The Weekly Flail — July 26, 2024

Winnowing the media

OVERVIEW

The sudden abdication of Biden from the 2024 campaign and rapid takeover by Kamala Harris drastically changed the political landscape. It is a very different political game now, although it will have little effect on the long slide into planetary catastrophe. But there are glimmers of hope that Harris may be a catalyst, unintentionally, of major change in the crumbling American Empire.

After a week, the signs of change are a huge jump in donations for Harris and the rapid growth of a mass, youthful movement for her. This is being driven by the TikTok generation and favorite memes from Kamala’s speeches.

Even before launching her campaign after President Joe Biden dropped out of the race, Harris has become a meme-favorite among Gen Z social media users, thanks to videos that play on a 2023 speech where she recounted a story about her mom. The viral quote, which hears her quoting her mother, goes: “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.”

Her campaign team also played into Charli XCX’s Brat summer by changing their X header to the chartreuse aesthetic of the British singer’s album. [Source]