If you enjoy shows that discuss hard and argumentative topics in a fun and interesting way, you’re going to enjoy Netflix’s ‘Patriot Act’ hosted by Hasan Minhaj.  

The show is named after the controversial act passed by George W. Bush in 2001 in response to the 9/11 terrorist attacks. The act was created to help the government combat terrorism in our country.  

The controversial part of the legislation itself was its violation the Fourth Amendment, which is the amendment that protects the American people from unreasonable searches and seizures. This was a time when our nation wanted to feel protected and safeguarded. Many people supported this decision for this purpose; many others opposed the practice after it appeared to single-out certain individuals.  

So far, the show has run four seasons and twenty-six episodes, with each episode being around twenty minutes long. 

Patriot Act also has a YouTube channel where they post their episodes, web exclusives, and “Deep Cuts”, where Minhaj answers questions from the audience. This gives fans a chance to view episodes for free if they don’t have a Netflix subscription. 

The channel has 668,000 subscribers, seventy-one million channel views, and his videos usually get around 500,000 to a million views each.  

One episode titled, “The Broken Policing System” (Season 4, Episode six), Minhaj explains the need for accountability for crimes against the public in order to uphold the integrity of the American police force. “The NRA’s Global Impact” (Season Three, Episode two) Minhaj explores how the NRA has used the media to publicize their pro-gun agenda not just in our nation but, throughout the world. “Censorship in China” (Season Two, Episode One) Minhaj explains how some of China’s citizens have managed to contribute to the #MeToo movement despite the government’s control of their internet use.  

During one of Minhaj’s “Deep Cut” episodes, when one of his audience members asked how Minhaj gets the messages of the show to a more conservative audience, although his show is considered left leaning (politically), he says, “I think the best thing you can do is try to present the facts as humanely has possible…I’ve always kind of tried to not make fun of the people who vote for a candidate rather the candidates themselves.”