The Best Trump-Era Advice Masha Gessen Gave Samantha Bee
Image by Getty
By Thea Glassman April 26, 2017
Lena Dunham interviewed Samantha Bee for The Hollywood Reporter this week, and the two fiercely funny, politically engaged women tackled everything from “Full Frontal” to President Trump.
Bee, however, came up short when Dunham asked about how private citizens can use their voices during the current political administration.
“I have no idea,” the comedian said. “I am so sorry to not have any answers for you.”
She did have some valuable words of wisdom from political activist Masha Gessen to contribute, though.
“She is probably the only person who has said anything helpful to me that made me feel better or made me understand this process,” Bee said. “And what she said was, ‘In the months and years to come, you have to draw a line for yourself. The things you will accept, and the things you will not accept, and you, for yourself, can never cross that line. You can never compromise your values even if you seem like the craziest person in the world, even if you seem like the hysteric in the room.’”
Another important thing to remember, Bee added, is not to get too comfortable.
“It’s hard when the sun starts shining, the blossoms are on the trees, people start to get OK with things they would never be OK with before,” Bee said.
Thea Glassman is an Associate Editor at the Forward. Reach her at glassman@forward.com or on Twitter at @theakglassman.
I hope you appreciated this article. Before you go, I’d like to ask you to please support the Forward’s award-winning, nonprofit journalism during this critical time.
Now more than ever, American Jews need independent news they can trust, with reporting driven by truth, not ideology. We serve you, not any ideological agenda.
At a time when other newsrooms are closing or cutting back, the Forward has removed its paywall and invested additional resources to report on the ground from Israel and around the U.S. on the impact of the war, rising antisemitism and the protests on college campuses.
Readers like you make it all possible. Support our work by becoming a Forward Member and connect with our journalism and your community.
Make a gift of any size and become a Forward member today. You’ll support our mission to tell the American Jewish story fully and fairly.
— Rachel Fishman Feddersen, Publisher and CEO
Join our mission to tell the Jewish story fully and fairly.
