Hey Jon Stewart, Jokes About Wearing Masks Aren't Funny

[SocialDemocrat61]

Hey Jon Stewart, Jokes About Wearing Masks Aren’t Funny
Critics of the host say he’s a hypocrite.
Julia Métraux

Over the weekend, Covid-cautious individuals shared clips on social media of Jon Stewart punching down on people who are masking, who are presumably doing so to protect themselves from Covid, the flu, and other infectious diseases that are spreading across the United States.

On the December 11 episode of the podcast The Weekly Show With Jon Stewart, guest Tim Miller of The Bulwark said there have to be at least two people at fellow guest Jon Favreau’s workplace wearing masks because it’s a progressive organization. Stewart responded, “There’s always two, and you always say, ‘Oh, are you sick?’ And they go, ‘Uh, I don’t want to talk about it.'”

Disappointed to see Jon Stewart & co joke about masking in public. I do it for my medically fragile daughter (Batten Disease). People not masking properly led to her getting pneumonia, which led to her being on life support, which led to me getting price quotes on her cremation just in case.

— Philip Palermo (@palermo.bsky.social) 2025-12-29T03:31:53.258Z

First of all, asking people why they are masking is invasive behavior. No one randomly owes you information about their health, their loved one’s health, or, understandably, just wanting to avoid Covid, which is the only way to prevent Long Covid. As I’ve also previously reported, disabled people in New York’s Nassau County have reported being harassed after the county passed a mask ban. Cancer patients have also told their stories of being questioned about why they’re masking. Even before the start of the Covid pandemic, populations including cancer patients and organ transplant recipients have been encouraged to mask by healthcare professionals.

“Sad that Jon Stewart and friends have become just more white liberals who enjoy punching down at marginalized people who are just doing our best to survive,” Karistina Lafae, a disabled author and essayist, told me. “Those of us who have Long COVID, who have watched family and friends die of COVID, we are being mocked for taking common-sense precautions against illness and further disability.”

https://www.motherjones.com/politics/2025/12/hey-jon-stewart-jokes-about-wearing-masks-arent-funny/

[newdeal2]

1. The photo speaks volume

This is NOT the face of the Democratic party. They have no ideas or bold action - just platitudes about finding ways to get along with Republicans.

[Jose Garcia]

11. Stewart never claimed to represent a political party

He's a comedian. Comedians tell jokes.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

2. .

“Sad that Jon Stewart and friends have become just more white liberals who enjoy punching down at marginalized people who are just doing our best to survive,” Karistina Lafae, a disabled author and essayist, told me.

He hasn't become; he's always been. People just like to give him a pass because he says funny things sometimes. In the meantime he gave oxygen to the lab leak theory and is generally terrible on public health in general. He's an entertainer, not someone to follow.

[yardwork]

7. The breadth and depth of anti-science in US culture is disturbing.

I didn't see this coming but it had to begin years ago. People wouldn't have responded so stupidly to basic COVID measures if they weren't already inclined to distrust scientists and medical professionals.

RFK, Jr. did a lot of damage but it can't have been only him.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

10. This country/culture has always had an anti-intellectualism streak.

[yardwork]

13. That's true.

I think what surprises me is that that kind of intentional ignorance became mainstream.

Maybe it's the key to what's happened over the last 40 years.

[tanyev]

3. Maybe it's someone who has something contagious, absolutely had to leave the house for some reason,

and is wearing a mask to protect everybody else!

Maybe, just maybe, it's nobody else's damn business why I choose to wear a mask. Hmph.

[Iggo]

4. "Hey, Iggo. Why are you wearing a mask?"

“Because Fuck You. That’s why.”

Works every time. I’m done having to be a science teacher for random idiots. In fact , one of my favorite going-out-and-about shirts says “Science Says You’re An Idiot.” (Thank you to Glenn from SpectreSoundStudios.)

[MustLoveBeagles]

5. It's nobody's business why people wear medical masks

They should be able to wear them publicly with out harassment. They have their reasons for why they do it and don't owe anyone an explanation.

I'm disappointed in Jon Stewart and the others for punching down. We don't need that shit on our side


🎊 🥳 🎉

[Iggo]

8. For fifty years I never asked the old Asian ladies on the bus why they were wearing masks.

Two seconds of critical thinking told me: “There’s always somebody sick on the bus. They’re probably trying to not get sick.”

So there’s no reason to ask unless you’re trying to start a fight.

[MustLoveBeagles]

9. Correct

🥳🎉

[tanyev]

14. Exactly. I always wear a mask to my regular checkups because Hello! the doctor's office is full of sick people.

One time the PA came into the little room and saw me with a mask on, she got an alarmed look on her face and asked, "Are you feeling OK?"

