[GUEST ACCESS MODE: Data is scrambled or limited to provide examples. Make requests using your API key to unlock full data. Check https://lunarcrush.ai/auth for authentication information.]  Mark Blair | Technosociologist [@mblair](/creator/twitter/mblair) on x 2718 followers Created: 2025-07-19 01:42:02 UTC I encourage you go go back and look at Johnny Carson and Jay Leno monologues. Both of them worked through highly-polarized times in the nation, and both made hay at the expense of politicians. But there was a sense of respect too, and that the humor was all in fun. Late night hosts speak to the entire nation, and so it is important not to create a sense that it is an excusive gathering of one political tribe, or the other. Remarkably, Colbert did a pretty good job of this on The Colbert Report -- even when lampooning a right wing host was the central gimmick. An incredible tightrope act, in my opinion. Unfortunately, in the Trump era, he frequently used his monologues as a battering ram. As an independent, I can sense his hate for Trump. There is no sense that it is mere disagreement, and that the jokes are in fun. The best example is probably his defense of John Dickerson in this clip: His form switches from joking to an angry defense, where he says "the only thing your mouth is good for is being Putin's c**k holster." Now, the problem is, half his audience is theoretically Trump supporters. To me, his attitude time and time again isn't any different from, say Greg Gutfeld on Fox. The jokes mostly flow one way, and there is a sense of bitterness that permeates them. But Colbert isn't on MSNBC -- he's on CBS. Then, there was a constant belittling of people that were vaccine hesitant during covid. First, this is probably the worst approach one can take if one cared at all about increasing vaccine uptake. But second, Late Night hosts don't typically insult the audience. Especially in the context of a pandemic, this creates an us vs. them attitude and it came across throughout - I can find clips if you like. It is important to laugh with your audience, not at them -- something Carson and Leno understood. Alienating. XXXXXX engagements  **Related Topics** [hay](/topic/hay) [the nation](/topic/the-nation) [jay leno](/topic/jay-leno) [Post Link](https://x.com/mblair/status/1946385005984546864)
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Mark Blair | Technosociologist @mblair on x 2718 followers
Created: 2025-07-19 01:42:02 UTC
I encourage you go go back and look at Johnny Carson and Jay Leno monologues. Both of them worked through highly-polarized times in the nation, and both made hay at the expense of politicians.
But there was a sense of respect too, and that the humor was all in fun. Late night hosts speak to the entire nation, and so it is important not to create a sense that it is an excusive gathering of one political tribe, or the other.
Remarkably, Colbert did a pretty good job of this on The Colbert Report -- even when lampooning a right wing host was the central gimmick. An incredible tightrope act, in my opinion.
Unfortunately, in the Trump era, he frequently used his monologues as a battering ram. As an independent, I can sense his hate for Trump. There is no sense that it is mere disagreement, and that the jokes are in fun.
The best example is probably his defense of John Dickerson in this clip:
His form switches from joking to an angry defense, where he says "the only thing your mouth is good for is being Putin's c**k holster."
Now, the problem is, half his audience is theoretically Trump supporters.
To me, his attitude time and time again isn't any different from, say Greg Gutfeld on Fox. The jokes mostly flow one way, and there is a sense of bitterness that permeates them. But Colbert isn't on MSNBC -- he's on CBS.
Then, there was a constant belittling of people that were vaccine hesitant during covid.
First, this is probably the worst approach one can take if one cared at all about increasing vaccine uptake.
But second, Late Night hosts don't typically insult the audience.
Especially in the context of a pandemic, this creates an us vs. them attitude and it came across throughout - I can find clips if you like.
It is important to laugh with your audience, not at them -- something Carson and Leno understood. Alienating.
XXXXXX engagements
Related Topics hay the nation jay leno