John Tabacco, host of Newsmax’s “Wise Guys,” fired back at Jon Stewart after the comedian mocked his Italian last name and heritage. Stewart joked that “John Tabacco” sounded like a fake witness protection name during a segment about tariffs. Tabacco laughed it off but pointed out the irony: Stewart’s real name is Jon Leibowitz. “Why is he masquerading as an Anglo with that Stewart name?” Tabacco asked. “Is he ashamed of his heritage?”
Tabacco, a Staten Island native, slammed Stewart for targeting his Italian identity. “You don’t do that to a guy from Staten Island,” he said, playfully threatening a “sit-down” on his show. He called Stewart’s joke the first funny thing he’s done in a decade, adding, “His comedy’s been in witness protection for years.” Tabacco suggested the attacks prove his show is “over the target” in challenging left-wing narratives.
The clash began when Stewart mocked a Newsmax clip where Tabacco compared Trump’s tariff strategy to a colonoscopy. “Everyone relax—it’s just a routine rat poison colonoscopy,” Stewart quipped, piling on the absurd比喻. Tabacco dismissed the criticism, arguing Trump’s policies will bring long-term gains despite short-term market swings. “The foundation for Trump’s economy is solid,” he said. “Stewart’s gonna get a tall glass of shut-up juice soon.”
Conservatives praised Tabacco for defending his roots and calling out Hollywood hypocrisy. While Stewart rebrands himself as a serious commentator, his Apple TV+ show was axed for low ratings. Tabacco’s “Wise Guys,” meanwhile, thrives on Newsmax—a network growing faster than CNN and MSNBC combined. The skirmish highlights the divide between coastal elites and everyday Americans who value authenticity over performative wokeness.
Tabacco’s defiance resonates with viewers tired of double standards. “I’m proud of my name,” he said, flashing his passport on air to prove it’s real. Meanwhile, Stewart’s career stumbles—a sign, conservatives argue, that audiences reject sanctimonious lectures masked as comedy. As Tabacco put it: “Leftist clowns like Stewart and Kimmel only attack those who threaten their narrative.”
The spat also underscores Trump’s enduring influence. While Democrats panic over tariffs, Tabacco notes markets rebounded quickly after initial drops. “Rat poison? More like tough medicine,” he said, framing Trump’s approach as bold leadership, not recklessness. For his fans, Tabacco embodies the unapologetic conservatism that drives the left crazy—and that’s exactly why they tune in every week.