the atlantic
Apr
26
2026
Christopher Weyant's cartoon captures Kash Patel trapped inside a large bottle labeled 'Kash Patel 100 Proof Improprieties,' with the cork marked 'Allegations.' The figure, dressed in a suit with 'FBI' on the sleeve, raises arms and shouts in a speech bubble: 'MIA!?! I've been right here the whole time!' A tipped-over glass spills liquid nearby. Tags like FBI, Kash Patel, alcoholic, allegations, bottle, and fail underscore the visual pun on being 'in the bottle,' tying into themes of inept leadership and ongoing controversies in domestic policy and criminal justice.
Apr
24
2026
R.J. Matson's cartoon depicts Director Kash Patel behind an FBI desk, his nose elongated like Pinocchio's, as he mangles a sobriety test phrase: 'Watch me tip the touch of my nose!' The setup labels it Step 1: Deny you have a problem, with a defamation lawsuit paper slipping away. American and FBI flags frame the scene, tying into tags like Federal Bureau of Investigation, Kash Patel, field sobriety test, intoxication, drinking problem, and criminal justice. This visual pokes at perceptions of denial in leadership, blending humor with commentary on domestic policy without overreaching into unseen motives.
Apr
23
2026
Dave Whamond's cartoon splits the scene between Trump's Cabinet of stern-faced men in suits and Trump's Liquor Cabinet, where caricatures labeled Hegseth and Patel emerge disheveled amid bottles and barware, poking at Trump's cabinet problems. The dry humor targets Kash Patel as FBI director nominee and Pete Hegseth for Secretary of Defense, amid drinking allegations and excessive drinking claims from The Atlantic. Unexplained absences and AWOL accusations add to the satire of unfit picks, with a defamation lawsuit looming. This piece captures the irony of Trump's best people turning into a partying liquor cabinet fiasco, all in a straightforward, insider jab at political absurdity.
Apr
22
2026
Dave Whamond's cartoon depicts Kash Patel energetically leaping from a grassy cliff, clutching a handful of beer cans and a drink, while yelling 'OH YEAH? I CAN TOP THAT PETE! HOLD MY BEERS' in a speech bubble. A stern-faced man in a suit stands nearby, holding a small drink. The scene plays on drinking allegations surrounding Patel's FBI director nomination, incorporating tags like The Atlantic article, reported alcohol use, drinks to excess, intoxication, unexplained absences, and Patel's 250M defamation lawsuit. The artwork uses caricature style to satirize political figures lashing out at press and Democrats demanding alcohol abuse tests, with Patel portrayed in a dynamic, over-the-top pose against a simple sky and grass background.
Apr
20
2026
Ed Wexler's cartoon captures a man clearly modeled after a public figure, dressed in an FBI sweatshirt, balancing beers on his head and in his hands, with tags like kash, patel, the atlantic, drinking, alcohol, beer, obvious intoxication, and absences. The figure, showing signs of inebriation with wide eyes and a goofy grin, holds a glass in each hand while more pints teeter atop his spiky hair, foam spilling everywhere. Speech bubbles reveal his slurred plan to sue the Atlantic for writing about his drinking, followed by the punchline 'I'll drink to that!' Bubbles and stars float around, emphasizing the dizzy, drunken state. The signature at the bottom credits the artist and site, grounding the satire in visible elements of alcohol-fueled absurdity.
