‘Tis be the season to feel mildly unwell and sniffly. This week I have been a little under the weather. I find sayings and idioms bizarre at the best of times and “under the weather” does not escape me as one of the strangest. I am under the clutches of the autumn weather who hath given unto me a cold. Supposedly, it originated as a maritime saying where sailors who weren’t feeling well were often sent below deck, so they could “get out of the weather”. Coincidently, I have sent myself to the sofa deck with a high dose of reality TV. Annoyingly it means the finesse of this week's newsletter has escaped me.* Alas, this is drafting! Drafts, give-it-a-go, scrapbooking, and unfinished business are all welcome here.
It’s Halloween and spooky season is truly upon us. Wanna hear something super scary? America is about to vote for their next president in the impending elections next week. Gulp.
Something that has seemed inescapable this time around is the emphasis on both Trump and Harris’ need for a successful social media / celebrity campaign. Yes, we had the viral meme of Bernie Sanders wrapped up in his mittens doing the rounds from Biden’s inauguration. But I find the seepage of politics into the everyday consciousness of whatever trends are doing the rounds in a given moment alarming. It risks belittling the gravity and seriousness of politics. Politicians have the power to dramatically change the circumstances of people, a responsibility of life and death. The juxtaposition of Harris’ ‘brat’ rebrand with some of the most pressing issues that will face the next president is jarring. Think Palestine, trans rights, immigration, abortion rights... The bid to stay relevant online has shaped this election race above all else.
Today In Focus has been releasing extra podcasts with election snippets in the lead-up to the election and one from this week about the media made my ears prick up. Adam Gabbatt described the behaviour of both Trump and Harris as “sneaking into voter media consumption” for those who otherwise wouldn’t tune into debates. As well as Harris’ ‘brat’ rebrand, they also mentions Trump’s stint at McDonalds and appearance on YouTuber Logan Paul’s podcast as well. Trump has cited his 18-year-old son for helping secure successful PR, particularly from a Gen Z perspective.
I find it reductive and siloed in terms of failing to present audiences with all their political choices. Influencers and podcasters like Logan Paul and Alex Cooper (of ‘Call Her Daddy’ whose podcast Harris appeared on) have enabled presidential candidates to “sneak into voter media consumption” in what feels like insidious propaganda. Yes, I know that’s exactly what mainstream media has been doing for years. The likes of Rupert Murdoch have allowed his politics to undeniably filter down to audiences across his media empire. But I feel that we’re all more equipped or aware of the potential bias we face in these types of news outlets. Or maybe I exist in my own echo-chamber when it comes to proceeding with caution there. Either way, there is much less regulation or ability to hold the likes of podcasters accountable for the political content they share with millions of listeners who otherwise tune in for Logan Paul’s self-proclaimed “hosted by idiots” podcast or Alex Cooper’s quest for female empowerment.
Need I remind everyone of the Cambridge Analytica scandal? Millions of Facebook users had their data collected without their consent and used for political advertising. Is the appearance of presidential candidates on any platform a type of political advertising? Should consumers of this type of content be made more obviously aware?
The way that celebrity status and culture are embedded into politics is something we don’t see in the UK. Kier Starmer wants to make politics “boring” again and we should let him. We should not undermine the severity and power of the decisions that are to be made by the government. Amid social media hysteria, we’re privy to forgetting what’s important. In light of the election in the UK earlier this year, the Guardian reflected on whether we’ve reached the end of the road for celebrity-endorsed politics. People are instead more in favour of endorsements from an everyday person who represents a particular sect of society. In America, articles of confirmed celebrity endorsements are a rite of passage.
We must not let what’s important get lost. Are celebrity endorsements a smokescreen for the policy gaps they’ve failed to address to many voters? Can we trust celebrities or influencers to endorse candidates with accuracy? The New York Times ran a piece urging people to consider the severity of Trump’s statements: Trump is telling us what he would do, believe him. Things we should not, must not, cannot overlook. A warning not to get distracted.
Perhaps this is a sign of how fatigued we all are with politics in general. Maybe we have a collective immunity towards the idea that anything can truly change to create a better future. We’re desensitised by everything wrong with the world because we can see it from our phones with the flick of a finger. So, we’re more interested in the entertainment politicians can offer us instead. This video remix of Trump’s “they’re eating the cats” comment after making claims that immigrants eat pets has received 12 million views. I wonder how many views manifestos have received. From here it’s a waiting game to see what fate the US decides for itself.
*I entirely take back everything I said about finesse earlier and I wish I hadn’t doubted myself because I am very happy with how this turned out especially considering I don’t feel my best. Pats self on back.
Enjoyed this one a lot.. Get well soon, Mary!