• New York Times, Monday, August 18, 2008 10:15 AM

Jon Stewart and "The Daily Show" have emerged as a genuine cultural and political force. Recent studies show that satirist Stewart ranks as an admired and trusted journalist along with real newscasters such as Brian Williams and Stewart's show "is clearly impacting the American public dialogue."

The show has earned a devoted following that regards it as a provocative source of news because it is wickedly funny and because its sense of the absurd is perfectly attuned to an era of widespread cognitive dissonance.

When Fox, MSNBC and CNN routinely mix news and entertainment, "The Daily Show," in contrast, tracks "depressing issues like questionable prewar intelligence and White House efforts to augment its executive power."

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