American politics often brings about unrest and controversial topics that affect diverse demographics across the country. Comedy can often be used to digest rather difficult topics and cast lighthearted material from them.

An election year that featured a record-breaking voter turnout coupled by a global pandemic left no shortage of news for The Panther to cover over the course of the 2020-2021 academic year. Amid continuous political turmoil, here are some of the comedic highlights in politics from the last year. 

President Joe Biden during the 2020 Presidential Debate: “Will you shut up, man?”

The first presidential debate in September 2020 was chaos. The disorganization, the way neither candidate could follow the rules, the way the moderator couldn’t control the situation; it was just bad.

But when Biden said those five little words, my eyes fixated on my computer screen and my jaw dropped to the floor. 

It was just hilarious. Former President Donald Trump wouldn’t stop talking, and Biden couldn’t take it anymore. He said what we were all thinking, and the simple statement got huge media attention.

The debate even sparked a cold open on Saturday Night Live (SNL) that dramatically portrayed the night’s events, featuring Jim Carrey as the perfect Biden impersonator.

The fly on former Vice President Mike Pence’s head during the 2020 Vice Presidential Debate

The following vice presidential debate in October 2020, meanwhile, did not let us down. It was not the candidates who stole the show, but one little insect that would go on to become a viral sensation. 

Seriously, how did that even happen? It was so coincidental that it almost felt staged. It’s safe to assume that the fly is probably the most famous bug to have ever lived. Congrats, dude.

The debate inspired yet another hilarious SNL skit centered on the fly and its storyline throughout the debate. A tiny insect provoked widespread laughter during an immensely difficult time — a true inspiration for us all.

Trump getting COVID-19: “Tested positively toward negative” 

When Trump was diagnosed with COVID-19 right after the first presidential debate, the world stopped turning. The virus is no laughing matter, and I was glad to see Trump’s swift recovery. However, the whole thing unraveled so wildly it was like I was watching a scripted reality show.

After his recovery, Trump announced that he “tested positively toward negative,” meaning he had tested negative for COVID-19.

Respectfully, what?

Of all the times to choose unique phrasing, this was not one. It came off as confusing and ironic, but boy, did it give me a good laugh.

Grammatical errors aside, the comment made me roll my eyes and chuckle at the irony of the whole situation. Trump’s stance on the virus, coupled with his positive test, was dramatic and seemingly unreal.

Netflix documentary: “Death to 2020”

At the end of 2020, Netflix released a comedy “mockumentary” called “Death to 2020,” highlighting the lowest and funniest moments of the year through satire.

The political commentary was especially memorable, specifically when they portrayed American politics as a reality TV show for those in foreign countries.

Having spent nearly half of 2020 in staunch isolation, the year felt more fake than real, and this illustration resonates as shockingly accurate.

Sen. Bernie Sanders’ (D-VT) mittens on Inauguration Day

How could we forget Sanders’ cute little mittens during the presidential inauguration in January? His posture and coat completed the wholesome image as he quickly became a viral meme. Images of Sanders clad in comfortable winter gear across various unlikely locations became commonplace.

Capitalizing on the moment, Sanders’ campaign officials produced and released merchandise featuring the image. All products sold out within an hour, and the campaign raised $1.8 million in proceeds within a five-day period, the majority of which will benefit organizations like Meals on Wheels.

Funny and benefiting charity? Who could ask for more?

Even though the past year in politics had been dramatic and played a significant role in many people’s lives, our day-to-days can’t always be consumed by breaking news headlines. Sometimes you just need to laugh, and that’s OK.