Watch The Daily Show pooh-pooh the Chris Christie bridge scandal
You call forcing a traffic jam New Jersey–grade corruption? asks underwhelmed Jersey native Jon Stewart


A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Thank you for signing up to TheWeek. You will receive a verification email shortly.
There was a problem. Please refresh the page and try again.
On Wednesday night's Daily Show, Jon Stewart tackled the big political story of the day: The emails showing that top aides to Gov. Chris Christie (R-N.J.) apparently blocked traffic to the George Washington Bridge last September in retaliation for Fort Lee's Democratic mayor refusing to endorse Christie's re-election bid. Most commentary is focusing on whether this scandal will derail Christie's 2016 presidential hopes.
Stewart went there, too, crudely suggesting that news of Christie's first big scandal means "you can probably now see Paul Ryan's boner from space." But that wasn't his big takeaway. After noting Christie's disavowal of all knowledge of the vindictive lane closures — "clearly somebody is getting thrown under the bus here; fortunately for them, the bus isn't moving, it's stuck in terrible, terrible traffic" — Stewart turned for analysis to Senior New Jersey Correspondent... Jon Stewart.
In this role, Stewart was decidedly unimpressed with Team Christie's "piss-poor, third-rate quality of corruption," when New Jersey is universally renowned for its "piss-rich, first-rate quality of corruption." After running through some of the colorful scandals that put Jersey on the corruption map, Stewart chided Christie's aides for using non-coded lingo, calling them "an embarrassment to dialog." Have you seen New Jersey's flag? he added. "There is literally a severed horse's head on the state flag!" Stewart concluded his humblebrag about New Jersey corruption by quoting — who else? — Bruce Springsteen:
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
In the wild-card segment of the show, Aasif Mandvi cast a jaundiced eye toward the efforts to promote ObamaCare to 20-somethings through ads featuring bros doing keg stands and women celebrating their access to birth control. "Brosurance before hosurance," Mandvi summarizes to the earnest young adman who helped come up with the brosurance campaign.
The Daily Show's focus group of earnest 20-somethings wasn't impressed. Neither were ObamaCare opponents, who rightly pointed out that young people don't like to be talked down to. Their opt-out campaigns aren't much better, though. Then, Mandvi hit upon a solution. Watch:
Continue reading for free
We hope you're enjoying The Week's refreshingly open-minded journalism.
Subscribed to The Week? Register your account with the same email as your subscription.
Sign up to our 10 Things You Need to Know Today newsletter
A free daily digest of the biggest news stories of the day - and the best features from our website
Peter Weber is a senior editor at TheWeek.com, and has handled the editorial night shift since the website launched in 2008. A graduate of Northwestern University, Peter has worked at Facts on File and The New York Times Magazine. He speaks Spanish and Italian and plays bass and rhythm cello in an Austin rock band. Follow him on Twitter.
-
6 vibrant homes with art studios
Feature Featuring a six-bedroom home in Vermont and a rustic-modern house in California
By The Week Staff Published
-
Experts are worried about tuberculosis again
Speed Read The deadly disease regained its crown as the world's biggest infectious killer in October 2022
By Devika Rao Published
-
The daily gossip: Beyoncé is bringing the 'Renaissance' tour to movie theaters, Taylor Swift attends another Chiefs game with famous pals, and more
Feature The daily gossip: October 2, 2023
By Brendan Morrow Published
-
Dianne Feinstein, history-making Democratic US senator, dies at 90
The Explainer Her colleagues celebrate her legacy as a trailblazer who cleared the path for other women to follow
By Theara Coleman Published
-
Will the cannabis banking bill get the Senate's green light?
Talking Point The SAFER Banking Act is advancing to the US Senate for the first time, clearing a major hurdle for legal cannabis businesses. Does it stand a chance?
By Theara Coleman Published
-
Trump surrenders in Georgia election subversion case
Speed Read
By Catherine Garcia Published
-
Rep. Hakeem Jeffries chosen to succeed Pelosi as leader of House Democrats
Speed Read
By Brigid Kennedy Published
-
GOP leader Kevin McCarthy's bid for House speaker may really be in peril
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published
-
Are China's protests a real threat for Beijing?
opinion The sharpest opinions on the debate from around the web
By Harold Maass Published
-
Who is Nick Fuentes, the white nationalist who dined with Trump and Kanye?
Speed Read From Charlottesville to Mar-a-Lago in just five years
By Rafi Schwartz Published
-
Jury convicts Oath Keepers Stewart Rhodes, Kelly Meggs of seditious conspiracy in landmark Jan. 6 verdict
Speed Read
By Peter Weber Published