State of the World from NPR Puppets Pushed Off the Air in Russia and France
Oct 3, 2025
The podcast dives into the world of political satire through puppetry in Russia and France. It explores how Les Guignols de l'Info influenced French political discourse and how Kukli emerged in post-Soviet Russia to mock the elite. The rise of Putin marked a significant shift, leading to increased censorship and pressure on media. The acquisition of Canal Plus by Vincent Bolloré silenced Les Guignols, reflecting a troubling trend in political openness. Satire becomes a telling sign of freedom or oppression in both nations.
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Puppets Shaped French Political Talk
- Les Guignols used marionettes to lampoon French politicians and shape national conversation in short segments before the news.
- Yves Le Roland said puppets made satire seem less aggressive, allowing sharper critique to land safely.
Russian Puppets Tested New Freedoms
- Kukli in 1990s Russia used puppets to satirize leaders including Boris Yeltsin and test new post-Soviet freedoms.
- Viktor Shinarovych said laughter is a weapon because a court cannot force people to stop laughing at you.
Satire Became A Political Target Under Putin
- Putin's rise changed the media climate and turned satire into a political target rather than tolerated critique.
- Shenderovich's allegory of Putin provoked state demands that removed the Putin puppet and critical news coverage from NTV.