In 17th century France… a man named Tabarin performed for the royal court. He sang, danced, told jokes and with stories otherwise improvised his role as the first and most famous Parisian Charlatan. Though he performed exclusively for the House of Bourbon by day, it was by night that he took to the streets; digesting what he’d learnt and seen at court with the clever disguise of street performance. While political gatherings were considered unlawful in the Middle Ages, his audiences are believed by historians to be among the ‘Whispers to the French Revolution.’

Punch Magazine (1841-2002) had a close relationship with parliament during the Victorian Era, and kept London and the world abreast of the empire. Its U.S. counterpart, Charlatan Magazine, was conceived during the 2008 election year as both a reaction and response to the State of California’s Proposition 8. Herein church, state, and law collided in what is described as the only instance in U.S. history where civil and pre-existing rights were taken away from a specific and targeted minority. But when a consortium of citizen journalists determined to merge current events with philosophical commentary on business, society, politics, religion and style they effectively fused the chasm between liberal and conservative ideals into a canon of one news source.

Thus, it's the sole and singular mission at The Charlatan to introduce the Ladies and Gentlemen of the world. To chronicle their history; connect their concerns; indemnify their customs; and to direct, enlighten and endow the approach to politics-as-lifestyle.