The job of a late-night comedian was once so straightforward: Give Americans something to laugh about so they can forget about their workday worries. Presidents always made for comedic fodder, as did the daily headlines. But it was all in good fun. And it generally hovered on the edge of the partisan divide.
Now, the divide is wider. And this has become a time of choosing sides, embracing the politics of the day in all their ubiquity. In Hollywood and New York — where the late-night shows are based — that often means leaning into the resistance to President Trump.