Podcast Summary: The Toure Show Episode Featuring Josh Johnson – "I'm Laughing"

Release Date: February 16, 2025
Host: Toure
Guest: Josh Johnson

Introduction

In this engaging episode of The Toure Show, host Toure sits down with Josh Johnson, a renowned intellectual comedian known for his frequent appearances on The Daily Show. Together, they delve into a range of topics spanning the recent election, the intersection of politics and comedy, societal perceptions of villainy, and the intricacies of storytelling in media. This comprehensive summary captures the essence of their conversation, highlighting key discussions, insightful analyses, and memorable quotes from both participants.

1. Election Analysis and Democratic Messaging

Josh Johnson kicks off the discussion by reflecting on the recent election outcomes, specifically addressing the challenges faced by Democratic candidates in appealing to a polarized electorate.

• Elusive Middle Ground: Josh emphasizes the difficulty in finding a unifying policy stance that resonates across the political spectrum.

  “I think there is a mysterious, elusive middle ground that's gonna like, bring the whole country together on policy that I don't think is real.” [03:06]

• Consolidating Support: He criticizes the strategy of Democratic candidates adopting "Diet Republican" positions, arguing that it alienates both Republican voters and the Democratic base.

  “Being a Diet Republican for any candidate who is running as a Democrat will not appeal to that many Republicans.” [03:06]

• Future Implications: Josh believes that without authentic and consolidated messaging, future Democratic candidates may continue to struggle in elections.

  “Trying to create an imaginary path while ignoring the biases of the people is ill advised.” [04:37]

2. Trump vs. Potential Democratic Candidates

The conversation transitions to a comparative analysis of former President Trump and hypothetical Democratic candidates.

• Likelihood of Victory: Josh opines that even with different messaging or policies, a Democrat running against Trump in 2024 would likely face defeat.

  “If you put a different candidate with the same messaging on up against Trump in 2024, personally, I think they would have lost.” [04:37]

• Biden's Challenges: He also critiques current Democratic leadership, noting that Joe Biden's unpopularity and perception as an incumbent contributed to electoral losses.

  “People were overlooking how deeply unpopular Joe Biden was, and they were also not looking at the way that she was seen as an incumbent by some.” [04:37]

3. The Impact of Political Climate on Comedy

Josh explores how the current political environment influences his work as a comedian.

• Redundancy in Political Jokes: He expresses concern that continuously targeting the same political figure, like Trump, can lead to repetitive and less impactful humor.

  “Every once in a while, someone will do something. But to talk about the same person for a long time... could get in danger of redundancy.” [08:55]

• Shift to Deeper Commentary: Instead of focusing solely on individual politicians, Josh prefers addressing broader societal issues, making his comedy more nuanced and insightful.

  “I like talking about the idea of something he did that it could even happen. That, to me, is so interesting to talk about.” [11:40]

4. The Luigi and Brian Thompson Incident

A significant portion of the episode centers around a high-profile shooting incident involving individuals named Luigi and Brian Thompson. Josh and Toure dissect societal reactions and media portrayals of the event.

• Societal Polarization: They discuss how traditional media versus social media frame the incident differently, leading to a divide in public perception.

  “Traditional media left and right is kind of like, hey, every murder is bad and you guys should not be celebrating. And some anchors are scolding us like children.” [20:00]

• Villain Perception: Josh analyzes how society tends to dehumanize certain groups, making it easier to find humor or satisfaction in the downfall of perceived "enemies."

  “If you can make a pedophile cry, that's pretty funny... But when bad things happen to the definitive enemy, it's inherently okay to laugh at.” [16:15]

• Storytelling Flaws: They critique the simplistic hero-villain narratives often presented in media, advocating for more nuanced storytelling that recognizes the complexity of individuals.

  “We are the imperfect representatives of our stories... the stories people want for us.” [65:15]

5. Storytelling, Villainy, and Media Narratives

Josh delves deeper into the role of storytelling in shaping public perception of events and individuals.

• Imperfect Representation: He argues that individuals like Brian Thompson, despite their actions, are portrayed without the exaggerated villainous traits that might make their actions seem more inherently evil.

  “He is an imperfect representative because he doesn't look like the devils.” [65:15]

• Motive and Morality: The discussion highlights how motives behind actions affect public sympathy and the moral judgments passed on individuals.

  “Motive really goes a long way in defining how we feel about the character.” [62:44]

• Media's Role: They critique how media narratives often lack depth, preventing audiences from understanding the full context of incidents.

  “There's a need for nuanced storytelling instead of one-dimensional heroes and villains.” [34:13]

6. Money Distribution and Class Dynamics in America

The conversation shifts to the broader theme of economic disparity and its impact on societal issues.

• Root Causes of Problems: Josh asserts that the fundamental issue isn't the lack of money but how it's distributed across different classes.

  “We have enough money to take care of everybody and we don't do it.” [37:39]

• Class Divide: He discusses how both Republican and Democratic elites often cater to the upper class, leaving the working class underserved.

