Representative Al Green Is Us
Anger, frustration, confusion
After speaking on the phone with Mexican President Claudia Sheinbaum of Mexico, Trump paused tariffs on goods from Mexico until April 1st. And we just learned he’s done the same for Canada. Trump’s recent tariffs sent the stock market reeling and created confusion in many foreign and American companies. I feel it’s just sadistic behavior on Trump’s part: he likes to show he can control people. He likes to scare and threaten and then look like a nice guy when they capitulate because they have to.
A judge ruled against Trump today, allowing for the resumption of aid that Trump had frozen: billions in congressionally approved funds to 22 states and the District of Columbia. Federal Judge John J. McConnell Jr. of the Federal District Court for the District of Rhode Island, said the case amounted to executive overreach.
Today, Rep Al Green was censured by the House for disrupting Trump’s speech on Tuesday night. Above, I posted the drawing I did of him at that moment, when he was yelling and shaking his cane at Trump, Vance and Johnson, because he represents how we all feel. In the last 24 hours, there has been criticism all over the place of the Democrats response to Trump’s speech that night. Some feel they should be louder, like Green. During the speech, many left, some never attended, and others wore tshirts with sayings on them, and some held small signs during. Others say the Dems are not united, and that if Nancy Pelosi were in charge, they’d be united. I don’t know about that; what I do know is this is uncharted territory. With a president who lies, insults, mimics, cheats and brags about it, someone who openly manipulates and humiliates: how does anyone know how to respond to that? My inclination is not to yell back, that’s who I am. But I want to. This is the horrible situation we are in: Trump is attempting to force us to lower ourselves to his level of degredation. I am not saying that Green did that, not at all. He was expressing how we feel.
The answer, I believe, lies in litigation and voting. Yes, we need to speak up constantly, too. Keep each other aware of what’s happening and stay together without demonizing (except Trump, Vancy, Musk and Johnson).
I have a lot more to say but have to get ready for an evening of laughter. I am moderating a panel of cartoonists at the Society of Illustrators tonight in NYC. Sold out!! Here is the lineup! I am so ready to laugh.
New Yorker Cartoonists in Conversation
Join us for a discussion with some of the brilliant minds behind The New Yorker cartoons. Cartoonists Zoe Si and Asher Perlman, along with Emma Allen, The New Yorker’s cartoon editor, will share their creative processes and experiences contributing to the magazine’s iconic humor. Moderated by Liza Donnelly, New Yorker cartoonist and curator of Drawn from The New Yorker: A Centennial Celebration, this conversation will provide insights into the creativity and storytelling that define New Yorker cartoons.
Part of the Drawn from the New Yorker: A Centennial Celebration Exhibition.
About the Speakers:
Emma Allen, The New Yorker’s cartoon editor since 2017, is the youngest and first woman to hold the role. She is known for selecting diverse humor contributors and editing humor pieces for newyorker.com.
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Zoe Si is a Pulitzer Prize-nominated cartoonist, illustrator, and writer. She spends her days contributing cartoons and articles to The New Yorker, making children’s books, and working on a forthcoming graphic memoir.
Liza Donnelly is a New Yorker cartoonist and writer of 46 years, author of Very Funny Ladies: The New Yorker’s Women Cartoonists. She is producing and directing the forthcoming documentary about New Yorker cartoonists, Women Laughing. She writes a newsletter of politics and humor called Seeing Things.
Asher Perlman is an Emmy-nominated, WGA award-winning, Peabody-award-winning comedian based in Brooklyn. He is currently a cartoonist for The New Yorker and a writer for The Late Show with Stephen Colbert.
Thanks for being here, see you tomorrow!
Enjoy tonight.
I watched the Simon Rosenberg last night and he asserts that there is no need to be unified as a party in action and that the important thing is that people stand up the best way they can stand up. I am surprised that 5 Democrats voted to censure Al Green today. That is not a good thing, wtf Hakeem?
Thanks again for your fun and astute cartoons!I
FYI, ya'll, I just called Rep. Green's office and left a thank-you message for him...ya have to be in his district to send an email they'll read, which makes sense.
I super appreciated his speaking out and wish the rest of the Dems had left with him. I feel it would have bothered 47 much more to speak to a half empty room.