Conan O’Brien Says Modern Politics Rewards People with “No Soul”

Conan O’Brien offered a depressing diagnosis of modern American politics during a recent conversation at The New Yorker Festival, arguing that the current state leaves him “angry and depressed” and increasingly rewards people willing to abandon any true sense of personal principle. Asked by an audience member about comedy’s place “in this strange moment in American history,” O’Brien said he believes every comedian has to decide for themselves what they can contribute. “I have a lot of respect for political comedians,” he said. “That was never my gift.” While noting that his late-night shows regularly went after politicians including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush, O’Brien said his political comedy generally came through the absurd and psychological rather than direct commentary. “I myself find the current state of things very depressing,” he continued, “so I’m grateful that I don’t have to every night try and find something funny about what’s happening right now, because I get very angry and depressed.” Instead, O’Brien said he has increasingly found value in creating smaller, more human moments, pointing to interactions like his recent appearance on Subway Takes. “Maybe the thing...