‘Mountain Dew and Racism’: Identity Enters the Election

Update: 2024-08-02

Digest

The podcast begins with an advertisement for Squarespace, an all-in-one website platform. It then delves into the topic of identity politics in the 2024 presidential election, specifically focusing on Kamala Harris's identity and how it's being politicized by both Democrats and Republicans. The podcast explores how Democrats are highlighting Harris's path-breaking candidacy as the first female and first black woman president, while Republicans are questioning her racial identity and suggesting she's not truly black. The podcast further examines how Trump and the Republican Party are leveraging identity politics in the election, particularly through their focus on J.D. Vance's multicultural marriage and the "stolen valor" narrative surrounding Kamala Harris. The podcast suggests that Trump's approach to identity politics seems to be a mix of white identity politics and an anti-left politics that targets minority voters who are not aligned with progressive values. The podcast concludes with a "hot and cold" segment where Carlos expresses his disappointment with the Paris Olympics' use of a simulated flame in the cauldron lighting ceremony. He argues that it undermines the tradition and beauty of the real flame, which has been a significant part of the Olympic Games since the 1928 Amsterdam games. He feels that the use of LED lights and mist creates a less authentic and less inspiring experience.

Outlines

00:00:00

Identity Politics in the 2024 Presidential Election

The podcast discusses the role of identity politics in the 2024 presidential election, focusing on Kamala Harris's identity and how it's being politicized by both Democrats and Republicans.

00:00:33

Trump and the Republican Party's Use of Identity Politics

The podcast explores how Trump and the Republican Party are leveraging identity politics in the election, particularly through their focus on J.D. Vance's multicultural marriage and the "stolen valor" narrative surrounding Kamala Harris.

00:18:24

Hot and Cold: The Olympic Cauldron Controversy

The podcast concludes with a "hot and cold" segment where Carlos expresses his disappointment with the Paris Olympics' use of a simulated flame in the cauldron lighting ceremony, arguing that it undermines the tradition and beauty of the real flame.

Keywords

Kamala Harris

Kamala Harris is an American politician serving as the 49th and current vice president of the United States. She is the first woman, the first African American, and the first Asian American to hold the office.

Identity Politics

Identity politics is a political approach that focuses on the interests and perspectives of particular social groups, often based on race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, or other shared identities.

J.D. Vance

J.D. Vance is an American author, venture capitalist, and politician. He is the Republican nominee for the United States Senate in Ohio in the 2022 election.

Stolen Valor

Stolen valor is the act of falsely claiming to have received military decorations or awards. It is considered a form of fraud and can be punishable by law.

Olympic Cauldron

The Olympic cauldron is a large, often elaborate, container that holds the Olympic flame during the Olympic Games. It is a symbol of the Games and is traditionally lit by a prominent athlete or figure.

Q&A

How is Kamala Harris's identity being politicized in the 2024 presidential election?
Both Democrats and Republicans are using Harris's identity as a point of contention. Democrats are highlighting her path-breaking candidacy as the first female and first black woman president, while Republicans are questioning her racial identity and suggesting she's not truly black.
What is Trump's model of identity politics in the 2024 election?
Trump's approach to identity politics seems to be a mix of white identity politics, as seen in his 2016 campaign, and an anti-left politics that targets minority voters who are not aligned with progressive values.
Why is Carlos so disappointed with the Paris Olympics' simulated flame in the cauldron lighting ceremony?
Carlos believes that the simulated flame undermines the tradition and beauty of the real flame, which has been a significant part of the Olympic Games since the 1928 Amsterdam games. He feels that the use of LED lights and mist creates a less authentic and less inspiring experience.

Show Notes

The 2024 presidential race is officially in its identity politics stage. From “White Dudes for Harris,” to “D.E.I. candidate” accusations, the hosts debate how race and racism are being deployed in the second week of the Harris v. Trump election.

(A full transcript of this episode will be available within 24 hours of publication on the Times website.)

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