Jon Stewart says he wants to stay on ‘Daily Show’ and urges people to ‘fight like hell’

Jon Stewart says he wants to stay at “The Daily Show” office after his current contract expires in December.

“We’re working to stay,” the Comedy Central host said Sunday when asked about his onstage status at the New Yorker Festival in Manhattan.

“It’s not that clear cut,” Stewart quickly added. He began to say that the media business was changing, perhaps alluding to recent ownership changes at Comedy Central’s parent company, Paramount.

However, Remnick asked, “If it’s up to you, do you stay?” Yes, Stewart said.

A Paramount spokesperson declined to comment on Stewart’s remarks.

Stewart first hosted “The Daily Show” from 1999 to 2015, returning last year to host its Monday episodes. The satirical newspaper’s correspondents took turns for the rest of the week.

Remnick had brought up the political context earlier in the conversation: Paramount’s change in ownership, Disney’s suspension of Kimmel under pressure from the Trump administration, and widespread perceptions of a capitulation by the media mogul to President Trump.

Stewart, one of cable’s biggest stars, has been outspoken in her opposition to President Trump and just as vocal in her support of late-night comedy.

Remnick asked “what do you do” in the face of pressure, and Stewart replied: “You don’t compromise on what you do, and you do it until they tell you to leave. That’s all you can do.”

Stewart acknowledged fears over Trump’s authoritarian approach — and said the United States could find itself in “a kind of soft autocracy where information is controlled” — but also urged Trump’s critics to recognize the power they have.

“We have a lot of different paths,” he said. “And repression creates opportunity, and a population hungry for inspiration, leadership, morality, integrity and freedom from corruption, provides fertile ground for that opportunity.”

Speaking about new media stars like podcaster Joe Rogan, Stewart said: “It’s not okay to just say, ‘I don’t like what he does.’ So do it better, beat them at their own game. Keep going.

“There is no one in this world right now who is not equipped with a platform,” he added. “And so, if you have a problem with information, then fight like hell to get better information.”