What HBO's Veep Gets Right About Politics

Every television series based in the White House inevitably has to grapple with one fundamental question: what motivates politicians?
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Produced by Zach Weissmueller. Graphics by Meredith Bragg.

[bomapdich]

It also captures the ambitious, ruthless nature of the staff. How overworked and how far they are willing to go for their boss.

[soapbxprod]

"Politics is show business for ugly people." -Mark Twain
Viva MISES.

[MrPimptastic]

VEEP is the most realistic portrayal of working in politics. True story.

[ms.rstake_]

It shows through the staff how much of a production every show truly is.

[desmontube]

This show is truly one of the funniest ones ever made, wonderful acting and amazing production

[Deel]

You forgot to mention a super, important thing, Money. A huge motivating factor for politicians.

[Floccini]

Kind of like may father, who worked with the police a lot, used to say the Barney Miller was the only realistic cop show.

[standoughope]

This upload hits the nail on the head! I've a perfect actual example that the comedian Lewis Black highlighted during the G W Bush years. In the mist of the Abu Ghraib debacle Donald Rumsfeld held a press conference with members of the military in order to address the power structure of the military because everyone was pointing fingers on who is to blame for such inhumane actions by the guards. Was it relegated to just the guards? Were they commanded to engage that way? If so, was the commander also instructed by a higher up? Etc. Rumsfeld and his team brought with them a chart which is *already* funny enough but it gets better! They forgot the chart!!! Rumsfeld and a general had a moment that could've been ripped right out of a Veep episode like "You don't have the chart? What do you mean you thought that I had the chart?". That moment was hilarious and may have even inspired moments in Veep because the show has had *MANY* moments similar to that.

[winstonsmith]

Such a great show! One of my all-time favorites

[jakem-]

No show does public choice theory quite as well as the BBC series Yes, Minister and Yes, Prime Minister

[robf]

The recurring joke amongst people who live in DC but don't work in politics is that everyone who does work in politics thinks they're a character in The West Wing but they're really a character in Veep

[komal]

Oh god I've a massive crush on Jonah

[bernlin]

Veep seems like a much smarter show than West Wing was (which was full of hokey truism and liberal patriotism: "we much enlarge the government...for the people!!"). Maybe it's just because Julia Louis-Dreyfus is very political incorrect as a human being and her humor combined with politics is such a great idea. I really should watch the show :-P

[Chuby_ubesie]

Everything is about self interest that's why capitalism as an economic system works.

[wadyamean]

HOUSE OF CARDS IS SOOO AMAZING I LOVE FRANK UNDERWOOD THERES A UK HOUSE OF CARDS YOU KNOW

[powderboarder]

This vid has 26k views. It's hard being a

[atiredcliche]

Wow this is really terrible visual quality

[jjryan]

I like how all the current clips with actors and producers of Veep are suddenly about (trashing) Trump, even though the actual show is a dead ringer for Hillary (corrupt foundation) and Bill (long term infidelity), despite already being around for 6 seasons. Quite a paradox.

[springforward]

I don't like this show anymore, there's no one who's remotely redeemable or likeabke in any way. There's no hero and there's no decency at all.

[ededos]

Too bad I can't stand that actress, or the idea of a woman president.