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The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

I Was Kidnapped by the Taliban: Safi Rauf on Rescuing Afghan Allies

The Weekly Show with Jon Stewart

Comedy Central

Politics, News, News Commentary, Comedy

4.57.5K Ratings

🗓️ 11 November 2022

⏱️ 61 minutes

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

This week’s guest is Safi Rauf, an Afghan refugee who came to the U.S. as a teen and is now the president and founder of Human First Coalition. Also a veteran, he tells us about his work in Afghanistan helping to evacuate local interpreters who worked with American troops. He shares the astonishing story of how he was taken hostage—and eventually released—by the Taliban while working there. He also talks about the Afghan Adjustment Act and the obstacles he’s run into while advocating for it. Plus, writers Rob Christensen and Tocarra Mallard stop by for a little schadenfreude about Trump’s very bad midterms week.


Stream our newest episode, “Election Wrap-Up Special,” now on Apple TV+.


Credits:

Hosted by: Jon Stewart


Featuring, in order of appearance: Tocarra Mallard, Rob Christensen, Safi Rauf


Executive Produced by Jon Stewart, Brinda Adhikari, James Dixon, Chris McShane, and Richard Plepler.

Lead Producer: Sophie Erickson

Producers: Zach Goldbaum, Caity Gray

Assoc. Producer: Andrea Betanzos

Sound Engineer & Editor: Miguel Carrascal 

Senior Digital Producer: Freddie Morgan 

Digital Coordinator: Norma Hernandez 

Supervising Producer: Lorrie Baranek 

Head Writer: Kris Acimovic

Elements: Kenneth Hull, Daniella Philipson

Talent: Brittany Mehmedovic, Margorie McCurry, Lukas Thimm

Research: Susan Helvenston, Andy Crystal, Cassie Murdoch, Farah Otero-Amad, Irene Plagianos


Theme Music by: Gary Clark Jr.


The Problem with Jon Stewart podcast is an Apple TV+ podcast, produced by Busboy Productions.

https://apple.co/-JonStewart

Transcript

Click on a timestamp to play from that location

0:00.0

Hey, everybody, it's John Stewart.

0:01.9

Today on the pot, we are going to be talking about the midterms.

0:04.5

The midterms are over.

0:05.5

They went exactly as everyone would have predicted

0:08.2

as they always do because the media never gets it wrong.

0:11.6

Also, we're going to be talking to a gentleman

0:13.7

by the name of Safi Raouf.

0:15.8

He himself, his story is ridiculous.

0:19.3

Kidnapped by the Taliban, join the US Navy reserves,

0:22.5

worked with special operations command for four years,

0:25.5

by the way, not in that order.

0:27.1

I know I'm not even going to tell you the order.

0:28.8

The order will surprise you.

0:51.5

Hello, everybody.

0:52.2

Welcome once again to the podcast, The Problem.

0:54.9

I am John Stewart, and I am part of the problem.

0:57.4

The show is on Apple TV, plus we're doing their season two.

1:01.0

There we've got a brand new episode.

1:02.5

I think it's out to put days today.

1:04.6

It's out today.

1:05.9

It's about the midterms.

1:07.9

And it is, of course, Veterans Day.

...

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