My Top 5 Political TV Shows (Currently)

Azzurra Degliuomini, Club Member

Political shows most of the time end up being completely different from what politics is like in real life; which is why many people are drawn to them. So, if you were in need to find some political shows, here are some that I recommend to you, in no particular order.

Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj

Patriot Act with Hasan Minhaj is a show that follows comedian Hasan Minhaj who stands in front of a large screen and talks about many different topics. From light-hearted pop culture episodes to very intense, emotional political episodes, it has something for everyone. It touches on a lot of subjects that many don’t bother showing to the world, whether it be because they don’t care or they don’t want you to know. Every episode is dedicated to something different like oil, the fentanyl crisis, or the broken policing system. And, Minhaj not only talks about the US, but he also touches on what happens in other countries like Brazil, China, and Canada. 

You can watch all 6 volumes on Netflix.

Madam Secretary 

Madam Secretary is a show that follows former CIA operative Elizabeth McCord being thrown into the political world when her former CIA boss and close friend President Conrad Dalton asked her to become the Secretary of State when the previous one died suddenly. Elizabeth is an Independent Secretary that isn’t afraid to go outside the box and work with those many wouldn’t want to work with in order to bring humanity closer to world peace every day. 

You can watch all 6 seasons on Netflix.

The West Wing

The West Wing is a show that follows Democratic President Josiah “Jed” Bartlett and his administration in the west wing deal with balancing the needs of the country and the world, all while hiding a massive secret from the public. Every episode tackles a different problem, whether it be gun control, foreign wars, or attempted political assassinations. The West Wing is one of the first political shows to venture into topics that many had not dared to do so before.

You can watch all 7 seasons on HBO Max.

Designated Survivor

Designated Survivor is a show that follows the former Secretary of Housing and Urban Development Tom Kirkman become the President of the United States after a bomb exploded in the capitol building, killing the president and every other high-level member of Congress while giving the annual State of the Union speech. A designated survivor is someone in government that is chosen to go to a remote location just in case a devastating event happens where every high-level member of government is killed. The inexperienced Tom has to try and bring the country together after this devastating attack, all while ensuring that he and his administration (most of which was from the previous president) find the culprits of the attack. 

All 3 seasons are available on Netflix.

Bobby Kennedy for President 

Bobby Kennedy for President is a Netflix limited docuseries that showed the life and career of Robert F. Kennedy during the politically divided 1950s and 1960s up until his assassination in 1968. The show featured former colleagues and friends of Robert Kennedy talk about their experiences working with him. The show sees Kennedy supporting his brother in the Cuba and Soviet Union crises before the assassination of JFK. It also shows him championing and taking a stand on civil rights, the war on poverty, and the opposition of Vietnam at a time where those topics were incredibly controversial. If you’re a fan of historical political pieces, this could be one for you.

All 4 episodes are available on Netflix.