June 18, 2019

Jon Stewart calls out Mitch McConnell about 9/11 responders fund on 'Colbert'

After the New Jersey native's impassioned testimony in D.C., the Kentucky senator said the comedian was just 'looking for some way to take offense'

By Virginia Streva
PhillyVoice Staff

Jon Stewart and Colbert call out Mitch McConnell

Late Show with Stephen Colbert/YouTube

Jon Stewart appeared on "Late Show with Stephen Colbert" Monday night to discuss Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell.

Remember the good old days when Stewart would joke on "The Daily Show" about the absurdities in Congress? Well, he's back ... kind of.

Jon Stewart returned to television Monday night to call out Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell on "The Late Show with Stephen Colbert."

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Colbert opened the segment discussing Stewart's emotional speech before Congress last week that Stewart gave after lawmakers failed to show up for the hearing to fund the 9/11 first responders' compensation fund. The host also showed a clip of Stewart recently discussing his concerns about McConnell passing the bill on Fox News.

Then Colbert played McConnell's appearance on "Fox and Friends" the next morning to discuss Stewart's comments and said he didn't know why the comedian was "so bent of shape." And that didn't exactly resonate well with Stewart, who popped out from under Colbert's desk to comment.

"I'm not bent of shape. I'm fine." Steward said. "I'm bent out of shape for them. These are the first heroes and veterans and victims, of the great trillions of dollars 'War on Terror.' You think that would be enough to get Congress' attention, but apparently it's not."

Then Colbert played another clip, in which McConnell discussed how lawmakers often are not at hearings because they're too busy, adding that Stewart was just "looking for some way to take offense."

Stewart sarcastically said, "I feel stupid, this was a huge misunderstanding — I didn't realize they were busy," adding, "I didn't mean to interrupt them … with their jobs."

Stewart then dove deep into the problems the compensation fund has faced at the hands of McConnell, noting that the senator could pass the lone bill "tomorrow."

Watch Jon Stewart on the "Late Show with Stephen Colbert" below.