Conan O’Brien Says Modern Politics Rewards People with “No Soul”

Conan O’Brien said modern American politics rewards people who set aside personal principles, describing the political climate as deeply depressing and nihilistic. Speaking at The New Yorker Festival, he argued that people need internal boundaries and a clear sense of who they are.

O’Brien said direct political comedy was never his strength, despite his late-night shows targeting presidents including Bill Clinton and George W. Bush. He sees more value in creating small, human comic moments, such as connecting with someone on the subway. He cited a campaign advert by Vivek Ramaswamy as an example of conduct he believes reflects a lack of principle.