Biden is old. Trump has weird hair. Biden mangles the English language. Trump barely seems to understand it.
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.
Jokes that focus on physical traits – fat bellies, bald heads, bumbling speech – foster negative candidate views that can exhaust voters, as does mocking scandals, whether it’s the mishandling of classified documents, sexual misconduct or family drama.
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
A key factor to watch this election cycle is voter fatigue.
