Pat Bagley Leaves Trump’s ‘Merika
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Portugal, I am led to believe, has a sizable community of American expatriates. Editorial cartoonist Pat Bagley has increased that number. From Pat’s Facebook page (also posted to Bluesky):
In a few hours I will fly out of Salt Lake City to begin a new chapter in Portugal. One doesn’t just suddenly wake up and say “I think I’ll uproot my life and move to a foreign nation”
This has been years in the planning
I’ll still be doing cartoons from my front room, but that front room will now be 5000 miles away
I’m going to take a break from drawing for a month to get settled, but I will be back at the drawing table in the beginning of August…
Yesterday The Salt Lake Tribune Opinion Editor, George Pyle, wrote a “bon voyage-see you soon” article extolling the talents of Pat Bagley the man and the editorial cartoonist.
Some people pronounce it PEW-let-sur. Some say PULL-it-sir.
In Pat Bagley’s house, as in mine, we say “Missed it by that much.”
Pat was one of three finalists for the Pulitzer Prize in 2014. The jury noted “his adroit use of images and words that cut to the core of often emotional issues for his readership.”
Note the wording “for his readership.” Pat’s readership, his home, his inspiration, is Utah. And his cartoons have, since the beginning, spoken to Utahns as few others could.
It’s also been a factor in why he hasn’t — yet — won the Pulitzer. The jury members aren’t from Utah.
Not all his cartoons are inside jokes. They are distributed worldwide through the Cagle syndicate, and have often appeared in The Los Angeles Times, The Guardian, The Washington Post, The Wall Street Journal and other publications.
George Pyle: Pat Bagley has a special way of speaking to, and for, Utah. (Or here.)
More from George Pyle:
More recently, stuff has gotten real.
After the election of 2000, when George W. Bush became president — and after 2003, when Bush made the decision to invade Iraq — Pat was, by his own description, “radicalized.” From then on, many of Pat’s scribbles were less teasing, more pointed.
More from Pat:
I first considered leaving on election night 2016. When Jan 6 didn’t absolutely destroy the GOP and Trump brands, I knew it was prudent to make plans.
I’ve read a lot of history about Europe in the 30s w focus on the Spanish Civil War.
MAGA is full-on fascist; the real malignant deal in all its facets. If you think ICE is only going to go after criminal immigrants, I’ve got some disturbing news for you.
You can keep track of Pat at the Salt Lake Tribune, at Cagle Cartoons, on Facebook, Instagram, and Bluesky.
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