Poster that was created for Fortune Magazine in an attempt to encourage Americans to acknowledge the danger of the looming Nazi threat. This was released a few months before the US officially entered WW2 after the attack on Pearl Harbor.
Artist Herblock (1977) captures the political showdown over environmental regulation in America. The image was inspired by the 1977 Amendments to the clean air act. After intense lobbying, the auto industry successfully pressured the government into weakening and delaying critical deadlines to comply with vehicle emission reduction rates.
From my archives, I don't know the exact date but I would guess 1900-1920s
Published in 1871 right before the election, the "Tammany Tiger Loose" is a brutal takedown of the infamously corrupt William Marsh "Boss" Tweed and his political machine. Tammany Hall was a highly corrupt political machine that controlled the local government of New York City for over a century.
The cartoon shows a tiger representing Tammany Hall tearing apart Columbia, the female personification of America. Beneath his paws, beneath the beast's paws lie the shattered remains of justice, the law, and the ballot box. The original included the caption "What are you going to do about it?"
Nast's imagery became a weapon against corruption because it broke through the literacy barrier. He translating complex issues into stark imagery that was easily digestible to working class voters, including many immigrants that couldn't read. Nast successfully turned public sentiment against the corrupt organization, eventual leading to his arrest and allowing international authorities to capture him. When Boss Tweed tried to flee to Spain dressed as a merchant sailor, officials recognized and arrested him based solely on his image from a Thomas Nast cartoon.
The comic was inspired by the death of Apple cofounder Steve Jobs (2011) and was made to contrast the sentimental tributes. The artist references the severe worker exploitation by China owned Foxconn, a primary Apple manufacturing partner. The abuses included child labor, extreme hours and military style management that led to a wave of worker suicides. The artist shows Jobs (a practicing Buddhist) reincarnated as one of his child factory workers.
Artist Paul Conrad shows the heavy operational toll on American service members during the post-9/11 conflicts. In a harsh environment soldiers struggle to keep basic humanity alive. The cartoon suggests that despite being trained for destruction, the soldiers innate desire is to preserve life.
Artist Clay Bennett offers a satirical look at the GOP providing the services of an exorcist instead of an economist. The image argues that while the United States is facing complex economic problems that require strategic solutions, the Republican Party is instead offering religious and ideological remedies, specifically Christian Nationalism.
Artist M.G. Lord satirizes the cultural and ideological differences between the support bases of President Jimmy Carter and challenger Ronald Reagan during the 1980 presidential election. "Carter's Nuts" are a reference to his background as a peanut farmer. "Reagan's Nuts" are a label for Reagans far-right, highly vocal group of extremist followers that were courted to defeat Carter.
Image that criticizes Senator Mitch McConnell's 2016 decision to block the Supreme Court nomination of Merrick Garland by President Obama following the death of Justice Antonin Scalia. Judge Scalia died nine months before the 2016 presidential election. Senator McConnell announced that the Senate would not consider any nominee until a new president was elected.
Artist Rob Rogers shows the hypocrisy of a person with an anti government stance when they are confronted by a climate disaster. The image was inspired by the 2011 Hurricane Irene and the debates around FEMA. House Republicans stirred controversy by insisting that any emergency disaster funding for Hurricane Irene relief must be offset by spending cuts elsewhere in the budget.
Artist Joel Pett (2001) was inspired by the rejection of the Kyoto Protocol by President George W. Bush. It was the world's primary international treaty aimed at reducing greenhouse gas emissions. The administration claimed the treaty was flawed and hurt the US economy. On his first official trip to Europe, he faced immense backlash by European allies who were angry over his abandonment of the climate pact.
Artist Bruce Plante highlights the tragic and final nature of capital punishment. The piece was in response to the rapid rise of post conviction DNA exoneration of former inmates in the US during the late 1990s and Early 2000s.
Artist Harold Talburt reminds the public that international trade is a two way relationship.
Cartoon that contrasts the unconditional grace of Jesus feeding the multitudes with the conditional, politically motivated actions of the church leadership.
During the 2004 presidential election, several bishops announced that they would deny Holy Communion to Catholic presidential nominee John Kerry for supporting abortion rights and same sex marriage.