Master Debating

by Craig Wiesner - San Mateo Daily Journal - August 25, 2025

Don’t worry, this article is SFW (Safe for Work). Many of my friends and I on “the left” were frustrated with Paramount (CBS, Comedy Central, etc…) for capitulating to the president by agreeing to pay $16 million dollars to settle a lawsuit over what he claimed was unfair editing of a pre-election 60 Minutes Kamala Harris interview. Media conglomerate Skydance was set to acquire Paramount but the Republican administration did not green light the merger until right after Paramount settled the lawsuit and agreed to eliminate all diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives and promised to install a “bias monitor” to review content on its platforms. Stephen Colbert, host of the Late Show on CBS, responded to Paramount’s decision during his monologue by calling their move “a big fat bribe.” His show was cancelled shortly after that, though he’ll remain on the air through May of 2026. Shakespeare wrote “the first thing we do, let’s kill all the lawyers.” Well, after the administration had attacked major law firms across the country, I guess the next step was to kill all the comedians. With Paramount settling the lawsuit and Colbert’s firing, folks like me had given up on Skydance/Paramount as a source of entertainment and news until, well, South Park’s 2025 season debut, which, by the way, might not be safe to watch at work.

In the first episode, beyond the absolutely brutal scenes featuring our current Commander in Chief getting handsy with Satan, and DHS Director Kristi Noem shooting a lot of puppies, another major storyline featured the art of master debating. When the young character, Cartman, is locked inside his bedroom for way too long, his mother, worrying about him, yells in to ask him what he’s doing. He loudly and proudly proclaims that he is “master debating,” and “getting quite good at it.” Oh my! Over the last few months I have found myself watching some real people on YouTube and TikTok debating each other on some of the most divisive issues our nation and world face, progressives versus MAGA. Quite entertaining and illuminating. 

31 year-old Charlie Kirk, founder of Turning Point USA, and 20 year-old Dean Withers are among the top young personalities, also known as “content creators” and “influencers,” representing the right and the left out there on the Interwebs. Among Kirk’s most famous (or infamous depending on your thinking) moments is him telling a 14 year old girl she should go to college to get an MRS degree, his position being that women should be more concerned about marriage and having children than having careers. Kirk also believes that abortion is murder at any stage of pregnancy and opposes contraception / birth control. He bases much of his world view on his interpretation of the bible and is quite adept at quoting chapter and verse to take down his opponents. Kirk is ultra MAGA. Withers, on the other hand, championed Kamala Harris in the last election and is a staunch defender of women’s rights, including abortion. He’s an atheist though he can toss out biblical moral thinking quite fluently and witheringly when debating someone who bases their opinions on their religious beliefs. His knowledge of and ability to explain quite complex issues with a photographic memory of intricate details on just about any subject can be stunning. Both Kirk and Withers are lightning fast speakers and thinkers and one considering taking either of them on had better be extremely well prepared with their facts and ready for very spirited banter. Most average people who take them on will generally leave with their proverbial tails between their legs. 

Charlie Kirk was parodied on the August 6th episode of South Park. Cartman, hinting at complaints against Kirk for editing his debate videos to make his arguments look perfect, tells his worried mother, “I have my arguments down rock-solid, these young college girls are totally unprepared so I can just destroy them. And, also, edit out all the ones who actually argue back well.” 

Given that Skydance/Paramount sealed a $1.5 billion dollar deal with South Park just before the new season landed I’m guessing that either the “bias monitor” hadn’t started reviewing content yet, OR, perhaps, the company will feature content representing all sides of our political debates. Or, more likely, Skydance/Paramount’s bias will be on programming that makes the most money. Time will tell. Throughout time one of the best ways to take down autocrats is through humor. From Charlie Chaplain’s “The Great Dictator” to Mel Brooks’ entire career to South Park, exposing the absurdity of what’s happening and who is doing what can ultimately overcome the fear and oppression even a “day one dictator” seeks to impose. 

So now, dear readers, what shall we master debate next? 

Craig Wiesner is the co-owner of Reach And Teach, a book, toy and cultural gift shop on San Carlos Avenue in San Carlos. Follow Craig: craigwiesner.bsky.social.