November 3, 2022

Satire? How is that satire? Stop puffing. It's simply wrong. If some people found it funny it's not because the art of satire was at play.

I'm reading a Reuters fact-check on what looked like a screenshot of a CNN report that Trump had died. It was a fake headline, and should have just been called false.

But somehow Reuters credited it as "satire."

 

How is that satire? The only levity comes from the reader's internal state of wanting to see Trump dead.

IN THE COMMENTS: Readering says: "'Cause of death autoerotic asphyxiation.' So satire. Also pathetic."

That text is in tiny print under the photo. I wrote this post without noticing that. If the Reuters fact-check had even mentioned that, I would have written a different post, but it does not. So I still reject the Reuters analysis, but I agree with Readering that it does count as satire — and that it's pathetic. Low skill, low effort, overall lowliness.

86 comments:

Achilles said...

This is a pretty standard reaction by people that suck at something.

The left can't do satire well in general, so they resort to bad satire and poisonous bullshit.

Then when people complain they demand that all satire be banned.

Enigma said...

This is called 'trolling' or 'winding people up' or 'jerking their chains.'

It's quite quite quite funny in junior high and high school. Ask a teen.

Sebastian said...

"The only levity comes from the reader's internal state of wanting to see Trump dead."

Is that satire? Skewering prog "levity"?

I'm losing track of what counts as comic under prog hegemony.

PM said...

1. Agree with your analysis.
2. It's a good photo of him - one you rarely see from news orgs.

Big Mike said...

So satire is misinformation when it comes from The Babylon Bee or other right-of-center sources, but misinformation is satire when it comes from the left. Got it.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

If Trump dies -the corrupt left will move on to the next... victim.

Michael K said...

Wish fulfillment is all the left has. I would not be surprised to see an assassination attempt if he does run in 2024, though. And I would not trust the Secret Service to protect him.

wayworn wanderer said...

About what I expect from the nice Progressives.

Narr said...

One of my pet peeves.

I noticed decades ago that ignorant and witless people (mostly but not exclusively Leftish) don't or can't distinguish between heckling nonsense and satire.

WWIII Joe Biden, Husk-Puppet + America's Putin said...

We were just scolded by the universal left that it is OUR fault for Paul Pelosi.

huh. I guess it's OK to wish pols dead.
If so -- Die Hillary die.
soon.

exhelodrvr1 said...

But it's the Republicans' fault for the political-related violence

Leland said...

"Finally some good news" is satire. However, when you have to call a person dead, then laugh about their death; that's not satire. That is an expression of hate. However, it is protected speech in the US, especially when the hate is directed at Republicans and particularly Trump.

Mark said...

Just wait to see what misinformation Twitter houses next week after election day.

I guess it will not matter in a few weeks when Elon starts turning the place into a knockoff OnlyFans with paid video and 'superfollows' of adult content.

CJinPA said...

To be fair, in the article Reuters said it "originated as satire" before it's one-word ruling of "satire" at the end. It links to Newsweek, which explains:

The Trump death hoax may have originated with tweets from comedian Tim Heidecker, who suggested that Trump was "dying" in reaction to a report that the former president was spreading a false conspiracy theory concerning the attack on House Speaker Nancy Pelosi's husband Paul Pelosi.

My Verdict as a fan of Tim Heidecker's non-political TV work: It did originate as satire, but ended as "misinformation."

Ann Althouse said...

""Finally some good news" is satire."

That's a tweet that propagates the original fake news. The fact check is on the original headline that appears to come from CNN. The fact check calls the "Trump dead" headline satire.

JaimeRoberto said...

That must be some of that sophisticated lefty humor mentioned in an article you blogged about a few days ago.

Achilles said...

[Image] How is that satire? The only levity comes from the reader's internal state of wanting to see Trump dead.

That is the problem. It isn't satire.

They want Trump dead or in jail.

They are willing to make up any excuse or justification they need to get what they want.

traditionalguy said...

