Comedians have always looked at life through a progressive lens.

From Lenny Bruce to Stephen Colbert, stand-up comedians routinely side with Democrats. The culture still had a Johnny Carson here, or a “Saturday Night Live” (in its heyday) there, to offer some balance. After all, in a nation split more or less down the middle, politically speaking, choosing sides could mean a smaller potential audience.

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Not anymore. The culture has changed. So, too, is the way we consume content and who delivers it.

As a result, Comedy Central has hosted a series of seriously liberal comic shows for more than a decade. “SNL,” once a counterculture staple that took it to both parties, plays nice when the Democrats are in charge — they all but ignored one of the best comic targets in recent years, California Rep. Nancy Pelosi.

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Even The Onion, that snarky online publication, often twists the latest headlines to serve the president, not hold him to task, and to mock what it considers conservative values. Consider its story tied to President Obama’s admission that he would “politicize” the recent shooting massacre in Oregon. The headline says it all: “Man Can’t Believe Obama Would Use Tragedy To Push Anti-Tragedy Agenda.”

Which all begs the question — Why? Or, more precisely, what happened?

  • Tina Fey as Palin: “SNL’s” Fey wasn’t known for her impressions prior to 2008. But when she assumed the role of rising political star former Alaska Gov. Sarah Palin (Fey was a dead ringer) during the heat of the 2008 presidential campaign, it caught the comic zeitgeist. Of course the impression wasn’t flattering. Suddenly iconic laugh lines like, “I can see Russia from my house!” which the real Palin never said, became part of our water-cooler chatter. Some news outlets even started attaching the quote to the real Palin. The damage was done. Comedians took notice, no doubt. Comedy can be weaponized, and that’s no laughing matter.
  • More channels, smaller audiences: The final episode of “M*A*S*H*” attracted nearly 106 million viewers. That simply doesn’t happen anymore. Shows like “Inside Amy Schumer” are lucky to draw 2 million in a given week. The rise of cable TV meant audiences could be more selective with what they watch. So a show that once would get canceled for drawing 2 million viewers can stay on the air for years. That fractured audience means shows can target smaller interest groups and thrive. Enter “The Daily Show” and its ilk, reliably left-leaning programs that have little incentive to cater to GOP-friendly viewers. The bills get paid with a cadre of loyal liberal viewers, thank you very much.
  • Pop culture’s growing clout: Celebrities, who lean mightily to the left, realize some people hang on their every word or tweet. And they’re flexing their power more than ever. So if a comic actor like Zach Galifianakis wants to do all he can to support Obama’s re-election campaign, he knows that inviting him on for a “Between Two Ferns” chat can help Obama’s chances. Obama was only too happy to oblige, slipping in some Obamacare talking points along with the yuks.
  • Democratic politicians know the score: Why would former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton take time out of her busy schedule to appear on “Saturday Night Live”? Because she knows the program won’t damage her brand. Rather, it will play up her sense of humor while only poking mild fun at her stern image — and give her a chance to downplay, even laugh at, her many faults. And that’s exactly what happened last Saturday. Clinton’s appearance likely won’t be the last time a Democrat appears on the show between now and Election Day.
  • Media outlets cheer it on: How many times did TheWrap.com celebrate how Jon Stewart “destroyed” a member of the GOP? What about those morning news shows that shared clips from “The Colbert Report” that blasted whatever Republican was in the news that day? Mainstream media outlets adore Stewart and his ilk, eagerly sharing their highlights as the latest “truth to power” moment. Said moments rarely attacked Democrats, though. So if you’re a humor program and want to see your video snippets ricochet around the media, what party would you hit with humor? Don’t forget, for many young people, this is actually where they get their news.