  “America's more class than anything, and Republicans sort of openly serve the upper class, and Democrats quietly serve the upper class.” [06:54]

• Policy Implications: Josh suggests that effective policies should focus on equitable distribution and social functions rather than partisan favoritism.

  “Let's offer up things that help everybody and do it functionally.” [39:47]

7. Josh Johnson’s Role at The Daily Show and Creative Process

Josh shares insights into his professional life, detailing his responsibilities and creative strategies at The Daily Show.

• Daily Workflow: He outlines a typical day, from morning meetings to pitching and writing segments, emphasizing teamwork and collaboration.

  “We’ll do the morning meeting and stuff like that. Pitch out things. If I find out that I'm on the show, I can help write the piece.” [44:26]

• Handling Pressure: Contrary to popular belief, Josh doesn't feel undue pressure but rather a sense of responsibility to meet expectations through honest and authentic communication.

  “I feel like responsibility focuses you.” [43:55]
  “If you are speaking to your experience earnestly, even in the long run, you will be appreciated for it.” [40:44]

• Maintaining Creativity: He emphasizes the importance of continuously evolving and avoiding complacency to maintain the quality and relevance of his comedy.

  “I wouldn’t say comfortable, because I think that comfortability can... lead you to wane a little bit.” [48:18]

8. Future Plans and Career Aspirations

Looking ahead, Josh outlines his ambitions for expanding his comedic reach and making a positive impact.

• Ambitious Tours: He plans to undertake more extensive tours that not only entertain but also engage communities through collaborations and charitable initiatives.

  “Flowers Tour... every place that I go, we're gonna do as much as we can to sort of, like, grow and share.” [48:27]

• Community Engagement: Josh aims to integrate community support, such as animal adoptions, into his tours to create memorable and meaningful experiences for audiences.

  “We're trying to get, like, dogs and cats adopted and stuff like that.” [48:27]

• Expanding Reach: He expresses a desire to perform in larger venues and possibly develop content that allows him to share his humor and insights with broader audiences.

  “I want to be able to do bigger shows that I can share my thoughts and my jokes with people in bigger spaces.” [48:27]

9. Insights on Comedy and Other Comedians

Josh appreciates the diversity in comedic styles and highlights fellow comedians who inspire him.

• Commending Peers: He praises comedians like Maria Bamford, Eagle Wit, and Zainab for their intelligent and poignant humor.

  “Maria Bamford is phenomenal... Eagle Wit. And Zainab.” [72:24]

• Importance of Awareness: Emphasizing the role of self-awareness and audience understanding in crafting effective comedy.

  “A lot of thinking that goes into it... managing where the story goes and where the audience's head goes.” [56:51]

• Subversive Humor: Josh values comedy that challenges prevailing narratives and offers fresh perspectives rather than merely following trends.

  “Comedy in its nature is supposed to be a little bit subversive of what everyone's thinking.” [51:51]

10. Final Thoughts on Politics, Policies, and Future Prospects

Towards the end of the episode, Josh and Toure reflect on the cyclical nature of political blame-shifting and the challenges it poses for effective governance.

• Scapegoating in Politics: They discuss how both political parties blame each other for societal issues without addressing underlying systemic problems.

  “Each party scapegoats the other party for the things that they need that they know the country actually needs.” [86:06]

• Policy Failures: Critique of bipartisan failures to implement sustainable policies, leading to recurring crises and public dissatisfaction.

  “We do have this cyclical blame-shifting... and the reply is always, whoever denied it, supplied it.” [91:35]

• Concern for Future Stability: Expressing worries about the potential for political mismanagement to lead to irreversible societal harm.

  “This one could be so intentional and then unintentionally disastrous that I think we could be in a place that is hard to come back from.” [89:21]

Conclusion

This episode of The Toure Show offers a deep dive into the complexities of modern American politics, the role of comedy in navigating societal tensions, and the challenges of effective storytelling in media. Josh Johnson provides thoughtful critiques and forward-thinking solutions, all while maintaining his signature humor and intellectual rigor. Listeners gain valuable insights into the interplay between politics, media narratives, and the personal responsibilities of those in the public eye.

Notable Quotes:

• Josh Johnson on Democratic Messaging:

  “I think there is a mysterious, elusive middle ground that's gonna like, bring the whole country together on policy that I don't think is real.” [03:06]

• On Redundancy in Comedy:

  “Trying to create an imaginary path while ignoring the biases of the people is ill advised.” [04:37]

• On Villain Perception:

  “If you can make a pedophile cry, that's pretty funny.” [16:15]

• On Responsibility Over Pressure:

  “I feel more like responsibility focuses you.” [43:55]

• On Storytelling Flaws:

  “We are the imperfect representatives of our stories.” [65:15]

• On Money Distribution:

  “We have enough money to take care of everybody and we don't do it.” [37:39]

• On Future Tour Goals:

  “Flowers Tour... every place that I go, we're gonna do as much as we can to sort of, like, grow and share.” [48:27]

This summary encapsulates the rich and multifaceted discussion between Toure and Josh Johnson, providing listeners with a comprehensive understanding of the episode's key themes and insights.