political prank - The Art of the Prank

May 23, 2014December 15, 2023

Inside James O’Keefe’s Latest Hollywood Hit Job

Inside a Hollywood Hit Job: How Sting Artist James O”Keefe Tried to Set His Latest Trap – And Got Stung Himself
U.S. News
May 22, 2014

JamesO'Keefe-425

On Wednesday, conservative activist and controversial video sting artist James O”Keefe made an appearance in Cannes during the Film Festival with a new, secretly recorded 20-minute video that he said exposes the hypocrisy of two environmentalist documentarians and two Hollywood actors. At the end of the clip, after Josh and Rebecca Tickell, Mariel Hemingway, and Ed Begley Jr. appear to have unwittingly agreed to accept financing for an anti-fracking film from Middle East oil interests, O”Keefe claims he”s caught other allegedly altruistic actors and filmmakers in his trap, teasing a clip of a phone conversation with filmmaker Josh Fox.

But this time, O”Keefe wasn”t the only one making secret recordings.

Read the rest of the story here.

March 25, 2014December 15, 2023

John Oliver’s Political Parody Ads

Last Week Tonight, John Oliver’s soon-to-debut new comedy show, took aim at the GOP’s new ad campaign aimed at “hip” young Republicans on their YouTube channel. Here are two videos parodying their look-alike counterparts, which can be seen here and here.

Watch the videos:

More info:

Republicans Are Going After Dissatisfied Hipsters, Minorities, and Women in a New Ad Campaign, Slate

First on CNN: RNC makes play for unhappy Obama voters in new ad buy, CNN

December 20, 2012December 15, 2023

Joey Skaggs as Santa Takes His Missile Tow to the United Nations

Update: Checkout Joey Skaggs’ Facebook Page to see the event invitation and photos.

‘Santa Claus’ At United Nations: Prankster Joey Skaggs Demands Nuclear Disarmament
by Michael McLaughlin
The Huffington Post
November 14, 2012

Joey Skaggs, dressed as Santa Claus, worries that a nuclear apocalypse is a serious threat overlooked by the mainstream media.

NEW YORK — Doesn’t it seem like the holiday protest season starts earlier and earlier every year?

A protesting Santa on an adult-sized tricycle pedaled up First Avenue Tuesday, dragging an 8-foot missile to the United Nations. His message to world leaders: “Peace on Earth — Or Else.”

Nobody ran for cover. The comically fake bomb was a dud. And this St. Nick was the legendary media prankster Joey Skaggs, accompanied by six performance artists serving as elves.

Given that New York suffered the worst hurricane in its history just two weeks ago, perhaps it’s little surprise that this Santa and his giant toy explosive were overlooked.

Skaggs didn’t care. He just wanted to kick off the holiday season with a not-so-gentile reminder about “the absurdity of nuclear Holocaust and the direction we’re going with North Korea, Iran and Israel.

“Everyone wants a missile,” Skaggs told The Huffington Post.

“If you don’t do it now, when do you do it?,” he said, “after the Holocaust?”

Continue reading “Joey Skaggs as Santa Takes His Missile Tow to the United Nations”

October 10, 2012December 15, 2023

London Flash Mob to Free Julian Assange

From Anonymous:

Calling All Supporters of Julian Assange
In defense of freedom of speech, openness and transparency,
join an international appeal to
FREE WIKILEAKS FOUNDER JULIAN ASSANGE!

Share this on Facebook & Twitter!

When: Saturday, October 13, 2012
Appear at 12 noon and disappear at 12:15 p.m.

Where: Ecuadorian Embassy, 3 Hans Crescent, London SW1X 0LS
(click here for a Google map of the location)

Instructions: Continue reading “London Flash Mob to Free Julian Assange”

August 7, 2012December 15, 2023

Pussy Riot, Russian Punk Rock Band, Experiences the Consequences of Dissent in Russia

Russian prosecutors ask for 3 years in punk case
by Nataliya Vasilyeva
August 7, 2012
Associated Press

Moscow (AP) – Prosecutors on Tuesday called for three-year sentences for the members of a feminist punk band who performed an anti-Vladimir Putin stunt in Moscow’s main cathedral, ignoring demands by human rights groups that the three women be set free.

Defense lawyers and an influential Russian Orthodox cleric warned that jail time for the women could backfire by severing trust between ordinary Russians and the country’s institutions.

Prosecutor Alexander Nikiforov portrayed his request as lenient, saying the recommendation takes into account the fact that two of the defendants are young mothers and that they have good character references.

The hooliganism charges the three women of the Pussy Riot band face can carry a sentence of up to 7 years in prison.

The three women – Nadezhda Tolokonnikova, 23; Maria Alekhina, 24; and Yekaterina Samutsevich, 29 – have been in custody for five months following the February stunt, in which they took over a church pulpit in Christ the Savior cathedral for less than a minute, singing, high-kicking and dancing.

Their case is part of a widening government crackdown on dissent that followed Putin’s election in March and caused strong protests in Russia and abroad. Musicians including Madonna, the Who’s Pete Townshend and Neil Tennant of the Pet Shop Boys have urged their release.

The verdict is expected this week. Read the rest of this article here.