Episode 105: The Serious Side of Laughing at Trump with Dr. Sophia McClennen

Join us on our Substack page (https://specificallyforseniors.substack.com)where satire meets substance and storytelling sparks civic engagement and where we comment several + times a week. Let’s keep the conversation sharp, smart, and unapologetically bold.In the August 14, 2025 episode, Larry welcomes Dr. Sophia McClennen. Sophia is a professor of international affairs and comparative literature at Penn State University. She is the author of several books on satire, media, and politics, including Trump Was a Joke: How Satire Made Sense of a President Who Didn’t. Her work has been featured in Salon, The Washington Post, and numerous academic journals.professor, author, and leading scholar of political satire, for a riveting conversation about humor as resistance. Drawing from her acclaimed book Trump Was a Joke: How Satire Made Sense of a President Who Didn’t and her Salon article "Sick of Trump? Try laughing at him", McClennen explores how irony and parody became essential tools for navigating a presidency that often felt like its own punchline. Together, they examine how satire evolved in response to Trumpism, the civic power of laughter, and the urgent need for media literacy in an age of disinformation and manufactured history.Highlights Include: The anatomy of political satire in the digital age How humor exposes authoritarian absurdities The civic power of irony and parodyMcClennen argues that satire doesn’t merely entertain—it educates, provokes, and defends. The episode dives into the anatomy of political humor, the role of comedians as cultural critics, and the unique position seniors hold in decoding media spectacle and resisting authoritarian absurdities. With sharp insight and a dose of irreverence, this conversation reminds us that laughter, when wielded wisely, can be revolutionary.Listen now on SpecificallyForSeniors.com, Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and YouTube.com/@UC441l9z6dBkZCU1bO5E3ynAMEMORY LANE INFORMATIONWeb Pagehttps://www.memory-lane.tvFor Individuals, Family and Caregivershttps://bit.ly/4mtTG2hThere is a 30% discount for annual subscriptions, please use code SFORSENIORS in the promo box.For Professional Care Facilitieshttps://www.memory-lane.tv/contact-adult-carePlease place "Specifically for Seniors" in the Ambassador LineResearchhttps://www.memory-lane.tv/researchDisclaimer: Specifically for Seniors receives a small stipend with each subscription that helps to keep the podcast on the air. Please use the links for further information