What the episode made visible, however, is the structural fragility of satirical expression when the conditions around it shift. Public broadcasters can come under pressure from political actors who have openly stated their intention to reshape or dismantle public institutions. Private broadcasters, meanwhile, can be steered by the priorities of their owners.

Donald Trump puts science skepticism into practice. he is taking it a step further by defunding them. The National Scientific Foundation (NSF) funds were cut in half in January when compared to the same period last year (3). Across domains, the NSF is used to fund most research projects at American universities and research institutions, including labs, infrastructure, and salaries.