The cartoon shows a pair of massive military boots dominating the scene, one labeled 'Inflation' and the other 'Gas Prices,' as they crush small human figures on the ground, with a sign reading 'Middle Class' among them. A speech bubble from one of the crushed figures says, 'I thought they were supposed to be headed to Iran...' The title 'Boots on the Ground' sits at the top. This setup uses dry humor to highlight misplaced priorities in war, economy, inflation, gas prices, middle class, and Iran. The sandy ground and stormy sky add to the chaotic feel, tying into tags like Trump, negotiation, Strait of Hormuz, and domestic policy impacts.
Pat Bagley's cartoon captures Vladimir Putin in a suit, firmly holding a smaller Benjamin Netanyahu who wears a VR headset and wields controllers, exclaiming 'My Turn!!' with frustration. Donald Trump dominates the TV screen, arm raised dramatically against a White House-like backdrop. The floor features a tipped 'GAME' box, underscoring the video game metaphor. This setup highlights themes of manipulation and turn-taking among leaders, delivered with sharp lines and exaggerated features typical of political satire. The dry humor lies in reducing global tensions to childish squabbles over a game, a classic cartoon trope that packs punch without overstatement.
Bruce Plante's 2018 cartoon captures the stock market's wild ride on a roller coaster plunging steeply, with passengers in panic. A giant pencil labeled 'market upswing' erases the upward track, highlighting Wall Street volatility and the erasure of gains. Tags like stock market, roller coaster, Wall Street, stock-market-2018, market upswing, and investor fear underscore the satire on financial instability. The image uses simple lines and exaggerated expressions to convey the terror of sudden downturns, a common theme in economic cartoons that resonates with audiences watching their portfolios tumble.
Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke extends a large hand toward the Bears Ears area in 2017. Two brown ear shapes detach and move away from the site. A woman with dark hair in a ponytail raises her hands to her face in alarm. The scene occurs as the Interior Department reviews national monument boundaries set the prior year. The review examined options for energy development and recreation access in Utah.
