Closing General Session featuring Peter Sagal
Satire & Stories: Responding to Today’s Political Climate
In this session, that’s as entertaining as it is informative, Sagal will describe this unprecedented time in both politics and media. He will also share his belief that sometimes laughter is not only the best medicine, but the most reasonable thing to do in response. More specifically, he will cover:
- The psychology behind why his show, NPR’s Wait Wait Don’t Tell Me, and those like it have become so popular in today’s culture.
- The powerful stories he’s encountered of how the U.S. Constitution and politics are impacting peoples’ lives in profound ways.
- Why this matters to you and the organizations you serve.
Peter Sagal
As the host of National Public Radio’s Wait Wait … Don’t Tell Me!, Peter Sagal is heard by more than 3 million people every week, broadcast on 450 public radio stations nationwide and via a popular podcast. The show received the prestigious Peabody Award in 2008, the same year it celebrated its 10th Anniversary. The hour long show has captivated news junkies across the country with its lighthearted approach to current events, and has become the biggest and most beloved weekend radio phenomenon since A Prairie Home Companion.
Each week, Sagal leads NPR veteran newscaster Carl Kasell and esteemed guest panelists like humorist Roy Blount Jr., comedians Paula Poundstone and Paul Provenza, media personality Mo Rocca and author P.J. O’Rourke through a satirical review of the week’s news in the form of a quiz. It’s a revival of You Bet Your Life crossbred with the irreverence of The Daily Show.
Sagal is the host of PBS’ new series, Constitution USA with Peter Sagal. The show follows him as he travels across country—on a Harley Davison Road King—to find out where the Constitution lives, how it works, its history and its vital relevance today.