Jonathan S Morris

Does late night political humor matter? Are late-night comedians merely entertaining, or do they have the power to influence the way we think about politics and politicians? Politics Is a Joke! situates late night comedy in the historical context of political humor and demonstrates how the public turn to this venue for political information, and are in turn affected by it.Using exclusive data collected by the Center for Media and Public Affairs, the authors conduct a detailed and exhaustive analysis of political jokes on late night TV shows dating back to 1992 in order to pinpoint the main targets and themes of late-night comedy. Politics Is a Joke! uses a wide range of examples, from jokes about politicians' physical appearance and sex scandals to jokes about Congress and even the news media, to assess and understand the impact of political humor on political institutions, politicians and their policies and behavior.Engagingly written with analysis of jokes from comedians like Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, Politics is a Joke! is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the crucial role late night comedy plays in our political universe - and anyone who enjoys a good laugh.

Jonathan Morris was born in the city of Careysburg, 25 miles north of Monrovia, capital city of Liberia and raised in Todee, Montserrado County. He completed his elementary education through Junior High School from the Presbyterian Todee Mission. He earned his Bachelor's degree in Economics from the University of Liberia after completing Konola Academy High School of the Seventh-day Adventist Church. He holds a Masters degree in Health and Human Services Administration from Saint Mary's University of Minnesota in Minneapolis. Having faith in God and trusting in Psalm 91:7, Mr. Morris trekked 38 dangerous miles from Monrovia to Harbel, Firestone, to rescue his family trapped in the fighting between Government and rebel forces in1990. "Miracles in the Liberian Civil War" emerged to testify that anyone who trusts in God and His Word can be delivered. Mr. Morris and his wife, Benetta, resettled in the United States in 1999 with their five children - Jonetta, Jonathan, Jr., Ngaynia, Mazoe and Doma Morris-where God has continued to bless them. Jonetta earned Masters in Public Health from Loma Linda University, California in 2015; Ngaynia earned Masters in Divinity at Andrews University in Berrien Springs, Michigan; Jonathan, Jr. and Mazoe received Bachelors each in Theology and Biology respectively from Oakwood University, Huntsville, Alabama; and Doma completed Edina High School and he is an undergraduate at Rochester College, Rochester, Minnesota. Ngaynia is serving as a local Pastor in the Seventh-day Adventist Church in Kansas City, Kansas while Jonathan, Jr. is working on his Masters in Divinity at Andrews University. The Morris' live in Edina, Minnesota. Mrs. Morris works as Healthcare Assistant with Hennepin County Medical Center, Minneapolis, and Mr. Morris worked nearly 10 years with Hennepin County, State of Minnesota, before becoming CEO of Community Health and Education Assistance program, a nonprofit created in 2013, based in Brooklyn Park, Minnesota serving the immigrant community, individuals and low income families.

Does late night political humor matter? Are late-night comedians merely entertaining, or do they have the power to influence the way we think about politics and politicians? Politics Is a Joke! situates late night comedy in the historical context of political humor and demonstrates how the public turn to this venue for political information, and are in turn affected by it.Using exclusive data collected by the Center for Media and Public Affairs, the authors conduct a detailed and exhaustive analysis of political jokes on late night TV shows dating back to 1992 in order to pinpoint the main targets and themes of late-night comedy. Politics Is a Joke! uses a wide range of examples, from jokes about politicians' physical appearance and sex scandals to jokes about Congress and even the news media, to assess and understand the impact of political humor on political institutions, politicians and their policies and behavior.Engagingly written with analysis of jokes from comedians like Jay Leno, Conan O'Brien, Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert, Politics is a Joke! is essential reading for anyone who wants to understand the crucial role late night comedy plays in our political universe - and anyone who enjoys a good laugh.