Let me begin with a confession. I watch (and laugh at) way too much liberal political humor. I can’t help it. I think Jon Stewart is funny, and as funny as he is, I think John Oliver is funnier. His HBO special specializes in the “long-form” takedown, with 15-minute segments devoted to a single topic (one of his best segments was on FIFA, soccer’s international governing body). He’s the toast of many on the left, who see him as giving subjects the in-depth treatment that Jon Stewart can’t. But what happens when he aims both barrels of mockery at a subject he just doesn’t understand?
This:
https://youtube.com/watch?v=8ZtrhRRw53Y
I appreciate the role of political comedians, left and right. They can skewer true absurdities, and they help keep us all honest. But they need to be kept honest as well, and in his extended treatment of drones — a piece loved by his adoring fans — John Oliver mocked what he did not understand, and in so doing he teaches millions of Americans lessons that will come back to haunt us all.