Extended interview: Jon Stewart

In this episode of "Person to Person with Norah O’Donnell," O'Donnell sits down with comedian Jon Stewart before he hosts the Warrior Games to talk about advocating for 9/11 responders and America’s veterans. Also in this episode, O'Donnell speaks with a member of Team Air Force on how the Warrior Games helps wounded servicemembers.

[@0heck]

Imagine what could be done in congress if representatives shared Jon's empathy for their fellow Americans.

[@TimmyTheTinman]

He should run for office, he would be a force to be reckoned with

[@liquidoxygenbar7671]

If only

[@littleninjai222]

Well said. I've always loved him for that. He brings so much intellect to fighting for what's right and with such great humor.

[@theamericanopry]

Just think what the CIA could do if they didn't have to hide behind comedians. If Jon could just interview more war criminals like Hillary and Condoleezza Rice, think what could be possible. Really interesting.

[@robertjahn4190]

If only republicans would do that. Yeah.

[@jeffreyphillips4182]

I have stage 4 prostate cancer that has matasized into the bone and is spreading. This is the result of agent orange. The VA has me at 100% rating but a couple of years ago they wanted to cut my benefits to 40% so I had to appeal. Fortunately I had some excellent nurses and doctors that went to bat for me writing in their report my cancer is life-long and active, so they left it 100% for now. That was 2 and a half years ago. We will see if they leave me at 100% but so far they have and I'm 74, have no idea how much longer I have. It's men and women like Jon Stewart and Tammy Duckworth that keep our troops alive after service and I am extremely grateful for all they do👍

[@Khronogi]

I feel for you Jeffrey. My fathers cancer has spread to his liver and hes now on hospice care. Its tough. I think hes got less than a month. Today is his 70th birthday, so atleast hes made it to that. I cant imagine being a vet and having to cover that cost especially after what you went through at the request and demand of our government. I often think about how our country says it represents one thing, and then does the opposite. I feel as if our patriotism is blinding us from our failures and is an excuse used to prevent us from fixing things. As if stating that our system is broken is somehow an affront to the flag, despite the coverup being so much more of an insult to the sacrifices that were made on its behalf. I hope those doctors and nurses keep you well as you fight your latest battle. Keep strong friend.

[@joshuapatrick682]

Jon is what you get when you have a person who witnessed a moment in history and actually cared enough to do something about it, for the rest of his life. Thanks for the laughs Jon! Keep doing God’s work!

[@MMuraseofSandvich]

"Don't penalize your veterans for your budgeting error." This country has always had a problem repaying veterans for their service, from the very founding. We can, and we should do better. If we can afford to give the rich and powerful health care for life, we should do the same for every American.

[@markylarky524]

Also rich and powerful benefit from cost to build our war machine. At least in WW2, we did take of our solders. We need to keep them safe and healthy.

[@davidt3956]

Well, it depends on which veterans. For instance, George Washington argued and struggled for years to get his fellow officers what they were promised. Then he called out the army on enlisted veterans who wanted what they were promised. There's always been a double standard.

[@1bwight]

Thank you thank you thank you Jon and CBS is talking about the burn pits, 911 responders, the VA, current and past Veterans. Thank you thank you thank you 😊

[@d.e.7467]

Good grief. I'm not the brightest bulb in the box, but providing health care to everyone is a no brainer. The greed and inhumanity in the current system is deplorable.

[@yukiwyngaard2202]

I absolutely agree.

[@Deretich]

Thank you for bringing up Vietnam vets. My dad served two tours there. My sister passed 20 years ago from AML a cancer linked in kids of people exposed to agent orange. Really appreciate Jon and the work he is doing for vets.

[@shannalee2520]

As long as Jon is elevated and gets to play volleyball and give awards to nazis, it is "humble"? In what clown world?

[@carlzend8091]

Brilliant interview. Thanks. Jon Stewart is the Gandhi of comedy. Enormous depth and understanding eventually unraveling in a simple march for freedom - freedom from the devastating effects of being ignored while suffering.

[@patriciamcdowell1338]

This Mom of a Veteran thanks Jon with all her heart💕

[@pohanahawaii]

🗽Jon Stewart embodies the best of America and what a true patriot is. ❤ you, Jon, and 🎄Happy Holidays🎄 to you and yours!

[@Taesian]

As a Veteran, thank you Jon Stewart. Thank you also for visiting Afghanistan in 2011 with the USO.

[@malcolmvadermosely1742]

Jon Stewart continues to be one of my hero's. I know he would claim as a Veteran that I am, or maybe my Uncles whom are Vietnam Veterans, but he has fought for our health concerns for so long and has helped so much. I tear up thinking what would happen if we didn't have his help because he is the voice that is heard when so many don't listen to those of us that are not heard.

