South Park took a swing at Kristi Noem this week. Of course they did. That’s what they do. The long-running animated show has built its entire reputation on mocking every politician, celebrity, and cultural trend they can get their hands on. Nobody is off-limits.
When asked about the episode, Noem called it lazy that they chose to make fun of her appearance. To be fair, she has changed her looks drastically over the years, and not in ways that go unnoticed. While much of the internet is still swooning over Sweeney’s jeans, Noem has been branded “ICE Barbie” by her critics. That nickname didn’t come from nowhere.
But here’s the thing: getting roasted by South Park is not exactly a tragedy. In fact, in today’s political climate, it’s practically a sign you’ve made it.
One of the reasons South Park has lasted this long is because they aim at everyone. As they should. No sacred cows. No protected public figures. A few weeks ago, the White House got bent out of shape over an episode mocking Donald Trump, and they had to go all snowflake, calling South Park irrelevant. Come on now, let’s not turn into the delicate Left, the folks who can find offense in the color of the sky.
That’s the same mistake Noem is making now. You don’t win against South Park by taking offense. They thrive on that. They’ve been at this for decades, and if you respond with outrage, they’ve already won.
Vice President J.D. Vance gives a lesson on how to respond.
Well, I’ve finally made it https://t.co/Mu7VrSVTSb
— JD Vance (@JDVance) August 7, 2025
Conservatives should take note: the Left has already lost its sense of humor. Stephen Colbert stopped being funny a long time ago, if he ever was. Howard Stern once ruled daytime radio. Now, both are bitter political sermonizers. Colbert is limping through late night until May of next year after announcing his show is canceled. And Stern is staring down an uncertain future. They traded jokes for lectures, and audiences tuned out.
If conservatives start reacting the same way, puffing up with righteous indignation every time a comedian or satirical show takes a shot, we’re going to end up just as boring and self-serious. Political satire is supposed to sting. That’s the point.
Kristi Noem didn’t throw a fit over the South Park episode, but she also didn’t play it smart. Instead of flipping the joke back on them, she called it lazy, which is basically a free commercial for the show. South Park survives on reactions like that, it’s oxygen to them. A sharp, self-aware comeback would have turned the tables. Something like, “Guess I’m in good company,” and she’s in on the joke instead of feeding it.
South Park mocking you doesn’t mean they’re right; it just means you’re relevant enough to be noticed. When you’re in the political arena, that’s not a curse. That’s branding.
The White House didn’t win by scolding South Park over Trump. Noem won’t win by swatting at them over herself. And conservatives won’t win if we forget how to laugh at ourselves.
If we keep letting comedians know they can get under our skin, we’ll end up exactly where the Left is now, sitting in the ashes of our own sense of humor, wondering why no one’s laughing anymore.
In politics, you either laugh with the joke or become the punchline. South Park isn’t a threat; it’s a rite of passage. The danger comes when conservatives start clutching their pearls like the Left and treating every jab as a crisis. That’s how you end up looking thin-skinned, not tough. Take the hit, throw one back, and move on.
Feature Image: Office of the Governor, South Dakota, CC BY 4.0, via Wikimedia Commons/edited in Canva Pro
Scott says: Good post Carol! South Park, like Mel Brooks before them is classic insult comedy, and as you point out, like any good comedian, will gonna the attack if you show thin skin.. look back at episodes related to Tom Cruise and Chef.. those were not accidental, they were a direct response to the reactions of those individuals after they first appeared on the show.
I am a fan of both President Trump and Noem, but they need to get over themselves when it comes to this, and play along with the joke.
I don’t watch South Park. I have watched some of their clips. I will say that they are indeed “even handed.”
Many of their clips where they mock social issues, both Left and Right, are fairly good.
Every clip that I have seen where they mock specific people, both Left and Right, have invariably been feeble, puerile, and, yes, irrelevant.
Equally good in one case – equally bad in the other.
Jack says: South Park Has Always Been Equal-Opportunity Offensive:
I have seen them mock christianity but they haven’t touched the religion of peace – aka Islam. But, they are not the only ones that have skipped them.
Scott says: Actually, in episodes 200 and 201, they did make fun of the religion of pieces, but the network censored some.of it due to death threats
Jack says: I accidently replied to the wrong post, the one abut ICE. See below
mort main says: Their portrayal of ICE agents as ignorant thugs was not very flattering or satirical.
Jack says: I stand corrected, thank you for the information.
D_C says: Thank you for pointing this out.
South Park is a national treasure.
When they’re on, they’re really good!
Some shows are better than others, but yhat adds to their charm.
Hate_me says: Only good thing Al Gore ever did in his political career was his reaction to ManBearPig.
S Cseh says: Being the subject of a joke on South Park should be worn as a badge of honor.
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