The Daily Show host Jon Stewart ripped Congress on Monday night for failing to avert $85 billion in across-the-board spending cuts, which both Republicans and Democrats had described as devastating.

The indiscriminate cuts, called the sequester, were designed to be so painful that both parties would be forced to compromise on a budget plan. Stewart described the sequester as a “mutual ball punch.” Yet Congress still failed to approve a plan to avoid them.

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“Congress, as always, in its infinite wisdom, forgot just how fucking incompetent they really are,” Stewart remarked. “They got cocky. Here is what Congress did with the sequester. It was like they tied a belt around their neck and then looped it over the shower curtain in the hopes that this pressure would somehow heighten the sensation of getting something done. Here is the thing about auto-erotic asphyxiation, everyone thinks they can pull it off until they don’t.”

Stewart also blasted the media for focusing on President Barack Obama confusing Jedi mind tricks from Star Wars with Vulcan mind melds from Star Trek, rather than reporting on House Speaker John Boehner’s (R-OH) apparent lack of understanding of the U.S. Constitution.

“The Speaker of the House said taxing people is stealing,” an incensed Stewart said. “Tip to cable news, if there is ever a fact that you don’t need to check, it’s anything to do with Star Wars or Star Trek.”

Watch video, aired on Comedy Central on Monday, below: