On June 14th, this podcast passed its 5th birthday! (Just a coincidence that it was Trump’s birthday, too.)
So again, I ignored the time limit and decided to get more in-depth into a topic. The more general topic is how the political rules keep changing. More specifically, I’ll discuss changes like what’s acceptable for mocking a President, and how some decide who to blame when a tragedy happens.
Much has changed…and changed back.  It’s amazing what a difference a change in political party makes.
Mentioned links:
Missouri fair bans rodeo clown wearing Obama mask
Rodeo clown banned for wearing Obama mask speaks out
“He broke me”: Kathy Griffin blames “bully” President Trump, “white men” for decapitation video backlash
Theater refuses to buckle after ‘Caesar’ Trump criticism
15 Times Celebrities Envisioned Violence Against Trump and the GOP
Virginia Shooting Suspect Was Distraught Over Trump’s Election, Brother Says
Sen. Sanders Sends Out Fundraising Email Citing Arizona Tragedy

Show transcript
I want to tell you the story of Tuffy Gessling. You may not have heard his name before, but when you hear the whole story, you may remember him.
Mr. Gessling had been doing his job for at least 15 years, and he did it well. His job had two responsibilities. One was to make people laugh, but he wasn’t a comedian. The other one was to save people from harm, but he wasn’t a doctor or a first responder.
The thing he got national attention for, which is where you may know him from, was that he did something that some considered to be offensive towards our President. Some thought it was intended to make fun of him. It was so offensive to them, that politicians – Republicans and Democrats – thought there needed to be punishment, perhaps a financial penalty to Gessling’s employer.
The employer, though, was just as offended, and called his action “inappropriate” and “unconscionable”. Technically, Tuffy Gessling was a contractor, and what the employer did was ask the contracting company to ban him for life from ever working for them again, and the employer was reconsidering their entire association with the contracting company.
That’s a pretty serious reaction to Mr. Gessling. So what did he do? Well, he wore a rubber mask of the President as part of the comedy part of his job. That’s it? That’s it. Considering what others have done lately to mock the President, this seems rather tame.
And it is. But, as you’ve probably guessed, I’ve not told you the whole story. Yet.
Kathy Griffin did a photo shoot with a fake severed head of the President. She thought it would make a statement, and that it would be considered funny. Can’t really blame her for thinking that, I guess.  That’s especially true when a play that mimics Julius Caesar with the President in the title role gets rave reviews, and a standing ovation when he’s killed, is all the rage. Or when people take to the streets to protest against things the President hasn’t even done.
But of course,