The "deeply unserious" war and humor as a tool for resistance.

I was having drinks with a friend of mine when my girlfriend texted “sooo….we’re at war?” I pulled out my phone, after a day of being blissfully offline and unaware, to read the headlines. Trump, without congressional approval, bombed three nuclear facilities in Iran, inserting the U.S. into the Middle East conflict despite vehemently assuring that he wouldn’t (more on this in the news roundup below).

This is just the latest in a series of decisions by our president that feel deeply unserious, a term that became popular in 2024 to explain how individuals and organizations misuse their positions of power, interpretations that range from playful criticism to serious condemnation. Kamala Harris used it strategically during her 2024 presidential campaign, declaring that "Trump is an unserious man." In 2023, a viral tweet called the Grammy Awards "an incredibly unserious organisation" because of how they treated the late artist Mac Miller's parents. This linguistic evolution reflects our collective frustration with institutions that wield enormous power yet seem incapable of meeting the gravity of their responsibilities.

My friend and I joked about this as we watched the news updates in real time. He waged a war in the summer? On Juneteenth weekend?! During Pride?! She joked that the U.S. only has ten minutes left, so we discussed what we'd do in our final minutes (she's grabbing liquor from the bar and jumping in the hotel pool; I'm listening to my favorite songs and looking at the sky). The bartender gave us another glass of wine that was full to the brim, making the laughs slip more easily on the warm summer night.

I wanted more commentary on the unseriousness of it all, so I paused from reading the frantic news updates and turned to TikTok. There, I found my people. I immediately saw a video from a user about why they can't be drafted, and another giving a GRWM on their fictional first day on the job. Another (from before the start of the war) wrote a letter on behalf of Black people to Iran, hoping that we could work it out (here’s another trying to de-escalate the conflict). Many people drew maps to ensure Iran knew exactly where the U.S. is, omitting their own states to keep themselves safe (or focusing on states they didn’t like). Another video showed how millennials like me, when confronted with war, watch funny videos about it on TikTok while kicking our feet, as if he could see what I was doing in that very moment.

For every humorous post on social media, there’s one that’s educational and informative, providing nuanced perspectives on what’s at stake and what everyday people can expect. But I skipped those for the moment. When we choose to meet absurdity with absurdity, we reclaim our right to joy and liberation, despite the odds at stake. Last night, I felt so much fear and heartbreak for what lies ahead. But I also had full belly laughs with others – both those close to me and others I’ve never met – a reminder that we’ll get through this together, as we always do. 

I invite you to laugh with me. Send me your favorite humorous reflections on this catastrophe.

Related Reading

• In The Myth of Sisyphus, Albert Camus begins with the sentence “I draw from the absurd three consequences, which are my revolt, my freedom, and my passion.” Read more about his approach to the absurdity of war and conflict.

• For The Atlantic, David A. Graham explores why dark times all for dark jokes, and the importance of laughing in the overwhelm. 

• In this article, Shira Chess reflects on Medusa’s commitment to laughter and lightness to understand how humor can act as a protest.

• In her book All Joking Aside, Rebecca Krefting calls this response “charged humor”: a form of disruptive laughter meant to reimagine communities and spark social change.

• “Indigenous people are masters at taking the hurt and pain that was dealt to us, laughing in the face of it, and weaving it into ridiculous comedy gold.” I appreciated this article by Devery Jacobs on the role of humor as a tool for survival. 

• I’m not wildly funny on TikTok, but I do post magic videos occasionally, which feels like another antidote to these times. You can follow me @blackgirlmagician. 

