Jon Stewart rips CNN over Jake Tapper's book ‘Original Sin' on Joe Biden's decline: ‘How weird'
Jon Stewart tore into CNN Monday night, blasting the network for aggressively promoting anchor Jake Tapper's new book about former President Joe Biden's health — a topic Stewart said the network should have covered during Biden's term.
'Forgetting about the fact how f****** weird it is that the news is selling you a book about news they should've told you was news a year ago for free,' Stewart said.
'The Daily Show' host criticized the network for continuing to promote the book just as news broke of Biden's recent cancer diagnosis.
'It's just fun to watch them not only continue to push the book in light of this difficult news, but to actually frame this difficult news as perhaps even more of a reason to buy this book,' according to Stewart.
Tapper and Axios reporter Alex Thompson wrote 'Original Sin: President Biden's Decline, Its Cover-up, and His Disastrous Choice to Run Again.'
In a biting segment, Stewart mocked CNN's on-air campaign for Tapper's book, which reportedly includes revelations about Biden's cognitive health as well as embarrassing anecdotes about the former president forgetting the names of his top aides.
He played a montage of Tapper plugging the book in eight separate CNN appearances before questioning the ethics of holding back information for commercial purposes.
'Don't news people have to tell you what they know when they find it out?' Stewart said.
'Isn't that the difference between news and a secret? 'You won't believe what we found out!' No, that's why I'm watching. Breaking news … in a week.'
The timing of CNN's push for the book has come under particular scrutiny following recent reports of Biden's prostate cancer diagnosis. Stewart noted the tension between the network's promotional efforts and the president's health announcement.
'You've prepared an entire smorgasbord based on what you thought would be a relatively uncomplicated story about mental decline,' Stewart said, referring to CNN's wall-to-wall build-up to Tapper's book release.
'News has the countdown clock, they got the book graphics, they got the CNN Happy Meal tie-in toys, but now doing the story seems almost disrespectful.'
He then sarcastically questioned how the network could transition from selling the book to reporting on Biden's cancer with appropriate gravity.
'Can CNN thread the needle?' Stewart asked. 'How do you pivot from excitedly promoting your anchor's book to somberly and respectfully promoting your anchor's book?'
Stewart played a compilation of various CNN anchors and correspondents continuing to mention Tapper's book on air even as they discussed Biden's diagnosis.
He then delivered one of the segment's harshest lines: 'It's so hard. It's such a difficult time. So unfathomable in terms of the pain his family must be feeling, and yet, if you act now and you use the code 'TapThatBook,' you will—' Stewart said in mock infomercial style, trailing off.
Continuing the critique, Stewart said, 'It's just fun to watch them not only continue to push the book in light of this difficult news, but to actually frame this difficult news as perhaps even more of a reason to buy this book.'
He closed by showing a clip of CNN's chief media analyst Brian Stelter, who described Biden's cancer diagnosis as 'dramatic' given its timing ahead of Tapper's book release.
'The timing of former President Joe Biden's cancer diagnosis is certainly dramatic, coming on the eve of a blockbuster new book about his health and his time in the White House,' Stelter said, adding, 'I'm sure some observers will say that the reporting in the book is even more important now.'
'Yeah, nobody's saying that,' Stewart shot back.
'No observers will say it's more important now. Some observers might think that these CNN people work on commission. Like, why are they hawking this f–king thing? Is this a Girl Scout cookie situation? Whoever sells the most Tapper books gets a Schwinn!'
The Post has sought comment from CNN.
Originally published as Jon Stewart rips CNN over Jake Tapper's book 'Original Sin' on Joe Biden's decline: 'How weird'
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
Stocks slide, oil and gold jump after Israel hits Iran
Stocks have dived in early Asian trade, led by a sell-off in US futures, while oil prices jumped after Israel conducted a military strike on Iran, sending investors scurrying to safe havens such as gold and the Swiss franc. The Israeli attack on Friday raises the risk of a fresh escalation in tensions in the Middle East, a major oil producing region, and comes at a time of heightened pressure on the global economy and financial markets from US President Donald Trump's shakeup of trade policies. Market reaction was swift, with US S&P E-mini futures slumping 1.5 per cent and Nasdaq futures skidding 1.7 per cent. Japan's Nikkei lost 1.4 per cent and South Korea's KOSPI slipped 1.2 per cent. Brent crude jumped more than six per cent to $US73.56 a barrel. Gold climbed one per cent to about $US3,419 an ounce. Israel said it was declaring a state of emergency in anticipation of a missile and drone strike by Tehran, after what it called a "pre-emptive strike" over Iran's nuclear program. Explosions were heard northeast of Iran's capital Tehran early on Friday, the state-run Nour News said. Two US officials who spoke on condition of anonymity said Israel had begun carrying out strikes on Iran and there was no US assistance or involvement in the operation. CNN reported that Trump was convening a cabinet meeting. "Traders are scurrying for safety as reports of a strike on Iran cross the wires," said Karl Schamotta, chief market strategist at Corpay in Toronto. "But details on the scale and magnitude of the attack remain scarce and moves have been relatively limited thus far." Tensions had been building as Trump's efforts to reach a nuclear deal with Iran appear to be deadlocked. US and Iranian officials were scheduled to hold a sixth round of talks on Tehran's escalating uranium enrichment programme in Oman on Sunday, according to officials from both countries and their Omani mediators. The Swiss franc gained about 0.4 per cent to 0.8072 per US dollar, and fellow safe haven the yen appreciated 0.3 per cent to 143.06 per dollar. The euro eased 0.3 per cent to $US1.1553, giving back a little of its 0.9 per cent overnight jump.
