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** OPINION
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** Comedians blast fellow comics for joining Saudi Arabia’s controversial comedy festival
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Comedian Marc Maron, shown here last month, is among the comedians blasting those who are appearing at a comedy festival in Saudi Arabia. (AP Photo/Chris Pizzello)

Boy, that escalated quickly.

Right now, the Riyadh Comedy Festival is underway. The two-week event is being labeled as the biggest comedy festival in the world, and it certainly features some of the biggest names in comedy: Bill Burr, Dave Chappelle, Kevin Hart, Aziz Ansari, Pete Davidson, Andrew Schulz, Jo Koy, Jessica Kirson, Jimmy Carr, Louis C.K., Sebastian Maniscalco, Tom Segura, Whitney Cummings, and many more.

But the festival is also drawing controversy: It’s a state-sponsored event in Saudi Arabia. And some comedians and human rights activists are blasting those who are performing there because of Saudi Arabia’s human rights record, including the belief that Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi was murdered in 2018 by government agents under the orders of Mohammed bin Salman, the crown prince of Saudi Arabia. Human Rights Watch said the festival is meant to wash away the country's “brutal repression of free speech” and other human rights violations.

MSNBC opinion writer Zeeshan Aleem wrote ([link removed]) , “Saudi Arabia’s use of what we could call ‘comedy washing’ is an insidious tool to project a misleading image of the country’s incremental efforts to liberalize. These comics should know better than to help launder the country’s reputation in exchange for fat paychecks.”

Joey Shea, a researcher at Human Rights Watch who focuses on Saudi Arabia, said in a statement, “The seventh anniversary of Jamal Khashoggi’s brutal murder is no laughing matter, and comedians receiving hefty sums from Saudi authorities shouldn’t be silent on prohibited topics in Saudi like human rights or free speech. Everyone performing in Riyadh should use this high-profile opportunity to call for the release of detained Saudi activists.”

While Shea’s words are important, they might not carry as much weight as the comments being made by a few high-profile comedians.

Comedian Marc Maron said on his “WTF” podcast, “I mean, how do you even promote that? ‘From the folks that brought you 9/11. Two weeks of laughter in the desert, don’t miss it!’ I mean, the same guy that’s gonna pay them is the same guy that paid that guy to bone-saw Jamal Khashoggi and put him in a (expletive) suitcase. But don’t let that stop the yuks. It’s gonna be a good time!”

Maron was quick to point out that he was not asked to perform at the festival, adding, “It’s kind of easy for me to take the high road on this one — easy to maintain your integrity when no one’s offering to buy it out.”

However, Maron clearly would not have participated had he been asked.

Popular comedian Shane Gillis said he turned down the offer to perform, and then the Saudis doubled their offer. Gillis said it was a “significant bag,” but he had to make a principled stand. Some, such as Burr ([link removed]) , have defended their appearance.

Comedian David Cross skewered those who are performing at the festival in an open letter on his website. ([link removed]) He wrote, “I am disgusted, and deeply disappointed in this whole gross thing. That people I admire, with unarguable talent, would condone this totalitarian fiefdom for … what, a fourth house? A boat? More sneakers? We can never again take seriously anything these comedians complain about (unless it’s complaining that we don’t support enough torture and mass executions of journalists and LGBQT peace activists here in the states, or that we don’t terrorize enough Americans by flying planes into our buildings). I mean that’s it; you have a funny bit about how you don’t like Yankee Candles or airport lounges? Okay great, but you’re cool with murder and/or the public caning of women who were raped, and by having the audacity to be raped, were guilty of ‘engaging in adultery’? Got any bits on that?”

Cross later added, “You’re performing for literally the most oppressive regime on earth.”

The New York Times’ Derrick Bryson Taylor wrote ([link removed]) , “The event is the latest push to advance Saudi Arabia’s ‘Vision 2030’ plan, which was outlined nearly a decade ago by Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. The plan aims to diversify Saudi Arabia’s oil-rich economy to areas like technology, culture and sports. Representatives for the Saudi government did not immediately respond to requests for comment. In the past, Saudi officials have said that organizing international entertainment events is part of an effort to expand leisure opportunities for young Saudis — tickets to some of the comedy sets sold out days in advance — and to stimulate tourism spending, rather than an attempt to improve the country’s international reputation.”

A few other comedians — Atsuko Okatsuka, Mike Birbiglia and Leslie Liao — said they turned down offers to perform. The Post’s Mikhail Klimentov and Ethan Beck pointed out ([link removed]) that “Okatsuka … posted screenshots of what she said was the offer she received from the organizers, which stipulated that comics could not perform any material that might ‘degrade, defame, or bring into public disrepute, contempt, scandal, embarrassment, or ridicule’ the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, the royal family or any religion.”