A Dem Dog Whistle? They have nothing left to defeat DJT without another Pandemic lock down to open the false ballots tsunami again. So the Dems wishfully want to see him JFKd.

Achilles said...

Michael K said...

Wish fulfillment is all the left has. I would not be surprised to see an assassination attempt if he does run in 2024, though. And I would not trust the Secret Service to protect him.

The only reason Trump is alive is because they know what happens if he is assassinated.

They have to discredit him first.

gilbar said...

ANY lie, is AOKAY, If it belittles republicans.. Even MORE so, if it belittles trump.
In fact, if a has been comedian walked around with a bloody plastic trumps head;
many (MANY!) people would say: "Oh! That's funny!!"
Would YOU?

Ampersand said...

Their placement of Trump in the forefront of everything today is of a piece with the MSM's efforts in early 2016 to make Trump the centerpiece of the Republican primaries, even before he had gone to the top of the polls. They instinctively grasp that Trump is a 46% vote-getter, and in a two party system, that is a serious flaw.

Republicans had good arguments pre-Trump, and they'll have them post-Trump. The country is about a lot more than Trump.

Lem the artificially intelligent said...

I don’t think they would call an “Obama is dead” tweet satire.

gilbar said...

Narr said...
I noticed decades ago that ignorant and witless people (mostly but not exclusively Leftish) don't or can't distinguish between heckling nonsense and satire.

when i went road tripping this summer, with my nephew (the NYU grad), he spent LITERALLY hours Each day, running down EVERY SINGLE THING we accounted
western people
western towns
western radio
western industry

When i asked him what was with his constant petty sh*ttyness, he told me:
"Oh, uncle gilbar; i'm just sarcastic"

I told him that i'd have thought an NYU grad would know what sarcasm was.

Drago said...

Dumb Lefty Mark: "Just wait to see what misinformation Twitter houses next week after election day."

Dumb Lefty Mark desperate to change the subject.

Tom T. said...

It's just so lacking in ambition. Punch it up a little!

Trump Dies While On Gold Toilet: "My Heart Attack Is Yuuugge..."

Readering said...

Cause of death autoerotic asphyxiation. So satire. Also pathetic.

rcocean said...

Lets kill all the Democrats and Jews.

Gotcha.

Its satire.

rcocean said...

More seriously, this is part of the Leftwing attack on the Babylon Bee which publishes Satire. You see, this lefty implies, I can do some disgusting thing and call it "satire". So, lets ban it. And the Babylon Bee.

The Left is full of hate. We all know that. But I don't want them banned. I want speech attacking them for their vile hatred.

pacwest said...

A call to arms. We can't impeach him, we can't jail him, would somebody kill him for us already. We want him dead.

"Hey, it was just 'satire', we didn't mean for any body to actually assasinate him. Honest."

And the poor lefties wonder why they get ragged on.

I wish Nancy had been at home so the guy could have kneecaped her.

Ficta said...

I assume it's the cause of death that's supposed to make it satire. I didn't notice it when I first saw the screenshot.

Daniel12 said...

People all over this comment section talking about "prog" hate, this dumb joke, and whether Trump will face assassination attempts, while completely swallowing the world's stupidest conspiracy theory about an actual attempt on Nancy Pelosi.

It's mind-boggling.

How about just being consistently against political violence?

PS Ann it's satire (good or bad) because everyone knows Trump is not actually dead, except for that one moron on twitter they found who seemed to believe it. And they covered that by saying it "originated as satire".

I looked up the definition of satire, found it pretty apropos actually: "the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues." No levity required.

Daniel12 said...

People all over this comment section talking about "prog" hate, this dumb joke, and whether Trump will face assassination attempts, while completely swallowing the world's stupidest conspiracy theory about an actual attempt on Nancy Pelosi.

It's mind-boggling.

How about just being consistently against political violence?

PS Ann it's satire (good or bad) because everyone knows Trump is not actually dead, except for that one moron on twitter they found who seemed to believe it. And they covered that by saying it "originated as satire".

