This election is all about the vibes
This election is all about the vibes
Also: The refugee b-girl activist, Trump's Gen Z outreach and fighting fast fashion,
In an era where political campaigns often feel like a never-ending doom scroll, Kamala Harris and Tim Walz are putting the emphasis on joy. The dynamic duo’s campaign strategy isn't just only about policy; it's about vibes. In a political landscape cluttered with fear-mongering and negativity, they are hoping their focus on joy will be a breath of fresh air and cut through the noise of an otherwise nasty election year.
As Harris herself said during a call with Barack and Michelle Obama, “We’re going to have some fun on the campaign trail.”
Harris, known for her exuberant laugh and straightforward style, has found a similar running mate in Tim Walz. The Minnesota governor, with his big-dad-energy and affable personality, is the antithesis of the typical stiff politician. At a rally in Philadelphia, Harris introduced Walz to a roaring crowd, where he won praise for his humor and relatability.
Trump and Vance have tried to use Harris’s laugh against her, painting it as a sign of unseriousness. But Harris has embraced it, explaining on “The Drew Barrymore Show” that her laugh is a family trait, a symbol of resilience and joy.
Walz, too, has turned the tables on the Republicans by labeling them as “weird.” His casual, almost playful demeanor sharply contrasts with Trump’s aggressive rhetoric and apparent inability to laugh.
When Trump rambled about Hannibal Lecter at a recent rally, Walz simply tweeted: “Say it with me: Weird.” The Harris-Walz campaign is seeking to highlight a fundamental difference in their approach. Where Trump sees joy as a weakness, they see it as a strength. They’re not afraid to laugh, to have fun, and to show their human side.
In a year where “vibes” are everything, Harris and Walz are trying to show that it’s possible to be serious about policy while also having a good time. Florida Congressman Maxwell Frost, America’s first Gen Z Congressman, said the simplicity and relatability of this approach is resonating with many, particularly younger voters.
“This is the energy that we need,” Frost said on MSNBC.“ I think oftentimes we as Democrats dismiss the politics of love and joy and to be honest with you, this is something that the Republicans have really leaned into. Not on love and joy, but the politics of vibes… Patriotism for us is about actually giving a damn about the people who live in the country. And that is what the politics of vibes are about. And when we connect the policy with the people and the love, that is what makes us unstoppable.”
Walz’s background as a teacher, football coach, and veteran adds layers of relatability that appeal to a broad audience as a midwestern dad who gets it. His involvement in a high school gay-straight alliance and his straightforward stance on issues like abortion—“Mind your own damn business!”—have resonated with young people in today’s political landscape.
Social media has played a huge role in amplifying this vibe shift to counter the cynicism of their opponents with an infectious optimism. Memes of Harris dancing and Walz cracking dad jokes have gone viral, creating a sense of fun and engagement that’s often missing in politics. TikTok, in particular, has been flooded with positive content about the Harris-Walz ticket, racking up millions of views and likes.
The Harris-Walz campaign is not just about fun and games, though. Democrats say it's about connecting with people on a deeper level, showing that politics doesn’t have to be all doom and gloom. By embracing joy, they’re attempting to make a statement about the kind of future they envision—a future where leaders are approachable, policies are people-centered and dark and divisive rhetoric has no place.
Dig deeper:
↪ Where Tim Walz stands on key issues: Abortion, climate, marijuana and more (Washington Post)
↪ Tim Walz’s 23-Year-Old Daughter Is Making Him a Gen Z Hit. (Daily Beast)
↪ Why the Harris Walz camo hat Is becoming a status symbol for liberals (Teen Vogue)
🗳️ More Politics
➤ Donald Trump’s Gen-Z pivot
Republicans have been dipping into the demo of conservative-leaning podcasts by and for Gen-Z guys for some time now. (Intelligencer)
↪ Dig Deeper: Trump credits son Barron Trump for appearance on Gen Z livestream with Adin Ross (Palm Beach Post)
➤ No, Taylor Swift did not endorse Kamala Harris by photoshopping her silhouette into a concert photo
A pic of one of Swift's background dancers walking off stage prompted a lot of wish-casting and doom-posting from Swifties, coconut heads, and right-wing zealots (Rolling Stone)
➤ 'Squad' member Cori Bush loses congressional primary
Democratic congresswoman and "Squad" member Cori Bush has lost her primary race in Missouri to St. Louis prosecutor Wesley Bell. Bush came to prominence as an organizer in the Black Lives Matter movement. She has been a vocal critic of Israel's war in Gaza, with pro-Israel groups spending more than $10m on efforts to unseat her in the primary. (BBC)
➤ How the Slow Fashion Caucus plans to fight fast fashion
Slow Fashion Caucus founding member Rep. Jill Tokuda talks to Zivvy about the caucus’ plans and goals (Zivvy)
🌎 Around the world
➤ Alleged Taylor Swift terror plot fits a worrying trend as ISIS targets teens online
What Austrian authorities have revealed about the alleged terror plot aimed at Taylor Swift’s three Vienna concerts adheres to a chilling pattern familiar to European counterterrorism officials, who said the suspect’s aim was to “kill himself and a large number of people.” In a raid on the suspect’s home police found chemical explosives, detonators, ISIS propaganda, knives and machetes. He even had a blue light used by police to attach to their cars, which could have helped him drive to the busy scene. (CNN)
➤ Bangladesh’s ‘Gen Z revolution’ toppled a veteran leader. Why did they hit the streets and what happens now?
