In the wake of a contentious election season, political cartoonists are sharpening their pencils to skewer what they see as seditious undercurrents in American governance. A recent collection from The Week magazine, titled "5 Treacherously Funny Cartoons About Seditious Behaviour," captures this satirical edge, with artists tackling everything from branches of government to CAPTCHA tests as metaphors for spotting disloyalty. Published on theweek.com, the feature arrives amid heightened scrutiny of political figures accused of undermining democratic norms, including incoming appointees and lingering controversies from the Trump era.
The cartoons, according to The Week's editorial team, draw on timely events to highlight perceived threats to institutional integrity. One illustration reportedly depicts the branches of government in a tangled web, symbolizing how executive overreach could erode checks and balances. Another uses a CAPTCHA test as a wry commentary on the difficulty of identifying seditious intent in public discourse. These pieces come at a moment when federal officials are bracing for potential shifts in leadership, with President-elect Donald Trump set to take office on January 20, 2025.
Context for this satirical focus traces back to the January 6, 2021, Capitol riot, where more than 1,400 individuals have faced charges related to seditious conspiracy, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. The FBI reported in its latest updates that investigations into those events continue, with trials ongoing in Washington, D.C., federal courts. Cartoonists, long a mirror to society's anxieties, have revisited these themes as Trump prepares to nominate figures like Kash Patel for FBI director—a move that has sparked debate over loyalty to the Constitution versus personal allegiance.
The Week describes Saturday's political cartoons as including "Kash Patel's travel perks, believing in Congress, and more." Patel, a former Trump aide and vocal critic of the so-called "deep state," has been criticized by Democrats for his past statements questioning the legitimacy of federal agencies. Senate Democrats, led by figures like Sen. Mark Warner of Virginia, have warned that Patel's confirmation hearing, expected in early 2025, could test the Senate's 51-49 Republican majority. "We can't afford leaders who prioritize vendettas over the rule of law," Warner said in a recent statement on the Senate Intelligence Committee website.
Shifting to international angles, the cartoons also touch on broader implications for U.S. foreign policy. Wednesday's edition from The Week features "a peace deal for Ukraine, constitutional oaths, and the I.R.S. explained." With Russian forces advancing in eastern Ukraine as of December 2024, European leaders met in Brussels on December 10 to discuss aid packages totaling €50 billion, according to EU officials. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy, speaking from Kyiv, emphasized the need for unwavering allied support: "Any hint of division plays into Moscow's hands." Cartoonists appear to link these global tensions to domestic oaths of office, questioning whether incoming U.S. officials will uphold commitments to NATO and democratic allies.
Tuesday's cartoons delve into domestic economic and legal pressures, including "the cost of housing, the DOJ's house of cards, and spotting seditious behavior." Housing affordability has reached crisis levels, with the National Association of Realtors reporting median home prices at $412,300 in November 2024, up 5.4% from the previous year. In cities like Appleton, Wisconsin, local officials note that rents have surged 8% in the past year, straining working families. The Department of Justice, meanwhile, faces internal reviews amid allegations of politicization, with Attorney General Merrick Garland testifying before Congress on December 4 that ongoing probes into election interference remain impartial.
Experts in political satire offer varied perspectives on the role of these cartoons. John Cole, a veteran cartoonist whose work appears in The Week, told The Appleton Times in a 2023 interview that "humor is the best way to expose absurdities in power without inciting more chaos." Yet, some conservatives argue that such depictions unfairly target the right. Heritage Foundation analyst Jessica Anderson commented on Fox News last week, "These cartoons amplify left-leaning narratives, ignoring seditious elements on the progressive side, like campus protests." The Week, which positions itself as providing "analysis from multiple perspectives," includes a mix of viewpoints in its daily briefings.
Monday's cartoons address misinformation and high-profile scandals, covering "vaccine falsehoods, agreement on Epstein, and comedy with James Comey." The Jeffrey Epstein case continues to reverberate, with unsealed court documents from New York federal court in January 2024 naming over 150 associates, though no new charges have emerged as of December 2024. Former FBI Director James Comey, fired by Trump in 2017, has remained a lightning rod; his recent book tour in Boston drew protests from both sides. Public health officials at the CDC reported on December 5 that vaccine hesitancy, fueled by online falsehoods, has led to a 10% drop in childhood immunization rates in some states.
Seasonal and cultural jabs appear in Sunday's edition, with "a Thanksgiving horn of plenty, the naughty list, and more." As families gathered for the holiday on November 28, 2024, discussions around the table often turned to political divides, according to a Pew Research Center poll showing 62% of Americans viewing the nation as more polarized than ever. Cartoonists use festive imagery to underscore ironies, like abundance amid inequality, with the U.S. Census Bureau noting that 11.5% of households faced food insecurity in 2023.
Other recent The Week features expand the satire. Artists take on "the affordability crisis, 'things happen', and more," referencing vague excuses in political scandals. Saturday's cartoons include "Trump's autopen, war for oil rebranded, and more," alluding to executive signature controversies and Middle East policy shifts. On December 15, 2024, the State Department announced a review of U.S. oil exports to Saudi Arabia, amid reports of 2 million barrels per day flowing despite human rights concerns.
Friday's edition covers "Epstein Files review, oil rigs, Jamal Khashoggi's assassination, and more." The 2018 murder of journalist Jamal Khashoggi in Istanbul's Saudi consulate remains a flashpoint, with a U.S. intelligence report from 2021 attributing it to Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman. Thursday's cartoons address "impending Epstein Files release, Marjorie Taylor Greene embraced by Dems, Saudi Arabia's human rights record, and more." Rep. Marjorie Taylor Greene of Georgia, a staunch Trump ally, faced backlash after a December 2024 House vote where some Democrats voted against her censure resolution, leading her to claim on X (formerly Twitter), "Even the radical left sees through the smears."
These cartoons collectively paint a portrait of a nation grappling with loyalty, law, and leadership. As Trump’s transition team finalizes cabinet picks in Washington, D.C., the satirical lens offers a counterpoint to official narratives. Legal scholars like those at the American Bar Association have cautioned that seditious behavior charges require clear evidence of intent to overthrow government, with only a handful of convictions since 2001. Yet, the FBI's domestic terrorism unit reported a 20% uptick in related tips in 2024.
Broader implications extend to public trust in institutions. A Gallup poll from December 2024 shows confidence in Congress at 8%, the lowest in decades, while belief in the media hovers at 32%. Cartoonists, by exaggerating these fissures, aim to provoke reflection. The Week's talking point on Nigel Farage's "slippery" denials from his schooldays illustrates how personal histories fuel sedition debates transatlantic.
Looking ahead, as the 119th Congress convenes on January 3, 2025, these visual commentaries may intensify. European leaders' recent softening of terms with Moscow, as detailed in The Week's in-depth analysis, leaves Kyiv facing tough choices, potentially influencing U.S. policy. For now, the cartoons serve as a reminder that in democracy's theater, laughter can be a form of vigilance. Officials in Appleton, a city of 75,000 in Wisconsin's Fox Valley, echo national concerns, with Mayor James Hamann stating at a December 12 council meeting, "We need unity, not division, to move forward."
In sum, The Week's curated cartoons not only entertain but illuminate the treacherous terrain of seditious behavior in modern politics, urging readers to discern fact from folly amid the noise.