Digest

This podcast delves into the online perception of Kamala Harris, examining her "goofy internet energy" and its potential as a political tool. It explores her background, her career as a prosecutor and Senator, and her time as Vice President, analyzing her strengths and weaknesses. The podcast discusses the perceived "defanging" of Harris by President Biden, the reasons behind this strategy, and the specific roles she was given. It also analyzes her speaking style, particularly her tendency to use "word salad," and the reasons behind this. The podcast examines the recent shift in online perception of Harris, with memes becoming more supportive and celebratory, and explores the reasons behind this change. It also anticipates Republican attacks on Harris in the upcoming election, considering the challenges they face and the specific issues they might target. Finally, the podcast discusses the challenge of balancing Harris's memeification with the need to project a presidential image and explores the reach of her online presence, arguing that it has transcended the "extremely online" community and has reached a wider audience.

Outlines

00:00:47

Kamala Harris's Online Persona and Political Potential

This chapter explores the online perception of Kamala Harris, particularly her "goofy internet energy" and how it might be leveraged in the upcoming election. The discussion delves into her background, her political career, and her time as Vice President, analyzing her strengths and weaknesses.

00:06:36

Kamala Harris's Pre-Vice Presidency Career

This chapter focuses on Kamala Harris's career before she became Vice President, highlighting her background as a biracial woman of color, her experience as a prosecutor, and her political positions. The discussion explores her perceived progressiveness and her record on policing and prosecution.

00:09:55

Kamala Harris's Role as Vice President and the Impact of "Defanging"

This chapter examines the perceived "defanging" of Kamala Harris by President Biden during her time as Vice President. The discussion explores the reasons behind this strategy, including the potential for her to be weaponized by the right, and the specific roles she was given, which were seen as low-stakes and ineffective.

00:17:22

The Evolution of Kamala Harris's Online Image and its Potential Impact

This chapter discusses the recent shift in online perception of Kamala Harris, with memes becoming more supportive and celebratory. The discussion explores the reasons behind this change, including the perceived lack of viable alternatives and the growing acceptance of her as a potential presidential candidate. It also examines the anticipated Republican attacks on Harris in the upcoming election and the challenges they face.

Keywords

Q&A

• What is Kamala Harris's background and what were her political positions before she became Vice President?

  Kamala Harris is a biracial woman of color who served as a prosecutor and then as a Senator from California. She has been described as a progressive prosecutor, but her record on policing and prosecution has been criticized by some as being too centrist or even right-leaning.

• Why did President Biden seem to \"defang\" Kamala Harris during her time as Vice President?

  Some believe that Biden sought to limit Harris's power and influence to avoid her being weaponized by the right, particularly by Trump and his supporters. They also point to the low-stakes roles she was given, which were seen as ineffective and potentially damaging to her reputation.

• What is Kamala Harris's speaking style like and why does she often use \"word salad\"?

  Harris's speaking style has been described as \"word salad,\" with her often using vague and nonsensical phrases. Some believe this is a result of her trying to avoid alienating voters and the limitations of her role as Vice President, which prevents her from expressing strong opinions.

• How has the online perception of Kamala Harris changed recently?

  The online perception of Harris has shifted from being the subject of mocking memes to a more supportive and celebratory one. This is attributed to the lack of viable alternatives to Biden and the growing acceptance of Harris as a potential presidential candidate.

• What challenges do Republicans face in attacking Kamala Harris in the upcoming election?

  Republicans face challenges in attacking Harris due to their own candidate's history and the potential for backlash from their own base. They also face the challenge of navigating the race and gender issues surrounding Harris, particularly in light of their own candidate's history of making racist and sexist remarks.

• How could Kamala Harris's \"goofy internet energy\" be a political asset for the Democrats?

  Harris's \"goofy internet energy\" could be a political asset for the Democrats by allowing them to embrace a more playful and relatable image, similar to how Trump used over-the-top theatrics to connect with his base.

• How can Kamala Harris balance her memeification with the need to project a presidential image?

  Balancing Harris's memeification with the need to project a presidential image is a difficult task. She could potentially embrace her online persona while still maintaining a level of seriousness and gravitas, but it will require careful navigation and strategic messaging.

• Does Kamala Harris's memeification have a broader cultural impact beyond the \"extremely online\" community?

  While Harris's memeification is a significant online phenomenon, it has also reached a wider audience, potentially influencing the upcoming election. This suggests that her online presence has transcended the \"extremely online\" community and has become a part of broader cultural discourse.

Show Notes