Stephen J Farnsworth Knihy

Political humor has been a staple of late-night television for decades. The Trump White House, however, has received significantly greater attention than that of past presidents, such as Barack Obama, George W. Bush, and even Bill Clinton. In response to Trump's strident politics, late-night comics, including Stephen Colbert, Jimmy Kimmel, Trevor Noah and Jimmy Fallon, have sounded key policy notes, further blurring the boundary between news and satire. Weekly humorists, including John Oliver and Samantha Bee, extend the critique with in-depth probing of key issues, while Saturday Night Live continues to tap the progression from outrage to outrageousness. Using unique content analysis techniques and qualitative discussions of political humor, Farnsworth and Lichter show how late-night political humor, and these seven programs in particular, have responded to the Trump presidency. Employing a dataset of more than 100,000 late night jokes going back decades, these noted media scholars discuss how the treatment of Trump differs from previous presidents, and how the Trump era is likely to shape the future of political humor. The authors also employ public opinion survey data to consider the growing role these late-night programs play in framing public opinion and priorities. This book will interest scholars, the curious public, and students of politics, communications and the media, and contemporary American culture.

Set against the backdrop of the 2008 presidential election, the narrative explores the intense interplay between media and candidates, highlighting how both manipulate information for their gain. It delves into the impact of this exploitation on public awareness, revealing the challenges voters face in discerning truth from spectacle during a critical political moment. The book critiques the relationship between media coverage and electoral integrity, emphasizing the importance of informed citizenship in a democratic society.

The book explores the evolution of White House news management over the last two decades, focusing on the communication strategies of presidents Clinton, Bush, Obama, and Trump. It highlights the challenges they face in controlling their messages amidst a rapidly changing media landscape. Despite the advantages of the presidency and numerous media outlets, the ability to persuade remains crucial, with the media often emphasizing the character of the president as much as the content of their messages.