[@lollyp1361]

You are a TRUE patriot, Mr. Stewart. We need about 500 clones of you. ❤

[@amandajean2406]

My father is a Vietnam vet who was exposed to Agent Orange. I’ve taken care of him for the last five years and he has every medical problem known to be a result of exposure to it. He’s had cancer, he has diabetes, heart problems and chronic kidney disease. I really appreciate the recognition for our Vietnam vets and vets in general. My dad served our country his whole life, not only in war but as a fireman for over 30 years. He’s still fighting with the VA to get 100% disability. I’m happy to see I’m not the only one fighting for care for our vets.

[@ecamp6360]

More power to you. My best to your dad. I had a boss who was a Vietnam Vet. They also had burn pits there.

[@sevenirises]

Jon's a precious gem. I'd always thought veterans had medical coverage for life until he mentioned this a couple years ago. Why don't they? So glad his heart feels the empathy and concern for our American heros enough to fight for the healthcare they need. Like Jon said..... "Don't penalize veterans for your budgeting error." Take care of your warriors, America.

[@Ryuujinv01]

Because the system is designed for the plebian caste to have their retirements stripped from them before death so only the ultra wealthy have opportunities to build generational wealth. 100% of people will get sick enough before they die to eat most of the retirement they statistically probably don't even have in the first place. If they didn't have to spend their retirement on private health care and insurance then they might get to hold on to something.

[@thecreativeprocess-pureima3389]

All the best aspects of what it means to be a good and caring human being.

[@georgebenitez8635]

Thank you Norah O'Donnell and Jon Stewart for shinning the light on our (Vets) story!

[@brianag9726]

Thanks for voicing that volunteer work is so beneficial for the volunteer. We hope we help those we are volunteering to help, but it is transformational for us too. I have seen people learn so much and change their career choice while volunteering.

[@gorangidlof4114]

John S.. is an amazing man, and I wish him many future awards.

[@lairddougal3833]

Mr Stewart is a much-needed reminder that there are decent, intelligent people everywhere and that humanity is not a lost cause.

[@jakepistolero]

is he?? really?? in 2006, would you have imagined him trying to launder condy rice's "reputation"??

[@xidada666]

@@jakepistolero you must be a really unhappy person :(

[@jakepistolero]

@@xidada666 becajse i dont like hypocrites?? Ok

[@JH-sj4pf]

@@jakepistolero 😥😭

[@stevej.7926]

@@jakepistolero I’m sure you’ve never ever been hypocritical about anything important in your life. Well done!

[@bkp1283]

Thank you jon.

[@XercesandAlexander]

Jon is such a great example of being a decent human being.

[@aratosm]

LOL's, if by decent you mean fascist, sure.

[@gsman1]

@@aratosm please explain.

[@aratosm]

@@gsman1 He hates freedom of speech and supports the fascist narrative? There is not much to explain.

[@EattheApple666]

@@aratosm I don't think you know what the word fascist means.

[@shannalee2520]

Imagine: Heaven as it is on earth: where we had never sent U.S troops to Vietnam *at all.*

[@JM-sj5oi]

Awesome! Thank you Norah. Stewart is truly a national treasure, and way to often the conscience of the US.

[@moniqueengleman873]

John Stewart is a Legend ✨✨

[@lorettanericcio-bohlman567]

And John Legend is a stewart! 😁

[@Avocadocolorado]

Jon Stewart. Awesome guy. Awesome writer. It's very kosher in the coolest way possible!!

[@spacenerd9499]

Vets deserve health care the rest of their lives! They should get anything they need to lead healthy lives!

[@andrewmills2136]

Jon has done so much and continues to do these things to help those that have sacrificed so much. And shame on anyone that brings negativity and dark energy against what he does. Truly a blessing for those he’s helped.

[@SoberOKMoments]

So grateful America can produce people like Jon Stewart ... Too! Bless him and the work he continues to do!

[@cynthiamason4069]

Vet's should have Healthcare for life. ♡♡♡♡♡♡

[@wycliffethomas9055]

Turning the VA from adversary to advocate... Always learning when Jon shares. Thank you

[@psicologiajoseh]

What a beautiful human being. This is touching.

[@tomcoyne1409]

A country proves its worth by how it treats its people, all of them, Vets included. Vets are not alone on how Fed up our system has become. As a vet, I can say that?

[@cherylannebarillartist7453]

IF our government officials and their families receive lifelong healthcare coverage why not our service men and women too?!!!?

