From The Office to SNAFU: Ed Helms on History, Politics & Comedy
Apr 28, 2025
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Ed Helms, known for his comedic roles in The Office and The Hangover trilogy, dives into his new book, SNAFU, which humorously explores history's greatest blunders. He shares insights on the role of satire in modern politics, particularly during the Trump era, while discussing systemic corruption and alternative voting solutions. Helms also highlights the impact of historical narratives on contemporary issues, touching on the importance of empathy in leadership and the evolving landscape of the entertainment industry in a streaming-dominated world.
Ed Helms emphasizes the importance of political engagement and leveraging one's platform to support social causes during critical elections.
He discusses ranked choice voting as a potential reform to enhance voter representation and produce more moderate candidates despite existing opposition.
Helms highlights the necessity of intertwining serious journalism with political satire to foster critical engagement with political issues and ensure media accountability.
Deep dives
Ed Helms and Political Engagement
Ed Helms discusses his decision to engage in political campaigning, particularly during critical election moments. He was motivated by a desire to leverage his platform to support causes he believes in, especially during times of significant political upheaval. His upbringing in a politically active household, surrounded by campaign memorabilia and discussions on social justice, influenced his passion for fairness and social issues. Helms emphasizes the importance of participation in democracy and expresses enthusiasm for working alongside genuine political figures, highlighting his admiration for the people he's met while campaigning.
Advocacy for Ranked Choice Voting
Helms provides insights into the concept of ranked choice voting and its potential to reform the political landscape. He argues that this voting system better represents a wider spectrum of voter preferences, which can lead to the election of more moderate and reasonable candidates. Despite facing considerable opposition, including criticism that it is confusing for voters, Helms remains optimistic about its benefits. He acknowledges that entrenched political power structures resist such changes, often stemming from misinformation and a lack of understanding regarding how ranked choice voting functions.
Media's Role in Political Discourse
Helms remarks on the media's responsibility in shaping public understanding of political issues and the growing partisanship that affects coverage. He reflects on his time at The Daily Show and how satirical commentary can serve as a counterbalance to mainstream news narratives, prompting audiences to engage critically with political matters. The importance of maintaining a robust comedic perspective, as Helms explains, lies in its ability to foster reflection and dialogue about serious topics in a more palatable way. He stresses that both serious journalism and political satire are essential to keep media accountable.
Historical Insight from 'Snafu'
Helms introduces his book 'Snafu,' which explores notable historical errors and failings, portraying them through an engaging and humorous lens. He shares stories of governmental overreach, referring to events that exemplify human arrogance and systemic mistakes, such as the U.S. Army's failed attempts at covert nuclear missile setups. By presenting these historical 'screw-ups,' he aims to draw parallels to contemporary issues, urging audiences to recognize and learn from past missteps. Helms believes that understanding these errors can provide valuable context for navigating current political challenges.
Cultural Reflections and the Entertainment Industry
Helms discusses his recent projects that spotlight Indigenous issues and aims to reclaim historical narratives within the entertainment industry. His work on 'Rutherford Falls' and 'Smudge the Blades' intends to prompt deeper conversations about representation and the stories of marginalized communities. He reflects on how the current media landscape has shifted, creating new opportunities for diverse storytelling while also presenting the challenge of ensuring that quality content reaches audiences. Helms embraces an entrepreneurial approach, focusing on passion-driven projects that resonate with his values as a creator.
Ed Helms is best known for playing Andy Bernard in The Office and Stu in The Hangover trilogy. But the comedic actor is also the politically engaged, banjo-playing, podcast-hosting, TV series–producing author of a new book titled, SNAFU: The Definitive Guide to History’s Greatest Screwups.
Kara and Ed discuss domestic politics and satire's role during Trump 2.0; government overreach and history’s tendency to repeat itself; his podcast SNAFU with Ed Helms and the eponymous book; and the entertainment industry’s evolving economics.
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