Mike Reiss, a writer and producer on the longest-running animated sitcom of all time, "The Simpsons," gives Salon an exclusive look at how Homer, Marge, Lisa, Bart and the crew stay relevant after 30 years on the air. Reiss, a "Simpsons" lifer, has been with the show since its first episode in 1989 and says he could keep writing the show "forever." His new book "Springfield Confidential: Jokes, Secrets, and Outright Lies from a Lifetime Writing for The Simpsons," is a behind-the-scenes look at the beloved characters and how the writers' room has evolved over 29 seasons.

Donald Trump's presidency has had a positive influence on the "show about human stupidity," as Reiss calls it. "The Trump years have been a shot in the arm for the show. They've really been great for us," Reiss told SalonTV. The show's quality or its creativity have always pegged to how weird the news is and how crazy society has gotten and it's never been better. The proof of this is-Donald Trump was elected President on November 8, 2016, on November 9th Fox called us and said, 'You're picked up for two more years.' He really is a job creator."