Send in the Clowns: Why Vladimir Putin Fears Comedians.

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"We all remember Alexander the Liberator [Alexander II] and Yaroslav the Wise [Yaroslav I]. Well, now we’ll have Vladimir the Poisoner of Underpants...and it is the duty of every person to defy him" Some of the final words from the late Russian Opposition Leader Aleksei Navalny. Navalny was a ferocious opponent to Vladimir Putin, and he was also pretty hilarious. Telling jokes until his final hours in a Russian prison camp, Navalny's sense of humour made him relatable to many in Russia. Considering that Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky was a comedian too, it appears that Putin's fiercest opponents are comics. Why is Putin afraid of a joke?

Comedian, writer, and all around funny guy Kyle Hickey joins us on GDP this week to talk about how comedy plays out in global politics. Why is Putin scared of a good joke? What do Trump supporters joke about? How did Barack Obama use comedy while in the Whitehouse? Is the entirety of British politics held together through wisecracks and jokers? As is turns out, a bit of live comedy may be a fundamental ingredient to strong and inclusive democracies.

After starting stand-up comedy over a decade ago at an open mic in Halifax, Nova Scotia, Kyle Hickey has blossomed into a talented writer, actor and comedian, making appearances at the Boston Comedy Festival, CBC's Ha!ifax Comedy Festival and JFL42 in Toronto, as well as acting roles on both YTV and MTV. His two live comedy albums, Experimental Phase and The Fresh Prince of Donair can be heard in rotation on channel 168 Canada Laughs on SiriusXM Radio as well as being found on iTunes and Spotify.

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Check out Kyle's comedy here: https://kylehickey.com