Why Speechwriters Take Humor Seriously

In honor of silly season in Washington, our resident humorists Chandler Dean and Sarah Gruen unpack the strategy behind the hilarity — and share techniques that can help anyone land a punchline that packs a punch.

As leaders of West Wing Writers’ humor practice, satirists who have been published in the pages of The New Yorker and McSweeney’s, and veterans of the political comedy world, we’ve dedicated our careers, in part, to crafting jokes that serve a higher purpose — whether it’s helping progressives advocate more effectively for a cause, or helping business leaders make their messages more memorable.

We believe humor is a singularly powerful way for leaders to educate and endear. And you don’t have to take our word for it. Our perspective is confirmed by the most hilarious of disciplines: research.