On with Kara Swisher Cartoons, Capitalism & Censorship: Alison Bechdel & Ann Telnaes on Politics in Art
28 snips
Aug 25, 2025 
Graphic novelist Alison Bechdel, known for 'Fun Home' and teaching at Yale, and Pulitzer-winning cartoonist Ann Telnaes discuss the intersection of art and politics. They dive into the challenges of censorship, the rise of book bans, and how their cartoons confront powerful figures. The duo explores the evolution of satire in today's polarized climate and debates the impact of AI on artistic expression. Their insightful conversation highlights the importance of creative freedom and the role of visuals in shaping political discourse.
AI Snips
Chapters
Books
Transcript
Episode notes
Cartoons As Opinionated Journalism
- Editorial cartoons are explicitly journalistic because they must present a clear point of view through visuals.
- Ann Telnaes says cartoons belong in journalism and express opinion visually rather than neutrally.
Why Telnaes Quit The Washington Post
- Ann Telnaes recounts that The Washington Post spiked her cartoon of tech titans kneeling to Trump, and she was surprised.
- She decided to quit the paper minutes after the rejection because she feared future censorship.
Visuals Amplify Reach More Than Articles
- Images often reach and move people faster than articles because visuals are easier to share and consume.
- Alison Bechdel notes the rejected cartoon would have greater impact than written pieces on the same topic.
