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Last night I watched the excellent Daily Show (shown on More4 at 8.30pm), to see one of the most anticipated interviews that host Jon Stewart has done on the show since the presidential candidates were queuing up to appear. Jon Stewart has been in a bit of a public spat with CNBC finance journalist Jim Cramer over his advice, style and past record over the last few years of financial turmoil. It’s not just a case of bad tips (eg. tipping Bear Stearns a week or two before it collapsed), but his whole attitude and approach to financial matters.

There’s plenty of comment on the encounter on other websites (Prospect’s blog is worth a read, and includes links to the piece), and it was certainly fascinating. A slightly contrite display by Jim Cramer, it did feel like Jon Stewart pulled a few punches. He made excellent points, held the man to account, and really did an excellent job in showing up the poor coverage and attitudes in finance, and financial journalism, that surely contributed to the recent problems. It was simply a great combination of excellent satire, humour, and journalism. Well worth watching.

But throughout the show I couldn’t help but wonder where Britain’s equivalent was? We do have excellent satirists, no doubt, but it’s the format and frequency of The Daily Show that I wish we had. We have “Have I got news for you?”. Enjoyable though it is, it’s rarely particularly incisive, and does get rather childish at times. Chris Morris and Brasseye perhaps came close, and for topical, humourous, and activism, Mark Thomas.

Perhaps it’s that the talk show format hasn’t really ever taken off here in the same way it has in the US, or that our comedians can’t be tempted or persuaded to do a daily show. Certainly it’d be something I’d like to see at least tried over here.

The sound-bites and superlatives have been flowing in the build-up to the swearing in of Barack Obama, but for once they’re entirely appropriate. Today is a historic day, as we wave goodbye to the most unpopular US president in history (See shardcore’s rather appropriate artistic response), and bring in a president-elect who represents so much to so many people, from many backgrounds, cultures, communities and countries.

I didn’t write much on the US election. I feel somewhat uncomfortable voicing opinions with regards other countries democratic processes (at least, where they’re open and fair), but that didn’t mean I didn’t have an opinion, and I was very keen to see Obama win for many reasons.

A lot has been said about the challenges that he faces. From a huge economic crises, to Iraq and Afghanistan, and to all the domestic problems and infrastructure work. Substantial problems even before the economy went over the edge. His slogan of “Change” raises hopes too that he will strike out in radical directions. But after Blair in 1997, where we had similar hopes in the UK, I’m wary that hopes may be dashed in the face of the reality of changing the inertia that comes with any large governance system.

I’m certainly going to be watching the event, and I wish him well. Particularly in his speech. He will be addressing millions of people in front of him in Washington, and quite literally billions of people around the world, and many historic inauguration speeches before him have set expectations high. But hopefully that’s where he will set out his agenda, and the mood. He’s a gifted orator, and I look forward to hearing what he has to say.

The first African-American US president is truly a moment to savour. History in the making.