Public Administration on Television in 2026

The views expressed are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of ASPA as an organization.

By Benjamin Deitchman
April 10, 2026

Public policy and public administration topics are among the most entertaining and intellectually stimulating plot points on television. Watching television is a passive pastime, but it can also serve as a useful medium for reflecting on one’s profession and how it is perceived by others. Scripted shows, whether over-the-air, cable or streaming, remain a space for discourse about public policy and public administration from both within and beyond these fields. The chapter titled “Prime Time Public Service” in my 2025 book The Public Policy Perspective: A Personal Analysis of Public Work explores relevant fictional content from the past two decades, including The West Wing, Parks and Recreation and The Americans. While 2026 may not yet have an obvious contender for the next great public policy comedy or drama, several current shows provide insight at the intersection of government and popular culture.

Industry, which recently completed its fourth season on HBO, explores the world of elite financial institutions in the United Kingdom. The show follows American expatriate Harper Stern as she navigates the social and political dynamics of investment banking in the modern economy. The latest season focuses on regulation and fraud, drawing clear parallels to policy failures in both Great Britain and the United States. In the show, well-connected investors influence government decisions, sometimes through illegitimate means, to the detriment of the broader public. While Harper attempts to challenge these dynamics through investigation and short selling, she faces a system that often protects wealth and privilege. Similar to Succession, which portrayed a powerful media empire controlled by a billionaire family, Industry reflects a society in which private interests can shape public outcomes. While this portrayal may be unsettling, it underscores the importance of addressing wealth inequality and its impact on public trust in governance.

Love Story on FX presents a different lens on political life. Set in the late 1990s, it offers an embellished account of the relationship between John F. Kennedy Jr. and Carolyn Bessette Kennedy. While Carolyn Bessette Kennedy had a relatively typical upbringing, John F. Kennedy Jr. lived in the public eye from birth as the son of a president. Although he never sought elected office before his death in 1999, the series provides a window into a family that has shaped American government. Scenes depicting discussions of public affairs resemble academic seminars more than typical household conversations. The series highlights the tension between private life and public responsibility, as Kennedy navigates expectations tied to his family legacy. While the story is ultimately tragic, it also evokes nostalgia for an earlier era and invites reflection on public service roles today.

For another perspective on how both media and policy contexts evolve, new episodes of Scrubs have returned on ABC after more than a decade off the air. The comedy, which first premiered in 2001, follows doctors at the fictional Sacred Heart Hospital. Like Grey’s Anatomy, the long-running medical drama, Scrubs blends personal stories with professional challenges. While the life-and-death stakes drive both humor and drama, the economic realities of the American healthcare system also shape the narrative. Even in entertainment, audiences are consistently exposed to policy issues surrounding healthcare access and affordability.

Scrubs and Grey’s Anatomy originated in a very different era of broadcast television. The days of shared “water-cooler” viewing have largely faded. Streaming allows audiences to watch content on demand, and remote work has reduced everyday conversations about television among colleagues and friends. Despite these shifts, media remains a powerful tool for engagement. When public policy and public administration students, scholars and practitioners connect with content that reflects their field, even indirectly, it can broaden perspectives and reinforce the relevance of their work.

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Author: Benjamin Deitchman is a public policy practitioner in Atlanta, Georgia. His most recent book, The Public Policy Perspective: A Personal Analysis of Public Work, is available through Routledge and other booksellers. He can be reached via email at deitchmanb at gmail dot com or on LinkedIn.

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