I looked up the definition of satire, found it pretty apropos actually: "the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues." No levity required.

Larry J said...

“ Blogger Hunter Biden's tax payer funded Hooker said...
If Trump dies -the corrupt left will move on to the next... victim.”

The next victim will be whomever is the next non-Trump Republican presidential nominee. That person will be called a Nazi like every previous nominee dating back to at least 1948. Worse than Hitler, worse than Trump. Just fill in your he name and the rhetoric writes itself.

Jenster said...

I remember when this started a few days ago. the leftie author was not happy with the change in ease of banning folks on the right. so he concocted this campaign to restart the original policy. Be upset, yes. But don't give in. I'd rather be accept getting annoyed than than return to the censorship of the past.

Lucien said...

Not quite as much of a masterpiece as Colbert’s “Putin’s cock holster” line — which was pure comedy gold. Best work Colbert ever did.

Known Unknown said...

And yet, Babylon Bee is still not back on Twitter.

Leland said...

That's a tweet that propagates the original fake news. The fact check is on the original headline that appears to come from CNN.

I misread the comedian named in the fact check as the same person writing the satirical comment. Obviously, they are two different names, but I missed it. Otherwise, I stand by the faked headline as an expression of hate, which I don't think was being rebutted anyway.

Beasts of England said...

‘…an actual attempt on Nancy Pelosi.’

Dang! When did that happen? Is she seriously injured?

Michael said...

Daniel12. Wonder if you bought in to Trump pissing on a hotel bed. The whole RussiaRussiaRussia hoax. Far more stupid than the wildest Pelosi fantasies. Odds are you did.

Maynard said...

They want Trump dead or in jail.

They want him in jail so that he can commit suicide.

Lurker21 said...

Everyday, I see memes that are just abusive, with nothing really "satirical" about them. This seems to fall in that category.

People get around that by defining abuse of people they disagree with as "punching up" and abuse of people they like as "punching down."

Some memes are truly hilarious, others seem like the real punchline is missing. This looks like one of the latter to me.

Christopher B said...

Well, I was gonna say that this didn't seem to be satire to me, either, but since Daniel12 posted that definition, I changed my mind.

It certainly exposed the stupidity and vice of one Leftist to ridicule.

n.n said...

Under DIE orthodoxy, the target is not Trump but rather "People of Orange (PoA)", and would be condemned as a hate crime. This is similar to Democrats in blackface (i.e. color judgment). Trans/neo advocates carving exceptions (e.g. sexism). Or witches of old, NOW, and future who plan (i.e. premeditated) to perform human rites (e.g. sacrifice, cannibalism, sequestration) for social, redistributive, clinical, criminal, and fair weather causes.

Drago said...

Known Unknown: "And yet, Babylon Bee is still not back on Twitter."

Sure they are.

Drago said...

Known Unknown: "And yet, Babylon Bee is still not back on Twitter."

Correction: Their site has not been completely deleted but they are not yet able to post new stuff, so you are correct.

pacwest said...

@Daniel12
It's a joke/satire dude. Not really, maybe, who knows. Get a clue.

To quote you: "the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity". But it's only applicable in certain approved circumstances I guess.

world's stupidest conspiracy theory
FYI that would be the Russia Hoax.

How about just being consistently against political violence?
Sounds good. You first.

There was a time when I was all in on the play nice idea. Changing minds and an exchange of ideas and all that. That only works if there is reciprocation from the other side. That ain't gonna happen, and I don't give a rat's ass anymore.

Gusty Winds said...

Blogger Lucien said...
Not quite as much of a masterpiece as Colbert’s “Putin’s cock holster” line — which was pure comedy gold. Best work Colbert ever did.

For satire to be funny...there has to be an element of truth behind it. That's pretty much true for all comedy. The Putin connection to Trump was a lie, only believed by frothing partisan idiots.

