The Daily Beast Podcast: “Why Trump’s No Laughing Matter—Even for Me: Comic”
Date: December 1, 2025
Host: Joanna Coles
Guests: Zoran Garg (comedian, family podcast matriarch), Zoya Garg (her daughter)
Episode Overview
In this lively installment, host Joanna Coles brings together Zoran Garg—a standup comic and matriarch of a podcasting Indian-American family—and her daughter Zoya. The episode delves into the intersection of politics, comedy, and the immigrant experience, using Donald Trump and other public figures as springboards for deeper conversations. They discuss how political attitudes diverge in the Indian-American community, the nuances of assimilation and identity (with a spotlight on public figures like Usha Vance and Kamala Harris), and the complexities of navigating American politics as immigrants. All of this is wrapped up in familial anecdotes, sharp humor, and an undercurrent of cross-generational affection and debate.
Key Discussion Points & Insights
Political Comedy and Family Dynamics
- Zoran avoids political comedy, preferring to mine material from family relationships—particularly the mother-in-law dynamic that most brown comics, as she notes, “are too afraid” to tackle (02:35).
- “It’s easier to take on Trump than it is your own mother-in-law.” – Zoran Garg (03:01)
- The pressure and pride surrounding high-achieving immigrant families is explored through anecdotes about recent political successes in the Indian-American community (e.g., Mira Nair’s son becoming mayor).
Women Collaborating in Comedy and Beyond
- Lessons from working with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey:
- Zoran highlights how their friendship and collaboration redefined what’s possible for women in entertainment and business.
- “I learned that women not only can, but should work together… we have to work together and we will find ways to be collaborative and not competitive.” – Zoran Garg (06:10)
- The importance of role models who achieve ambitious goals without micromanaging, modeling professional structures for creative ambitions (08:00).
Familial Ties: Best-Friend Waitlist & Mother-Daughter Banter
- Zoya jokes about never reaching the top of her mother’s “best-friend waitlist,” pointing out that building family rapport—and rivalry—is central to their on-air and off-air relationship (09:10–10:40).
- “I’m on the wait list to be her best friend. And I’m consistently reminded of that… If I do well, I rise, but sometimes I fall.” – Zoya Garg (10:00)
The Indian-American Perspective on Trump
- Complex relationship with Trump:
- Zoran offers an unvarnished, sometimes countercultural take:
- “The Indian community loves Trump. It is what it is… We don’t have the problems with him that a lot of people in America have.” – Zoran Garg (10:57)
- She attributes this to familiarity with corruption among politicians in India: “Of course he’s a criminal. They all are. Like, nobody who’s not a criminal wants to do this job.” – Zoran Garg (11:10)
- Indian-Americans often echo Trump’s focus on legal immigration, having personally waited through years of bureaucracy: “We could not understand why [the Biden administration was] not taking [illegal immigration] seriously.” (11:25)
- Critique of Trump is less about the issues and more about his “execution.” (12:35)
- Zoran offers an unvarnished, sometimes countercultural take:
Usha Vance and Interfaith/Interrace Integration
- Admiration for Usha Vance:
- Zoya calls her “very aspirational,” noting that her public embrace of an interracial, interfaith marriage demonstrates new ways of being American, Indian, and conservative simultaneously (12:52–13:26).
- The controversy about Usha Vance’s faith and her husband’s wish she'd convert to Christianity is downplayed. Both Gargs suggest their marriage reflects genuine integration, not shallow compromise (14:01).
The Role of Indian Ethos in Politics
- Indian-ness is inextricable:
- “You cannot be more Indian than Usha Vance. And that’s not gonna change no matter what church she prays to or doesn’t pray to.” – Zoran Garg (20:52)
- Indian-Americans are depicted as highly adaptable, growing up amid a diversity of religions, and this fluidity is held up as a strength (21:32).
Why Indian-Americans See Trump Differently
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Admiration for business success:
- Trump’s image as a dealmaker and businessman resonates deeply in Indian culture, where entrepreneurship is more tangible than political idealism (22:06–22:32).
