As Act I develops, we learn that corporate network pressures are being brought to bear in an effort to both shorten the show, dumb it down and walk the line as Sen. Joseph McCarthy is gaining power with his Communist hunts and blacklists.

Source: https://arktimes.com/rock-candy/2023/02/08/the-reps-laughter-on-the-23rd-floor-offers-wisecracks-on-a-well-worn-path

Experts say there is a long history of U.S. politicians calling opponents Marxist or communist without evidence — perhaps most infamously Sen. Joseph McCarthy, who led efforts to blacklist accused communists in the 1950s.

Source: https://m.startribune.com/trump-and-other-republicans-conjure-a-familiar-enemy-in-attacking-democrats-as-communists/600283650/