Putin's cock holster isn't funny. It doesn't even take a risk. It's cliché. It's one of those "jokes" where sheeple laugh because all the other sheep are laughing. It's and Emperors New Clothes joke.

Jim at said...

How about just being consistently against political violence?

Great idea. Since your side is already in the lead with regards to political violence, you get to go first.

Anonymous said...

It's satire because it was attributed to CNN. It's just the converse of genuine and facially apparent satire, such as published by the Babylon Bee being labeled as false. Fact checks are only another tool of leftist propaganda.

Mike said...

Different rules for lefties and lefty "news".

Michael K said...

Republicans had good arguments pre-Trump, and they'll have them post-Trump. The country is about a lot more than Trump.

Promises were something Republicans were famous for. Trump kept his. That was unusual.

exhelodrvr1 said...

Daniel,
If someone tweeted "Finally some good news" with a picture of a Babylon Bee headline "Obama Dead at 61", would you call that satire?

Paul said...

News Flash... Trump is still alive and Biden is still senile.

Yancey Ward said...

Hey, it as accurate as any other story Chris Cillizza writes.

Yancey Ward said...

Tom T. for the win!

Mark said...

Funny, Michael K, you constantly complain about government while also claiming that Trump fulfilled his promises - including to drain the swamp.

Here I thought keeping his promise to drain the swamp would have left you confident that all those problematic powerbrokers in DC were gone.

That Trump Kool aid sure is powerful.

gilbar said...

speaking of satire..
San Francisco DA Won’t Release Police Bodycam Video, 911 Calls From Paul Pelosi Attack

The San Francisco Police Department denied a public records request from The Epoch Times for body camera footage from the officers who responded to the Pelosi home, stating that “disclosure of information may embarrass Ms Pelosi, since it would show what happened

Aggie said...

From your Fake News source, a Fake Death Announcement. News so fake, you can call it 'satire' and it will still be fake.

Daniel12 said...

I am consistently against political violence. I do not understand, however, why several of you need other people to be against that before you are.

Nor do I understand why your perspective on other people's belief in the Russia hoax would validate your belief in whatever conspiracy you think happened with the Pelosis. Is this a revenge conspiracy theory? And does that mean you don't actually believe in the Pelosi conspiracy theory but think people on the left deserve it?

Daniel12 said...

"Dang! When did that happen? Is she seriously injured?"

If someone goes to a political leader's house to tie her up and break her kneecaps, and can only manage to crack her husband's skull because she wasn't home, what would you call it?

I cannot believe the smooth comfort you have with such violence.

Butkus51 said...

Hey Daniel 12 I remember that progressive love fest that lasted 2-3 months a couple of years ago. Burning up buildings. Statues. Killing people.

GFY with your, "why cant we all get along" crap.

You dont mean it.

Yeah, SF winos with horrid wives never have homosexual affairs. Never happens. Except every damn day.

Drago said...

Daniel12: "Nor do I understand why your perspective on other people's belief in the Russia hoax would validate your belief in whatever conspiracy you think happened with the Pelosis."

Release the police body cam footage.

Then we'll see.

But you know they never will, just like the 14,000 hours of video from Jan 6 that you democraticals are keeping well hidden.

pacwest said...

Daniel, shocking I know. Not once have I called out for violence, but when the ones who are calling for violence* and then are the subjects of it then I have no sympathy for them. The Democratic Party has been the party promoting violence and disunity. Screw em. I won't promote violence but I have zero sympathy when they are subject to the effects of their policies.

* Pelosi backed violence in '20 and had an opportunity to avoid it Jan 6.

Drago said...

Dumb Lefty Mark: "Funny, Michael K, you constantly complain about government while also claiming that Trump fulfilled his promises - including to drain the swamp."

I've yet to read a single person's comment at Althouse or anywhere else that Trump was successful in "draining the swamp". It is, in fact, the single most cited item of what Trump was not able to complete by just about every party on the right.

