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Jacinda Ardern - “A Different Kind of Power” | The Daily Show

2025-09-23 Comedy
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The Daily Show
The Daily Show
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Jacinda Ardern on Humanizing Leadership and Global Political Grievance

Learn why Jacinda Ardern believes empathetic, human leadership is a courageous act necessary to combat global political polarization and rising distrust in institutions.

Short Summary

  • Leaders must spend political capital doing the right thing, even if unpopular, rather than leveraging fear for power consolidation.
  • Global political culture is experiencing increased grievance, causing constituents to justify "hostile action" against unhelpful institutions.
  • Ardern managed concurrent major crises (pandemic, terror attack, new baby) while prioritizing long-term goals like child poverty reduction.
  • Authenticity in leadership requires acknowledging a nation's dark history, which fosters patriotism and enables necessary reforms.

This discussion explores Jacinda Ardern's tenure as Prime Minister, detailing how she navigated concurrent crises while grappling with global political toxicity. It provides insights into defining leadership through empathy, spending political capital wisely, and countering societal radicalization amplified by social media.

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Description

“We need more leaders who are willing to be humans while they’re in the job.” Jacinda Ardern, the former Prime Minister of New Zealand, sits down with Jon Stewart to discuss her experiences in office, which she chronicles in her memoir, “A Different Kind of Power,” and upcoming HBO documentary, “Prime Minister.” They discuss making progress on issues like child poverty and climate change while also managing a domestic terrorist attack and the Covid pandemic. She emphasizes the importance of politicians spending their political capital on “doing the right thing,” the globalization of political polarization, and how it’s a courageous act to be optimistic in these times. #DailyShow #JonStewart #JacindaArdern Subscribe to The Daily Show: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCwWhs_6x42TyRM4Wstoq8HA/?sub_confirmation=1 Follow The Daily Show: Twitter: https://twitter.com/TheDailyShow Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/thedailyshow Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/thedailyshow Stream full episodes of The Daily Show on Paramount+: http://www.paramountplus.com/thedailyshow Follow Comedy Central: Twitter: https://twitter.com/ComedyCentral Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/ComedyCentral Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/comedycentral About The Daily Show: Jon Stewart and The Best F**king News Team host The Daily Show, an Emmy and Peabody Award-winning program analyzing the biggest stories in news, politics, and culture through a sharp, satirical lens. The Daily Show redefined the late night show category on TV and, with an audience of over 51M across social media platforms, has become a launching pad for some of the biggest stars in entertainment. The Daily Show airs weeknights at 11/10c on Comedy Central.

Top Comments (10)

@laurabora9750 2025-09-28

I think having Jacinda as the leader of New Zealand was the only time that Australians didn't mind getting mistaken for being a New Zealander overseas.

73 2 replies
@BadKittyNZ 2025-09-23

As a New Zealander, it breaks my heart to see all the hate towards Jacinda Ardern still by so many in NZ. She led us through one of the hardest times with empathy and courage, and those lockdowns saved lives. She deserves gratitude, not cruelty.

5.0k 540 replies
@stephenchen856 2025-09-23

"And acknowledging your history...is not an unpatriotic act. it's a way of saying, I love my country, and I know it can be better." Well spoken. If only the US had leaders that spoke like that.

3.5k 125 replies
@MrCyclist 2025-09-24

Canada here. Thanks Jacinda for the shout out for our PM Mark Carney.

56 2 replies
@haroldobrien4322 2025-09-23

"... before you brutally derailed it.." Rarely is Stewart so complete, utterly and eloquently shut down. touché.

380 3 replies
@CharlesV27 2025-09-23

Oh how I miss the sweet sound of a true leader, a great woman and kind and decent human being. I miss full coherent sentences.

2.1k 38 replies
@DeeDeeCi-f3c 2025-09-23

Jon Stewart is a very astute person.

87
@Hannahx1104 2025-09-29

I could listen to her all day. I love her responses to specific questions on point without naming or blaming.

18
@suespearmint7585 2025-09-23

FDR is a great example of someone who had empathy. He wasn't perfect, but we need someone like him.

124 5 replies
@jimjam7830 2025-09-23

We miss you Aunty Jacinda. -Humble supporter from Christchurch

33

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