[LisaM]

23. I have seen people masking on buses for years (Seattle).

I always assumed that they were trying not to get sick, but since COVID, I also found out that they were trying not to spread germs if they thought they were coming down with something. So good for them.

[Attilatheblond]

40. Have seen people masked in AZ for decades. Some are fragile and some have really horrible allergies

It's nobody's business and exceedingly rude to think masked people owe any explanation. Of course, except, for the overpaid violent offenders working for ICE. THEY have a lot to answer for and should be fired for hiding their faces from the public that is forced to pay them.

[Coolgoober]

37. Also Iggo

I was stationed in Japan years ago and we have a friend from the Philippines. It seems most Asians wear masks themselves when they are not feeling well. Also I do use the 'fuck you , that's why' and I use the 'because I can' when people ask stupid questions.

[Iggo]

39. Yep. It's been years. They know the answer. They just want to fight. So I cut out the foreplay.

[Srkdqltr]

6. Jon stewart has always been a stuckup know it all. Unpleasant to listen to.

Liberal or not.

[LisaM]

25. Yeah, I am not a huge fan.

I also think he helped Hillary Clinton lose.

[Oneironaut]

12. Someone wearing a mask almost always has a good reason to do so.

It’s kind of silly to say that wearing a mask is a tribal thing. It really isn’t. I’m not sure why this misconception still exists. I don’t think almost anyone just wears a mask to virtue signal. Kind of silly.

Can we also ditch the term, “masker?” They’re wearing a medical mask.

[MustLoveBeagles]

16. Sorry

It wasn't my intention to cause offense. I'll amend my post


🎉

[Oneironaut]

38. Oh I didn't even notice you said that tbh. You're fine.

I was more just hoping it falls out of general use in this country - more so when it’s used in a derogatory way.

[displacedvermoter]

15. Tim Miller ain't really all that Liberal,

None our new "heroes" - the Bulwark crew, the Lincoln Project crew, Rick Wilson, Adam Kinzinger, the Cheneys, et al - are Liberals. A number of them have had conscience searing moments over the years, perhaps, though others are just out of jobs in this new much more Fascist GOP that now runs the show they used to be leaders of.

As for Stewart, his shelf life is pretty much expired. Both siderism is really not funny anymore.

[Johonny]

28. I've been interested in how they've evolved in one year

The end of 2024 when Liberals were pointing out that Joe Rogan and other podcasters weren't interested in liberals and that the MSM was clearly biased against the Democratic party during the election year, Tim was laughing that off.

Now Tim is 100 percent all in on the Tech Bros are a real political danger to America and the MSM is a RW mouth piece. The Bulwark crew is always 20 years behind actual liberals.

Pretty soon they will figure out Transgender people are just people...

[Renew Deal]

17. Whatever

[Rebl2]

18. The last

paragraph, first sentence, should insert rich white liberals. I have had the flu. Come on over guys and let me cough all over you, assholes!

[Hope22]

20. Take care!

I hope you are feeling 100% soon. 💗🙏🏼

[Hope22]

19. Just under the surface...Jon sucks...

911 responder support does not negate the damage he continues to do. Face it ignorant people walk around sick as dogs and do not give one f! I on the other hand have people who I love and care for and can not get sick! I still mask and am happy to do it!
Ps..Jon’s mocking of President Biden was a continual source of disgust for me. Jon, those insults are the reason we are in this mess!

[karin_sj]

21. We still have a mask mandate in Santa Clara County...

... until March 31, 2026: "Mandatory Requirement to Wear Face Masks in Patient Care Areas of Health Care Delivery Facilities During the Designated Winter Respiratory Virus Period."

Of course, you still have the idiots who refuse to wear a mask and there's not much that staff can do to make them wear one. But for the most part, people here wear masks at the doctor's office and at hospitals, and I think that's a good thing.

Went to visit my sister in Sonora last week, and she took a fall and went to the urgent care center. There was one family with an infant, and only they (and us) were wearing masks. Then infant was so young, she wouldn't wear the mask, and was coughing quite a bit. About six other people came in after, looked at the masks that were offered, and sat down (no mask requirements there). My sister said she could hear the doctor talking to the family when she was in the exam room and after a while, they said, "Your daughter has RSV." I was really glad we had been wearing our masks!

[surfered]

22. The surgeon and assistants wear masks to protect the patient. If it was proven it didn't work, they wouldn't do it.

[PatrickforB]

24. Wedges, wedges! So we are going to worry about the utterance of a comedian when

1. Plaques honoring black soldiers dying liberating Holland from the Nazis taken down.
2. MASSIVE medicare and medicaid cuts.
3. SS-ICE thugs rounding up people right and left.
4. National guard deployed illegally.
5. Desecration of White House.
6. Redactions and holiday release of Epstein files.
7. Illegal bombings in Venezuela and Nigeria.
8. Social Security in danger.
9. Major recession about to happen.
10. Massive inflation from tariffs.
11. Farmers going broke because of tariffs.