- “We expect [politicians] all to be liars… That’s a given.” – Zoran Garg (22:50)
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Entertainment bravado and politics:
- Indians are used to political leaders employing entertainment tactics, citing Modi’s dramatic Instagram photos: “It’s like a borderline thirst trap… and he is single, so people are always like, well, you never know.” – Zoran Garg & Zoya Garg (24:10–24:19)
Critique of American Media Narratives
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Media’s expectations of cheerfulness:
- Gargs humorously debunk the expectation that Indian public figures must look cheerful: “We’re Indian people. We’re not cheerful.” – Zoran Garg (19:46)
- Indian wedding photos seldom feature smiles; it’s not an indication of unhappiness (20:18).
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Indifference to misinformation:
- Indian-Americans are accustomed to misinformation in media and don’t let inaccuracies become a focus, preferring to look at real-world outcomes (25:36–26:42).
On Kamala Harris and Cultural Representation
- Mixed feelings about Kamala Harris:
- Zoya expresses disappointment that Harris did not lean into her Indian identity: “Her name is Indian. Kamala. It means lotus.” (30:45–30:49)
- Zoran acknowledges it’s tough to prioritize all aspects of a multifaceted identity in politics (30:57).
Rising Political Hostility and the Next Generation’s Fears
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Disturbing reactions to political violence:
- Zoran describes her son growing up amidst increasing online hate, referencing classmates celebrating the murder of conservative activist Charlie Kirk.
- “It just felt so mean… He came home so shaken.” – Zoran Garg (32:15)
- Zoya connects this to the echo chambers and misinformation on TikTok (32:59).
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The Trump Children’s Behavior as Public Figures:
- Zoran contrasts the Trump children’s public image with those of other wealthy families: “…the Trump kids are the serious kids, like, whatever they’re doing… the one thing we didn’t see was, in fact, the funniest thing… I think I saw Melania once at Lululemon, trying to return an $8 headband. I was like, am I hallucinating?” (35:04)
Notable Quotes & Moments with Timestamps
- On politics and comedy: “It’s easier to take on Trump than it is your own mother in law.” – Zoran Garg (03:01)
- On collaboration among women: “I learned that women have to collaborate because the success is unmatched.” – Zoran Garg (07:56)
- On Indian attitudes to corruption: “Of course he’s a criminal. They all are. Like, nobody who’s not a criminal wants to do this job.” – Zoran Garg (11:10)
- On Indian-American legal immigration: “Ask any Indian person, we have relatives who’ve been waiting 15 years in line because that’s the right thing to do.” – Zoran Garg (11:25)
- On Usha Vance’s Americanness and Indian-ness: “You cannot be more Indian than Usha Vance. And that’s not gonna change no matter what church she prays to or doesn’t pray to.” – Zoran Garg (20:52)
- On Kamala Harris’s heritage: “Her name is Indian. Kamala. It means lotus.” – Zoya Garg (30:45–30:49)
- On the Trump kids: “The one thing we never saw the Trump kids do is be drinking, be slobbering all over town. We never saw any of that with any of the Trumps.” – Zoran Garg (33:25)
Timestamps for Key Segments
- 01:37–02:55: Indian community’s political attitudes and the challenge of political comedy
- 06:01–09:09: Insights from working with Amy Poehler and Tina Fey; collaboration among women
- 10:57–12:46: The Indian-American community’s mixed but often positive view of Trump
- 12:48–15:18: Usha Vance’s role as an aspirational figure and faith in interfaith marriage
- 16:00–21:32: Indian ethos’ influence on public and political life; adaptation across cultures
- 22:06–23:43: Why Indians relate to Trump as a businessman; parallels to Indian politics
- 25:36–26:42: Disregard for media inaccuracies, focus on lived experience
- 30:23–31:05: Mixed feelings about Kamala Harris and representation
- 31:59–32:59: The disturbing normalization of celebrating political violence among youth
- 33:25–35:04: The Trump kids’ reputation in New York society
Final Thoughts
The conversation upends many mainstream narratives, providing a refreshingly candid and, at times, provocative perspective on how Indian-Americans interpret American politics, identity, and success. With humor, insight, and familial warmth, the Gargs remind listeners that the immigrant experience can lead to counterintuitive political sympathies, unexpected forms of pride, and an unshakeable sense of who you are—even when everything else is up for debate.