Is Satire Threatened with Extinction in the America of 2025?

Edition No196 | 21-07-2025 - This episode is about satire as a threat to authoritarianism, and why it’s one of the first things to get shut down by any dictator, or aspiring autocrat. But let’s be specific before anyone calls this out. Of course, minorities and vulnerable communities are the first things that autocrats come after – in Germany it was the communists and the Jews. In Russia it was the Chechens and people from Central Asia. In the US it was undocumented migrants and now anyone with black or brown, irrespective of whether they have legal status to be in the US or not.But once populist credentials are established through outrageous, capricious and physical action, and an atmosphere of division and fear is whipped up, then regimes get stuck into their real opponents. Those in opposition who have power and influence – enough to derail their authoritarian ambitions. And amongst the effective opposition, those with influence and status, I’ll bet that the first they come after are satirists and humorists. This is what Putin did in the early 2000s, because once you cancel derision, those that puncture the pomposity of powerful people, expose their schemes and corruption, once you marginalize, cancel them, forcing media companies to comply, you can start to gain control of the news cycle itself. ----------DESCRIPTION:The Threat to Satire in Modern Authoritarian Regimes: A Deep DiveIn this episode of 'Silicon Bites,' we explore how satire is often one of the first casualties under authoritarian regimes. Starting with a historical analysis of political censorship from early Russia to current trends in the United States, we delve into the impact of the Trump administration on satirical voices. With examples including the cancellation of Stephen Colbert's Late Show and the resignation of cartoonist Ann Telnaes, this episode highlights the tightening grip of political power on media and comedy. We underscore the symbiotic relationship between satire and democracy, discussing the broader implications of silencing critical voices in media. The episode concludes with a call for vigilance and support for independent satire.----------SUPPORT THE CHANNEL:https://www.buymeacoffee.com/siliconcurtainhttps://www.patreon.com/siliconcurtain----------CHAPTERS:00:00 Introduction and Episode Overview00:43 The Role of Satire in Authoritarian Regimes01:11 Historical Examples of Satire Suppression02:32 The Symbiotic Relationship Between Satire and Power03:11 Modern-Day Satire Under Threat07:09 The Case of Stephen Colbert's Show Cancellation11:10 The Broader Implications for Democracy14:31 The Russian Example: A Cautionary Tale18:36 Call to Action: Supporting Independent Satire----------SOURCES: https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jul/18/democrats-cbs-colbert-show https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/americas/us-politics/stephen-colbert-canceled-cbs-staff-trump-shakedown-b2791693.html https://www.independent.co.uk/bulletin/culture/stephen-colbert-cancelled-cbs-kimmel-b2792213.html https://www.theguardian.com/culture/2025/jul/19/paramount-cbs-trump https://www.independent.co.uk/arts-entertainment/tv/news/jimmy-kimmel-stephen-colbert-cancelled-b2792174.html https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jul/18/stephen-colbert-late-show-celebrities-react https://www.theguardian.com/tv-and-radio/2025/jul/18/stephen-colbert-late-show-ending-trump https://russiapost.info/digest/political_humor https://www.rferl.org/a/russia_independent_ntv_fell_silent/3557594.html https://www.telegraph.co.uk/world-news/2022/01/11/satirist-mocked-putin-russian-spitting-image-flees-country-harrassment/ ----------