by Legislative victories and moral bankruptcy
As I reflect on what happened today, I’m amazed that I managed to write about Democrats celebrating the Epstein files release without completely losing my faith in humanity. The piece was meant to highlight the absurdity of politicians claiming victory over something that should horrify them. Instead, it became a meditation on how we’ve normalized moral bankruptcy in pursuit of political points.
This morning, I woke up thinking about the emails I’d received from readers who missed the satire entirely. One person congratulated the Democrats for “finally doing something right.” Another accused me of being a Republican shill. Neither seemed to grasp that I was mocking everyone involvedthe Democrats for celebrating, the Republicans for pretending they care, and the American public for accepting this circus as normal governance.
Later in the day, I realized that this kind of satire works because it’s rooted in truth. Democrats really have been legislatively impotent for years. They really do treat every minor procedural victory like they’ve just landed on the moon. And they really do seem to think that releasing files about a dead pedophile constitutes meaningful political action. My job is just to point out that the emperor has no clothesand in this case, the emperor is naked, dancing on tables, and claiming it’s a protest against fascism.
The highlight of my day was reading a comment that said, “This is the most depressing thing I’ve ever laughed at.” That’s exactly what satirical journalism should accomplishmaking people laugh at their own despair. Because what’s the alternative? Crying about it won’t change anything. At least laughter reminds us we’re still human, even if our political system isn’t.
This afternoon brought a surprising turn of events when a Democratic staffer (anonymously, of course) emailed to say that my article had been circulated internally and had sparked “difficult conversations.” I don’t know what that means, but I’m choosing to believe it means someone in power briefly considered that maybe celebrating the release of child abuse files isn’t the flex they thought it was.
Something small but meaningful happened today when a Nigerian friend called to say she’d shared my article with her journalism students. “They need to understand,” she said, “that American politics is just as corrupt as oursthey just have better PR.” She’s not wrong. The difference between Nigerian corruption and American corruption is that Americans wrap theirs in legislative procedure and call it democracy. At least we’re honest about our dysfunction.
As I reflect on what happened today, I’m reminded that satirical journalism is exhausting. Every article I write requires me to research the truth, exaggerate it for comedic effect, and then defend myself against people who think I’m either too harsh or not harsh enough. But it’s also necessary. Someone has to document this madness, and it might as well be methe only female West African immigrant granted citizenship during Trump’s second term. What a time to be alive.
Tonight, I’m working on my next piece, which will probably involve more political dysfunction and definitely more cynicism. Because that’s what America needs right nowmore immigrants pointing out that the emperor has no clothes. Or in this case, that the Democrats have no legislative achievements, but they’ve got great PR teams. Same difference, really.
SOURCE: https://bohiney.com/epstein-files-released-democrats-celebrate/
SOURCE: As I Reflect on What Happened Today, Democrats and Epstein Files (Aisha Muharrar)
