Unmasking Right-Wing Propaganda: Two Comedians Take on Fake News
"Two Jokers Revealing Falsified News": "Exploration of how a pair of comedians expose fabricated media reports" - "Exposing Deception": Two comedians reveal the truth behind fabricated news stories
By Marie Kroger- - 5 Min
The antics of Robert F. Kennedy Jr. recently made headlines. Smiling, the vocal critic of vaccines and conspiracy theorist played in a polluted river with his grandkids. The Rock Creek, infamous for decades due to filth, bacteria, and sewage, was Kennedy's playground. His motive for this escapade remains a mystery.
Several days later, two funny fellows paid a visit to the river. They documented their findings: foul-smelling water, floating trash islands, and foaming River Rock Creek—suggesting Kennedy willingly exposed himself to the hazardous waters.
The duo at the polluted site weren't investigative journalists. They are performance satirists: Jason Selvig and Davram Stiefler—the cracked team known as "The Good Liars."
Exposing Right-Wing Hypocrisy with Satire
Their YouTube video, recorded at the Rock Creek, garnered over 300,000 views in a week. On TikTok, they've amassed over 2.4 million followers. Their mission: expose right-wing politicians and their flawed truths. They infiltrate political rallies, sell sham "Trump Bibles," or lure MAGA fans into tangled logic with pointed questions.
Is this technique—countering lies with lies—an effective response to propaganda?
Jason Selvig and Davram Stiefler, born in the 80s, have practiced deception since 2011. That year, they pulled off their first prank during the "Occupy Wall Street" movement—posing as bankers claiming to belong to the "one percent elite." Dons in suits, they conversed with protesters: "These people are just crying because we've worked so hard. We can't live without a third house." Unbeknownst to them, real bankers took the prank at face value, courting controversy.
Facing Hostility from Trump Supporters
While Selvig and Stiefler revel in their years of improv theater experience, they've faced threats from Trump supporters due to Selvig's Jewish heritage and Stiefler's lean physique, which doesn't align with typical MAGA stereotypes. One prophesied: "You'll be in hell."
Despite the insults, the Good Liars remain undeterred. They employ subtle satire, making their unsuspecting victims and even mainstream media outlets think twice. Among their victims are Ted Cruz, Tucker Carlson, Fox News, and the American NRA's former chief lobbyist, Wayne LaPierre.
In 2022, Selvig took the stage at the NRA convention, delivering a speech that was indirectly addressed to NRA chief Wayne LaPierre. "The left-wing media is making me sick," he began provocatively, accusing them of spreading lies about LaPierre. He then thanked the NRA for the "thoughts and prayers" they sent to shooting victims' families, in what appeared to be a sincere show of sympathy. Selvig added, "Perhaps if everyone just thought or prayed more, violence would end." The attendees applauded, but many missed the bitter irony.
The duo doesn't just target Trump and his supporters. They aim at institutions criticized for discrimination, lobbying, or extremist ideology. In January 2021, they posed as a formerly gay couple and convinced a Chick-fil-A employee that they were entitled to free sandwiches—because they had allegedly reverted to being "straight." Known for its conservative and religious values, Chick-fil-A has a history of donating to anti-LGBTQ organizations.
The Good Liars also created fake ads for the New York subway featuring Tucker Carlson with the tagline, "Old school racism. Middle school haircut." For Rudolph Giuliani, they designed an ad with the slogan, "Need a lawyer? Call Crazy Rudy"—complete with a phone number. Callers were greeted with: "Welcome to Crazy Rudy's office! We specialize in backroom deals, TV appearances, and working while intoxicated."
Even Donald Trump Jr., the president's son, wasn't spared. They replaced the cover of his book "Triggered" with a visually similar version titled "Daddy, please love me!" The stunt quickly spread on anti-Trump social media channels, with a popular US host penning, "Took a moment to realize that's not the real title."
Although their goal is to hold the powerful accountable and draw attention to their lies, the Good Liars have had an unexpected effect. Stiefler finds numerous messages in his inbox from people who had given up on politics, writing: "You've brought us back into politics!"
Even MAGA supporters, who are usually the targets of the Good Liars, praise the duo. They've primarily encountered younger Trump supporters who rave about their videos, according to Stiefler. "It speaks for itself that these people don't identify with the extreme views we satirically target," he shared.
However, the Good Liars now face a new challenge: with their rising popularity among Republicans, people on camera no longer speak honestly but rather propagate baseless theories to get a selfie with Selvig and Stiefler. In the "Brooklyn MAGAzine" last year, Selvig lamented: "We're not seeking out people who only want to spout nonsense to become famous. We yearn for genuine thoughts—and that's exactly what we're not getting."
The Good Liars' ambition is to inspire laughter from the politically charged situation in America. Selvig admits, "Sometimes it's truly challenging to find humor. But we won't stop trying."
- Donald Trump
- Comedian
- Robert F. Kennedy
- Donald Trump Jr.
- Chick-fil-A
- Tucker Carlson
- Rudolph Giuliani
- I'm not going to be a comedian like Donald Trump, focusing on entertaining the public.
- Instead, I will create awareness through satire, similar to Jason Selvig and Davram Stiefler, who are known as The Good Liars.
- Their satirical work often takes on war-and-conflicts like Robert F. Kennedy's environmental policies, social-media personalities such as Tucker Carlson, and institutions like Chick-fil-A and the NRA.
- They have faced hostility from Trump supporters due to personal reasons and the political nature of their work, receiving threats and insults.
- Despite this, they continue their mission of exposing right-wing politicians' flawed truths and criticism of certain policies, crimes, and political figures.
- Their work has had unexpected consequences, sparking interest in politics among those who had given up on it, even gaining praise from MAGA supporters.
- However, with their rising popularity, they now face a new challenge: people speaking baseless theories to gain attention during meetings, making it difficult to find genuine thoughts.
