Since it launched in January 2004, Wonkette has become compulsory reading for Washington, D.C. insiders, political junkies, and a new generation which responds more to humor than the traditional journalistic obsession with process. Wonkette is to political weblogs as Jon Stewart's Daily Show has been to the political shows on television. USA Today describes the title as a "sensation" in Washington, DC. Slate's media critic says it's "sadistic" but then confesses he's addicted.