Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj | |
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Genre | |
Created by | |
Directed by | Richard A. Preuss |
Presented by | Hasan Minhaj |
Composer | Ludwig Göransson |
Country of origin | United States |
Original language | English |
No. of seasons | 6 |
No. of episodes | 40 ( list of episodes) |
Production | |
Executive producers |
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Cinematography | Cameron Barnett |
Editors |
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Running time | 22–30 minutes |
Production companies |
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Original release | |
Network | Netflix |
Release | October 28, 2018 June 28, 2020 | –
Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj is an American comedy talk show hosted by Hasan Minhaj that premiered on October 28, 2018, on Netflix [1] and ran until June 28, 2020. It also had all the episodes, exclusives, and deep cuts on its YouTube channel. The series was created by Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam, both of whom also executive produce alongside Jim Margolis, Michelle Caputo, Shannon Hartman, Jennie Church-Cooper, and Steve Bodow. With 40 episodes across six seasons, the show has won an Emmy, a Peabody Award, and two Webby Awards. In August 2020, Netflix canceled the series after six seasons. [2] Legal action threatened by female producers for a hostile work environment were settled out of court. [3]
Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj aims to "explore the modern cultural and political landscape with depth and sincerity." [4] In an attempt to separate his show from similar political satire shows, Minhaj said he wanted to create a show that is "timely and timeless." [5]
On March 1, 2018, it was announced that Netflix had given a series order to a new weekly series created by Hasan Minhaj and Prashanth Venkataramanujam for a first season consisting of thirty-two episodes, split into several volumes. Executive producers were expected to include Minhaj, Venkataramanujam, Michelle Caputo, Shannon Hartman, and Jennie Church-Cooper. Production companies involved with the series were slated to consist of Art & Industry and Haven Entertainment. [6] When writing episodes about the show Minhaj frequently excluded or limited the role that researchers played in developing content and could be dismissive of fact checkers. [3] On June 7, 2018, it was reported that Jim Margolis had joined the series as showrunner and an executive producer. [7] On August 9, 2018, it was revealed that the series had been titled Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj and that it would premiere on October 28, 2018. [4] Volume 3 taped and aired on Netflix in May and June 2019, and Volume 4 was released on August 4. [8] Volume 5 of Patriot Act released on Netflix on November 10, 2019. [9] Volume 6 was due to release on March 29, 2020 but was postponed due to the global COVID-19 pandemic. [10] On August 18, 2020, Netflix canceled the series after six seasons. [2]
On October 4, 2018, the first trailer for the series was released. [11]
Season | Episodes | Originally aired | ||
---|---|---|---|---|
First aired | Last aired | |||
Volume 1 | 7 | October 28, 2018 | December 2, 2018 | |
Volume 2 | 6 | February 10, 2019 | March 17, 2019 | |
Volume 3 | 6 | May 12, 2019 | June 16, 2019 | |
Volume 4 | 6 | August 4, 2019 | September 8, 2019 | |
Volume 5 | 7 | November 10, 2019 | December 22, 2019 | |
Volume 6 | 8 | May 17, 2020 | June 28, 2020 |
No. overall |
No. in season | Title | Original release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
1 | 1 | "Affirmative Action" | October 28, 2018 | |
Minhaj examines
Students for Fair Admissions v. President and Fellows of Harvard College, a lawsuit brought by
Edward Blum that alleges the university discriminates against Asian Americans in their admission process. | ||||
2 | 2 | "Saudi Arabia" | October 28, 2018 | |
Minhaj discusses the
United States' relationship with Saudi Arabia, following the
death of journalist
Jamal Khashoggi, and the crime's possible connection to Saudi crown prince
Mohammad bin Salman. | ||||
3 | 3 | "Amazon" | November 4, 2018 | |
Minhaj looks at the role of
Amazon in the
United States economy, as well as
the company's controversies and
recent decisions. | ||||
4 | 4 | "Oil" | November 11, 2018 | |
A closer look at the United States'
