Colbert and other comedians may also be motivated by the desire to inform. Many if not most of their viewers might not have seen or read about the Trump outrage of the day. I read and listen to the news and almost every day Trump does something hysterical, but I don't know whether to laugh, scream or cry. The comedians may merely repeat and mock, but it is cathartic for many of us to share laughs about this farce of an administration.