Trump bombs Iran, then demands Iran agree to end the war. After the unprovoked attack, Trump demanded that Iran effectively surrender while continuing to threaten the country. Truthout >

Americans largely disapprove of U.S. involvement in Israel and Iran war. A poll from last week found that 60% of 1,512 polled Americans think the U.S. military should not get involved in the conflict between Israel and Iran, according to an Economist/YouGov poll released this week. Only 16% support U.S. military action, and 24% are unsure. Axios >

"I'm Afraid a Bomb Will Kill Me in My Sleep": Iranians react to Israel's attacks. Israel has killed at least 250 Iranians as it strikes residential buildings, civilian infrastructure and military bases. Published before the U.S. dropped bombs. Truthout >

ICE

Community defense groups are taking the last stand against ICE in LA. Organizers argue that LA's sanctuary laws aren't enough to keep their immigrant neighbors safe. The Intercept >

Local police departments are enabling ICE’s deportation machine. Even in cities where police decline to work with ICE, local law enforcement still bolster Trump’s deportation agenda. Truthout >

5% of undocumented migrants are Black. They’re 20% of potential deportations. Research exposes how racial disparities in policing have created a pathway from routine life to permanent family separation for Black migrants. Capital B >

Chicago police may have broken sanctuary law during ICE raid. Immigrant rights advocates are demanding an investigation into the Chicago Police Department’s appearance alongside Immigration and Customs Enforcement during a June 4 raid. Prism >

IN PROTEST

Older women front and center in ‘No Kings’ pro-democracy movement. Americans in their 60s, 70s and beyond showed up in force at this weekend’s protests, drawn by the Trump’s dismantling of public institutions and government programs. 19th News >

5 million people attended "No Kings" protests. Here’s where we can grow.The protests were inspired by the idea that 3.5% of a population must rise up to successfully reject authoritarianism. Truthout >

PALESTINE

A student speaker mentioned Gaza. Harvard won't publish her speech. Harvard Divinity School refuses to publish Zehra Imam's commencement address after she deviated from her approved script to speak about Palestine. The Intercept >

Mahmoud Khalil reunites with his family after being released from ICE detainment. Columbia University graduate and Palestinian activist Mahmoud Khalil reunited with his wife and met his newborn son after being released from over 100 days in ICE detention. Democracy Now! >

An Australian journalist was deported from the U.S. for their reports on pro-Palestinian protests on college campuses. A journalist was detained and deported from Los Angeles airport for her reporting on Gaza campus protests. Truthout >

QUEER NEWS

The Trump administration shuts down LGBTQ+ youth suicide hotline. The 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline will no longer use its LGBTQ youth service line starting July 17, with the administration saying it will "focus on serving all help seekers." NBC News >

She didn't feel safe as a trans woman in America. So she found peace on the Atlantic ocean. Kelsey Granger fled Texas shortly after President Trump's reelection and has made a boat her full-time residence in an act of self-preservation. I love how narrative storytelling like this helps to contextualize the scale of harm marginalized communities are experiencing. 19th News >

Supreme Court upholds Tennessee's anti-trans healthcare ban. In U.S. v. Skrmetti, the Supreme Court ruled that anti-trans legislation banning gender-affirming care for minors is constitutional, allowing laws in states like Tennessee and Missouri to continue. them >

ENVIRONMENT

A new app details where your food comes from — and just how fragile the global food system really is. A "first of its kind" tool could help untangle the complex global web of food supply chains and make it more resilient to climate shocks. Grist >

A historic Black community takes on the world's richest man over environmental racism. In a Tennessee neighborhood founded by freed slaves, residents are fighting back against unpermitted pollution from Elon Musk's xAI supercomputer facility. Capital B >

HEALTH

Proposed federal Medicaid cuts will ‘devastate’ millions.An estimated 16 million would lose insurance in the next decade if the federal bill passes the Senate, disproportionately hurting the most vulnerable, advocates say. Prism >

A brain-dead Georgia woman is set to be taken off of life support after her baby was delivered. Adriana Smith has been on life support since February. Her case has made national headlines, drawing attention to the state’s six-week abortion ban. 19th News >

Nowhere in the world to run: The International law ripping children from their mothers. The Hague Abduction Convention was meant to reunite mothers and children. Instead, it's often used by allegedly abusive fathers to tear them apart. 19th News >

That’s all for this week! Did you learn something new? Appreciate a new insight? Consider helping make this newsletter sustainable: