Many Latinos are sad about Jon Stewart leaving The Daily Show. He was one of the few people who was able to show what they view as the absurd policies of immigration, and attitudes toward Latinos. And maybe the only one to do so with a churro.
In a prison memoir, misery and pain are usually staples. But in "Rosewater," the story of Iranian journalist Maziar Bahari's time in Tehran's Evin Prison, dark humor and the absurd are given equal time.
Bassaem Youssef, Egypt's version of Jon Stewart, pulled the plug on his popular political TV show this week, citing political pressure.
When Guinness backed out of sponsoring New York City's St. Patrick's Day parade, Rupert Murdoch's feathers got ruffled. Now he wants all Irish to boycott Guinness. In Venezuela, there's a new grocery story loyalty card that some describe as "creepy." And in the UK, you can see the latest in running shorts — complete with a computer, all in today's Global Scan.
Social media played a big part in this weekend's protest by Saudi women. The women defied an informal ban on women driving, and then posted videos. A Saudi comic decided to add his voice — changing the lyrics to a Bob Marley tune.
Television satirist Bassem Youssef has allegedly insulted Egyptian President Mohammed Morsi on his TV show. On his program, Youssef was seen sweet-talking and hugging a red furry pillow carrying President Morsi's image, while mocking his speech style.
A former Cairo heart surgeon has become a sensation in Egypt for his Daily Show-like satirical internet program. Bassem Youssef credits Jon Stewart as one of his heros. Thursday night, Youssef appeared on the program.
Birth control is a hot button issue this campaign season. Funding for Planned Parenthood, mandated trans-vaginal ultrasounds, and access to contraception are being discussed at every level. Recently, it is a debate that is being fought as much by entertainers as by politicians.
The Soviet jokes disappeared when the Soviet Union collapsed, but that brand of dark humor has made a comeback in Russia today.
From American Democracy, to UFO controversies, from Arab Spring to African farm land, the most clicked on stories of 2011 on PRI.org touch on most of the major themes in the news in the past year.