Zina Saunders

Illustrator

Zina Saunders is an award-winning illustrator whose work appears in national magazines and newspapers and whose political satires have amused or outraged her audience, depending on which side of the aisle they sit.

Get my RSS

WATCH: Bizarro Boehner to the Repeal! [Cartoon]

Can Nancy Pelosi thwart his evil health care plan?

—By Zina Saunders

| Tue Jan. 18, 2011 12:13 PM PST

Mother Jones illustrator Zina Saunders creates editorial animations riffing on the political news and current events of the week. In this week's animation, Bizarro* Boehner descends on Capitol Hill to repeal health care reform. Can Nancy Pelosi thwart his evil plan? And yes, that is Saunders doing the voiceovers. —The Editors

*The Bizarro World is a fictional planet in the DC comics universe, introduced in the early 1960s and home to Bizarro and his companions, all of whom were initially Bizarro versions of Superman, Lois Lane and their children. In the Bizarro world of "Htrae" ("Earth" spelled backwards), society is ruled by the Bizarro Code, which states "Us do opposite of all Earthly things! Us hate beauty! Us love ugliness! Is big crime to make anything perfect on Bizarro World!" [Source: Wikipedia]

Advertise on MotherJones.com

Sarah Palin Retreats (Editorial Cartoon)

—By Zina Saunders

| Tue Jan. 11, 2011 4:37 PM PST

Mother Jones illustrator Zina Saunders creates editorial cartoons and animations riffing on the political news and current events of the week. This week, she questions the wisdom of Sarah Palin's now-infamous "target map." (Here's what a Palin aide says about the controversy.) In light of the recent shootings in Arizona, will politicians and talk show hosts dial down the rhetoric a notch? Read MoJo's exclusive interview with alleged gunman Jared Lee Loughner's longtime friend, or see MoJo's related coverage. —The Editors

WATCH: Wedding Jitters, Bipartisan Edition (Cartoon)

When Obama tries to unite Democrats and Republicans, who gets cold feet first?

—By Zina Saunders

| Wed Jan. 5, 2011 1:02 PM PST

Mother Jones illustrator Zina Saunders creates editorial animations riffing on the political news and current events of the week. In this week's animation, Obama tries to create a working union between Democrats and Republicans, with predictable results. And since you ask: Yes, Saunders does all her own voiceovers. —The Editors

WATCH: The 12 Days of WikiLeaks (Cartoon)

On the first day of Christmas, WikiLeaks gave to me...

—By Zina Saunders

| Wed Dec. 22, 2010 4:00 AM PST

Mother Jones illustrator Zina Saunders creates editorial animations riffing on the political news and current events of the week. In this week's animation, she illustrates 12 of WikiLeaks' most extravagant gifts to reporters, from Julian Assange rap videos to documents about Iranian ninja assassins. (See below for lyrics linked to WikiLeaks-related stories.) And since you ask: Yes, that is Saunders singing.—The Editors

On the first day of Xmas, WikiLeaks gave to me:
A [redacted] in a [redacted] tree.

On the second day of Xmas, WikiLeaks gave to me:
Two maids a-suing
and
A [redacted] in a [redacted] tree.

On the third day of Xmas, WikiLeaks gave to me:
Three Gitmo manuals
Two maids a-suing
and a [redacted] in a [redacted] tree.

On the fourth day of Xmas, WikiLeaks gave to me:
Four "secret" cables
Three Gitmo manuals
Two maids a-suing
and a [redacted] in a [redacted] tree.

On the fifth day of Xmas, WikiLeaks gave to me:
FIVE PALIN EMAILS

On the sixth day of Xmas, WikiLeaks gave to me:
Six sheikhs a-fuming

On the seventh day of Xmas, WikiLeaks gave to me:
Seven spooks a-sighing

On the eighth day of Xmas, WikiLeaks gave to me:
Eight Iranian ninjas

On the ninth day of Xmas, WikiLeaks gave to me:
Nine drunken Kazakhs

On the tenth day of Xmas, WikiLeaks gave to me:
Ten climate changers

On the eleventh day of Xmas, WikiLeaks gave to me:
Eleven Assanges rapping

(and the finale)

On the twelfth day of Xmas, WikiLeaks gave to me:
Twelve treason charges
Eleven Assanges rapping
Ten climate changers
Nine drunken Kazakhs
Eight Iranian ninjas
Seven spooks a-sighing
Six sheikhs a-fuming
FIVE PALIN EMAILSSS
Four "secret" cables
Three Gitmo manuals
Two maids a-suing
and
A [redacted] in a [redacted] tree.

WATCH: The Season for Giving (In) [Cartoon]

A Christmas carol from President Obama.

—By Zina Saunders

| Tue Dec. 14, 2010 4:00 AM PST

Mother Jones illustrator Zina Saunders creates editorial animations riffing on the political news and current events of the week. In this week's animation, she illustrates a Christmas carol from our president. And since you ask: Yes, that is Saunders singing the part of Obama.—The Editors

Here are the words to the song:

The Republicans are frightful
Though I try to be politeful
They never, never, never give an inch
So I’ll always give up in a clinch.

They show no signs of stopping
That’s why I keep flip flopping
They never, never, never compromise
So I cave and I know that’s no surprise.

When they call me out again
How I hate to go out and fight
I’d rather just give up and give in
See it their way and call it a night

My term is slowly dying
And I fear we will soon be goodbying
But as long as they aim at my chin
I’ll just give in! I’ll just give in! I’ll just give in!