When Reality Outpaces Parody
Satire in the Age of Trump and Algorithmic Absurdity
In an era of algorithm-driven political spectacle, epitomized by the presidency of Donald Trump, public life has grown so theatrical that satire often struggles to keep pace. Politicians increasingly parody themselves before writers can, with exaggeration already built into the system. When power already behaves absurdly, contemporary satire must perform a tightrope act to avoid becoming redundant – or worse, complicit.
Effective satire has historically depended on a shared baseline of reality: a common understanding of what is normal and what is moral, what is excessive, and what deserves ridicule. But what happens to satire when reality itself can no longer be agreed upon? This talk traces satire’s evolution from the plays of Aristophanes and the biting irony of Jonathan Swift to modern works such as Catch-22 and White Noise, and films like Dr. Strangelove and Network—works created in moments when political and institutional reality appeared irrational.
Contemporary works such as Succession, The White Lotus, and The Wolf of Wall Street will also be examined, exploring how populism, media spectacle, and elite self-awareness have blurred the line between satire and reality. In such a landscape, satire can become indistinguishable from the world it seeks to critique. We may now live in a moment where elites enjoy satire about themselves as a form of cultural consumption, recognizing the joke without necessarily feeling its sting.
This talk asks whether satire can still puncture power or whether it has been absorbed into the spectacle it once sought to critique. In this age of permanent performance and post-truth politics, is satire still a corrective force – or merely a mirror held up to a world already in on the joke?
To examine these issues, we are honoured to welcome:
Zach Tomasovic
Writer and filmmaker whose work spans film, television, and theatre. He has developed and produced films and television for HBO, AMC+, and The New Yorker, including the 2024 Oscar-nominated documentary The Barber of Little Rock, and has created documentary work for companies such as Hinge and PayPal. His comedic work has been featured in TIME, The Guardian, The Times (UK), The Washington Post, The New York Times, and Vulture. His satirical plays include Tribeca, starring Emmy and Tony-award winning actors and developed by Tony-award winning producers in 2025; Trumpus Interruptus: The Impeachment of Donald J Trump, which had a sold-out run at the Edinburgh Fringe; Sardinia, or The Blue Zones, currently in development with Off-Broadway’s Rattlestick Theatre; and Bora Bora. A former stand-up and sketch comedian who has performed at The Hollywood Improv and The Comedy Store, Tomasovic is a graduate of the University of Pennsylvania (B.A. History and English) and is based in New York City.
Zach Tomasovic | LinkedIn
The discussion will be followed by an exchange with participants in an informal High Tea setting, designed to encourage thoughtful and rigorous dialogue.
This invitation is also being extended to members of our partner clubs in Geneva, including Oxford & Cambridge Club Zurich, HEC Montréal / Asage, IMD, LSE, INSEAD, and the British Swiss Chamber of Commerce (BSCC).
Programme
15:00 — Guests arrival & welcome
15:20 — Opening remarks & speaker introduction
15:30 — Keynote: Satire in the Age of Trump and Algorithmic Absurdity, followed by Q&A
16:00 — Signature High Tea
17:50 — Closing remarks
18:00 — Carriages
Date & Venue
Sunday, 22 March 2026
15:00–18:00 Salon Parquet, Hôtel d’Angleterre, Geneva
Practical Information
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Places are limited and allocated on a first-come, first-served basis
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Please register by Monday, 16 March 2026 (end of day)
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Once the 30-person limit is reached, additional registrations will be placed on a waiting list
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Tickets are transferable but non-refundable
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Dress code: Smart-casual chic
For further information, please contact:
Ludovic Claude — ludo.claude@gmail.com
