Toxic politics has no time for The Simpsons
‘The Simpsons’ Steers Clear of Political Satire, Say Creators
Much like many families across a deeply divided United States, The Simpsons is choosing to sidestep the country’s increasingly toxic political climate. According to series creator Matt Groening, the beloved animated sitcom is staying away from political humor not for lack of material, but by design.
Speaking at the Annecy International Animation Film Festival in France, Groening explained the decision. “We don’t focus on political jokes because they age too quickly,” he said. “Political humor has a short shelf life, and we want the show to remain relevant beyond the news cycle.
With each season taking anywhere from six to nine months to produce, the risk of political references feeling outdated by the time they air is high. That lag has prompted the team to focus more on timeless themes rather than fleeting headlines.
Though The Simpsons has occasionally skewered public figures from Bill Clinton and George W. Bush to Barack Obama and even Donald Trump (whose presidency was eerily predicted in a 2000 episode) the team now emphasizes emotional authenticity and character-driven storytelling.
“We stay grounded in who our characters are and what they mean to each other,” said writer and executive producer Matt Selman. “When they confront the world’s troubles, people find a bit of comfort in that.”
Despite the characters being ageless since the show’s 1989 debut, the series remains culturally responsive. A recent storyline poked fun at artificial intelligence, with a plot about a chatbot attempting and failing to craft the perfect series finale. “The AI just recycled old endings in ridiculous ways,” Selman noted. “It was our satirical jab at both AI and the idea of ever wrapping up the show.”
Environmental issues continue to inspire storylines as well. Groening pointed out that the climate crisis remains a pressing and unresolved topic, as famously depicted in The Simpsons Movie (2007), where Homer’s blunder leads to Springfield being trapped under a glass dome. While that film earned over $536 million globally, the creators have held off on a sequel.
“We’re still recovering from the first one,” Groening joked. “Honestly, there’s just not enough time to make both a weekly show and another movie unless we want to double our workload.”
Now translated into 26 languages and broadcast in around 100 countries, The Simpsons shows no signs of slowing down. The milestone 800th episode is expected to air in early 2026.
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