In a comedic fashion he has become known for, U.S. Senator for Louisiana John Kennedy has repeatedly told federal nominees that his hope for them is that they’d be “a cross between Socrates and Dirty Harry.” This one-liner quickly went viral, turning dense judicial hearings into memorable moments that reach audiences beyond those who are typically tuned in to confirmation proceedings.
During Barack Obama’s humorous speech at the 2015 White House Correspondents’ Association Dinner, he turned the criticisms he faced in office into his own punchlines. He joked that after six years of being called “arrogant” and “aloof,” he’d stop meeting with people who thought so. He made many quips throughout this speech, which allowed him to make blunt statements that would’ve sounded combative in a policy speech.
More locally, U.S. Representative for Wisconsin Mark Pocan regularly uses humor through social media to get his points across.
Why does comedy work as a political tool, and why do some politicians rely on it to accomplish what a normal argument can't? Mari Henderson wants to find out exactly why this is so effective.
Henderson is a graduate student studying rhetoric, politics and culture within the Department of Communication Arts. Her research focuses on comedy as a form of political rhetoric, specifically how state legislators use it to advance their legislative goals.
Her path to rhetoric began with earning her undergraduate degree in global affairs from George Mason University, followed by her master’s in international studies at the University of Denver. Throughout her academic career, she has found herself returning to the same question: How do people talk about politics and policy?
“I thought that was the most interesting part about international studies,” says Henderson. “How do we communicate that?”
After obtaining her master’s degree in 2020, she spent more than four years working with the National Conference of State Legislatures researching legislative rules and procedures. In this role, she enjoyed having a front-row seat to the governing process. She was fascinated to discover just how much comedy was used among legislators and their staff.
As she observed the chamber from the gallery, she began noticing that humor appeared everywhere. Jokes being made by the President of the Senate and Speaker of the House, colleagues signing birthday cards for one another, and legislators from across party lines laughing together. Even during contentious policy discussions, humor seemed crucial for relationship building. These observations became the basis of her research.
“Politics fundamentally creates tension,” says Henderson. “So, when a legislator makes a joke, they’re just looking for a way to break that tension.”
She believes that a well-timed joke can make politicians appear more down-to-earth and approachable. It can also break down a complex policy issue into simpler, more digestible terms for audiences. Beyond that, humor can strengthen trust among colleagues, opening the door for persuasion that might not otherwise be possible.
“I think comedy is so important to the governing process,” says Henderson. “Both in how it’s used as a tool, like on social media, and how they use it to interact with each other and tell the story of their bill.”
Henderson is examining humor throughout media and governmental spaces. She recently analyzed a recurring “Saturday Night Live” sketch, "Black Jeopardy," which touches on questions of race and identity. She noticed how mainstream satire uses a lighter lens to make heavy subject matter accessible to audiences who might otherwise be uninterested. At the state level, she studied how tour guides at the Wisconsin State Capitol explain government processes to visitors. She found that even informal stories influence the public’s understanding of the legislature.
As Henderson continues to narrow her research, she’ll spend this upcoming academic year writing her M.A. thesis before moving into dissertation work. Much of her upcoming scholarship will explore the often overlooked role state legislatures play in American democracy, as well as the many ways comedy shapes political communication.
Whether it’s a senator, a president, or a late-night performer, Henderson has noticed the same pattern.
“A lot of people look to comedians to be truth-tellers,” she says. “People think, ‘We need comedy to make sense of this.’”