Hey, everybody. Jon Stewart here. I am here to tell you about my new podcast, The Weekly Show. It's going to be coming out every Thursday. So exciting. You'll be saying to yourself, T-G-I-D. Thank God it's Thursday. We're going to be talking about all the things that hopefully obsess you in the same way that they obsess me. The election, economics, earnings calls. What are they talking about on these earnings calls? We're We're going to be talking about ingredient to bread ratio on sandwiches. And I know that I listed that fourth, but in importance, it's probably second. I know you have a lot of options as far as podcasts go, but how many of them come out on Thursday? I mean, talk about innovative. Listen to the Weekly Show with Jon Stewart, wherever you get your podcast.

You're listening to Comedy Central.

Hey, this is Ron Chang. The Daily Show is on break this week, but don't worry, we put together some special highlights for you to catch up on in case you miss them. We'll be back on September 10th. Until then, enjoy this episode.

Welcome back to The Daily Show. My guest tonight is a two-term governor of Michigan and author of the best-selling book, True Grech. Please welcome Michigan governor, Gretchen Whitmer. What? Aren't they great? Aren't they great? We're here for you. Oh, All these people who love you who aren't even legally allowed to vote for you. You're a Michigander. I am. I'm a Michigander. It dawned on me today, and this audience might not like this, but it dawned on me today that one of the best parts of Chicago is the Lake, and one of the best parts of Chicago is Michigan, right? That's right.

Boom.

I think one of the things people love about you is that you have grit and you seem tough, and you talk about this. You talk about this in your book. You talk about as a kid, someone pushed you down, knocked your teeth out? Yeah. What age was that, that that happened?

It was about eighth grade. It was church camp. It was church. Where most... So much violence can happen at church camp.

Then Then throughout your life, even in the chambers, while people are voting, you would pop your teeth out to mess with them, right? Yeah. We have a picture of what sometimes... I mean, this was in the book. I love this. I mean, it's like... What is that? What is that picture? Where is that picture?

That was in high school at some point. I used to play in the Gusmackard tournament, three on three basketball. I was eating a Tootsie Roll on the way, and both my teeth came out. Before the game. It was a nice... Got in their brains.

That's a physical toughness, but now in politics, it feels a more emotional toughness. Is that right?

Yeah, I think so. One of the nicknames I've earned over the last few years is Big Gretsch. Big Gretsch. My all-time new favorite nickname. It used to be Gravity Gretschen because I fall down a lot, hence the teeth. But during COVID, I talk about in the book, But during COVID, when Donald Trump turned his ire to me because I observed there was not a national strategy, when he told us he's not a shipping clerk, we need to go find masks ourselves. He got mad, and so it turned his attention to me. I started getting threats and all of that noise. At some point, someone on my staff said, You know that people are starting to call you Big Gretsch, right? I was like, What is this?

And we were listening to G-Mac Cash's Big Gretsch song, Downstairs. So a whole rap song was written about it, which is pretty cool. It became a thing.

The people of Detroit bestowed this nickname on me because I was taking so much heat from the White House and doing what I could to save people. And so this was someone likened it to being bestowed a key to the city when the people of Detroit give you a nickname like Big Gretsch.

On page On page two, the second page of your book, you talk about your grandmother, Nina, and how she said, Always look for the positive in people.

And I love this quote. It is, Even the meanest person might have pretty eyes. Is that a way to govern? A lot of people, maybe, sadly, were introduced to you through the kidnapping story. How do you see the positive those people or in that situation? Can you?

Well, they say what doesn't kill you makes you stronger.

So there's the positive.

I've learned so much. And in the last six years, when you get tested, you see what you're capable of and what you're made of. And you also know who you can count on and who you can trust. And so there's a lesson in every tough story. Right.

And there's... Yet, you're the governor of the whole state. Your supporters love you, but there's people on the other side that maybe didn't vote for you that are still mad about some COVID restrictions, that are having a hard time paying their mortgage. How do you bridge the gap with them? How do you speak to them? What do you say?

I think it's showing up. I know that I don't have every person's lived experience. I'm learning when I'm asking, What can I do that will make your life better? How do I govern in a way that gives you a path to prosperity? Security or takes a barrier out of your way? I love to get around Michigan and ask that question. If I'm lucky enough to get elected, what could I do for you? People are not shy to tell you when you ask. They will tell you things you never imagined. But over and over again, when you hear something that is recurring, you know this is a real problem that people, regardless of their politics, need me to solve. Fix the damn roads was the initial response, and that's why I'm so focused on infrastructure.

A brilliant A brilliant platform because as a Michigander, I've said that to whoever is listening, and apparently you were listening. You put it on a bus and your bus was listening. I have to ask this because I don't often get the opportunity to sit down with the governor of Michigan. But as a Michigander myself, I love our Great Lakes. I love the 20% of the world's fresh water is sitting amongst us. I've lived in Los Angeles. I've toured through Arizona. They want our water. Okay? And in all reality, what are you, as governor, doing to protect our Great Lakes? Is this important to you?