Perth Now
2 days ago
- Perth Now
WATCH: US Senator forcibly removed from LA press briefing
Shocking footage has surfaced showing a US senator being forcibly removed from a press conference led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles, amid ongoing protests. California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was confronted by security after he interrupted the conference and attempted to shout questions at Ms Noem. Videos circulating on social media show Mr Padilla being physically pushed out of the room by security guards. As he was escorted away, the Senator continued to shout remarks criticising the Trump Administration's immigration policies. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Mr Padilla was then taken into a hallway, where he was handcuffed by FBI officers who provided security for the federal building where the conference was held, according to reports from CNN. This comes amid growing tension in the city, following protests that erupted after US President Donald Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to remove illegal immigrants from the United States. Former Vice President Kamala Harris has taken to social media to express her outrage over Mr Padilla's forced removal from the press briefing. 'United States Senator Alex Padilla was representing the millions of Californians who are demanding answers to this Administration's actions in Southern California,' she wrote on X. 'This is a shameful and stunning abuse of power.' If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on his X account, 'If they handcuff a US senator for asking a question, imagine what they will do to you'. If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. Mr Padilla said he attended the press conference in hope of getting some answers after Mr Trump deployed 4000 National Guard troops and around 700 Marines to quell the protests in Los Angeles. 'After identifying myself and trying to ask a question, I was aggressively pushed out of the room, forced to the ground, and handcuffed.' If you'd like to view this content, please adjust your . To find out more about how we use cookies, please see our Cookie Guide. The Senator told CNN that he was not arrested or detained. After the incident, Ms Noem revealed that 'nobody knew' Mr Padilla's identity when he 'lunged toward the podium' during her press briefing. 'We were conducting a press conference to update everyone on the enforcement actions that are ongoing to bring peace in the city of Los Angeles, and this man burst into the room, started lunging towards the podium, interrupting me and elevating his voice, and was stopped, did not identify himself, and was removed from the room,' Ms Noem said on Fox News, as per CNN. Ms Noem confirmed to reporters that the National Guard and military will remain in Los Angeles to 'liberate' the city. 'The Department of Homeland Security and the officers and the agencies and the departments and the military people that are working on this operation will continue to sustain and increase our operations in this city,' she revealed to media in the room. 'We are not going away.' Ms Noem's remarks come against the backdrop of several days of protests targeting her agency and its immigration enforcement actions.
West Australian
2 days ago
- West Australian
Los Angeles: California Senator Alex Padilla forcibly pushed out of Homeland Security protest briefing
Shocking footage has surfaced showing a US senator being forcibly removed from a press conference led by Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem in Los Angeles, amid ongoing protests. California Democratic Senator Alex Padilla was confronted by security after he interrupted the conference and attempted to shout questions at Ms Noem. Videos circulating on social media show Mr Padilla being physically pushed out of the room by security guards. As he was escorted away, the Senator continued to shout remarks criticising the Trump Administration's immigration policies. Mr Padilla was then taken into a hallway, where he was handcuffed by FBI officers who provided security for the federal building where the conference was held, according to reports from CNN . This comes amid growing tension in the city, following protests that erupted after US President Donald Trump ordered Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) agents to remove illegal immigrants from the United States. Former Vice President Kamala Harris has taken to social media to express her outrage over Mr Padilla's forced removal from the press briefing. 'United States Senator Alex Padilla was representing the millions of Californians who are demanding answers to this Administration's actions in Southern California,' she wrote on X. 'This is a shameful and stunning abuse of power.' Meanwhile, California Governor Gavin Newsom wrote on his X account, 'If they handcuff a US senator for asking a question, imagine what they will do to you'. Mr Padilla said he attended the press conference in hope of getting some answers after Mr Trump deployed 4000 National Guard troops and around 700 Marines to quell the protests in Los Angeles. 'After identifying myself and trying to ask a question, I was aggressively pushed out of the room, forced to the ground, and handcuffed.' The Senator told CNN that he was not arrested or detained. After the incident, Ms Noem revealed that 'nobody knew' Mr Padilla's identity when he 'lunged toward the podium' during her press briefing. 'We were conducting a press conference to update everyone on the enforcement actions that are ongoing to bring peace in the city of Los Angeles, and this man burst into the room, started lunging towards the podium, interrupting me and elevating his voice, and was stopped, did not identify himself, and was removed from the room,' Ms Noem said on Fox News, as per CNN. Ms Noem confirmed to reporters that the National Guard and military will remain in Los Angeles to 'liberate' the city. 'The Department of Homeland Security and the officers and the agencies and the departments and the military people that are working on this operation will continue to sustain and increase our operations in this city,' she revealed to media in the room. 'We are not going away.' Ms Noem's remarks come against the backdrop of several days of protests targeting her agency and its immigration enforcement actions.
