Reasonably Optimistic

Has the right revived comedy — or destroyed it?

Listen Later

Bill Maher’s visit to the White House appears to mark a shift in how some comedians and late-night hosts will approach the second Trump presidency. But what role should political and subversive humor play during these very serious times? Can it bring Americans together — or just offer a form of escapism? Post Opinions’ Drew Goins, Molly Roberts and Theodore R. Johnson discuss the current landscape of the genre and where it could be headed next.


Additional reading by our columnists:


León Krauze: Bill Maher went to Washington. He got played.


Subscribe to The Washington Post here.

...more
View all episodesView all episodes
Download on the App Store
Reasonably OptimisticBy The Washington Post
  • 4.1
  • 4.1
  • 4.1
  • 4.1
  • 4.1

4.1

158 ratings

More shows like Reasonably Optimistic

View all
Fresh Air by NPR

Fresh Air

38,153 Listeners

The New Yorker Radio Hour by WNYC Studios and The New Yorker

The New Yorker Radio Hour

6,760 Listeners

The Political Scene | The New Yorker by The New Yorker

The Political Scene | The New Yorker

4,053 Listeners

Presidential by The Washington Post

Presidential

3,647 Listeners

PBS Washington Week with The Atlantic - Full Show by Washington Week

PBS Washington Week with The Atlantic - Full Show

1,385 Listeners

Capehart by The Washington Post

Capehart

1,381 Listeners

The Conversation with Dasha Burns by POLITICO

The Conversation with Dasha Burns

1,522 Listeners

The Lawfare Podcast by The Lawfare Institute

The Lawfare Podcast

6,294 Listeners

Sidebar by The Washington Post

Sidebar

4,444 Listeners

The Daily by The New York Times

The Daily

112,187 Listeners

Constitutional by The Washington Post

Constitutional

2,478 Listeners

Radio Atlantic by The Atlantic

Radio Atlantic

2,365 Listeners

Capital Weather Gang by The Washington Post

Capital Weather Gang

107 Listeners

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat by New York Times Opinion

Interesting Times with Ross Douthat

7,231 Listeners

Post Reports by The Washington Post

Post Reports

5,202 Listeners

Moonrise by The Washington Post

Moonrise

2,779 Listeners

Canary: The Washington Post Investigates by The Washington Post

Canary: The Washington Post Investigates

2,370 Listeners

The Ezra Klein Show by New York Times Opinion

The Ezra Klein Show

16,172 Listeners

Please, Go On with James Hohmann by The Washington Post

Please, Go On with James Hohmann

232 Listeners

Broken Doors by The Washington Post

Broken Doors

296 Listeners

The Interview by The New York Times

The Interview

1,677 Listeners

On with Kara Swisher by Vox Media

On with Kara Swisher

3,510 Listeners

The 7 by The Washington Post

The 7

1,253 Listeners

Field Trip by The Washington Post

Field Trip

994 Listeners

The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop by The Washington Post

The Empty Grave of Comrade Bishop

405 Listeners

Try This by The Washington Post

Try This

343 Listeners

The Campaign Moment by The Washington Post

The Campaign Moment

57 Listeners

The Sports Moment by The Washington Post

The Sports Moment

32 Listeners

The Opinions by The New York Times Opinion

The Opinions

639 Listeners