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# The People Have Spoken... And They Want Jon Stewart to Host POTUS Debate
- URL: https://ivn.us/people-spoken-want-jon-stewart-host-potus-debate/
- Published: 2015-08-25T19:45:33.000Z
- Updated: 2026-06-22T19:51:13.000Z
- Author: Caitlin Hurkes
- Tags: News

The proposal for

[**Jon Stewart**](https://ivn.us/tag/jon-stewart) to moderate a presidential debate reached 300,000 signatures on Tuesday. The petitioners' starting goal was just 150,000 signatures, which the petition quickly surpassed after going viral.

About two weeks ago, a group of fans launched a petition on [Change.org](https://www.change.org/p/we-want-jon-stewart-to-moderate-a-2016-presidential-debate?ref=ivn.us) asking the [Commission on Presidential Debates](http://www.debates.org/index.php?page=overview&ref=ivn.us) to let Stewart moderate one of the fall presidential debates. According to the petitioners, Stewart is more than qualified for the position. During his 16-year run on the *Daily Show*, he interviewed 15 heads of state, 22 members of the U.S. Cabinet, 32 members of the U.S. Senate, 7 members of the House of Representatives, and countless other political and academic experts.

Furthermore, studies have shown that Stewart was more trustworthy than other mainstream news organizations. A [2014 study](http://publicreligion.org/site/wp-content/uploads/2014/06/Final-Immigration-Survey.pdf?ref=ivn.us) conducted by the Brookings Institute found that more Americans trusted *The Daily Show with Jon Stewart* over MSNBC. A [Pew study](http://www.forbes.com/sites/niallmccarthy/2015/02/11/americans-trust-jon-stewart-more-than-bloomberg-and-the-economist-infographic/?ref=ivn.us), cited by Forbes, found more Americans trusted Jon Stewart than Bloomberg and the Economist.

Even Democratic presidential candidate **[Martin O'Malley](https://ivn.us/tag/martin-omalley)** signed the petition in support of Jon Stewart moderating a debate:

> Signed. Jon Stewart moderating or not, [#WeNeedDebate](https://twitter.com/hashtag/WeNeedDebate?src=hash&ref=ivn.us). [http://t.co/6EGRAv8ypn](http://t.co/6EGRAv8ypn?ref=ivn.us) [pic.twitter.com/PN48kZ29fr](http://t.co/PN48kZ29fr?ref=ivn.us)[August 20, 2015](https://twitter.com/MartinOMalley/status/634503910103846912?ref=ivn.us)

Even if Stewart agrees to moderate a debate, it is not up to him. The petition is trying to reach the **Commission on Presidential Debates**, which has the ultimate authority in selecting moderators. However, a Change.org petition in 2012 started by three high school students successfully garnered enough support to influence the commission to select a female moderator.

*Photo Credit: [CBS News](http://www.cbsnews.com/news/jon-stewart-withholds-jokes-following-deadly-charleston-church-shooting/?ref=ivn.us)*