Not a Joke: Humor as Politics

Now & Then

Vox Media Podcast Network

News, Society & Culture, History, News Commentary

4.9 • 3.7K Ratings

🗓️ 3 May 2023

⏱️ 50 minutes

🔗️ Recording | iTunes | RSS

🧾️ Download transcript

Summary

How can humor be used as a political weapon? Heather and Joanne discuss the recent White House Correspondents’ Dinner and the power of American comedy. They explore Seba Smith and his iconic Jack Downing character, Alice Duer Miller’s poetic suffragist satire, and Dick Gregory’s truth-telling on issues of race and class. What do comedians and historians have in common? Join CAFE Insider to listen to “Backstage,” where Heather and Joanne chat each week about the anecdotes and ideas that formed the episode. Head to: cafe.com/history Uncover history's impact on today's issues and get sharp insights into news at the intersection of law and politics with the weekly CAFE Brief newsletter. Sign up for free here: cafe.com/brief For references & supplemental materials, head to: cafe.com/now-and-then/not-a-joke-humor-as-politics/ Now & Then is presented by CAFE and the Vox Media Podcast Network. Learn more about your ad choices. Visit podcastchoices.com/adchoices

Transcript

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0:00.0	Support for this show comes from the Genesis GB70 Performance SUV.
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1:20.0	Crypto trading involves risk of loss.
1:25.0	From Cafe and the Vox Media Podcast Network, this is now and then.
1:32.6	I'm Heather Cox Richardson and I'm Joanne Freeman.
1:36.2	This week we're going to talk about the relationship between comedy and politics, and pretty obviously
1:43.9	we got the idea because of the big event that took place this past Saturday night, the
1:49.1	annual White House correspondence dinner, also known as Nerd Prom, which I hadn't heard
1:55.1	until the preparing for this episode, and I love it because it's so descriptive.
1:59.9	Significantly to now and then, Heather, you were in attendance.
2:05.2	We should start off with just a few words from you as to what it was like.
	...

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