[@Art-cn8yl]

It conflicts with tax cuts for Corporations and the wealthy.

[@LauseMarkA]

Everybody . . . everybody should get it.

[@MasterOfDarkness42069]

You're making way too much sense, take it down a notch.

[@LargeMcBottoms]

Why not everyone

[@waryinzero]

Check out the UK's latest crisis due to constraints exposed by their healthcare for all. It's a great concept but when demand exceeds supply what is the solution

[@bradleypeel6057]

Thank you John Stuart. For standing up for our veterans. I wish you had a program on a public network where this and other veteran problems especially the homeless veterans who are dismissed by our government, your government and mind. There's a lot of shame to go around from all branches of the government

[@nancystrong2226]

We haven't done a good job of dealing with chemical issues in first responders because the military/industrial money doesn't pay politicians to notice it.

[@Khronogi]

They'd have to take a pay cut.

[@suereed3474]

Thank you Jon Stewart.

[@TheFarbelism]

This man would never run, but he would make an outstanding president.

[@spornge]

I love his work with first responders and vets, not because my wife is a first responder, not because I am a vet, because he does not do it as much out of patriotism, but that I really thinks that the way those that come back and survive are treated, that it irritates him so much he is moved to act, that it just pisses him off to ask people to get fed through meat grinders and then suddenly its too complicated when they come back.

[@oscarinacan]

That's why I tell anyone thinking to enlist not to. The gov will use you up and spit you out. It makes me sad to say that but it's the honest truth. If I'm wrong then there would be no gofundme pages posted by vets or their families asking for help for wounds received while deployed. Every recruiter should be ashamed of themselves for continually lying to our youth to get them to serve the military industrial complex

[@markbantz9699]

What an inspiring human!

[@sharonj5574]

We would not be the free nation we are without our military. Thank you all for your service and I hope you all get all the health care needed and I also hope you all receive any help needed to re-enter the society you helped protect. God bless you all!

[@meligoth]

Whenever the question as to why less and less of young adults are not signing up for military service, people will look away at the obvious reasons why and blame their lack of patriotism. It's sickening.

[@Khronogi]

I think we are blinded by patriotism. We use it as an excuse to coverup our failings. I use the example of colin Kaepernick kneeling for the flag. Many people think it was disrespectful, but I see it as the most respectful thing he could have done. To call out America for its hypocrisy is not to insult America, it is to make it better. That to me is more respectful of an endeavour than to ignore our failings and continue on like nothing is wrong. To ignore those failings is an insult to all of the sacrifices made to allow our fellow brothers and sisters the ability to prosper. That is the true insult to the flag.

[@BeachPeach2010]

I really wish he'd run for President. I want to vote for him!

[@Khronogi]

Or be a presidential advisor. Being a president sucks. It's not a job for one person.

[@curiouscat3384]

I LOVE it when Jon gets an opportunity to speak with mass media !!!!! People who don't remember his Daily Show or watch/listen to his current intellectual podcast need to hear him more - BRAVO!

[@rafaelmadrigal9038]

Jon Steward is the man, before men were men. Great respect for the man.

[@MrSridharMurthy]

Great interview! John is surely a noble guy!

[@davecloony5404]

John Stewart deserves to be loved and admired for what he is and who he is. He sounds so honest and so real that makes him irresistibly enviable. We have many people who work in the same line of work as John does, but no way anyone can get even near to what he is. News and media industries need people like John Stewart more than ever.

[@victorlewis3251]

He exemplifies all of the best human attributes. How can he run for the White House without splitting the Liberal/Progressive/Democrat vote is the question.

[@aronsium4714]

If he becomes President he should tend to the progressive way to accomplished what Liberals couldn't. Universal Health Care, universal background checks for guns, stop pro-life and banning books and religious interference in class rooms, a irremovable Fidel Castro in MTG's Congress office.

[@peterstafford4426]

He should never run for President. He does not have the ability to run the country. I have mixed feeling about Stewart. He is doing great work for the first responders and vets. But he chose those causes because he knows no one can attack him for standing up for them. Its very strategic. Yet it is also doing a lot of good. But Stewart loves the limelight. And you should never forget that.

[@mikefuller363]

@@peterstafford4426 i think we have here perhaps the worst judgement of someone's character possible. he loves the limelight? he left the daily show in his prime. if you can't tell he is authentic in his causes than you are blind.

[@peterstafford4426]

There is no way to know if he is authentic.

[@mikefuller363]

@@peterstafford4426 it's called judgement, and you clearly don't have any. also with a little digging you could follow how much he does behind the scenes to promote the causes of veterans and 9/11 firefighters

[@andyroach420]

Jon does a great job at reflecting and reframing the insanity in America.