continued reliance on and expanding production of oil, and the
Taylor oil spill. | ||||
5 | 5 | "Supreme" | November 18, 2018 | |
A discussion about hype culture, particularly streetwear brand
Supreme and their 50% ownership by private equity firm
The Carlyle Group. | ||||
6 | 6 | "Immigration Enforcement" | November 25, 2018 | |
A focus on recent
immigration policies in the United States,
ICE, and the Trump Administration's
policy of separating migrant children from their parents. | ||||
7 | 7 | "Content Moderation and Free Speech" | December 2, 2018 | |
A look at the rules governing the content uploaded to
social media platforms, and the role those companies have in moderating it; also, an update on the United States' relations with Saudi Arabia and
crown prince
Mohammad Bin Salman. |
No. overall |
No. in season | Title | Original release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
8 | 1 | "Censorship in China" | February 10, 2019 | |
Hasan responds to his
Saudi Arabia controversy, then dives in on the unlikely persistence of a
feminist movement in China, despite
the country's strict censorship laws under the rule of
Xi Jinping. | ||||
9 | 2 | "Drug Pricing" | February 17, 2019 | |
As millions of Americans find it increasingly difficult to afford life-saving drugs like
insulin, Hasan examines the many ways drug companies get away with
price gouging. | ||||
10 | 3 | "Student Loans" | February 24, 2019 | |
Minhaj takes aim at student loan servicers, who prey on vulnerable Americans in their attempt to pay off debilitating
student loan debt, an increasingly severe and uniquely American problem. | ||||
11 | 4 | "Civil Rights Under Trump" | March 3, 2019 | |
Civil Rights are being quietly dismantled by
Trump's cabinet officials. Hasan explores how they are doing it and why it is so dangerous. | ||||
12 | 5 | "Hip-hop and Streaming" | March 10, 2019 | |
Minhaj dissects how the rise of
music streaming on platforms like
YouTube,
Spotify, and
SoundCloud has influenced the sound, reach, and impact of modern day
hip hop, especially as
a form of dissent against oppressive regimes. | ||||
13 | 6 | "Indian Elections" | March 17, 2019 | |
An overview of the
2019 Indian general election, discussing the
Bharatiya Janata Party, Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and the opposition including the
Indian National Congress and
Rahul Gandhi. Also features an interview with
Shashi Tharoor. |
No. overall |
No. in season | Title | Original release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
14 | 1 | "Brazil, Corruption and the Rainforest" | May 12, 2019 | |
Hasan takes on President
Bolsonaro of
Brazil, who is threatening the
Amazon and its
indigenous people like never before. Then, he analyzes the
upcoming critical election in the Philippines. Also features an interview with
Sônia Guajajara. | ||||
15 | 2 | "The NRA's Global Impact" | May 19, 2019 | |
The
National Rifle Association is going global. Hasan takes an insightful look at the ways the organization has been hypocritically spreading its dangerous message and business practices around the world. | ||||
16 | 3 | "Cricket Corruption" | May 26, 2019 | |
Although
cricket could be a global force for good, Indian cricket's governing body is holding it back. This episode features an interview with former chairman of the
IPL,
Lalit Modi. | ||||
17 | 4 | "Indian Elections Update and 1MDB Scandal" | June 2, 2019 | |
Hasan follows up on
India's election results, then gets into the risks of
sovereign wealth funds without oversight, as demonstrated by the recent
1MDB scandal. | ||||
18 | 5 | "Protests in Sudan" | June 9, 2019 | |
Sudan is at a major crossroads in their
political history: will they embrace
democracy or be doomed to a brutal
military dictatorship? This episode features an interview with Sudanese protestor Marine Alneel. | ||||
19 | 6 | "Why Your Internet Sucks" | June 16, 2019 | |
Hasan examines how the government and
cable providers fail to provide adequate
Internet for millions of
rural and low income Americans. |
No. overall |
No. in season | Title | Original release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
20 | 1 | "The Dark Side of the Video Game Industry" | August 4, 2019 | |
21 | 2 | "Fentanyl" | August 11, 2019 | |
Hasan discusses the
opioid crisis,
drug addiction and both legal and illegal manufacturing of
fentanyl, including the companies that have been instrumental in promoting it. | ||||
22 | 3 | "Why Your Public Transportation Sucks" | August 18, 2019 | |
