For nearly three decades, the animated series South Park has served as a cultural mirror—sometimes cracked, sometimes funhouse—reflecting and lampooning the news of the day. Now, as the United States barrels through a particularly turbulent political era, the show’s 27th season is proving that its creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone, are as unflinching and sharp-tongued as ever. According to The Denver Post and Los Angeles Times, the latest episodes have tackled everything from the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel’s late-night show to the ongoing Israel-Gaza conflict, and even the wildest corners of the Trump administration.
The most recent episode, titled “Conflict of Interest,” aired on September 25, 2025, and immediately set social media alight. The show’s satirical crosshairs landed squarely on Brendan Carr, the real-life chair of the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), who has been making headlines for his role in the suspension of Jimmy Kimmel Live! after the host’s controversial comments about the death of conservative activist Charlie Kirk. In a move that blurred the line between reality and satire, Carr was depicted as a hapless bureaucrat caught in a web of political intrigue, threats, and, in true South Park fashion, a string of outlandish mishaps.
In the episode, Carr finds himself repeatedly targeted by President Trump (portrayed with his face superimposed on an animated body) and Vice President JD Vance, both determined to “get rid” of a demon baby Trump has conceived with Satan. Yes, you read that right. The storyline—absurd, hilarious, and biting—serves as a metaphor for the political power struggles currently gripping Washington. Carr’s character endures a series of slapstick misfortunes, including falling down stairs, accidentally ingesting Plan B One Step emergency contraceptive, and getting doused in cat feces, eventually landing him in the hospital. There, a doctor warns, “If the toxoplasmosis parasite gets to his brain, I’m afraid he may lose his freedom of speech.”
This outlandish threat to free speech is no accident. It’s a pointed jab at Carr’s real-world comments, made on a conservative podcast, where he reportedly said, “We can do this the easy way or the hard way,” referring to the FCC’s power to pressure networks over content. In South Park, these words are echoed by Vance, who menacingly tells Carr, “I’m next in line to be president. That baby cannot be born. And if you continue to interfere, I will make things very difficult for you. We can do this the easy way or the hard way.”
The episode doesn’t stop at FCC drama. It weaves in the Israel-Gaza conflict, with Kyle’s mother confronting Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu over the war’s toll and its impact on Jewish Americans. “Just who do you think you are, killing thousands and flattening neighborhoods, then wrapping yourself in Judaism like it’s some shield from criticism?” she demands, highlighting the show’s willingness to tackle even the most sensitive current events head-on. The credits roll as she continues her tirade, leaving Netanyahu silent—a rare moment of gravity amid the chaos.
Season 27, which premiered in July 2025, has been anything but predictable. Los Angeles Times notes that the release schedule has been erratic, with episodes airing weekly, then biweekly, and even a three-week gap before Episode 5. That delay, Parker and Stone told The Denver Post, was due to production timing, not censorship or outside pressure: “No one pulled the episode, no one censored us, and you know we’d say so if true.” The creators’ commitment to airing their work uncensored remains a core part of their ethos.
Throughout the season, South Park has skewered both sides of the political spectrum, taking particular aim at President Trump, his administration, and the broader culture wars. Episodes have lampooned everything from public broadcasting funding cuts—mirroring the Senate’s real-life approval of the Trump White House’s proposal to slash $1 billion from NPR and PBS—to the push for Christianity in public schools, a nod to Trump’s endorsement of displaying the Ten Commandments in classrooms.
The show’s irreverence knows no bounds. In one episode, Trump’s relationship with Satan is depicted as abusive, a darkly comedic inversion of previous seasons where Satan was paired with Saddam Hussein. The infamous “Epstein list” makes an appearance, with Satan lamenting the speculation that Trump’s name might be on it. In reality, the Justice Department has stated no such list exists, but the rumor mill persists, and South Park isn’t afraid to poke at the discomfort.
Other episodes have parodied the Trump administration’s approach to immigration, with Mr. Mackey, the school counselor, joining ICE after being laid off, and Kristi Noem, the Department of Homeland Security secretary, depicted as gleefully leading raids and referencing her real-life admission of shooting her own dog. The satire extends to the tech world, with Mark Zuckerberg and Tim Cook lining up to lavish Trump with gifts, and even the Emir of Qatar presenting a gold model jet as Air Force One, referencing Trump’s acceptance of a luxury Boeing 747 from Qatar.
Media conflicts also take center stage. The show lampoons CBS’s 60 Minutes and its parent company, Paramount Global, which recently settled a lawsuit with Trump over edits to a Kamala Harris interview. The episode’s fictional “60 Minutes” segment features Jesus, who, through clenched teeth, warns the townspeople about the dangers of crossing the president: “If someone has the power of the presidency and also has the power to sue and take bribes, then he can do anything to anyone.” The people of South Park settle their own lawsuit with Trump for $3.5 million, with the catch that they must agree to “pro-Trump messaging” and cut funding for schools, hospitals, and roads.
The show’s handling of Charlie Kirk’s death has also drawn attention. The August 6 episode, “Got a Nut,” parodied Kirk’s debate style before his real-life shooting on September 10, 2025. Kirk himself responded with humor, saying, “I think a lot of it was hilarious towards me. Some of it was very funny and I don’t think we should have too thick of skin.” An executive producer for Kirk’s show added that Kirk would have wanted his episode to remain available, underscoring the unpredictable intersections between satire and reality.
Despite the controversies and the very real political tensions that inspire its stories, South Park continues to air unabashedly. Future episodes are scheduled every two weeks through December 10, 2025, with the next installment set for October 15 on Comedy Central, streaming the following day on Paramount+. Whether skewering political figures, media institutions, or the culture at large, Parker and Stone show no signs of pulling their punches—or letting anyone else pull them, either.
As the credits roll on each episode, one thing remains clear: South Park is still the place where no one, and nothing, is safe from a little bit of animated anarchy.
