Got a minute? The Daily Show was handed a nifty gem on a platter recently when Desi Lydic slipped into the role of Kamala Harris’s “holistic thought advisor”. If you’re wondering what on earth that means, join the club. Her rendition was a carnival of new-age gobbledygook that had viewers both chuckling and scratching their heads.
Lydic, assuming the alias Dahlia Rose Hibiscus, embarked on Harris-esque monologues that resembled riddles more than political commentary. Let’s talk about hocus pocus, she seemed to say. “Words have vibrations. The feeling they give you is so much more powerful than what they mean.” A fun take, except when you get stuck puzzling over what your Vice President actually means.
Lydic’s segment touched on a truth that most people shy away from: A huge chunk of what comes out of politicians’ mouths, regardless of party, is twisted rhetoric designed to sound profound but ultimately incites just confusion. The Daily Show has no qualms about poking fun at Democrats, but only for their age and mix-ups. Their political ideals? Untouchable. Just part and parcel of the show’s commitment to the left-wing agenda, as they proved with a segment on one hardcore Joe Biden admirer.
Troy Iwata struck gold when he tracked down Dakota Galban, a die-hard Biden enthusiast. Mr. Galban couldn’t help but gush over Biden. Still, Iwata’s carefully crafted conversation was a subtle encouragement to other liberals to stick by Biden, regardless of any reservations they may have. Perhaps that’s where the real comedy lies. Iwata asked, “Let’s talk about the cardboard cutout…” to which Galban responded with talk of his boyfriend being less enthusiastic about the omnipresence of cardboard commander-in-chief.
Then Galban regaled us with the tale of his enlightenment moment as a Bidenite. A coming out story revolving around Biden supporting marriage equality. Surprisingly, Galban saw Biden’s return to the political arena as the savior to fend off white supremacists and fascism. Who knew being a third wheel to Obama’s presidency would pave the way for such a heroic comeback?
As if that weren’t enough, a nostalgic rehash of Biden’s “American Rescue Plan”, hailed as a Biden triumph, was flung in for extra credit. Remember “the bipartisan infrastructure act” and “the CHIPS and Science Act?” According to the show, they’re all Biden’s game-changing policies worth touting. Not evident in the inflation crisis that’s squeezing your pockets, is it?
Turns out, The Daily Show doesn’t really venture out of the liberal comfort zone. Democrats’ public gaffes and dotty antics are fair game for satire. But their policies and ideology? Out of bounds, lest they upset their audience demographic.
In conclusion, while the show is packed with lively banter, it cleverly sidesteps the real issues. Desi Lydic’s portrayal of Kamala Harris’s “holistic thought advisor” was an amusing touch. However, beneath the laughter and nods to the Democratic party, we should ask when comedy became a tool to promote a single political perspective. Spoiler alert: It’s not as funny as it seems. Can we dispense with the party bias and laugh all the way to fair and balanced reporting? Let’s hope.
