Jon Stewart went on a foul-mouthed rant against Senator Chuck Schumer after the Democrat supported the Republican spending bill to avoid a government shutdown.
The comic tore into the Senate minority leader and other Democrats voted to vote with the GOP on Friday to fund the federal government.
'What the f*** happened?' an exasperated Stewart asked on The Daily Show on Monday.
'You probably got a little something out of this, didn’t you?' Stewart went on. 'You wouldn’t have given up that powerful leverage on the budget for nothing. My guess is Chucky got some cheese.'
Stewart then played a clip showing that Schumer actually did not receive any concessions for getting the GOP spending bill over the line.
'Senator Schumer... no disrespect but you are a disgrace to Jewish stereotypes about financial negotiations,' Stewart joked.
'What are you doing?! And those of you who felt like this was a total capitulation, Senator Schumer just felt like this wasn’t the moment for Democrats to press their case because Trump is still too strong.'
Stewart added: 'But apparently the grand plan is Dems keep fecklessly complaining until [Trump’s] 48 [percent approval comes down to 40, which is a plan, but it’s forgetting one crucial piece of information in Schumer’s popularity calculation.'
He then played a clip where Schumer said he talked to his Republican colleagues at the gym, where 'inhibitions come off.'
Jon Stewart went on a rant against senate minority leader Chuck Schumer for supporting the Republican spending bill to avoid a government shutdown
Schumer has been held to the fire by progressives who wanted to oppose the GOP funding bill
'That’s your f***ing plan? "I’m gonna dangle my balls out of my shorts at the gym. Oh, you know, they’re gonna lose all their inhibitions on the equipment"' Stewart continued. "You know actually, Chuck, I would like to work with you on Medicaid reform, and also, I never told anybody this, but I once j***ed a guy off in a park."
The comedian added: 'In the gym, they’re only being agreeable with you because they want you to leave them alone! But I have to tell you something, pedaling really hard and not going anywhere is a great metaphor for the Democratic Party right now.'
Schumer has defended his position, arguing it is important to get the government funded so the judicial branch can continue fighting President Trump.
He's also said to fear that efficiency-obsessed Musk will fire all 'non-essential' workers forced to stay at home during any shutdown.
'A shutdown will allow DOGE to shift into overdrive,' Schumer said. 'Donald Trump and Elon Musk would be free to destroy vital government services at a much faster rate.'
But progressives like New York rep Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez argue Democrats should not hand Trump a win in Congress and go down the obstructionist path instead.
Democrats argued over whether to fight even risking a shutdown and fumed that Republicans drafted a measure that included little of their input, shortchanging health care, housing and other priorities.
In the end, enough of the Democratic senators decided a government shutdown would be even worse, and backed Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer’s strategy to allow the bill to come forward.
Schumer, D-N.Y., leaves the Democratic caucus lunch at the U.S. Capitol on March 13, 2025 in Washington, DC
Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, D-N.Y., has vocally opposed Schumer's decision to drop his opposition to the GOP bill
Democrats were confronted with two painful options: allowing passage of a bill they believe gives President Donald Trump vast discretion on spending decisions or voting no and letting funding lapse.
All told, 10 Democrats voted to break the party’s filibuster to advance the bill to a final vote. On final passage, two Democrats supported the bill, and one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed it. It funds the government for another six months.
Schumer gave members of his caucus days to vent their frustration about the options before them, but abruptly switched course and made clear on the eve of voting that he would not allow a government shutdown.
His move outraged many in the party who want to fight the Trump agenda, but gave senators room to side with Republicans and allow the continuing resolution, often described as a CR, to advance.
Democrats from all corners looked to pressure senators to kill the bill. House members wrote letters, posted on social media and held press conferences in the hours before the vote.
'The American people sent Democrats to Congress to fight against Republican dysfunction and chaos,' said a letter from 66 House Democrats to Schumer.
