Mo Amer's comedy is centered on his Palestinian heritage. Now with a war, it's hard to laugh

Mohammed "Mo" Amer has forged a career talking about his Palestinian heritage and the plight of his displaced family, first as a successful stand-up comedian, with Netflix specials like "The Vagabond" and "Mohammed in Texas," and then with his acclaimed comedy series "Mo." Offering warmth and humor where most might expect to find politics and trauma, Amer's semi-autobiographical half-hour show centers on the Najjar family and their existence as unauthorized immigrants in Houston. It received wide critical praise upon its arrival in 2022, garnering a Peabody award and a green light for a second season.

But as Amer resumes work on the new season, there's little to laugh about in the wake of Hamas' brutal massacre of more than 1,400 Israelis on Oct. 7, and Israel's relentless bombardment of Gaza that's killed more than 10,000 people. The pain, suffering and red-hot tensions triggered by the bloody conflict hangs over his writers room, while Amer himself must navigate a polarized climate where his every word is mined for inspiration or weaponization, depending on the perspective.

The Houston-loving comedian hasn't given any print interviews since the war broke out: Though all opinions about the Middle East today are sure to be politicized, it's especially true if your name happens to be Mohammed. But Amer says he's