How to Write Political Satire Without Getting Canceled

Political satire walks a tightrope. Done well, it’s like Jon Stewart eviscerating a hypocritical politician—sharp, memorable, and impossible to ignore. Done poorly, it’s a cringe-worthy Facebook rant that gets you unfollowed by your own mother.

The difference? Technique.

Why Most Political Satire Fails

1. It Preaches Instead of Provokes
2. Bad: "Politician X is evil because..." (Audience checks out.)
3. Good: "Politician X’s autobiography drops next week—Chapter 1 is just the word ‘I’ repeated 12,000 times."
4. Tool to steal: Use hyperbole to highlight absurdity, not opinions.
5. It’s Dated by Tomorrow
6. Satire about last week’s scandal is already stale. Focus on timeless flaws (greed, incompetence) instead of fleeting headlines.
7. Example: "The Senate’s new bill solves inflation by making it illegal to say the word ‘inflation.’"
8. It Forgets the Laugh
9. If your piece feels like a lecture with punchlines, scrap it. Surprise is the engine of satire.

The 3-Step Satire Writing Process

Step 1: Mine the News for Comedy Gold

• Scan headlines for hypocrisy, irony, or sheer stupidity.
• Exercise: Rewrite a real political quote to expose its absurdity.
• Original: "I cannot recall."
• Satire: "My memory works like a blockchain—unalterable, decentralized, and completely imaginary."

Step 2: Write the Ugly First Draft

• Don’t self-censor yet. Roast the subject mercilessly, then refine.
• Pro Tip: Use comparisons to mundane things for relatability.
• "His campaign promises had the lifespan of a TikTok trend."

Step 3: Add the Knife Twist

• End on a line that stings so good, readers can’t look away.
• Weak closer: "Politicians lie."
• Stronger: "His honesty was so rare, they tested it for endangered species status."

Where to Publish Your Satire

• Submit to outlets like McSweeney’s or The Onion (or pitch to comedy blogs).
• Want more? Here’s how to write political jokes that actually work.