Seems like Jon is NOT THE RIGHT SCAPEGOAT.

Gosh, maybe it is Trump and the GOP. Because not to be smart alecky or anything, but this kind of stuff seems just a little more important, as does Trump's treason against this republic because Putin is demonstrably calling the shots.

And WHERE are the Democrats? Asking me for donations. That's where. Oh, pleeeeeeeeze give me money.

No. We gave Harris over $1 BILLION and Thiel/Musk put their thumbs on the scale to make it look like Trump won.

The only Dems that seem to even have a spine are the younger ones. But we still have a bunch of institutionalists in power, and they are happy because their donors are happy. AOC, Bernie, the rest of the squad - all the progressives. And we have Newsom and Pritzker both showing some spine.

WHERE THE HELL IS CONGRESS????????????????? Because Trump is pulling this thing down around our knees. We have three more years of these nazis in power before we can sift through the ruins and start picking up the pieces.

THERE HAD BETTER BE SOME TRIALS FOR CRIMES AGAINST HUMANITY COME 2029. Miller, Bannon, Bondi, Noem, Vance, RFK, Hegseth, Thiel, Musk, Zuck. These people need to be on the dock facing life in prison or possibly execution. How many people have died already because of these criminal fucks dancing to the tune of Russian oligarchs????????????????

So we got one off color joke. Jon was wrong. Yes. Horribly wrong...but what about???????????????

I'd say we need to clean house, get rid of fucking Wall Street financiers and billionaire parasites corrupting the government like so many modern robber barons, and impose a NEW FAIRNESS DOCTRINE by changing the rules of corporate governance to include a fiduciary responsibility for corporate officers to hold the interests of workers, the environment AND consumers. This could include a special clause requiring TRUTH in news reporting for consumers of news from publicly traded media companies.

Otherwise the experiment our founders tried will fail.

[WhiskeyGrinder]

32. deep breaths there buddy. It's okay to make an observation about an entertainer. What's your plan in the meantime?

[twodogsbarking]

26. Be kind. It's all we have.

TV used to be entertaining.

[Johonny]

27. He's the worst anchor on the Daily Show

I'm not sure why he came back. I rarely listen to him. He is the Joe Manchin of comedians. Past his time. I've moved on to listen to people that feel the moment, and are not immune to it by ego and wealth.

[generation jones]

29. Here is my problem with masking:

The CDC (or some other public health organization) said after the worst of Covid was over (2022?) that sick people could go in public as long as they mask. Would you feel confident that your daughter wouldn't catch anything if she was around a sick, masked person? 😷 It drives me batty when people are coughing behind masks and I suspect they're ill.

[Ocelot II]

31. Would you prefer that people who are coughing *not* wear masks?

The covid pandemic established pretty conclusively that wearing a mask, at least the N-95 type, was a very effective means of limiting the spread of the virus. And people who are wearing masks might not be sick themselves, but are just trying to avoid getting sick, maybe because they have weakened immune systems or maybe because they just prefer to be cautious - since most people aren't wearing masks any more even when they are sick. If you are concerned about people coughing behind masks maybe you should wear one yourself.

[generation jones]

34. Those are binary choices!

Here's what I want: if you're sick, STAY HOME!!!! Don't spread your cooties to others. As far as masks are concerned, I always felt smothered by them and that they weren't healthy. I wear glasses and my glasses would always fog up. I felt myself hyperventilating.

You're acting like the nose and mouth are the only entrance points for Covid or any other virus. 🦠 What about the eyes? What about the skin?

[Ocelot II]

36. Or *you* could stay home. Sometimes people have no choice and have to go out.

They have to work; they have to shop; they have to be out for any number of reasons. Having a cough might mean nothing but a cold, and the mask-wearer just doesn't want to spread their cold to others. Yes, masks are uncomfortable. My glasses fogged up, too, and my face itched, but I wore one anyhow, for my own safety. If you see a person wearing a mask just keep your distance and stay upwind.

[RedWhiteBlueIsRacist]

30. Kinda funny how right-wingers never joke about wearing ear protection at the shooting range.

Bunch of damn snowflakes, can't handle getting their dainty little eardrums busted from bang-bang...


Protect ears ok
Protect lungs bad

[flvegan]

33. What's the entire quote, discussion and context?

Haven't seen it posted anywhere, not sure if valid or if The Outrage Factory is trying to put in some year end overtime.

[Wild blueberry]

35. When I was an exchange student in Tokyo in 1972, everyone wore masks in public in winter

To prevent the spread of flu and colds.
You know, almost like everyone cares about other people.