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Conan O'Brien Warns Comics Not to Trade Jokes for 'F Trump' Rants

An Oxford Union interview posted Jan. 6 has renewed discussion over how comedians tackle politics.

Overview

  • In the Oxford Union Q&A, O'Brien said some comics default to shouting 'F Trump' and get co-opted by their anger.
  • He argued comedians must stay funny even on serious subjects and channel outrage into art as a weapon against power.
  • O'Brien contended Trump's outlandishness has damaged political satire, calling that harm worse for comedy than Jan. 6.
  • The comments resurfaced widely after the YouTube posting and were amplified by outlets including BuzzFeed, TV Insider, and Breitbart.
  • Social-media reactions noted agreement with his critique while debating its implications for contemporary political comedy.