Not all political comedy is equal – how comics can either depress turnout or activate voters in 2024

• There’s no question that it is easy to make fun of the two top presidential candidates for 2024.
• But as I explain in my new book, “Trump Was a Joke: How Satire Made Sense of a President Who Didn’t,” not all political comedy is equal.
• In contrast, satire – which centers on faulty logic, abuses of power and flawed thinking – can compel citizens to volunteer, donate to campaigns and vote.

Averting apathy

• There was record turnout during the 2020 election.
• Nearly two-thirds of eligible voters cast a vote, 7 percentage points higher than in 2016.
• Voter fatigue typically translates into lower voter turnout, and low voter turnout correlates to weaker democratic institutions.

Mocking leads to burnout

• Mocking comedy tends to negatively affect political participation in two ways.
• It can create negative views of candidates, and this, in turn, can lead to voter apathy.
• What’s more, they found that there was a connection between negative jokes and negative public perceptions of candidates.
• The catch, though, is that voter apathy will happen only if voters feel burned out by both candidates, because that leads to exhaustion with the system they represent.

Satire spurs voter engagement

• Another recent study found that humor increases the likelihood to share political information with others and enhances information recall – both of which increase voter engagement.
• And audiences of political satire have been shown to have more confidence in their political views and a better understanding of the issues.
• He knew from his own work as a satirist and activist that politically engaged comedy can help mobilize communities.
• Academic research confirms Moore’s instincts, showing that people who consume satire are more likely to attend rallies, discuss politics, donate to a political party, wear political buttons and vote than viewers of traditional late-night comedy shows.