Hasan examines how the U.S. government and the
Koch brothers are sabotaging plans to revive and expand
public transportation as infrastructure crumbles. | ||||
23 | 4 | "The Real Cost of Cruises" | August 25, 2019 | |
Hasan talks about the dangers of traveling on
cruise ships and the apparent negligence of cruise companies to rectify said dangers. | ||||
24 | 5 | "The Two Sides of Canada" | September 1, 2019 | |
In advance of
Canada's election, Hasan talks with
Justin Trudeau and scrutinizes the prime minister's reputation as a champion of progressive policies. | ||||
25 | 6 | "The Broken Policing System" | September 8, 2019 | |
Hasan takes on
United States' police misconduct including the deaths of
Eric Garner,
Michael Brown and
Laquan McDonald in 2014. Then, he discusses the seminars conducted by
Dave Grossman and the privilege cops get due to the
Officers' Bill of Rights. |
No. overall |
No. in season | Title | Original release date | |
---|---|---|---|---|
26 | 1 | "Mental Health" | November 10, 2019 | |
Mental health is finally having a moment in the national conversation, but insurance companies, like
Blue Cross and
UnitedHealth, are finding ways to deny mental health treatment to thousands of patients. Hasan talks about his own experience with mental health therapy, the
Mental Health Parity Act, and shines a spotlight on the fight to bridge the disparity in treatment between mental and physical health. | ||||
27 | 2 | "Trump's Worst Policy: Killing Asylum" | November 17, 2019 | |
As record numbers of migrants flee perilous conditions in Central America’s
Northern Triangle, Hasan looks at all the unscrupulous ways the
Trump Administration is trying to block them from
seeking asylum in the United States. | ||||
28 | 3 | "The Ugly Truth of Fast Fashion" | November 24, 2019 | |
Fast fashion brands like
H&M and
Zara are churning out cheap, new clothes every few days, fueling us to shop more than ever before. Hasan explores how our desire to look “fresh to death” is actually killing the planet. | ||||
29 | 4 | "Why Billionaires Won't Save Us" | December 1, 2019 | |
The wealthiest Americans are often celebrated for their prolific giving, but is it
altruism or is it all just hype? Hasan dissects how the
ultra-rich use
philanthropy to get richer, distract from the injustices on which they built their fortunes, and dictate politics and policy. | ||||
30 | 5 | "Don’t Ignore the Asian Vote in 2020" | December 8, 2019 | |
The
Asian American population has grown large enough to swing elections, but it remains one of the least politically active groups in the country. Hasan travels to Asian American communities to hear the issues that matter to voters and to sit down with two politicians running to represent them––presidential candidates
Andrew Yang and
Cory Booker. Hasan also reaches out to more conservative voices in the Asian American community, but gets barred from
an event featuring Indian Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and U.S. President
Donald Trump. | ||||
31 | 6 | "Why We Can't Retire" | December 15, 2019 | |
With the help of Senator
Bernie Sanders, Hasan breaks down the financial burden of younger generations caring for their aging parents - and themselves. | ||||
32 | 7 | "How America Is Causing Global Obesity" | December 22, 2019 | |
Obesity used to be a problem in the
United States, but has now expanded globally. Hasan examines how it became worldwide as the United States exported its unhealthy diet to smaller countries with the help of
free trade; particularly, how
Samoa,
China, and
Mexico have been ruined by obesity caused by U.S. companies (especially
Coca-Cola.) |
No. overall |
No. in season | Title [12] | Original release date [12] | |
---|---|---|---|---|
33 | 1 | "What Happens If You Can't Pay Rent?" | May 17, 2020 | |
During the
COVID-19 pandemic, millions of Americans struggle to pay rent and face a
mass eviction crisis. | ||||
34 | 2 | "The Legal Marijuana Industry Is Rigged" | May 24, 2020 | |
Hasan delves into the fight for the
legalization of marijuana in the United States and investigates the now-booming
legal marijuana industry and how people of color are disenfranchised by it to both use and
sell it in America. | ||||
35 | 3 | "How Coronavirus Broke America" | May 31, 2020 | |
With
healthcare and
food workers at risk, Hasan examines Trump's actions which have continued to exacerbate the
economic crisis. | ||||