In the end, it appears those who did appear did it for one reason and one reason only: money. Which is exactly what the Saudis want.

A MESSAGE FROM POYNTER
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** Boulder, CO Event: Poynter’s 50th Anniversary Exhibit
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Step into the evolving story of journalism — and where it’s headed next. Poynter’s "Moments of Truth: An Exploration of Journalism’s Past, Present, and Future" exhibit runs until October 9 at The University of Colorado Boulder. The program also features a trivia night at the Denver Press Club and a community conversation on the power and complexities of intergenerational stories at the Boulder Public Library.

See the event lineup ([link removed])


** Journalist injured by ICE
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Journalist L. Vural Elibol receives medical assistance after being shoved by federal agents in immigration court on Tuesday in New York. (AP Photo/Olga Fedorova)

A photojournalist was taken to the hospital in New York City on Tuesday after a chaotic altercation involving U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents and other journalists.

A video posted on social media ([link removed]) by freelance photojournalist Stephanie Keith shows several people, including agents from ICE, getting on an elevator outside of an immigration court in a building in Lower Manhattan. One of the people getting on the elevator was Dean Moses, a photojournalist for amNewYork. Several other photographers stood outside the elevator, taking photos and videos. That’s when an ICE agent grabbed Moses, shoved him out of the elevator and yelled, “Get out of the (expletive) elevator.”

As this was going on, it appeared that an ICE agent on the outside of the elevator grabbed a female photojournalist named Olga Fedorova and threw her out of the way to help get at Moses. Fedorova crashed into another photojournalist, who was later identified as L. Vural Elibol with Turkey-based Anadolu Agency.

Elibol remained on the ground and was eventually taken by ambulance to the hospital in a neck brace. His condition is unknown. (Fedorova took the photo above for the AP.)

Gothamist’s Arya Sundaram noted ([link removed]) , “The incident took place in an area that has become a flashpoint in President Donald Trump’s immigration crackdown in New York City. Immigrants leaving court appearances in the building are frequently taken into custody by Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents in hallways often clogged by tearful family members and throngs of journalists.”

It was there last week that an ICE agent pushed an Ecuadorian woman to the floor in front of her children as her husband was being arrested. The woman hit her head on the floor and was also taken to the hospital.

Till Eckert chronicled that event in a story for ProPublica: “I Filmed the ICE Officer Who Shoved a Woman to the Floor Inside a New York Courthouse.” ([link removed])

Eckert wrote in her piece, “I’ve only been in the U.S. as a reporter for eight weeks — so I just barely arrived. I come from Germany and am on the staff at Correctiv, a nonprofit investigative newsroom. I’d been alarmed by videos of masked ICE agents sweeping immigrants off the street, scenes I never thought I’d see in the United States, and I came with the goal of witnessing what was going on for myself.”

What she saw over her first two weeks was alarming. She wrote, “During that time, I’d seen ICE drag several immigrants away from their families, all of them sobbing and pleading with the officers not to separate them from their loved ones. But what happened Thursday was a shocking escalation.”

The Department of Homeland Security put out a statement calling the officer’s conduct “unacceptable and beneath the men and women of ICE." The officer was suspended during an internal investigation, but he has since returned to work.

New York City Comptroller Brad Lander and New York Democratic Rep. Dan Goldman sent a letter to Attorney General Pam Bondi asking for an investigation into the incident of the woman being shoved to the ground.

As far as Tuesday’s incident involving the injured photojournalist, Lander tweeted ([link removed]) , “Another violent attack by an ICE officer on a civilian at 26 Federal Plaza—this time on a journalist, who had to be carried out on stretcher. Another attack on the First Amendment, our neighbors, and our democracy.”

In a statement, PEN America's Tim Richardson said, “This violent assault on journalists by ICE officers in New York is another stark example of federal law enforcement and immigration officials failing to respect the essential watchdog role of an independent press. This latest incident is part of an alarming trend of attacks on press freedom by the administration, putting journalists’ safety and the public’s right to information at serious risk. Just this past weekend, a journalist was arrested covering ICE-related protests in Chicago and journalist Mario Guevara, who was arrested while covering protests in Georgia, faces possible deportation after more than 100 days in ICE custody.”


** Bonkers meeting
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Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth, center, and U.S. military senior leadership listen to President Donald Trump at a meeting in Quantico, Va., on Tuesday. (AP Photo/Evan Vucci)

So that big meeting in Washington with all the big-shot generals and military leaders? It was nothing, if not cringeworthy, awkward and, well, just weird.

