next will leave you stunned—watch the full story now.
Jon Stewart and Roger Ailes (Credit: Getty Images)
Jon Stewart had an interaction with former Fox News president Roger Ailes that still chills him to the bone.
While speaking with Medhi Hasan on “The Weekly Show” podcast Thursday, the Comedy Central star explained that his presence was once requested for “one of those bananas-type meetings in the bowels of Fox News” with Ailes after he had guested on “The O’Reilly Factor.”
To hear Stewart tell it, “The Daily Show” host had gone after Ailes and his Fox News for the entirety of his run on the show and the late network president wanted thanks.
“I used to go on Bill O’Reilly’s show. Every now and again they would bring in the, you know, ‘clownish liberal’ – myself – and I would go on there,” he began. “And one day, one of the people came down and said Mr. Ailes would like to see you. And I thought, ‘Why? Geez, I didn’t even know he lived in the building.’”
Stewart continued: “We had to walk through the kind of ‘Get Smart’ — doors would open and shut. You didn’t really know where you were until you got into this one part of the building that was colder than the other parts of the building. You almost felt the hair on the back of your neck and the chill, and you could see everybody’s breath in this one part. And he and I yelled at each other in the office for about an hour. He wanted me to show appreciation to him, because without him I have no career. And I wanted him to stop poisoning the atmosphere around the country.”
“And harassing his blonde hosts,” podcast guest Mehdi Hasan chimed in.
Ailes also mentioned the meeting between the two in an interview with The Hollywood Reporter back in 2015 as Stewart’s time on “The Daily Show” was coming to an end. The then-president had a much cheerier perspective on the meeting.
“You can’t say that many negative things about people unless you’re really unhappy about something,” Ailes said. “I actually think he doesn’t dislike me. We met once or twice. I talked to him for an hour once in my office. I think he’s really smart, and he’s got a great future.”
Stewart and Hasan marveled at Ailes’ strategy for dealing with discourse and opposition from the left. It happens to be the same playbook used today by most of the right — most prominently by President Donald Trump and his supporters, they said.
“His methodology was: ‘I am going to discredit all of the institutions or any of the voices that may in any way harm my movement. I’m going to make sure that editorial authority is seen as elitism. I am going to exercise authoritarian control over my message machine,’” Stewart explained. “And that’s, I think, the genius of that movement.”
Hasan just went viral for debating a number of right-wing enthusiasts on Jubilee’s YouTube page earlier this month. He explained the difficulties that came with having those conversations because the people he was debating don’t play by the same rules.
“Liberals and Democrats and Leftists have got to understand that you are not on some ridiculous even playing field,” he said. “I’ve been hearing this since Donald Trump came down the escalator in 2015 – ‘just because they don’t play by the rules doesn’t mean we shouldn’t.’ No that’s exactly what it means!”
Watch the full “Weekly Show” episode below:
News
“He was strength when I had none left to give.” Tyrus BREAKS DOWN in tears on live TV – delivers raw 8-word TRIBUTE to Hulk Hogan after WWE LEGEND’S passing at 71 stuns fans, as heartbreaking cause of death sends shockwaves through wrestling world
“He was strength when I had none left to give.” Tyrus BREAKS DOWN in tears on live TV – delivers…
“Either fix the mirror or stop blaming the reflection.” – Tyrus IGNITES SHOCKWAVES after walking off CNN set mid-debate, ACCUSES network of TWISTING reality and demands media “clean its hands or shut it down”
“Either fix the mirror or stop blaming the reflection.” – Tyrus IGNITES SHOCKWAVES after walking off CNN set mid-debate, ACCUSES…
“If you abandon the wheel, don’t be shocked when the ship sinks” – Karoline Leavitt blasts Muriel Bowser for letting D.C. fall into chaos, claiming outsiders had to step in as crime crisis spins beyond the city’s control
“If you abandon the wheel, don’t be shocked when the ship sinks” – Karoline Leavitt blasts Muriel Bowser for letting…
“They said I’d never believe it until I saw it” – Kelly Clarkson stunned as obituary for Brandon Blackstock reveals alleged affair with her trusted assistant, shattering her inner circle and sending shockwaves through friends, family, and the entire music industry
“They said I’d never believe it until I saw it” – Kelly Clarkson stunned as obituary for Brandon Blackstock reveals…
“Some days, I feel like I’ve already left” – Kelly Ripa ADMITS she’s been secretly debating QUITTING ‘Live’ for YEARS as OPRAH exposes the REAL off-screen truth that changed everything for her
“Some days, I feel like I’ve already left” – Kelly Ripa ADMITS she’s been secretly debating QUITTING ‘Live’ for YEARS…
“They mocked me until the very end” – The View SHUT DOWN after unprecedented network decision leaves Karoline Leavitt delivering the crushing finale, while Joy Behar’s trembling voice and tear-filled eyes mark the last moments of a show once untouchable in daytime television.
“They mocked me until the very end” – The View SHUT DOWN after unprecedented network decision leaves Karoline Leavitt delivering…
End of content
No more pages to load