The license to be funny in America

Throughline examines the history of American comedy as a protected form of speech, tracing how humor has functioned as a tool for critiquing power. The episode argues that no matter how crude or distasteful the joke, the stand-up stage is a constitutionally protected space in a democracy. It’s a fast-paced look at how the First Amendment has been applied to comedy and why the right to be funny is a serious matter.