Late-night television hosts look the other way when Democrats behave badly.
It’s undeniable.
The most obvious example? These satirists sat on their hands while the rest of the country saw a cognitively impaired President struggle through his single term in office.
Joe Biden made an unhealthy number of blunders in his speech today.
First he claimed that “America first” policies weakened America.
Then he misidentified the Prime Minister of Japan as the President of Japan. He was quickly rebuffed by Japanese Prime Minister Fumio Kishida.… pic.twitter.com/qlIIkm6L77
— Ian Miles Cheong (@ianmiles) August 19, 2023
Colbert and co. has also refused to mock oh, so mockable figures like Rep. Jasmine Crockett, Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, former First Son Hunter Biden and L.A. Mayor Karen Bass.
Until this week.
On Wednesday, “The Daily Show” took California Gov. Gavin Newsom to the comedic woodshed. The hard-Left show’s “Daily Showography” segment skewered a man many expect to be the Democrats’ best chance at retaking the White House in 2028.
“Gavin Newsom: Leading Man, For Your Consideration” didn’t go as far as others might, but it still skewered the politician more than any other late-night show might.
It’s unclear how, but the segment in question got leaked to Variety as an “exclusive.” That suggests someone on the Comedy Central team hoped to promote it.
The segment also hit YouTube at roughly the same time as the article.
Why would an aggressively liberal show take so many shots at Newsom, a key player in the Democratic party and someone with serious White House aspirations?
It doesn’t make sense, at least on the surface. Look closer. Two explanations justify the startling segment.
The first is obvious. Gov. Newsom is a deeply flawed candidate.
RELATED: CAROLLA: GOV. NEWSOM IS A SOCIOPATH
His California track record is abysmal, from the rise in homelessness to his “leadership” during the Palisades fires. People are fleeing his state despite its natural beauty and wonderful weather.
It’s no secret his tenure has been disastrous, and any GOP candidate would shred it to pieces. Exposing his flaws now, and not during the heat of a presidential campaign, might make the most sense.
I’ve been all over the world and California is absolutely the most beautiful place on Earth. The incompetent government that runs it is a form of population control, otherwise everyone would live there.
— Joseph Kahn (@JosephKahn) February 3, 2026
The second reason is more subtle.
Today’s Democratic party is aligned with New York City Mayor Zohran Mamdani – the Democratic Socialist who exemplifies the party’s far-Left drift. The Democratic energy, enthusiasm and youthful spirit thrives on the far-Left side of the political spectrum.
Gov. Newsom is progressive, no doubt, but he lacks the socialist leanings of a Mamdani or AOC. “The Daily Show” may crave a genuine socialist to be the 2028 Democratic standard bearer … like the heart of the new Democratic party.
That leaves Gov. Newsom out.
Either way, it’s newsworthy that “The Daily Show” targeted Newsom, especially so early in the 2028 presidential campaign cycle.
It’s also not an accident.
The governor’s ascent to the top of the Democratic ticket will not be easy. And, if this skit is any indication, fellow Democrats are already hungry for a Plan B.
The post Why ‘Daily Show’ Just Skewered Gov. Gavin Newsom appeared first on Hollywood in Toto.
