The full force of the Chinese state came down on demonstrators protesting their government’s “zero-Covid” policy of strict lockdowns and testing. The lead image in this week’s editorial cartoon gallery, by Bill Bramhall, shows protesters being stepped on by the authorities.
Michael Ramirez draws a Chinese man holding a blank sheet of paper — a metaphor for government censorship — next to President Joe Biden holding a blank “speech balloon” signifying his silence on the issue. Dana Summers and Scott Stantis borrow an iconic image from the 1989 pro-democracy demonstrations in Tiananmen Square: a lone protester in a faceoff with a tank. Walt Handelsman draws leader Xi Jingping overlooking a large crowd agitating for new leadership and democracy, with a general telling him, “We can’t stop the spread!”
Former President Donald Trump’s dinner with the musician Ye and white nationalist Nick Fuentes also is a hot topic. A handful of Republicans called out the former president for hosting “racist antisemites.” But most remained silent. Editorial cartoonists invoked imagery of the Ku Klux Klan, Nazis and serial killers in their commentaries.
In politics, House Speaker Nancy Pelosi stepped down from leadership. Bramhall draws her replacement, Rep. Hakeem Jeffries of New York, with the shepherd’s staff Pelosi used to herd cats in the House Democratic caucus. Georgia GOP Senate candidate Herschel Walker’s primary residence in Texas was another popular topic.
Editorial cartoonists also commented on the end of Dr. Anthony Fauci’s career as the nation’s top infectious disease expert; Biden’s oil deals with Venezuela and Saudi Arabia; Qatar’s treatment of guest workers building facilities for the World Cup; and a threatened rail strike over paid sick leave.
Cartoons were drawn by Nick Anderson, Bill Bramhall, Dana Summers, Drew Sheneman, Scott Stantis, Walt Handelsman, David Horsey, Phil Hands, Joel Pett and Joey Weatherford of Tribune Content Agency; and Steve Breen, Mike Luckovich and Michael Ramirez of Creators Syndicate.
View more editorial cartoon galleries.