Why Trump’s No Laughing Matter—Even for Me: Comic | The Daily Beast Podcast

Comedian Zarna Garg joins Joanna Coles to explore why she avoids political comedy, the pressures of Indian-American family expectations, and the surprising ways the Indian community relates to figures like Trump and Modi. Along with her daughter Zoya, Zarna traces the intersection of heritage, ambition, and representation, from Bollywood-inspired bravado to the delicate balance of supporting daughters marrying across faiths. Along the way, Garg reflects on mentorship, collaboration with Tina Fey and Amy Poehler, and the lessons that have shaped her career. It’s a conversation that’s at once personal, political, and profoundly revealing—how does heritage shape ambition in America? 00:00 - Introduction 00:58 - Why Comedy Over Politics, and the "Elephant" in the Room: Indian Mothers-in-Law 03:00 - The Significance of Mamdani's Win for Indian-Americans (and the Bollywood Song that Followed) 05:05 - Lessons from Tina Fey & Amy Poehler: The Power of Women's Collaboration 07:53 - "The Wait List": Familial Humor and Seeking Approval 09:21 - The Indian Community's Unique Comfort with Political Corruption and Trump 11:23 - Usha Vance: An Aspirational Figure in Interracial Relationships and Conservative Politics 13:59 - Usha Vance's Democrat Parents and the Threat of Disagreement in America 16:21 - Usha Vance's Unshakeable "Textbook Indian" Ethos: Academic Success and Family Structure 19:24 - The Border Issue and Misinformation: Why the Indian Community Resonates with Trump 23:02 - Kamala Harris: Disappointment in the Under-Claiming of Her Indian Identity 26:08 - The Trump Children, Social Media Meanness, and the Aspirational Family Brand 27:51 - Click 'Join' To Get Perks Of Daily Beast YouTube Membership 📖 Title: Why Trump’s No Laughing Matter—Even for Me: Comic 👂 Podcast: The Daily Beast Podcast 📺 Episode: 617 🎧 Format: Full Podcast 📅 Date: November 30, 2025 👨‍💼 Guest: Zarna Garg & Zoya Garg 🎙️ Host: Joanna Coles #trump #comedy #podcast Click here to become an official member of the Daily Beast's YouTube community: https://youtube.com/@TheDailyBeast/join Visit our new Beauty website The Looker: https://thelooker.thedailybeast.com/ Have a question or comment for us? Send us an email: [email protected] Subscribe to Inside Trump's Head wherever you get your podcasts: https://pod.link/1767675909 Subscribe to The Last Laugh wherever you get your podcasts: https://pod.link/1456474041 Subscribe to The Daily Beast Podcast wherever you get your podcasts: https://pod.link/1508202790 The Daily Beast is committed to accurate, fair, independent, fast, and accountable journalism. We seek the truth and report it honestly, without fear or favor. We ground robust and provocative opinions in fact. Subscribe on YouTube: youtube.com/@TheDailyBeast?sub_confirmation=1 Follow us on Instagram: https://instagram.com/thedailybeast Share this video on BlueSky: https://bsky.app/profile/thedailybeast.bsky.social Share this video on X: https://twitter.com/thedailybeast Share this video on Facebook: https://facebook.com/thedailybeast