If there is anything in the United States we do not have enough of, it is political discourse. Ha. But all kidding aside, in a moment when there are so many voices demanding influence and airtime, if there is someone that has been discussing politics for over 20 years, who has hosted a successful show, and continues to work as an activist, such a person might be the one we need right now: he’s real, and he’s Jon Stewart.

If you don’t know who Jon is, here’s a quick recap: Jon Stewart, a comedian and sometimes actor who hosted several other talk shows (including one on MTV) began hosting The Daily Show on Comedy Central in 1999. Contrary to popular belief, he was not the first host—that would be Craig Killborn, who hosted from ’96 to ’98. During Stewart’s tenure, the program was built to be a top-down satire of cable news shows, complete with a host, correspondents, and occasional contributors. Many who started out as correspondents on the show turned into veritable stars of their own, you might know about former employees: Stephen Colbert, John Oliver and Steve Carell.

I only became aware of Stewart in the summer of 2019, from coming across old clips of the show on YouTube. He had an indignant nature against a multitude of targets: the Bush administration, the Iraq war, up into discussing the upcoming 2016 election and the Supreme Court. I felt that he brought a unique perspective to what was going on, and I soon watched every clip I could find. Seeing that Stewart ended his tenure on the Daily Show in 2015, a few years before I became interested in current events, going back to his shows really felt like an education of the popular attitudes of the time.

To today’s audience, seeing Stewart at the desk, talking about the news of the day, might seem like a copy of every other late-night host out there right now. But that is taking out history: back in 1999, among the likes of Jay Leno, Stewart was the only one with a completely politically focused show, that specifically criticized the decision-makers of the day.

From 2015 to 2022, Jon’s handpicked successor Trevor Noah hosted the show, and it was a relative surprise when Noah announced his departure. Up to the beginning of 2024, the show had been hosted by a cast of rotating guests, like Leslie Jones and John Leguizamo. However, longtime viewers wondered if the hesitancy to pick a new host signaled trouble for the now quarter-century old program.

Then came the news this past January: Jon Stewart had signed on to once again host Monday night shows through the November election (with correspondents like Jordan Klepper and Ronny Chieng hosting Tuesday through Thursday). However, Stewart has kept the door open on whether he might host into 2025, and perhaps continue in a more permanent role.

And here we are now—diving headfirst into another election, twenty years after the one on the DVD. Stewart’s weekly monologue usually discusses some aspects of it, including debates and speeches. Admittedly, I had started to wonder: what is there new to say about politics, and this election, at this point? I felt like we are so inundated with this and that news story, and sensationalist coverage, that it makes me want to think about anything else at the end of the day.

But I think the greatest thing Stewart offers, and continues to, is his honest and skeptical eye toward the institutional powers of government in this country. No party, politician, or concept is off limits, and viewers can never expect what they might get week to week. I went into these first new episodes wondering if they would be aimed at an older audience (like the one that watched during his original run), or specifically having a “kids these days” attitude. Thankfully, I was completely wrong. Stewart’s goals—criticizing what he sees as dishonest politicians, media tactics, and political commentary—are the same as they were 25 years ago.

But this isn’t to say viewers should accept Stewart’s second coming as a miracle and remove him from criticism. Do I agree with every viewpoint Stewart makes on his show? No, and I don’t think he’d encourage anyone to. But what he does makes me think. A little more critical thinking, and skepticism of our leaders is, I think, good for everyone.