Drawing the Line: An Evening with Political Cartoonists

From Media and Democracy Project.

Since before the founding of the country, there have been political cartoons, often mocking the powerful with sharp humor, capturing the absurdity of the moment, shaping public opinion, and even exposing corruption. 

They say a picture is worth a thousand words, and in today’s fast paced digital world an image can be shared in the blink of an eye, changing hearts and minds.

With censorship and threats on the rise for the press, including political cartoonists, join us for this special evening with three award-winning political cartoonists who will take us behind the scenes on how they distill the news into a single image and the role that political satire plays in defending democracy.

Scott Adams 1957-2026

From AP News.

Scott Adams, whose popular comic strip “Dilbert” captured the frustration of beleaguered, white-collar cubicle workers and satirized the ridiculousness of modern office culture until he was abruptly dropped from syndication in 2023 for racist remarks, has died. He was 68.

His first ex-wife, Shelly Miles, announced the death Tuesday on a livestream posted on Adams’ social media accounts. “He’s not with us right anymore,” she said. 

Political Violence in the USA

From Counterpoint.

After the assassination of Minnesota State Rep. Melissa Hortman and her husband and the attempted murder of State Sen. John Hoffman and his wife, political leaders from across the spectrum issued statements of shock and condolences. 

Many, including Steve Scalise, Nancy Pelosi, Gabby Giffords, Josh Shapiro, Gretchen Whitmer, and Donald Trump, have themselves been victims of political violence or threats in recent years.

"Capitulation is contagious"

Adrienne LaFrance in the March issue of The Atlantic.

By killing a cartoon that lampooned its owner, The Washington Post set a dangerous precedent.

UPenn Lays Off Cartoonist Mr. Fish

From The Daily Cartoonist.

Days after the Trump Administration froze $175 million in federal funding the University of Pennsylvania has terminated the employment of progressive Lecturer (and Cartoonist) Dwayne Booth, aka Mr. Fish.

From the Mr. Fish Patreon page:

Political Cartoonists on facing Donald Trump

Zach Rabiroff in The Comics Journal.

Trump's ABC by Ann Telnaes

Zach Rabiroff for The Comics Journal investigates the state of political cartooning as the practitioners face a revitalized and seemingly very powerful Donald Trump who is entering his second term as President of the United States with few limits in his way. 

Being "Bado"

From the Historical Society of Ottawa. 

The editorial cartoons of Bado (alias Guy Badeaux) have offered Le Droit's daily readers a humourous and insightful running commentary on almost a half century of local, Canadian and world history.

Join us on January 25 as he reflects on a remarkable career that has spanned two generations of Trudeau and a vast expanse of lampoon-able news events in-between. 

Ann Telnaes reflects on the Charlie Hebdo killings

From The Freedom Cartoonists Foundation.

10th anniversary of Charlie Hebdo killings – A visual essay by Ann Telnaes

Ann Telnaes Quits The Washington Post

From Open Windows.

(rough of cartoon killed)

I’ve worked for the Washington Post since 2008 as an editorial cartoonist. 

I have had editorial feedback and productive conversations—and some differences—about cartoons I have submitted for publication, but in all that time I’ve never had a cartoon killed because of who or what I chose to aim my pen at. 

Until now.

Nonprofit organizations under threat in US

Bill H.R. 9495  will hand the President powers to instruct the Secretary of the Treasury to revoke the 501(c)(3) nonprofit status of any organization found to "support terrorism", absent of any substantive investigation or evidence, and without oversight. 

Despite a narrow defeat last week, the bill will return before the House of Representatives this week, with a vote expected on Tuesday or Wednesday.

Congresspeople need to hear from voters in their districts today, telling them to reject the bill. 

This cartoon sums it up.

Cartoon by Morten Morland

Book Banning Series in Crankshaft Comic Strip

From The Daily Cartoonist. 

Tom Batiuk, creator of the tremendously popular Crankshaft and Funky Winkerbean comic strips, has created a compelling storyline that illuminates the challenges librarians and store owners currently face around book banning. 

 The series began August 26 [2024] in the Crankshaft comic strip and continues through October. 

Harvard Faculty & Staff reposts antisemitic cartoon

From The Washington Post.

Harvard University is again embroiled in a controversy over antisemitism on campus, after student groups and a faculty group shared an antisemitic cartoon.

In a statement late Tuesday, Harvard interim president Alan M. Garber condemned the cartoon, calling it “flagrantly antisemitic,” after it was shared on social media by two student groups — the Harvard Undergraduate Palestine Solidarity Committee and the African American Resistance Organization — and reposted by Harvard Faculty and Staff for Justice in Palestine.

I wish I'd drawn... (69)

... this cartoon by Pia Guerra.

Director of Librexpression Centre on the Steve Bell case

From Cartoon Movement. 

On October 9, 2023, Steve Bell, famous editorial cartoonist of the British newspaper The Guardian for 42 years, was not only refused a cartoon considered anti-Semitic, but was notified that none of his cartoons would be published until his contract expires in May 2024. 

A contract which, of course, will not be renewed.

Cartoonists rally to Steve Bell's defense

From the Greek Cartoonists Association Facebook page.

The Greek Cartoonists Association strongly protests the Guardian’s dismissal of colleague Steve Bell, one of the best cartoonists in the world. 

The termination of his employment took place in the aftermath of unsupported accusations of "anti-Semitic stereotypes" in his last cartoon, accusations that the paper's management sadly adopted .

Cartoonist Falls for Hoax

From CTV News.

Cartoon by Dana Summers, Triune Content Agency.

The Mid Hudson News reports that the story of homeless veterans being kicked out of hotels in Newburgh in order to take in migrants was a hoax.

Seven homeless men say they were part of a group of 15 who were supposed to act as vets to keep up the scheme. 

They claim they were offered $200 for their job, which none of them ever received

A Russian child's drawing sparked a police investigation

From the BBC.

Masha's school contacted the police after the 12-year-old drew this picture

In the centre of the Russian town of Yefremov is a wall covered in pictures of war. Giant photographs of masked Russian soldiers with guns and supersized letters Z and V - symbols of the country's so-called special military operation in Ukraine.

There's a poem, too:

Good should have fists.
Good needs an iron hand
To tear the skin from those
Who threaten it.

This is the official, patriotic picture of Russia's invasion of Ukraine.

But in this town, 320km (200 miles) south of Moscow, you'll find another image of the Ukraine war. A very different one.

It was 20 years ago today

Here are a few cartoons I drew in 2003 about the American invasion in Iraq.

The Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award 2023 (Nominations)

From Cartoonists Rights.

Nominations are now open for the Robert Russell Courage in Cartooning Award 2023, and will close at noon on March 17th.