Inside Bangladesh it’s being dubbed a Gen Z revolution – a protest movement that pitted mostly young student demonstrators against a 76-year-old leader who had dominated her nation for decades and turned increasingly authoritarian in recent years. (CNN)
🏅Olympics
➤ Manizha Talash Wore a “Free Afghan Women” Cape During Olympics Breakdancing
The 21-year-old star of the IOC refugee team made history during the first ever Olympic breakdancing comp.
➤ The 2024 Olympics had the first-ever gymnastics podium composed of all Black women
Brazilian Rebeca Andrad and Americans Simone Biles and Jordan Chiles captured gold, silver and bronze in the women’s floor final. It was the first Olympic gymnastics podium with three Black women. (Teen Vogue)
➤ Simone Biles says bow to Rebeca Andrade was ‘all about sportsmanship.’ It bothered an NFL star
The display of sportsmanship by Biles and Chiles has been celebrated in similar fashion by many — with one exception being Baltimore Ravens Pro Bowl cornerback Marlon Humphrey, who posted on X that he found the gesture to be “literally disgusting.”
➤ Snoop Dogg has exploded on the Olympics’ global stage. He’s just being himself.
At the Paris Games, grand entrances have become the norm in Snoop’s spectacular Olympic life. (AP)
Related: Snoop Dogg rumored to be making $500K a day at Paris Olympics (New York Post)
➤ MyKayla Skinner calls on Simone Biles to 'put a stop' to cyberbullying after viral Olympic post
After former teammate MyKayla Skinner criticized the 2024 Women's Gymnastics team's "talent" and "work ethic," Simone Biles clapped back in her Instagram post celebrating the win. Now in a new video, Skinner said that she experienced cyberbullying, including threats of "physical harm" to her family. (ABC News)
➤ Who is Ilona Maher? The Olympic rugby star, TikTok sensation and major advocate for body positivity
Ilona Maher may have just scored her first medal at the Paris 2024 Olympics, but she’s been beloved by TikTok for years (The Independent)
➤ Skateboarder Arisa Trew Is the Youngest Medalist at the 2024 Olympics
Arisa Trew, a 14-year-old from Australia, just won gold in the Women's Skateboarding Park Final, making her Australia's youngest medalist in history and the youngest medalists at the 2024 Olympics. (Teen Vogue)
⚕️Health and Wellness
➤ Meghan Markle opens up about revealing suicidal thoughts: If telling story 'will save someone...that's worth it'
Prince Harry and Meghan appeared on 'CBS Sunday Morning' to discuss The Parents Network, helping families with children impacted by traumas related to social media. (People)
➤ Gen Z boys are using hard gum to try and chisel their jawlines—dentists say it may do ‘more harm than good’
Impossible beauty standards aren’t just for teen girls. (via CNBC)
➤ Sadness among teen girls may be improving, CDC Finds
A national survey found promising signs that key mental health measures for teens, especially girls, have improved since the depths of the pandemic. (NYT)
👩💻 Technology
➤ Teenager sues Meta over ‘addictive’ Instagram features
The lawsuit seeking class-action status and $5 billion in damages alleges Meta intentionally got teens hooked on Instagram and knowingly exposed them to harmful content. (Washington Post)
➤ ByteDance agrees to withdraw its ‘addictive’ TikTok Lite app for teens in Europe
TikTok will permanently remove a feature in a spinoff app in France and Spain that rewards users for watching and liking videos, bowing to pressure from European regulators. (Fortune)
➤ Gen Z and millennials continue to dump dating apps
Daters aren't lining up to pay premium for an app. (Fortune)
⭐ Gen Z in the Spotlight
➤ I’m Gen Z and attended college for nearly 3 years before realizing trade school was right for me
Forrest Zischkau decided pursuing a philosophy degree was a mistake and switched to trade school. Now, he has plenty of job offers. (Fortune)
📡 On the radar
➤ Joe Biden Has a Plan to Phase Out Single-Use Plastics
The administration announced a wide-ranging commitment to phasing out single-use plastic products in federal government buildings. (Food & Wine)
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