[@angieallen4884]

Love this man...Thanks, Jon, for all you do and bring to our attention!

[@skydog9043]

Jon is a great guy who wears his heart on his sleeve!

[@gosikh]

Thanks John for fighting the fight for service people.

[@annemacleod1421]

I love that Jon S has not been captured by institutional trappings. He keeps it raw, funny, insightful, and incisive. Cheers from New Zealand to Ben Seekell. 🐑🐑🇳🇿🇳🇿NZ

[@Art-cn8yl]

Love Jon Stewart! Just an all around good man....and funny AF.

[@markcampbell7577]

Social security entitlement for disabled people should be a living and the transition to work easy. That's not the condition disabled people discover when they get home from the hospital. When all is said and done you are a homeless disabled person. The veterans discovered after Vietnam War and they set a few things straight. A minimum standard of living wages and entitlement was not one of them.

[@alanhoff2762]

Please, please run for office, congress, senate or president. You have so much support from so many generations, think about it. If, just put your hat in the ring, you got my vote.

[@BD-uw1kq]

Jon is, and should be, a hero to all for how he held congress's proverbial feet to the fire over the failure to get the bill passed to cover the toxic exposure of vets. I can't imagine living long enough to collect anything for myself but certain needy people and places will benefit from that money after I'm gone.

[@jennyaskswhy]

Watching John the GOAT Stewart represent the veterans has to be one best bits of television today

[@liquidoxygenbar7671]

As a combat vet, just wanna say thanks Jon.

[@stevechance150]

6:30 "incinerators are slightly more expensive". Maybe we shouldn't let unconstrained Capitalism rule EVERYTHING.

[@tinamclaughlin1991]

St Jon of the forgotten! 🥺🥰😇💝😘

[@normlang1994]

Tinnitus, which pales in comparison to the cancers Jon mentioned, is a common affliction among vets, and almost impossible to get the VA to acknowledge. Every helicopter crewman I served with is now suffering from it.

[@irishlady30]

It's just so frustrating and too bad that someone like John Stewart have to embarrass our " leaders" into protecting the people they call to serve this country at a moments notice... When will we all realize that this government doesn't work for our best interests.....

[@WindFireAllThatKindOfThing]

I don't think I'd call our market economics complex. Rather deliberately obtuse. All that complexity and terminology doublespeak was crafted on purpose to cover their tracks as long as possible, long enough to make their getaways with the loot. What they *_do_* and why the *_do it_* has always been simple enough, as is the end result.

[@annsanse2935]

yes, take care of the veterans. but please also, the measure of a country's worthiness is in its willingness and ability to assist the vulnerable, and to do so minus the baked in cynicism that every single person needing help is just some layabout on the take.

[@markmarco2880]

Glory to the heroes.❤

[@dermot8626]

"As long as but a hundred of us remain alive, never will we on any conditions be brought under English rule. It is in truth not for glory, nor riches, nor honours, that we are fighting, but for freedom - for that alone, which no honest man gives up but with life itself".

[@LaSnob711]

Great to have you back! 🤗 Happy Holiday Season and a Great New Year! ✨ Love from Europe!

[@MC-bm3cy]

Thank you, Jon. ❤

[@cybrfriends5089]

this man is a legend

[@krob2327]

He’s a serpent

[@BATgirl57]

Totally!!

[@madworker1927]

Yeah, A globalist puppet pretending to be the saviour of Americans who reads his script from the Matrix.

[@cybrfriends5089]

@@madworker1927 Comrade, the time to leave Russia is now. Things are not going to get better for Russia. Do not die for Putin of by him.

[@G_Demolished]

@@krob2327 Aww, you’re one of those “lizard people” tin hatters. Bless your heart.

[@mikehagmaier3949]

Great job Nora, Jon Stewart, and Sgt. Seekell - all eyes on everybody.

[@richiegrey5377]

John, could you do one thing just one thing when you could think about a little bit……. Stop getting any older please it’s annoying.

[@davidt3956]

I loved all other than Jon talking about the joy of "seeing the warrior come back out of them." Maybe we should focus on helping them understand how important their being a warrior was to the nation, but that not being one anymore also has advantages and benefits. They don't have to be warriors their entire lives.

[@kelliott7864]

I'd love to see a program that creates all veteran teams that do projects for humanity.

[@10-AMPM-01]

It's hard sometimes. People give me grief for not having easy to categorize, simple to understand disabilities like missing a foot. Back and brain for me, like many of my wealth class. Toxic metals too. USA citizen from birth, discrimination since birth. No escape without violence. You can't get away from the pollution...