Defense Secretary Pete Hegseth called for hundreds of the U.S.’s top military leaders to report to the Marine Corps Base Quantico, in Virginia, with no heads up on what the agenda was going to be. President Donald Trump then decided to join the festivities.

Here’s how The Washington Post’s Dan Lamothe, Tara Copp and Alex Horton described it ([link removed]) : “extraordinary in nature but ultimately broke little new ground.”

By all reported accounts, the speeches made by Hegseth and Trump were met mostly with silence and expressionless faces.

The Post wrote, “Trump was introduced by Hegseth, whose fiery warmup act for the president at times relied on profanity and crass, inflammatory language.”

Meanwhile, the Post described Trump’s 70-minute speech as “meandering.” The Intercept’s Nick Turse called it ([link removed]) “a long, rambling address that only sporadically touched on military topics.”

Turse wrote, “Three different defense officials who spoke with The Intercept called Trump’s speech ‘embarrassing.’ The same defense officials took Hegseth to task for gathering the military’s top commanders from around the world for a rant little different than his social media posts. One called Hegseth’s address ‘garbage,’ using a term the war secretary used during his speech. Another said: ‘We are diminished as a nation by both Hegseth and Trump.’”

Mediaite’s David Gilmour has a wrap-up with “The 6 Most Bonkers Things Trump Said During Surreal Meeting With Top Military Brass.” ([link removed])

Politico’s Jack Detsch and Leo Shane III wrote ([link removed]) , “Numerous defense officials … were left wondering why the event had occurred at all.” One defense official told them, “Could have been an email.”

Another said, “Total waste of money.” That’s an interesting and pointed note with the government on the verge of shutting down.


** Speaking of which …
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Here are a few notable stories regarding the potential government shutdown:
* The Associated Press with “Here are some effects of a government shutdown if Congress, Trump don’t reach a deal.” ([link removed])
* The New York Times DealBook newsletter with “The Economic Stakes of a Government Shutdown.” ([link removed])
* The Atlantic’s Toluse Olorunnipa, Russell Berman and Jonathan Lemire with “Trump’s Grand Plan for a Government Shutdown.” ([link removed])
* USA Today’s George Petras and Ramon Padilla with this informative graphics piece: “Government shutdowns, what's happened in past is likely to happen now.” ([link removed])


** Your two cents
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It has been almost five years since we last surveyed The Poynter Report audience, and a lot has changed — in journalism, in this newsletter and in you. We want to make sure we’re serving you well and growing in the right direction.

Take a few minutes to tell us what you value most about The Poynter Report and what you’d like to see more of. Your feedback will directly shape the future of this newsletter. Fill out the questionnaire here ([link removed]) .


** Media tidbits
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* The Washington Post’s Scott Nover with “Judge blocks Kari Lake from laying off over 500 Voice of America staffers.” ([link removed])
* For the Columbia Journalism Review, Liam Scott with “On Trial for Journalism in Kentucky.” ([link removed])
* From Houston’s KPRC: “Viral Halloween display in Houston’s Second Ward fuels debate over immigration, free speech.” ([link removed])
* I cannot tell you how happy I am to hear that PBS is bringing back this awesome show. The Hollywood Reporter’s Alex Weprin with “‘Reading Rainbow’ Returns: Classic PBS Show Rebooted 20 Years After Final Episode.” ([link removed])


** Hot type
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* It’s a really looooong list, but here is Washingtonian with the 2025 list of “Most Powerful Women in Washington.” ([link removed])
* An uplifting piece to send you on your way today. The New York Times’ Adam Nagourney with “A New Organ Is Shaking the Pews at Trinity Church.” ([link removed])


** More resources for journalists
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* Deadline Friday: Join a five-day, in-person workshop that gives new managers the skills they need to help forge successful paths to leadership in journalism, media and technology. Apply today ([link removed]) .
* Stop wasting hours on repetitive tasks — automate them instead. Learn how ([link removed]) .
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* Deepen your coverage of incarcerated women and women with incarcerated family members and get the chance to apply for one of five $10,000 reporting grants. Enroll now ([link removed]) .
* Master the tools to connect Washington decisions to local stories — essential coverage as the 2026 elections approach. Enroll now ([link removed]) .
* Turn your life story into a memoir in this pioneering virtual workshop led by Poynter's Director of Craft Kristen Hare, featuring accomplished authors as guest instructors. Enroll now ([link removed]) .

Have feedback or a tip? Email Poynter senior media writer Tom Jones at [email protected] (mailto:[email protected]) .

The Poynter Report is your daily dive into the world of media, packed with the latest news and insights. Get it delivered to your inbox Monday through Friday by signing up here ([link removed]) . And don’t forget to tune into our biweekly podcast ([link removed]) for even more.
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