Looking at the Intersection of Comedy and Politics


Cowboy and humorist Will Rogers once said, “Everything is changing. People are taking their comedians seriously and the politicians as a joke.”

Those words may seem especially poignant today, as this year's presidential election appears to be a bonanza for comedians. But what responsibilities, if any, do comedians have when tackling politics? And can political satire have unintended consequences?

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Host Eddie Arruza talks to Anne Libera, the director of comedy studies at Columbia College Chicago; Azhar Usman, a stand-up comedian who recently concluded his one-man show, “Ultra American: A Patriot Act” at Chicago's Silk Road Rising theater; and Matt Hovde, an artistic director at Second City's training center who has directed a number of projects including “Unelectable You,” a political comedy show co-created with Slate.

Below, watch the recent Funny Or Die video starring Hillary Clinton and Zach Galifianakis.


Video: Donald Trump appears on "The Tonight Show Starring Jimmy Fallon."


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