Kristi Noem, South Park, And The Art Of Taking A Joke

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.

South Park Has Always Been Equal-Opportunity Offensive

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

Comedy Is Dying On The Left. Let’s Not Copy Them.

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.

Laugh It Off Or Become the Punchline

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

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