The Daily Show with Jon Stewart Season 13 Episode 21 Philip Shenon

The Daily Show with Jon Stewart season 13 episode 21 features investigative reporter Philip Shenon as the guest. Shenon is the author of "The Commission: The Uncensored History of the 9/11 Investigation," a book that provides an inside look at the 9/11 Commission's investigation and the political maneuvering that surrounded it.

Jon Stewart starts off the show by asking Shenon about the level of cooperation he received from the 9/11 Commission when he was writing his book. Shenon responds by saying that the commissioners were generally cooperative, but that the staff members were the ones who were hesitant to talk. He also reveals that a few of the staff members had actually been threatened with legal action if they spoke to him.

The conversation then turns to the politics surrounding the investigation. Shenon explains that there was a significant amount of pressure put on the Commission by the Bush administration to not place blame on anyone for the attacks. He goes on to say that this pressure was particularly strong when it came to Saudi Arabia, which had strong ties with the Bush family.

Stewart and Shenon discuss the various inconsistencies and gaps in the Commission's report, such as the lack of attention paid to the role of the Saudi government in the attacks. Shenon explains that this was largely due to the limited time and resources that were given to the Commission, as well as the fact that they did not have full access to all of the relevant documents.

The conversation then turns to the current state of national security and the ongoing War on Terror. Shenon expresses concern over the fact that the United States is still not fully prepared to prevent another major terrorist attack, and that the political climate in Washington makes it difficult to address these issues in a meaningful way.

Throughout the interview, Stewart inserts his signature humor to lighten the mood, but also to add a layer of commentary to the serious topics being discussed. He and Shenon share a mutual respect and understanding for the gravity of their conversation, but still manage to keep the audience engaged with their banter.

In addition to the interview with Shenon, the episode also features a comedic segment on the news of the day, as well as a satirical interview with a celebrity guest. These segments provide a contrast to the seriousness of the main interview, and illustrate the show's ability to tackle both hard-hitting journalism and lighthearted humor.

Overall, The Daily Show with Jon Stewart season 13 episode 21 is a sobering look at the politics surrounding the 9/11 investigation, and the ongoing challenges facing national security in the United States. Through his interview with Philip Shenon, Jon Stewart provides a platform for important conversations about these topics, while still managing to entertain and inform his audience.