Barack Obama held secret meetings with Jon Stewart at the White House

Jon Stewart’s final show as host of The Daily Show is set for August 6, 2015.

Former Daily Show writer Wyatt Cenac got candid about his rocky relationship with host Jon Stewart on the most recent episode of “WTF With Marc Maron”.

Even when Obama wasn’t personally meeting with Stewart, contact between the White House and Daily Show was frequent, going well beyond just fielding calls to the White House from show staff. Top Obama aide David Axelrod frequently called and emailed Stewart, and described him as a “useful prod” for the White House.

Jon Stewart’s the guy who’s laughing while his staid opposition gets all riled up. McCain, who was often on the show, added that his comedy definitely “had an effect on the workings of government”. In his later career he had begun to lecture his audience about “white privilege”, the theory that white Americans still have an advantage over minorities, despite the fact that Jim Crow has been history for half a century and slavery for 150 years.

The 52-year-old Stewart has said he hopes to take some time with his family after retiring from the Daily Show next Thursday, but, considering his influence, a future in politics seems a natural step.

Both meetings were private (they were confirmed to Politico by visitor logs), meaning the meetings weren’t publicity stunts but rather opportunities for direct conversation between Stewart and Obama.

These meetings were apparently held because of how much Stewart’s voice matters, especially to young people. He also argued his joke focused on Cain’s position on an issue, not on his race. “F*** off! I’m done with you”. There’s a tone in your voice. It bothered me.’ And then he got upset. And he stood up and he was just like, “F*** off. I’m done with you”. And he screamed it a few times…. “I didn’t know if I had been fired”.

“‘I represent my community, I represent my people, and I try to represent them the best that I can, ‘ Cenac told Maron”. “I was shaking, and I just sat there by myself on the bleachers and f-ing cried”.

Cenac told Maron that he literally cringed when he first saw Stewart’s bit, detailed by Newsbusters.