impacts
May
23
2020
John Darkow's cartoon captures a soldier kneeling before a tombstone labeled 'Fallen,' adorned with a small American flag, uttering 'No Social Distancing Required Here!' against a grassy backdrop. Dated Memorial Day 2020, it ties themes of military sacrifice, decoration day, and the coronavirus pandemic. The image underscores how COVID-19's social distancing and separation rules contrast with the eternal closeness of honoring the fallen in military tradition. With tags including fallen, flag, and social distancing, the artwork offers a dry commentary on pandemic life intersecting with national remembrance, reminding viewers of ongoing sacrifices amid global health crises.
Sep
17
2017
A political cartoon depicts Earth encircled by multiple hurricane symbols and five evacuation route signs pointing toward the planet. Published on September 17, 2017, the image responds to Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Jose striking in quick succession during an unusually active Atlantic season. The visual metaphor suggests the planet itself requires evacuation from intensifying storms linked to warmer oceans. The cartoon arrives weeks after Harvey flooded Houston and as Irma threatened Florida and the Caribbean. It captures public anxiety over back-to-back major hurricanes and growing scientific links between climate change and stronger storms.
Sep
7
2017
The image depicts three people caught in fierce winds during the 2017 hurricane season. One man in a MAGA cap asks if climate change were real how bad it would be. Nearby a woman in a matching slogan hat and another person with curly hair also appear tossed by the storm. The scene responds to Hurricanes Harvey and Irma striking the United States that summer. Harvey caused record flooding in Texas in August while Irma threatened Florida and the Caribbean in September. The visual ties political skepticism about climate science to the immediate damage from these storms. It highlights the disconnect between denial and the observed effects of extreme weather.
Aug
28
2017
A political cartoon published August 28, 2017, depicts residents in floodwaters from Hurricane Harvey holding a sign reading 'Everything is BIGGER in TEXAS.' A speech bubble states 'THAT'S NOT ALWAYS A GOOD THING.' The image responds to the historic flooding that submerged parts of Houston and other Texas cities after Harvey made landfall, with the cartoon using the state's well-known slogan to highlight the disaster's unprecedented scope.
Nov
4
2013
The cartoon shows a massive foot labeled GOP crushing the words Food Stamp Program, with groceries and a shopping cart scattered below. Published November 4, 2013, it responds to congressional debates over cuts to the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program during farm bill negotiations. Republicans sought reductions in food assistance spending while Democrats defended the program. The image highlights the impact on low-income families and children reliant on the benefits. It uses the visual metaphor of stomping to suggest aggressive policy moves against welfare programs.
