In a 2025 episode of The Daily Show, host Jon Stewart suggested that without US military influence, Germany could revert to Nazism. The remark was met with sharp criticism by former Mitt Romney advisor Oren Cass, who called it a 'weird racist critique' of Germans and challenged the underlying assumptions about US military intervention and its influence on international order.

On October 20, 2023, temporary host Michael Kosta of 'The Daily Show' delivered a satirical but pointed critique of Scholastic's new guideline which allows schools to exclude diverse titles, suggesting that those who support such policies are racist and sexist. This public commentary reflects the show's anti-authoritarian stance against censorship and discriminatory practices.

In a recent episode, The Daily Show's correspondent Michael Kosta condemned Scholastic’s new book censorship policy that allows schools to exclude diverse titles, including books on race, gender, and sexuality. The commentary, laced with satire, denounced racist and sexist motivations behind the policy and underscored the importance of free expression and diversity in educational content.

Research highlighted in a 2015 JSTOR Daily article reveals that The Daily Show has significantly impacted political engagement and education. Studies indicate that its satirical news approach has taught political science students about current events and influenced candidate evaluations, positioning the program as a counterweight to traditional media narratives.

The article discusses The Daily Show’s notable impact on political views, highlighting findings from academic studies that show its role in shaping candidate evaluations and public understanding of national conventions. It also notes the departure of Jon Stewart and the upcoming leadership of Trevor Noah, framing the show as a significant, though complex, influence in political discourse.

In May 2014, a segment on The Daily Show sharply criticized the VA’s 'as the crow flies' 40‑mile rule for veteran healthcare access. The public outcry catalyzed a change in the policy, with the VA switching to measurement by driving miles, thereby doubling the number of veterans who qualified for private care.

In 2010, Jon Stewart used The Daily Show to spotlight the long-overdue need for health care for 9/11 first responders. The segment, which featured moving testimonies from first responders affected by toxic debris exposure at Ground Zero, helped push a stalled bill into action. The resulting legislation allocated $6.2 billion for health care and compensation for affected responders and families.