Star Tribune

BY ROHAN PRESTON, August 10, 2011

Just hours after Standard and Poor’s downgraded the U.S. credit rating for the first time in history, Phil van Hest took to the stage at Huge Improv Theater to explain the history of civilization through beer and banking. I admit that the idea of telling jokes about the Federal Reserve and America’s GDP sounds more like work than fun. But VanHest’s wonky comedy is lucid, insightful and a sheer delight.