Moral Cowardice Regarding Iran

While the writers have up to this point avoided any mention of the genocide in Palestinian territories Gaza and the West Bank was awkward, the most recent episode's cold open showed a willful avoidance of mentioning the gigantic elephant in the room: Israel and the Netanyahu regime and its role in the attacks on Iran.

This is a comedy show that reflects on current events and has had no problem mentioning aggressors and conflicts both present and past. Even now, Putin and Russia get namechecked on a regular basis for the invasion of Ukraine. However, even though Israel is the chief aggressor in attacking Iran, with the U.S acting in a supporting role, you would never know that from the cold open. It sounded like Trump and the United States Military was attacking all on his own. Which every person with a working news feed knows is false.

I'm not expecting some kind of deep dive (this is a comedy show) but the fact that there was not even a casual mention of Trump throwing out a "my buddy Bibi" or any hint that this attack was done at the behest of Israel is an intentional obfuscatuon. And it's pretty damn shameful for a show that has repeatedly tried to position itself as using comedy to "speak truth to power" to do that. The previous times Israel's actions have gotten off without a mention were awkward but this time (as it specifically has put American forces in danger and made the country an accomplice) is nothing short of egregious. They know better.

Anyway, even if this loses me some imaginary internet points I think it had to be said.