SOLVED! SAMPLE! #29 - "Don't Be Cringe": Is Gen Z's Humor a Political Warning Sign?

SOLVED! SAMPLE! #29 - "Don't Be Cringe": Is Gen Z's Humor a Political Warning Sign?

Author: Best of the Left: Perspectives on Politics, Culture, and Economics December 16, 2025 Duration: 22:05

Air Date: 12-10-25

Today, Jay!, Amanda, and Deon (Erin was out this week) discuss:

  • Ch. 1 - Generational humor, and analysis of Gen Z's absurdist humor and the impact it's having

  • Ch. 2 - The unexpected social side effects of NYC Mayor-elect Zohran Mamdani's campaign on Gen Z volunteers

  • Ch. 3 - The "App"stinence Movement helping people get off of social media

  • Ch. 4 - How the peak Millennial humor mobile game "Sword and Sworcery" has evolved with the times

  • SOLVED! Backstage: Behind the Algorithm: Elon Musk's "Grokapedia" reminding us of the "Conservapedia" of 2010s punchlines, and the co-opting of Gen Z meme humor by right wing extremists to normalize hate.

 

REFERENCES

Gen Z Humour: What's so funny about something so unfunny? - Hayden Lim Khai Eun via Medium

Inside 'Gen Z humor,' the layered and absurdist internet jokes millennials are struggling to keep up with - Business Insider

A crash course in Gen Z humor - Pion

We Laughed Into The Void—And It Laughed Back: Understanding Gen Z Humor - Berkeley Political Review

A Little-Noted Element Propelled Mamdani's Rise: Gen Z Loneliness - The New York Times

A mass exit from social media - Mashable

Should you practice Appstinence? Gen Z and Gen Alpha are embracing this Harvard student movement - Fast Company

7 Reasons to Think Social Media Has Peaked The platforms have serious problems. - New York Magazine

The Mysteries Of Superbrothers: Sword and Sworcery EP - Waltorious Writes About Games

Social media is dead – here's what comes next - New Scientist

EXTRAS

NOT SPONSORS/AFFILIATES

Appstinence

Brick - Device to help you manage phone use

Freedom - App to help you manage device use

How to make your smartphone into a dumb phone - (Modern Dumbphone)


For over fifteen years, Best of the Left-Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy has served as a vital, human-curated digest of voices from across the progressive spectrum. Instead of presenting a single opinion, each episode is built around a specific theme-from economic inequality to climate policy to cultural shifts-and weaves together insightful commentary from a diverse array of journalists, activists, and thinkers. This approach allows you to efficiently grasp the nuances of complex issues by hearing multiple expert angles in one sitting, all while discovering new commentators and sources you might not have encountered otherwise. The result is a richly layered analysis that algorithms simply cannot replicate, offering depth and context often missing from the daily news cycle. Since 2006, this award-winning podcast has cut through the noise, drawing from hundreds of independent and established sources to provide a coherent, thoughtful examination of the forces shaping our society and governments. Tuning in means joining a long-running conversation dedicated to understanding and advancing democratic principles, social justice, and a more equitable economy, all through the focused lens of leftist thought.
Author: Language: English Episodes: 100

Best of the Left - Leftist Perspectives on Progressive Politics, News, Culture, Economics and Democracy
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