Making television political

Four episodes where Stewart’s satire left its mark on America:

After 9/11 attacks in 2001

Date: Sept. 20, 2001 Summary: In his first program after the Al Qaeda attacks on New York City, Stewart opened with a nineminute monologue that was moving, emotional and raw in its honesty. Memorable line: “The view from my apartment was the World Trade Center, and now it’s gone. But you know what the view is now? The Statue of Liberty. And you can’t beat that.”

Rescuing the 9/11 First Responders

Date: Dec. 16, 2010 Summary: In 2010, Senate Republicans were holding up passage of a bill that would provide billions of dollars in health care for sick 9/11 firefighters, police officers and health workers. The Daily Show devoted several programs to the issue; Stewart was credited for getting the bill passed. Memorable line: “I would like to see one of these senators have the balls to explain why somehow getting a tax cut extension for wealthy Americans is more important than suffering Ground Zero workers.”

The awfulness of Dick Cheney

Date: March 26, 2012 Summary: Stewart was frequently critical of former vice-president Dick Cheney, particularly for his enthusiasm to invade Iraq, and the U.S. media’s failure to hold him to account. When it was announced that Cheney had received a heart transplant, Stewart was scathing. Memorable line: “Hey, everybody, here’s my impression of Dick Cheney’s surgeon removing Cheney’s original heart. Ah, it bit me! Oh, my god! Why does a human heart have fangs?”

“Guantanamo Baywatch”

Date: June 14, 2012 Summary: One of Stewart’s persistent themes was the failure of the Obama administration to close the prison camp in Guantanamo Bay despite promising to do so. His shows featured “Gitmo,” an Elmo puppet with a beard, reflecting on his pathetic life as an illegally detained “terrorist.” Memorable line: “We’re keeping these prisoners in Cuba to keep Americans safe . . . because there’s no way anybody can get to America from Cuba.”