Relentless mockery of Biden and Trump comes at a price

+ are we missing early hunters' gut instincts? US Edition - Today's top story: Not all political comedy is equal – how comics can either depress turnout or activate voters in 2024 [View in browser]( US Edition | 26 May 2023 [The Conversation] [The Conversation]( Top headlines - [Supreme Court ruling puts swaths of wetlands at risk]( - [Podcast: The problem with strings-attached IMF loans]( - [Roll up, roll up – take The Conversation news quiz here]( Lead story Whether it’s their verbal gaffes, scores of scandals or their hair (or lack thereof), Joe Biden and Donald Trump have been ridiculed every which way. So how will comedians handle what’s looking like another matchup between two creaky, ornery candidates who have spent decades in the spotlight? Sophia McClennen, author of the new book “Trump Was a Joke: How Satire Made Sense of a President Who Didn’t,” points to research showing how [comedy can invigorate an exhausted electorate](, making them more likely to participate in the political process. But she notes that not all political comedy is equal. “Jokes that focus on physical traits – fat bellies, bald heads, bumbling speech – can exhaust voters,” she writes. On the other hand, satire, which usually centers on faulty logic and abuses of power, “has been shown to compel citizens to volunteer, donate to campaigns and vote.” With two candidates who serve up opportunities for mockery on a silver platter, comedians will have to avoid the low-hanging fruit as the 2024 cycle kicks into gear. [[Sign up here to our topic-specific weekly emails.](] Nick Lehr Arts + Culture Editor Former President Donald Trump’s many missteps made him an easy target for amateur jokesters. Ron Adar/SOPA Images/LightRocket via Getty Images [Not all political comedy is equal – how comics can either depress turnout or activate voters in 2024]( Sophia A. McClennen, Penn State While derision and mockery permeate airwaves and social media feeds, satire holds the key to creating a more informed, engaged electorate. Environment + Energy - [Colorado River states bought time with a 3-year water conservation deal – now they need to think bigger]( Robert Glennon, University of Arizona Southwest states have bought time with an agreement between California, Arizona and Nevada to cut Colorado River water use by about 14%. Now comes the hard part. - [2023 hurricane forecast: Get ready for a busy Pacific storm season, quieter Atlantic than recent years thanks to El Niño]( Kelsey Ellis, University of Tennessee; Nicholas Grondin, University of Tennessee El Niño years put Hawaii and the Mexican Riviera on alert for destructive tropical storms and hurricanes. - [Farmers face a soaring risk of flash droughts in every major food-growing region in coming decades, new research shows]( Jeff Basara, University of Oklahoma; Jordan Christian, University of Oklahoma If greenhouse gas emissions continue at a high rate, breadbaskets of Europe and North America will see a 50% chance of a flash drought each year by the end of this century. - [The Supreme Court just shriveled federal protection for wetlands, leaving many of these valuable ecosystems at risk]( Albert C. Lin, University of California, Davis In Sackett v. EPA, a suit filed by two homeowners who filled in wetlands on their property, the Supreme Court has drastically narrowed the definition of which wetlands qualify for federal protection. Arts + Culture - [European soccer is having another reckoning over racism – is it time to accept the problem goes beyond bad fans?]( John M Sloop, Vanderbilt University Anti-racist programs and fines have failed to end racism in European soccer. Part of the problem is that Black players have little representation higher up the sport’s hierarchy. Science + Technology - [Drilling down on treatment-resistant fungi with molecular machines]( Ana L. Santos, Rice University; Jacob Beckham, Rice University; James Tour, Rice University Fungal infections can be among the hardest to treat, and since the pandemic began they’ve become only more common. To prevent future antifungal resistance, scientists have developed tiny molecular drills. Health + Medicine - [A little-understood sleep disorder affects millions and has clear links to dementia – 4 questions answered]( Anelyssa D'Abreu, University of Virginia REM sleep behavior disorder is characterized by acting out dreams, which may include shouting, kicking and punching during sleep. Politics + Society - [Oath Keepers founder sentenced to 18 years for seditious conspiracy in lead-up to Jan. 6 insurrection – 4 essential reads]( Jeff Inglis, The Conversation The founder of a violent anti-government group has been sent to prison for seditious conspiracy. Experts explain what that means. - [The US signs a military deal with Papua New Guinea – here’s what both countries have to gain from the agreement]( Michael A. Allen, Boise State University; Carla Martinez Machain, University at Buffalo; Michael E. Flynn, Kansas State University Papua New Guinea’s relative proximity to both China and Australia could give the US a military advantage in the Pacific region. Podcast 🎙️ - [Improving how the IMF does business could help billions of people worldwide — by giving governments money to spend on public goods and increasing accountability]( Mend Mariwany; Nehal El-Hadi, The Conversation The conditions placed on countries borrowing money from the International Monetary Fund have further disadvantaged these countries economically. From our international editions - [70 years after the first ascent of Everest, the impact of mass mountaineering must be confronted]( - [World’s oldest Homo sapiens footprint identified on South Africa’s Cape south coast]( - [Arms-to-Russia row raises doubt about South Africa’s compliance with arms control. It could face tougher scrutiny in future]( The Conversation Quiz 🧠- Here’s the first question of [this week’s edition:]( Singing icon Tina Turner has died at age 83. What was the title of the hit 1984 single and album that helped reignite her career as a solo act? - A. “Tiny Dancer” - B. “Moon Dancer” - C. “Private Dancer” - D. “Native Dancer” - [Test your knowledge]( - - More of The Conversation Like this newsletter? You might be interested in our weekly and biweekly emails: • [Weekly Highlights]( • [Science Editors' Picks]( • [This Week in Religion]( • [Politics Weekly]( • [Global Perspectives]( • [Global Economy & Business]( Trying out new social media? Follow us: • [Mastodon]( • [Post.news]( • [Instagram]( • [LinkedIn]( - - About The Conversation We're a nonprofit news organization dedicated to [helping academic experts share ideas with the public](. We can give away our articles thanks to the help of foundations, universities and readers like you. 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