“Our economy is in the midst of a beautiful metamorphosis, turning from a simple caterpillar into a dead caterpillar” — so went Jon Stewart’s decidedly literary opening (giving Franz Kafka a run for his money as far as transformations go) during this week’s installment of The Daily Show.

The political comic and host naturally tackled the “Trade Wars,” as stylized on his show in Star Wars‘ signature font as seen above, and overlaid with its “Main Title” theme. Stewart unpacked President Donald Trump’s mixed messaging on the permanence vs. negotiation approach of his tariffs and the Republican Party’s staunch support of such a jumbled rollout.

Addressing Trump’s tweet about the so-called “Panican” party (“a new party based on Weak and Stupid People!” as Potus wrote), Stewart joked, “The genius who gave us classics like Sleepy Joe and Crooked Hillary, just sh– out, ‘You’re a Panican’? How about Hysterocrats?...