Happy to view your links which would prove otherwise....but there won't be any, will there Mark?

pacwest said...

And does that mean you don't actually believe in the Pelosi conspiracy theory but think people on the left deserve it?

Conspiracy theory, who knows. My Occam's Razor comment on that was just in tenor with the post by Althouse. Bad satire at best.

Not deserve it but there's some karma in it. Who knows maybe they will come to their senses.

Michael said...

Daniel12. Your horse named Smug or Sanctimony? Lordy give yourself a Pat on the back.

Mark said...

Drago, did Trump drain the swamp, one of his promises?

Michael K said,
Promises were something Republicans were famous for. Trump kept his. That was unusual.
---
He had people chant it at his rallies. Was that not a promise?

Daniel12 said...

"Daniel, shocking I know. Not once have I called out for violence"

"I wish Nancy had been at home so the guy could have kneecaped her."

I'll check that definition of satire and see if wishing a thing that almost just happened had happened counts.

Michael K said...


Blogger Mark said...

Funny, Michael K, you constantly complain about government while also claiming that Trump fulfilled his promises - including to drain the swamp.

Here I thought keeping his promise to drain the swamp would have left you confident that all those problematic powerbrokers in DC were gone.

That Trump Kool aid sure is powerful.


Lefty Mark is not strong on policy matters. Trump canceled 2 regulations for every new one. We again became energy exporters due to fracking. He tried to build a fence to protect the border but was frustrated by RINOs and Democrats. He accomplished a truce between Israel and the sane Arab countries called the "Abraham Accords."

Gas was $1.89 in Tucson and inflation was 1.4%. Black unemployment was the lowest on record.

Other than that, he was a failure. Idiot.

Drago said...

Dumb Lefty Mark: "Drago, did Trump drain the swamp, one of his promises?"

Trump did not drain the swamp and the reasons for that have been discussed ad nauseum at Althouse, but that was not due to Trump inaction or lack of intent.

If you had a link demonstrating where anyone had claimed Trump completed that objective, which was your assertion, you would have provided it.

But you didnt.

For obvious reasons. Now sit back and enjoy the wave that is beginning beginning to crest.....

Bunkypotatohead said...

"Putin's cock holster isn't funny. It doesn't even take a risk. It's cliché. It's one of those "jokes" where sheeple laugh because all the other sheep are laughing. It's and Emperors New Clothes joke."

Now the joke about Colbert being Hillary's cock holster was quite funny, if not exactly satirical.

Bunkypotatohead said...

"Putin's cock holster isn't funny. It doesn't even take a risk. It's cliché. It's one of those "jokes" where sheeple laugh because all the other sheep are laughing. It's and Emperors New Clothes joke."

Now the joke about Colbert being Hillary's cock holster was quite funny, if not exactly satirical.

gadfly said...

Comedian Tim Heidecker started the #TrumpIsDead post on Twitter to test Chief Twit Elmo.

So why is Reuters choice of "satire" to describe that the TID post was not for real a mistake? Gosh, I keep hearing that Trump Haters don't have a sense of humor, but now I find that "sense of humor" is in the eyes of the beholder. "Fake" wouldn't work because that is Trump's word for denying anything he doesn't like.

On the other hand, comedians are filled with satirical thoughts - and that is why they are funny.

pacwest said...

I'll check that definition of satire and see if wishing a thing that almost just happened had happened counts.

"the use of humor, irony, exaggeration, or ridicule to expose and criticize people's stupidity or vices, particularly in the context of contemporary politics and other topical issues." No levity required.


Yep, it fits. Call it vitriolic if you like but it sure fits the ironic category.

As to your call for consensus on political violence - if you don't call out the attack on Pelosi as a direct consequence of her (and Obama's, and Hillary's, and a large swath of the Democratic Party's) policies we have no common ground on this. Boo fuckin hoo.

wendybar said...

Lucien said...
Not quite as much of a masterpiece as Colbert’s “Putin’s cock holster” line — which was pure comedy gold. Best work Colbert ever did.

