This is the joke Sarah Silverman wanted to make at the Democratic convention but couldn't


Some Bernie Sanders supporters put tape over their mouths at the Democratic National Convention, signaling their assertion that their voices weren't heard by the Democratic Party, or that the organizers of the convention were silencing them. Sanders super-fan Sarah Silverman was actually silenced, sort of, when the convention organizers quashed one of her proposed jokes at Monday night's convention, she told The New York Times:
At the very beginning, when Al said, "I'm Al Franken and this past year I've been hashtag-I'm With Her," and I was going to say, "And I'm Sarah Silverman, and this past year I've been with the possibly agnostic Jew." Because you know the Right is going to use these emails to try to separate them. It's what they want so badly. I just felt like, let the comedian defuse it and just address the elephant in the room. But they were like, no. And they are right. They're right. But I get so indignant. At least I'm aware, and awareness brings change so maybe I'll be less obnoxious. [Sarah Silverman, to The New York Times]
Instead of referencing the hacked and leaked Democratic National Committee emails, Silverman said that "this past year, I've been feeling the Bern," adding: "Relax, I put some cream on it." She told The Times on Tuesday that Jane Sanders had personally invited her to speak at the convention, that she had voted for Ralph Nader in 2000 but she'd "be crazy not to" vote for Clinton this year, and that "the fundamentalists of any group, including fans of Bernie or fans of Hillary or fans of anyone, are a bummer." You can read her full interview at The New York Times, and watch her convention speech below. Peter Weber
Subscribe to The Week
Escape your echo chamber. Get the facts behind the news, plus analysis from multiple perspectives.

Sign up for The Week's Free Newsletters
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
From our morning news briefing to a weekly Good News Newsletter, get the best of The Week delivered directly to your inbox.
A free daily email with the biggest news stories of the day – and the best features from TheWeek.com
Peter has worked as a news and culture writer and editor at The Week since the site's launch in 2008. He covers politics, world affairs, religion and cultural currents. His journalism career began as a copy editor at a financial newswire and has included editorial positions at The New York Times Magazine, Facts on File, and Oregon State University.
-
5 inexcusably hilarious cartoons about Ghislaine Maxwell angling for a pardon
Cartoons Artists take on the circle of life, Ghislaine's Island, and more
-
Ozzy Osbourne obituary: heavy metal wildman and lovable reality TV dad
In the Spotlight For Osbourne, metal was 'not the music of hell but rather the music of Earth, not a fantasy but a survival guide'
-
Codeword: August 2, 2025
The Week's daily codeword puzzle
-
Trump revives K-12 Presidential Fitness Test
Speed Read The Obama administration phased the test out in 2012, replacing it with a program focused on overall health rather than standardized benchmarks
-
El Salvador scraps term limits, boosting Nayib Bukele
Speed Read New constitutional changes will allow presidents to seek reelection an indefinite number of times
-
Trump assigns tariffs, delays all except on Canada
Speed Read A 35% tariff on many Canadian goods has gone into effect
-
Harris rules out run for California governor
Speed Read The 2024 Democratic presidential nominee ended months of speculation about her plans for the contest
-
Trump sets new tariff rates as deadline nears
Speed Read New tariff rates for South Korea, Brazil and India announced
-
Ghislaine Maxwell: angling for a Trump pardon
Talking Point Convicted sex trafficker's testimony could shed new light on president's links to Jeffrey Epstein
-
Senate confirms Trump loyalist Bove to top court
Speed Read The president's former criminal defense lawyer was narrowly approved to earn a lifetime seat
-
Ghislaine Maxwell offers testimony for immunity
Speed Read The convicted sex trafficker offered to testify to Congress about her relationship with late boyfriend Jeffrey Epstein