Steven Prusakowski
From Comedy Central’s World News Headquarters, it is Desi Lydic.
In a political landscape overflowing with endless noise, double standards, and paper-thin conspiracy theories, Lydic has carved out a space for herself which is necessary and surprisingly hopeful. Through her Emmy-winning Foxsplains segments as well as her news anchoring work on The Daily Show, Lydic keeps choosing the harder road, comedy that exposes rather than merely entertains.
The comedian uses comedy and political figures and “news” outlets’ own words against them to expose lies and hypocrisy. She finds the humor in what is often a grim sociopolitical landscape rather than simply coasting on easy laughs. And while she deals in the latest headlines, she doesn’t claim or want to be a news source. She’s just glad when people find a little direction, or at least a reason to keep talking, in the work.
That approach is rooted in something more personal than the daily news cycle. Growing up in Kentucky gave her a front-row seat to the very divides, often at the dinner table.
“I grew up in a very conservative family. My parents are lifelong Republicans… I did grow up in a pretty Republican family in Louisville, Kentucky,” shared Lydic. “But I grew up in a pretty Republican, pretty conservative family, and I have loved ones who do consider themselves Republicans. And even though I disagree with them on certain policies, as people, we love each other very much. And we have very interesting conversations at Thanksgiving.”
Those family conversations seem to be part of the fuel for what she brings to Foxsplains, where the goal is never just to mock but to fully inhabit the mental gymnastics she sees playing out on the other side of the dial.
“I love doing Foxsplains. I really do. They’re my favorite,” explained Lydic. “I think for such a long time, Fox News has provided a wealth of mis- and disinformation. We had been looking for a way to embody that, satirize it, and play around with the mental gymnastics they go through. Foxsplains felt like the perfect container for that, where we could go 200% and commit to it.”
What makes the segment work is the sense that she is working toward something larger than the next viral clip or a quick laugh. Rather, she hopes for an eventual end to the need for it at all.
“The bar has gotten higher and higher in terms of what is permissible on those networks, so it’s an ongoing challenge. At some point, I don’t know if we’re going to be able to out crazy it. My goal is that we run out of material and can no longer do Foxsplains because there is such a thing as a true, fair and balanced media ecosystem. I will be a happy gal. Until then, I’m gonna try to find the humor in it all in the meantime.”
Even as audiences lean on the work for clarity in chaotic times, she is careful to keep the boundaries clear. The show is comedy first, with truth as its backbone rather than any claim to replace traditional reporting. “We are not the news; we are a comedy show,” Lydic makes clear. “There is a lot of misinformation and disinformation in the media, and our job is not just to talk about what’s happening in the political world, but also to satirize the media coverage of it… We try our damnedest to tell the truth and also to make it funny, but telling the truth is part of the backbone of what we do.”
Ultimately, the hope is that laughter opens a door for conversation rather than closing one.
“Well, I think comedy can be a great unifier. If someone can laugh about something, maybe they can become more open to having a conversation about something they wouldn’t have otherwise. Especially if you’re from Kentucky and you’ve got conservative family members. I’ve had to have all those conversations.”
While she does not expect to change everyone’s mind (or anyone’s) she does find solace the her work connects with some people. “The thing that I appreciate so much, and this is the best part of this job is when our fans reach out and say, ‘Hey, thank you so much for doing that piece on the pink tax,’ or environmental racism or Foxsplains. ‘Because I’ve been watching and I’ve been so frustrated at what’s happening and this felt very cathartic for me.’ … For someone to actually say, ‘Thank you for covering this issue, it really meant a lot to me,’ that’s really all I can ask for,” confessed Lydic.
Lydic keeps showing up, doing her best to stay hopeful, and hoping to make viewers laugh, ready to Foxsplain the latest absurdity, quietly rooting for the day the segment is no longer needed.
New to Foxsplains or Desi Lydic? Here’s a brilliant Foxsplains to get you started.
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