Late-night comedians have become targets for Donald Trump and Republicans—proof, once again, of their authoritarian bend. As political leaders try to police culture, shame critics, and strong-arm media platforms, comedy has become one of the last spaces where truth slips out disguised as punchlines.
That’s why last week’s conversation on Assembly Required with comedian, podcast host, writer, and former Full Frontal host Samantha Bee felt so urgent. Samantha has spent years using comedy to puncture political hypocrisy, spotlight injustice, and push back against manufactured outrage. Our conversation dug into the rising attacks on comedians, the obsession with controlling cultural narratives, and how authoritarian movements long for a world where voices like hers disappear.
We talked about the current state of late-night comedy: what’s changed, what’s under threat, and why humor has become a frontline tool in resisting political censorship. Samantha shared what it means to stay sharp and fearless in a moment when truth is under siege, and how comedy can help us process a political environment that feels heavier and more fragile by the day.
Beneath it all was a recognition that comedy is entertainment, as much as it is a barometer of democratic health. When governments and political actors start fixating on jokes, policing satire, or punishing artists, it signals a deeper anxiety about losing control of the narrative. Samantha reminded us that comedians have always been truth-tellers, able to expose contradictions that politicians would rather keep buried. Protecting that space—whether on late night, on podcasts, or on stages across the country—is part of preserving our ability to question power at all.
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But most importantly, we explored what this all means for the rest of us: how everyday people can use humor, storytelling, and joy to resist fear, reclaim community, and keep pushing the truth into the public square. Because when power fears laughter, it tells you something—not about the joke, but about the people trying to silence it.