11/3/22, 1:57 PM

But little did he know, that Putins Cock holster was actually Hillary Clinton who paid for the fake Russian Collusion hoax that this "joke" came from....

Mark said...

MichaelK, try to rationalize that he kept his promise all you want ... but he did not.

Enjoy the Kool aid

wendybar said...

pacwest said...
Daniel, shocking I know. Not once have I called out for violence, but when the ones who are calling for violence* and then are the subjects of it then I have no sympathy for them. The Democratic Party has been the party promoting violence and disunity. Screw em. I won't promote violence but I have zero sympathy when they are subject to the effects of their policies.

* Pelosi backed violence in '20 and had an opportunity to avoid it Jan 6.


THIS!!!!^^^^^^

wendybar said...

Everybody talks about what happened to the Pelosi's whilst they ignore Left wing political violence against REPUBLICANS. How many of you heard about THIS story?? If Harrigan was a Democrat, the networks would've reported on this and used it as another example of Republican rhetoric killing "democracy."


https://www.newsbusters.org/blogs/nb/kevin-tober/2022/11/03/nets-ignore-bullet-shot-through-window-gop-candidates-house

Beasts of England said...

‘I cannot believe the smooth comfort you have with such violence.’

We have a dubious political narrative at the moment. Release the security and body cam videos and let’s see if it matches the claims.

Ann Althouse said...

"Cause of death autoerotic asphyxiation. So satire. Also pathetic."

Thanks. I actually never noticed that.

Daniel12 said...

You're right, we have no common ground. You think the violence against Pelosi was justified, and you don't have a clue what irony is.

“These are just people of the land, the common clay of the West. You know … morons.”

pacwest said...

A psychotic nutjob (who could could have just as easily gone after a Republican given his social media posts) nudged along by Pelosi's and Dem's actions and words against Republicans winds up going after Pelosi. I'd say that's the height of irony.

Not justified, but inevitable given the political culture promoted by Dems. I do feel bad for her husband who wound up being the middleman. Not directly his fault.

"You reap what you sow."

Drago said...

Daniel12, looks like some folks (on the left) have some more 'spainin' to do:

From the federal charging documents, here's what we know (Spoiler: It doesn't fit the earlier lefty lies....SURPRISE!):

Paul Pelosi opened the door for the police
Paul Pelosi did not flee or declare an emergency
Paul Pelosi did not tell the police they were at the Nancy Pelosi home
Paul Pelosi then WALKED BACK TO THE ATTACKER and then was attacked!!

LOL!

Game. Over.

Drago said...

The Hopeless Gadfly: "Comedian Tim Heidecker started the #TrumpIsDead post on Twitter to test Chief Twit Elmo."

So very stupid....and gadfly-like.

Elon has already, and repeatedly, announced that ZERO changes to the Twitter moderation policies, practices and procedures have been changed thus far and that no changes to those moderation policies, practices and procedures would occur until after a thorough review and public promulgation of the newly transparent rules are announced.

Thus, the "comedian" Tim Heidecker, and by extension the moron fans of Heidecker (like gadfly), were clearly not "testing" Elon. They were testing standard, run of the mill, Pre-Elon twitter.

Thanks for playing gadfly. You may now return to your basement and, I'm afraid, without a cookie.

mikee said...

When Reagan was shot, Veep GWBush went to see him in the hospital. The news of this meeting led a college-aged acquaintance to mime Bush with a pillow, smothering Reagan.

Now that was hilarious at the time, because back then Reagan was Hitler and the Devil and old smelly socks and everything wrong with the world, and his Veep was a milquetoast bureaucrat elite son of a Senator. Is it still funny now?

Pacwest, where in San Francisco was the Pelosi's attacker gonna find a Republican?

Earnest Prole said...

That text is in tiny print under the photo. I wrote this post without noticing that.

Which probably explains why my especially apt comment vanished into thin air.