[@shuheihisagi6689]

Not when we have a terrible and defunded EPA and a corrupt FDA.

[@MrWatson777]

He should run for president

[@rickplieth9028]

How truly sad that our veterans need the assistance of charities like Wounded Warriors. Veterans should NEVER need for anything medically. Their surviving spouses and children should always be taken care of. Simple, honorable respect. How despicable that certain politicians hold up funding programs under the guise of fiscal responsibilty.

[@JBTee123]

John Stewart for the win: don’t punish veterans for your budget mistakes.

[@j-mo2453]

He’s that same guy that used to wear jeans, high tops, plain white T and a black leather jacket. We had the same style back then. Lol

[@j-mo2453]

First time I seen him in a suit I snickered. Lolol

[@jimwilcox7625]

John's comments about the way our veterans are treated following their service is excellent. My younger son served six and a half years in the Army. He deployed to Afghanistan twice with the Second Ranger Battalion as an explosive ordinance disposal staff Sargent. He is currently fighting the VA for medical treatment for his ankle which was injured during training. They are denying the injury was received during his term of service despite evidence, both medical and time based, being given multiple times. As Mr. Stewart said, the service men and women who support our country should receive the best medical treatment available as a part of their commitment to America. Politicians love to declare their support of service members, especially when seeking reelection. But they often decide not to do so when legislation is put forward to provide tangible help to veterans.

[@Khronogi]

2-75th? Your son is a badass. Hope he gets his care.

[@maxcorey8144]

I am a Viet Nam combat veteran. According to the US Department of Veteran's Affairs, three out of four Viet Nam veterans have since committed suicide. That is more than all Americans who died in that war directly. There is always a suicide hotline. I came close to suicide years ago but got over it thank goodness. George Carlin called it Shell Shock. It goes back to ancient times. Apparently Patton did not believe in it when he slapped the shell shocked kid in the hospital. Hopefully we believe in it now.

[@EnglishMike]

While the suicide rate among vets is too high, it's not remotely high enough to have caused 3/4 of all Vietnam veterans to have died. The suicide rate among older vets is 26 per 100,000 (vs 17 per 100,000 for all older Americans) which is a tiny fraction of the rate required for the quarters of all vets to have died from suicide.

[@Khronogi]

@@EnglishMike is that 100,000 counting the ones who served in the war or the ones who are still alive now?

[@edub9930]

Mr Stewart is a national treasure.

[@Ghanshyam00000]

Jon is an incredible person I would have seen a lot of his shows he has an awesome personality

[@northendtrooper]

John Stewart not being person of the year is a crime.

[@spornge]

At about 12 minutes Jon explains succintly what it is like to leave the military and then try to relate to the "normal world"

[@joeybeans4828]

Hi John. Could we get the conversation expanded to include contractors, which outnumber the troop presence several fold?

[@belkyhernandez8281]

Veterans should get automatic healthcare for life and that includes mental health care.

[@dinoradja2980]

Jon really is an American hero for exposing the issue and assisting in pushing the legislation through. Thank you Jon. Class fn act

[@samhook8109]

I can't speak for my whole generation, but I want video of Jon Stewart playing The Legends of Zelda on NES.

[@Thezuule1]

Legend.

[@MMuraseofSandvich]

The paralympic games were originally for wounded war veterans, and it's now expanded for athletes of all backgrounds (that's a good thing). It's fantastic that Jon helps to bring back a form of that for today's war wounded. Hopefully Paralympians will participate as well, bigger communities can save more lives.

[@shannalee2520]

Where do war wounded and burn pits come from? War. How much was Jon paid to give kudos to the actual literal nazis in war promotion?

[@Thezuule1]

@@shannalee2520 and Jon has spoken out against war for as long as he's had a platform. He's a human being doing the best he can and he's had more of an impact than the both of us combined.

[@Khronogi]

@@shannalee2520 I think that's a purely BS narrative. It's a smear campaign that doesnt make sense if you actually follow Jon.

[@pormantu]

Jon Stewart gives out awards too😂

[@timmyodaley1411]

Merry Christmas Norah.....

[@cynthiamason4069]

Where is this wonderful event happening, and will CBS televise it?

[@cheri7054]

John does great work

[@Lloyd.Browne]

The fact that service personnel are placed in harms way. Free healthcare period.

[@bryannahasisboring]

Jon is such a modern day Saint.

[@markcampbell7577]

Minimum wage act and social security act supported like people live here.

[@markbantz9699]

Bless you soldier!

[@mauriceortiz8817]

Thank you John Stewart

[@Dan-rx3fq]

I really do wish Jon would run for President, however I think he's over qualified....