I am 19, which means I am able to vote in this country. I and many others recently became able to vote, causing the percentage of young voters to rise within the last year.
I'd like the number to continue increasing so the beliefs of this generation are heard. Yes, your vote does matter, and yes, even though you may not realize it, the decisions going on in the political world do affect you.
I get it, politics is boring for most people. But right now, people need to be more educated than they already are. Too many believe what they see on the internet without fact-checking and/or doing their own research.
I got into comedic political shows in my early years of high school and continue to watch many today. These 10 shows I'm recommending will inform you on politics in a humorous way that'll make you laugh, regardless if you like politics or not.
Last Week Tonight with John Oliver
Hands down my favorite political show on this list is "Last Week Tonight With John Oliver." This show is on HBO, so the lack of censorship very much adds to the comedy. Every Sunday, John Oliver goes over the events of the past week. Even though it is on HBO, they have a YouTube channel where they upload the latest episode every Monday so viewers can watch for free. Not every topic on this show is related to politics, but the majority is. He talks about the U.S. government as well as other countries' politics, which is great to see.
Where to watch:HBO on Sundays.
The Daily Show with Trevor Noah
This is the show that first got me hooked. Trevor Noah took over for original host Jon Stewart in 2015. I like both, but I'll admit I liked Jon as the host a little more. The main thing Trevor does is make fun of the news going on in America, as well as host guests and send out correspondents for funny segments. John Oliver was originally a correspondent for Jon Stewart before getting his own show.
Where to watch:Comedy Central on Monday through Thursday, with segments posted on YouTube.
The Philip DeFranco Show
This one is on YouTube from creator Philip DeFranco. As one of the OG YouTubers, DeFranco has built up a big audience for his weekday shows that are uploaded in the afternoon. He covers everything in the news from politics to YouTube and everything in between. Videos range from 10-20, always with links in the description to all his sources. One reason I like DeFranco so much is that he is neutral when reporting.
Where to watch:YouTube on weekdays.
VlogBrothers
You've probably heard of the author John Green, author of "The Fault In Our Stars." But did you know John and his brother Hank made videos on YouTube first? Along with their main channel, the Green brothers have many other channels dedicated to educating people on different things. Fun fact: they are also the ones that started VidCon! Occasionally they have videos on this channel talking about important things in America, but you can also visit CrashCourse too.
Where to watch:YouTube and CrashCourse
Real Time with Bill Maher
Probably the most controversial one on this list. I don't necessarily agree with Bill Maher's political views, but I will watch occasionally for the comedy and specific topics. He likes to play devil's advocate and leans more one-sided.
Where to watch:HBO on Fridays.
The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
While his older show "The Colbert Report" was more geared towards politics and followed the Daily Show, he stills does monologues on the current headlines. You can watch this show for entertainment and learn some things about politics too.
Where to watch:CBS on weekdays.
Full Frontal with Samantha Bee
Samantha Bee was also a correspondent on "The Daily Show" before receiving her own show. With similar comedy to John Oliver and Trevor Noah, Samantha Bee reports on politics and the news.
Where to watch:Comedy Central on Wednesdays.
CNN Student News
Honestly, this was my favorite part of government in ninth grade. Hosted by Carl Azuz on the CNN website, CNN Student News is made up of 10-minute videos that talk about what's going on in today's news. This especially geared toward middle school and high school students, and is a great resource for teachers.
Where to watch:CNN
Weekend Update on SNL
It is well known that "Saturday Night Live" makes fun of the news. Apart from the cold open, the "Weekend Update" segment, currently hosted by Michael Che and Colin Jost, is a good place to laugh off the week's news.
Late Night with Seth Meyers
Previously a "Weekend Update" host from "Saturday Night Live," Meyers continues to joke about politics and the news like he did on the "Weekend Update."