Absolutely. So the Great Lakes, 21% of the world's fresh surface water.

This is a big-I said 20, and she was like, It's 21, mother.

You heard that? That's good. So I'm working hard to make sure that we protect the Great Lakes, and we make Michigan a place where people move, too, for opportunities. So I would welcome you to come back to Michigan. Enjoy the Lakes.

I love that.

And then maybe you and I can reenact the Klepper Pritzker bar crawl.

That would be fun. I haven't gone drinking with Klepper, but I bet there might have been a bucket there where he was like... There's a lot of energy for Kamala right now. There's a lot of momentum. I'm I'm fearful, though. I'm fearful that Democrats aren't thinking a few steps ahead. Trump is throwing his tantrums. He's mad that she's doing well. But he's a competitor. He's going to pivot. He's going to come back with something. Are the Dems strategizing many steps ahead?

I believe so, but what are you anticipating?

In what? Are you kidding me?

What are you going to do in a couple of weeks? I think he's sitting at home watching the energy, the enthusiasm, the optimism that's going to come out of this week, and I think it's going to hurt his brain.

Yeah, well, it is. It is hurting his brain. Okay. Okay, let's hope that happens. Let's prepare for him to get his head out of straight and stop throwing a tantrum like a four-year-old. He's acting like a four-year-old. Eventually, they calm down and they figure out the weak spot. So I'm just hoping the Dems are... You're a co-chair on Kamala's campaign? I am. I mean, are you strategizing Are you strategizing? Are you talking long term?

Well, I mean, Michigan is Michigan, right? There's Wisconsin, Pennsylvania, Michigan. These are the swingiest of states, and we are going to decide the outcome of this election. We got to show up. We got to do the work. We got to be in all 83 counties. We cannot write off a place because it looks Republican in past elections. We're going to show up and we're going to pull people in because this is-Show up. Showing up after the battle.

You talk and hear a lot about your gratitude journal, which I love. Be specific with what you're thankful for, what you do. But sometimes, do you ever just write down super annoying shit? You've had some bad stuff that's happened. Do you ever just write down, Well, this sucks. Today's people try to kidnap me.

It's tempting. It's tempting. But no, but there are some days where it says, My dog's my bed in tequila. Right.

Yeah. You have that in here. Let's talk about humor. This is a comedy show. I grew up in a big family. No one ever said, I love you and my family, but you teased. You poked fun. When I read and listened to your book, I loved the audio version as well, there's a lot of humor, and it just comes naturally for you. Is this something that is embedded in you from an early age as a kid? Is it something you've worked on?

I think both my folks were really funny. Humor is a great way to, I think, relieve stress, diffuse a tough, tense situation, if you can find a laugh. My mother was the queen of gallows humor. Even in the darkest days, she died of brain cancer. Even in the darkest days, she could find the light. She could make us laugh. I think it's just such a powerful way to find common ground. That's why I love being on your show with you.

I love that. Last thing. I told you that a couple of weeks ago, my daughter, who's four, got pushed by another girl at camp and had a black eye, and I was really sad and I was upset about it. Then I read your book and I said, Holy shit, my daughter is going to be the governor of Michigan. True Gretsch is available now. Governor Gretsch and Whitmer.

Hey, everybody. Jon Stewart here. I am here to tell you about my new podcast, The Weekly Show, coming out every Thursday. We're going to be talking about the election, earnings calls. What are they talking about on these earnings calls? We're going to be talking about ingredient to bread ratio on sandwiches. I know you have a lot of options as far as podcasts go, but how many of them come out on Thursday? Listen to the Weekly Show with Jon Stewart, wherever you get your podcast.

The Democrats could have picked city to hold the convention. So why Chicago? Our own Jordan Klepper spent the day with a local to find out what Chicago has to offer.

Beautiful Chicago. My old term, where I spent nearly a decade doing improv, comedy, and posing like a hip hop magician. But this isn't about me. It's about showing the exotic hotspot Chicago has to offer. And I've got a little help from a local billionaire. For a tour guide, I'm here with Governor Jake B. Pritzker. We're going to see that Chicago is more than just Wrigley Field and a bunch of drug folks in bars. There's culture here. What are we going to say?

We got blues, we got the Lakefront, we got museums. I love it. We're a foodie town.

We are going to get to that. I used to drink here. We got to get a drink.

Let's go.

I saved my old place. It's perfect. To get in the right mood, we need a local delicacy.

Malort is a Chicago special. So if you come to Chicago, if you want to be like Chicagoans, you got to have a Malort. Yes.

It's a lovely liqueur made here in Chicago, and it tastes like it was made here in Chicago. It's a leaded. I love it. Cheers.

That's some of the best malnol I've ever had.

That's delicious. I have this aftertaste like I was sucking on the leg of a wet dog. It's D&C Week. The convention is here in Chicago. Why Chicago?

Well, we've had more political conventions in Chicago than any other city in America.

They haven't always gone great.

The demonstrators repeatedly tried to march on the side of the convention.

