Professor Stephen Farnsworth of the University of Mary Washington said that Stephen Colbert’s upcoming departure from CBS serves as a reminder that late-night political comedy is not as profitable — and far more controversial – than it once was.
Stephen J. Farnsworth, political science professor at the University of Mary Washington, said even though much of the economic news Ms. McEntarfer delivered to the Trump White House was positive, “that wasn’t enough.” “The firing is a warning to other government officials that Trump pays very close attention to whether the news makes him look good or not,” he said. “The larger issue is what this means for markets and for investors. If we’re talking about an environment where the impartiality or accuracy of government statistics is called into question, it’s much harder for people to make rational and informed choices.”
University of Mary Washington political science professor Stephen Farnsworth pointed out that Trump often endorses candidates he sees as winners. “The polls are really unfavorable right now, and it might be a really difficult environment to get a full-throated endorsement,” he said.
“It’s no surprise that the most competitive districts right now are in Republican hands,” said Stephen Farnsworth, a political scientist at the University of Mary Washington. “This is an environment where Republicans are facing significant headwinds for a bunch of reasons, and that’s creating a tailwind that would help Democrats who, in other years, might be more vulnerable.”
Stephen Farnsworth, a co-author of “Late Night in Washington: Political Humor and the American Presidency,” says: “It was a comforting collection of lighter fare before bed. It was for people who work second shifts in factories, people who just wanted a joke or two and a celebrity interview before they drop off. It was a cultural experience back in the days of Carson where you had one show that dominated above all and it had those moments that people would talk about the next day at work.”
“Ultimately unified beats divided anytime,” said Dr. Stephen Farnsworth, a political science professor at the University of Mary Washington. “And the Republican Party’s inability to really get together is yet another problem for a party that’s already looking at a difficult year.”
