Politics is serious business, especially for the American Presidency. The stakes are high, as are the potential consequences for the nation, citizens’ lives, and the world at large. Yet humor plays a central role in this political space as a strategy for communication and persuasion, for those in power (or seeking to be), and for those in opposition to the powerful. The current Presidency and the process that led to it are a fascinating case in point. In this course, we will explore the interplay of humor in recent years as competing forces strive to achieve their goals or frustrate each other’s agendas. With the assistance of political cartoonists, satirists, late-night comedians, movies, and street theater artists—and with the central players themselves—we will explore what humor does and can accomplish, both for the powerful and the powerless. Bring your questions, your skepticism, and your sense of humor, as we figure out together whether and how political humor is serious business.