From Broadway to his TNT series, Michael Moore is using wit and political insight to lead the anti-Trump resistance
If there is one thing that we can thank Donald Trump for, it is the extraordinary rise of political comedy his presidency has ushered in for our nation. Even comedians who generally avoided engaging in politics, like Jimmy Kimmel, are now on the front lines, hurling snarky tweets and sarcastic jokes Trump’s way. After 9/11 it was the brave satirists like Bill Maher, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert who dared to use political comedy to speak truth to power in a media landscape that was chilling and self-censoring. Today those legends are accompanied by a wide range of political comedians who are each offering their own satirical take on these crazy times.
But in this vast field of smart, ironic and sharp comedy, Michael Moore’s voice remains unique. Moore was one of the major voices of 9/11 satire, but because he wasn’t regularly featured on TV, like Stewart, Maher and Colbert were, his contributions and impact are occasionally overlooked. While these days it is common for actors and celebrities to use their moment in the spotlight at an awards ceremony to make a political statement, when Moore was brazen enough to speak up against George W. Bush at the 2003 Academy Awards, when he won for “Bowling for Columbine,” he was lambasted and accused of treason.