36 | 4 | "We Cannot Stay Silent About George Floyd" | June 6, 2020 | |
Hasan makes a passionate plea to the world but especially to his own community, the
Asian American community, about taking action to support the
Black community after the
murder of George Floyd and the recent events of
police brutality. | ||||
37 | 5 | "Why the News Industry Is Dying" | June 7, 2020 | |
Local newspapers are the source of some of the nation's biggest news breaks. However, these institutions are in danger of disappearing due to
private equity firms. | ||||
38 | 6 | "Is College Still Worth It?" | June 14, 2020 | |
As colleges increase in
price and offer less, Hasan considers whether a college degree is worth its value. | ||||
39 | 7 | "We're Doing Elections Wrong" | June 21, 2020 | |
America's
winner-take-all
elections drive a divisive, two-party machine that limits choice. Hasan explains - and champions
a viable alternative. | ||||
40 | 8 | "Why Doing Taxes Is So Hard" | June 28, 2020 | |
The series has been met with widespread critical acclaim from critics upon its premiere. On the review aggregation website Rotten Tomatoes, the first season of the series holds a 100% approval rating with an average rating of 7.79 out of 10 based on 15 reviews. The website's critical consensus reads, "Patriot Act stands apart from other like-minded comedy shows thanks to Hasan Minhaj's masterful blending of thought and feeling, catharsis and criticism." [13] Metacritic, which uses a weighted average, assigned the series a score of 78 out of 100 based on 4 critics, indicating "generally favorable reviews". [14]
In October 2018, a segment of the episode "Saudi Arabia" included reference to offensive language – the term "Negro Blood" – used in an online manual for US troops deployed to Saudi Arabia to describe the indigenous Gulf Arabs of that country. Following the episode's release, U.S. Central Command issued an apology and removed the online manual. [15]
On January 1, 2019, it was reported that the episode "Saudi Arabia" had been removed from Netflix's service in Saudi Arabia after the country's Communications and Information Technology Commission issued a request to the company to take it down over concerns regarding its content, which included criticism of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman and the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. However, the episode was still available in the country at the time of the report through the show's official YouTube channel. [16]
Patriot Act has also drawn controversy in other countries the show has covered. The March 2019 episode "Indian Elections" covered the 2019 Indian general election, criticized Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his BJP government, interviewed Congress MP Shashi Tharoor, and tackled issues such as Hindu nationalism, the Kashmir conflict, and mob lynchings against Muslim and Dalit minorities. [17] The episode drew controversy in India, among supporters and opponents of Modi's BJP government. [18] [19] The May 2019 episode "Brazil, Corruption and the Rainforest" covered the 2019 Philippine general election, criticized President Rodrigo Duterte, and tackled issues such as the Philippine Drug War. [20] The episode drew controversy in the Philippines among supporters and opponents of Duterte, leading to a response from the Malacañang Palace attacking the show. [21]
The show's influence was recognized by Time, which included Hasan Minhaj on its list of the 100 most influential people in the world in April 2019. The Daily Show host Trevor Noah described Patriot Act as a "groundbreaking Netflix show." [22]
After the show's cancellation, several producers including Nur Nasreen Ibrahim, Sheila V. Kumar, and Amy Zhang claimed to have experienced abuse, mistreatment, and harassment while in the workplace. [23] The matter was settled out of court. [3]
Year | Association | Award | Recipient | Result | Ref(s) |
---|---|---|---|---|---|
2019 | Peabody Awards | Entertainment Award | Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj | Won | [24] |
Time | 100 Most Influential People | Hasan Minhaj | Won | [25] | |
Webby Awards | Video Entertainment | "Deep Cuts" | Won | [26] [27] | |
Special Achievement | Hasan Minhaj | Won | [27] | ||
Social Campaign for Television & Film | Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj | Nominated | [28] | ||
Emmy Awards | Outstanding Motion Design | Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj | Won | [29] |