Kick off Performance on 6/11 in Chicago! Purchase your tickets here.
We’re gathering some of the sharpest, funniest progressive voices for a night of stand-up aimed at energizing the base, roasting the right, and making being a Democrat cool again.
This isn’t just about laughs—it’s about a culture shift. Rehabbing the Progressive brand doesn’t happen in think tanks or policy briefs. It happens in real life, one sold-out show at a time.
Our goal is to influence a new kind of civic engagement: influencer-powered, locally-rooted, nationally-scalable. We’re launching in Chicago with a long-term vision to syndicate this show across battleground cities and college campuses—because turning cultural moments into political momentum is how we win.
Get Involved
Want to help bring Star Spangled Banter to other cities?
Let us know your ideas! Please include your name, email, and any info that can help us expand.
Support These Performances
We want to keep ticket prices low and vibes high! We rely on the support of individuals and organizations to make these events possible. Grassroots support powers our work—click the donate button below!
Meet Our Performers
Heather Gardner
Heather Gardner’s bold stance on the news has made her an outspoken voice to be reckoned with in today’s entertainment/news landscape. She’s the face of the political satire TikTok account, @heathergtv, amassing 100M+ views and more than half a million followers. Her videos poking fun at the pre-inauguration political climate reached viral numbers and even paved the way to publishing her first children’s book, The Mean Orange Man.
Follow her on Instagram: @heathergtv
Tanner Devore
Tanner Devore is a social media content creator who has amassed a large following on multiple platforms, particularly on TikTok. He's known for his content spanning pop culture and Gen Z parody.
Follow him on Instagram: @tannertan36
Suzanne Lambert
Suzanne Lambert is a DC-based comedian and content creator. Her work has been featured in the Washington Post, CNN, Newsweek, Glamour, Betches, among others and she has appeared live on CBS.
Follow her on Instagram: @itssuzannelambert
Follow her on TikTok: @itssuzannelambert
Lisandra Vazquez
Lisandra is an up and coming Puerto Rican-born, Atlanta-based stand up comedian. With a background in acting & improv, Lisandra’s high-energy storytelling point of view is based on her experiences as a child who had to learn English guerilla-style, the ups and downs of living in Los Angeles for 13 years, her take on pop culture, and more.
Follow her on Instagram: @lisandravcomedy
Follow her on TikTok: @lisandravcomedy
Elizabeth Booker Houston
Elizabeth Booker Houston is a lawyer, comedian, social scientist, and content creator based in Washington, D.C., and known for her sharp political commentary delivered with humor. With a law degree (JD) and a Master of Public Health (MPH), she has a diverse background that includes public health law and social advocacy.
Follow her on Instagram: @bookersquared
Follow her on TikTok: @bookersquared
Josh Burstein
Josh is a Webbys Executive Judge, Truman National Security Fellow, Ordained Minister, Dumpling Influencer, and stand-up comedian who enjoys writing and telling stories, usually not in the third person. To pay for moving costs, Josh naturally went on Wheel of Fortune, and won. He’s the most memorable “Foreground Performer” on the final season of Succession. Josh is an initial member of the “Climate Comedy Cohort” and an advisory board member for the climate change organization, Dayenu, and also likes advocating for unusual constituencies, Oxford commas, taking advantage of New York jazz and Left Coast weather.
In the era before Snapchat, Josh worked for President Obama’s reelection campaign, the Government of Israel, and Charlie Sheen. It is likely the only thing all three have in common. His work was shared by National Geographic, The New York Times, MSNBC, CNN, Comedy Central, NowThis, Mic, TIME, Rolling Stone, Variety, The Washington Post, @BarackObama, @HillaryClinton – and a lot of other people that tweet better than the sitting President.
Follow him on Instagram: @jburstofa
Follow him on TikTok: @jburst