Liberals have dominated American comedy news for the past 50 years. Jon Stewart, John Oliver, Stephen Colbert, and Bill Maher are among the most prominent voices in political satire.

But since the rise of Trumpism, conservatives have begun getting in on the joke. There has been a noteworthy growth in mainstream success for roast-style comedy podcasts and conservative stand-ups — a renaissance of hyper-masculine, offensive humor targeted at young men. During Donald Trump’s campaign for U.S. president in 2024, the revitalization of right-wing politics breathed new life into an untapped comedic market.

It hasn’t always been this way. The earliest American comedy news dates back to radio in the 1930s and the rise of political satirists like Will Rogers in the 1950s. The origins of network comedy shows were rather apolitical — such as Johnny Carson on "The Tonight Show," who steered clear of current events while reaching broad audiences.

Jon Stewart’s influence on Comedy Central’s "The Daily Show" in the 1990s marked a pivotal shift in the modern understanding of comedy news — increasingly politicized, nationally broadcast comedy.

The most dominant comedy news of past decades came in the form of left-leaning shows usually attack right-wing politicians. Ten of the top 15 political figures targeted by jokes on "The Daily Show" were Republicans, according to Pew Research Center’s analysis in 2007.

Companies are now seeing an opportunity to program against liberal satire, catering to an untapped conservative audience that has been blooming since the rise of MAGA Trumpism in 2015.........

© The Hill