Voter frustration with Congress has grown amid stalled legislation and partisan gridlock on Capitol Hill. The piece portrays this sentiment as a towering monstrous force looming over the legislative branch. It argues that public anger targets both parties equally for failing to address key issues.
Gary McCoy's 2018 cartoon shows Pope Francis in bed, labeled 'Francis,' smirking as he pulls a green blanket over a figure hidden under covers marked 'Church Sex Scandal.' A speech bubble reads 'WHAT UP?! COVER UP!' with a clerical collar on the nightstand. This satire targets the Catholic Church sexual abuse scandal, Archbishop Carlo Maria Vigano's accusations, predator priests, pedophiles, and Vatican City coverups. The pontiff's grin highlights perceived zero tolerance failures and progressive stances amid clergy molestation claims involving Theodore McCarrick. The hairy arm and mustache on the hidden figure add a layer of absurdity to the coverup pun.
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.
