Hasan Minhaj, in the “Saudi Arabia” episode of Patriot Act, unravels the reporting on the murder of Jamal Khashoggi into more easily understood layman terms. In a way this allows us to get an insight on the encoding/decoding process, as described by Stuart Hall, as it happens. Minhaj shows this process beyond just its traditional media implications. He also expands on the presence of this process in politicians’ and other powerful people’s remarks. His knowledge on the topic, both from research and a Muslim point of view, allows him to better understand the source information. By extension he comments on why it was being reported in that particular way. For example, in this episode, he shows how the encoding/decoding process can become corrupted, particularly in politicians. He points out that many politicians, like past US presidents, ‘forget’ to address atrocities, like those on Yemen, the Saudi Arabian Royal Family commits. Showing how the wealth that Saudi Arabia holds is enough for many people of power to completely change their own encoding process when addressing the public, and perhaps even change their own decoding at the subconscious level.
He then points out that it was not until the murder of Jamal Khashoggi that this encoding/decoding process, and framing, actually changed. While before, as Minhaj put it, “[Muhammad bin Salman] was greeted like a rockstar,” the media finally caught up enough to alter their framing. They put him at the forefront of accusations, rather than only focusing on the good that he does; such as, in Minhaj’s words, “providing basic human rights” like letting women to drive. Again this showed Minhaj clearly how both media and politicians only change with the influence of money; and how this money is enough to change their own encoding within their frames.
Patriot Act, as a piece of media, is responsible for its encoding. In the show’s case, the encoding has the purpose of creating comedy; for a good reason, as comedy is believed to open people’s mind up for change more so than other forms like debates or serious political shows. While this has the potential to lighten the topic more than is appropriate, the intentions and impact is great enough to make it worth while. Also, his position, being a Muslim, gives him a kind of authority on the topic that I, for example, might not have given much thought before. In his case, being a Muslim not only gives a religious perspective, but rather highlights the cultural context that surrounds the issues he talks about. While other studies could go in more depth, often the general public will decode more from this format, thus making it worth listening to.