CNN
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For the first time in more than two years, official Washington gathered Saturday night for the White House correspondent’s dinner.
It was pretty much a quiet affair – most notable for its normality. President Joe Biden told some (mostly forgettable) jokes and laughed good-naturedly when comedian Trevor Noah made fun of him.
But when Noah finished his speech, he said something really important – and worth remembering.
“I was standing here tonight and I was making fun of the President of the United States,” Noah said. “And I’ll probably make it.”
It was a retort that quickly disappeared in the noise of the night and the crazy line toward the exits when Noah finished speaking.
It should not be.
Photos: The White House correspondent’s dinner in 2022
Patrick Semansky / AP
US President Joe Biden will speak at the annual White House correspondent’s dinner in Washington, DC, on April 30.
Photos: The White House correspondent’s dinner in 2022
Al Drago / Reuters
Trevor Noah tells jokes during dinner.
Al Drago / Reuters
Guests mingle with White House correspondents
Dinner.
Photos: The White House correspondent’s dinner in 2022
Patrick Semansky / AP
President Joe Biden laughs as he listens to Trevor Noah’s speech at Saturday’s dinner.
Photos: The White House correspondent’s dinner in 2022
Al Drago / Reuters
Biden offers a toast at the end of his remarks.
Photos: The White House correspondent’s dinner in 2022
Patrick Semansky / AP
President Biden and First Lady Jill Biden arrive at the annual White House correspondent dinner.
Photos: The White House correspondent’s dinner in 2022
Al Drago / Reuters
Trevor Noah, host of “The Daily Show,” entertains guests before President Biden speaks to the audience.
Kim Kardashian arrives on the red carpet before dinner.” class=”gallery-image__dam-img”/>Photos: The White House correspondent’s dinner in 2022
Stefani Reynolds / AFP / Getty Images
Pete Davidson and Kim Kardashian arrive on the red carpet before dinner.
Photos: The White House correspondent’s dinner in 2022
Tom Brenner / Reuters
Martha Stewart arrives for Saturday’s dinner.
Photos: The White House correspondent’s dinner in 2022
Stefani Reynolds / AFP / Getty Images
A participant holds a purse that reads “completely vaxxed”.
Photos: The White House correspondent’s dinner in 2022
Tom Brenner / Reuters
CNN anchor Don Lemon, right, and his partner Tim Malone pose for photos on the red carpet.
Photos: The White House correspondent’s dinner in 2022
Mary Kouw / CBS / Getty Images
From left, Drew Barrymore, Gayle King, Norah O’Donnell and Wendy McMahon take a selfie at a reception ahead of the White House correspondents’ dinner.
Photos: The White House correspondent’s dinner in 2022
Tom Brenner / Reuters
Journalist April Ryan’s purse hangs from her wrist as she arrives for Saturday’s dinner.
Photos: The White House correspondent’s dinner in 2022
Tom Brenner / Reuters
US Secretary of State Antony Blinken and his wife Evan Ryan pose for pictures on the red carpet.
Photos: The White House correspondent’s dinner in 2022
Tom Brenner / Reuters
A guest looks at their phone outside the venue.
The ongoing Russian war against Ukraine brings the very freedoms that we all take for granted into very sharp relief.
Russian President Vladimir Putin has repeatedly punished those who criticize him. Since the first invasion of Ukraine, Putin has systematically shut down all dissenting voices in the media, leaving the Russian people in the dark about the true state of the war.
While many people insist that something like this could ever happen in America, we have lived through a four-plus-year attack on the very concept of truth – culminating in the unrest of January 6, 2021 at the US Capitol, a revolt driven by misinformation about the 2020 election.
The peaceful transition of power between administrations, which has long been at the heart of American democracy, was fundamentally disrupted. Eight Republican senators and 139 members of the Republican House voted to object to the results of the Electoral College, despite a complete lack of evidence of any widespread electoral fraud. Opinion polls show that a majority of Republican voters now believe Biden would not have won if not for (non-existent) fraud.
What the uprising of January 6 should have taught us all that democracy is flimsy. When we take our rights and freedoms for granted, we run a very real risk of losing them.
That Noah could feel safe ribbing the President of the United States – while sitting just a few feet away – speaks to the strength of our democracy. Deviating voices are both heard and welcomed.
We all do well to remember that – in the hope that what Noah said Saturday night is always true in this land.
