Political Comedy and Entertainment: Saving or Stifling Our Democracy?

Join SNF Agora Visiting Fellow Amy Becker, professor of communication and media at Loyola University Maryland, for a conversation on how political entertainment shapes civic engagement and democratic participation. Becker studies the influence of comedy, celebrity, and entertainment on civic behavior, especially among younger audiences. Her current work asks whether political entertainment builds an active and informed public or simply reinforces existing views.

With late-night comedy lacking demographic and ideological diversity, and podcasts emerging as a main source for political talk, she examines the role these formats can play in fostering democratic engagement. The discussion will look at how infotainment from sitcoms to TikTok to podcasts can reach less engaged audiences, encourage issue-focused communities, and stay relevant in an era of AI and democratic strain.

In-person and virtual
Registration required – location details and zoom link will be sent to registrants the day before the event