Jon Stewart Drops the Comedy, Has 9/11 First Responders on His Show

Jon Stewart is pushing very hard to get the bill to pay for the healthcare of 9/11 first responders, currently being blocked by Senate republicans, passed in Congress. He dedicated nearly half his show last night to a discussion with four first responders, all suffering from serious health problems related to the months and months they spent working at ground zero.

It’s a pretty serious departure from what Stewart usually does. In the past, his rants against or for certain pieces of legislation have been steeped in humor and irony. There were no jokes here; the subject matter was just too serious for it. And while some may criticize him for using a comedy show in this fashion, you’ve got to give him credit for doing what he can for these guys. If this sort of thing became a regular occurrence that might be another thing, but this seems to be an exception he’s made for an issue that he feels incredibly strongly about, one that no one else in the media seems to be paying much mind.