Helen Lewis, an Atlantic staff writer who attended the Riyadh Comedy Festival, shares firsthand observations of this cultural event. Vivian Salama, also from the Atlantic, provides insights on Saudi Arabia's Vision 2030, elaborating on the kingdom's efforts to modernize and attract tourism while grappling with its controversial past, including the Khashoggi murder. The discussion dives into comedy's potential to incite social change amidst censorship, the festival's atmosphere, and contrasting reactions from performers on the moral implications of participating.
