Similar to Mick Jagger sliding across the stage during a sold out tour, President Biden stepped carefully to the podium in front of a full house at a Hilton, delivering punchlines and campaign promises for the 2024 White House Correspondents’ Dinner. President Biden jested and was just real about America and the presidential choice in front of us. He took jokes in stride, without anger or outrage.
It was another year of laughing with and sometimes at President Biden. Yet, no comedians were arrested, no one from the audience was jailed for laughing, no news outlets were shut down or fined. Americans appreciate a president who is not a retribution driven, humorless, bully.
Humans need to laugh. At ourselves and yes, at each other…gently of course, without offense or making anyone think too hard or feel bad (insert laugh here).
Following the incredibly funny performance delivered by Roy Wood Jr. in 2023, Colin Jost was the entertainer this year, and he too shared heartfelt stories with humor.
We need journalism and jokes, democracy won’t thrive without either…okay, so perhaps jokes are not a requirement for democracy, but they sure do help. Cheers to the continuation of a free press in America…and jokes.