Taylor Jones draws a bottle of Mezcal Gusano FBI, labeled as a producto de MAGA, with a worm at the bottom that has the face of Kash Patel, eyes wide and mouth open in apparent freak-out. The image plays on the tradition of mezcal with a gusano, or worm, inside the alcohol bottle, tying it to political themes of FBI director, justice department, and law enforcement. The worm's expression suggests inebriation or passing out, evoking ideas of drunkenness and dereliction of duty. This satirical take uses the moth larva in agave booze to comment on the 100 proof intensity of MAGA influence in such appointments. The cartoon stays simple, focusing on the bottle and its contents without added context.
The image depicts a suited man clutching an open wallet containing a VISA card while dollar bills fly upward with red and black markings. Coins scatter nearby. The scene illustrates the pressure of rising prices on household budgets. No specific policy or event is named in the image. The composition centers the figure against a speckled background with the artist's name at the bottom.
Dave Granlund's 2013 cartoon captures the IRS scandal with a burly, bare-chested figure dressed in gladiator gear, a belt marked IRS, and a spiked mace in hand. The character clutches his head in dismay, exclaiming that the scandal could ruin their image. Tags such as internal revenue service, taxes, profiling, tea party, targeting, and over-reach underscore the commentary on the agency's alleged scrutiny of conservative groups seeking tax exempt status. The image uses exaggeration to highlight concerns over power abuse in politics, with the figure's shocked expression and muscular build emphasizing the irony of a fearsome entity worried about its reputation. Republicans and GOP elements are implied through the context of the scandal.