Things have changed quite a lot, and there are protests at every convention. But the truth is that here in Chicago, we protect people's First Amendment rights, and we're going to put on one of the best conventions ever. There's no city that has a better summer than the city of Chicago.

This is like the Olympics for people who are not athletic.

I know this doesn't sound exciting to you, but every delegation, 50 states all day, there are going to be meetings among Democrats about the party platform.

You're right. That doesn't sound exciting. You see what the RNC did? Hulk Hogan? They got Hulk Hogan, Kid Rock. How do you beat that? What are you going to get? The guys from Jackass?

Honestly, this is going to be the most energetic convention that you've ever seen.

Unfortunately, I've seen what their energetic convention could be like.

Hillary Clinton was out there doing the Macarena like nobody's business. So I actually think this is one of the great moments in in history.

I wouldn't attach that to her story. Keep it in history. Okay, there you go. Chicago has been known for corruption in the past. Now, Republicans are criticizing Kamala for getting in through, as they would put it, inside maneuvers. How does the party square something like that.

Are you kidding? Donald Trump tried to steal an election.

He has one insurrection. That's always going to be... You're going to tar him with that? Yes.

And by the way, he says if he doesn't win this time, he's been cheated.

I got to ask you, the governor, big question. Is the bear a comedy or a drama?

Okay. I don't know why it's in the comedy category, but I got to say it's one of the best shows on TV, and it shows off Chicago.

Let's go see some of the beautiful Chicago culture, shall we? Let's do it. All right. Put it on the Pritzker's. That's what I used to always said back in the day. Okay, maybe we just hit one more bar before we get to that question. Did you win it? That's your goal, crazy. No. Yes. You know this empty takes me back to my improv days. The audience's response back then. All right. But you do it because you love it. Okay. Yeah. Cheers. Okay. Museums.

Are we talking museums?

No, we're going to museums. We got to do this. Let's see this town, this beautiful town. Governor, a lot of culture here. So much good architecture in Chicago.

It is. Well, that started with the great Chicago fire, everything getting burned down, all the great architects and artists and I used to drink here.

We got to get a drink. See you again.

We got a green light? Let's do it.

Cheers. Were you surprised about Biden stepping down?

I was. I really was. It happened so fast. It was about noon on a Sunday.

Oh, yeah, it was a Sunday. I remember that because I was in a church, not at a bar. I was at a church.

And a lot of us were concerned about the direction of the and whether Joe Biden was going to be able to be competitive because the polls weren't looking good.

In this moment, are you in a text chain with other governors?

Well, actually, there were governors talking.

The governors push him out? No, no, no. You weren't nudging an old man? To be clear. To be clear. You're not walking by him on the sidewalk doing the governor shake over here?

Listen, Joe Biden's tough. If anybody's going to nudge anybody, he's the one nudging somebody back.

Don't give me this. Look how tough he looks on a bike, bullshit.

He's a tough guy. He really is. He understands politics better than most. We don't have any time to waste. Kamala Harris is our vice president. We all voted for her, so she's the one. And picking Tim Walls, I think he's actually the perfect fit. Immediately, of course, he's coming up with hashtags, balls to the walls.

That's the first thing you do? This is what my taxpayer money goes to?

It was a Sunday.

I'm paying for balls hashtags.

I mean, maybe.

Buy the drinks, by the way. Okay, I got it. I got it. Unbelievable. Enough of the distractions. Museum, where do we have to go.

Well, you got to go to a museum in contemporary art. Of course. The Art Institute. You have the beautiful lions in front. Don't forget the Field Museum, right? We got the big guy. Natural history.

There's culture in this town that you have to focus on. Oh, my God, we're at Wrigley Field.

I love it.

We got to go. It's great history.

Let's do it.

Walking into a bit of Chicago history is intoxicating. I can smell the stale hot dogs and tears of defeat. Look at this. Huh? Beautiful day to be here at Wrigley.

Every day at Wrigley is beautiful. Yes.

Okay, so no baseball today.

No. But when this place is full, it is amazing.

It seems to be setting up for a concert. This is America's pastime. Watching other people do work while you sit on your air. Let's go, roadies. Let's go, roadies. Union roadies. Union roadies. Let's go, Union roadies. By the way, I have some parking tickets. Do you want me to help you?

I cannot help you with this parking tickets, sorry. I can buy you a beer. That's what I want to ask you.

I'll take it.

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Hey, Hey, everybody. Jon Stewart here. I am here to tell you about my new podcast, The Weekly Show. It's going to be coming out every Thursday. So exciting. You'll be saying to yourself, T-G-I-D. Thank God it's Thursday. We're going to be talking about all the things that hopefully obsess you in the same way that they obsess me. The election, economics, earnings calls. What are they talking about on these earnings calls? We're going to be talking We're talking about ingredient to bread ratio on sandwiches. And I know that I listed that fourth, but in importance, it's probably second. I know you have a lot of options as far as podcasts go, but how many of them come out on Thursday? I mean, talk about innovative. Listen to the Weekly Show with Jon Stewart, wherever you get your podcast.