Taylor Swift Endorses Kamala Harris for President
September 10, 2024 8:12 PM Subscribe
She must have been one of those "Undecided" voters we've been hearing so much about.
posted by Kibbutz at 8:22 PM on September 10 [18 favorites]
posted by Kibbutz at 8:22 PM on September 10 [18 favorites]
I was really kinda hoping she'd endorse Vermin Supreme, frankly.
posted by symbioid at 8:28 PM on September 10 [15 favorites]
posted by symbioid at 8:28 PM on September 10 [15 favorites]
The Mahomes controversy and false AI images probably pushed her into being more clear.
posted by beaning at 8:30 PM on September 10 [8 favorites]
posted by beaning at 8:30 PM on September 10 [8 favorites]
Tired: New Wave. Wired: Blue Wave
Old and busted: Swiftboating Veterans
New hotness: Swift: “Voting! Tell your friends!”
posted by armeowda at 8:30 PM on September 10 [54 favorites]
Old and busted: Swiftboating Veterans
New hotness: Swift: “Voting! Tell your friends!”
posted by armeowda at 8:30 PM on September 10 [54 favorites]
Strange timing.
Perfect timing: right during the post-debate news cycle. Especially considering that Trump & Vance, obviously not cat people, are now sadly attempting to win over cat lovers by amplifying a racist, fake meme about cats.
It's no mistake that Swift used a photo of herself with her cat and signed it "Childless Cat Lady."
posted by lisa g at 8:33 PM on September 10 [65 favorites]
Perfect timing: right during the post-debate news cycle. Especially considering that Trump & Vance, obviously not cat people, are now sadly attempting to win over cat lovers by amplifying a racist, fake meme about cats.
It's no mistake that Swift used a photo of herself with her cat and signed it "Childless Cat Lady."
posted by lisa g at 8:33 PM on September 10 [65 favorites]
All Trump is missing now is to pick a fight with a K-pop fandom. Go on, Vance, talk shit about BTS I dare you
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 8:35 PM on September 10 [93 favorites]
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 8:35 PM on September 10 [93 favorites]
All Trump is missing now is to pick a fight with a K-pop fandom.
He's already cozy with Kim Jung Un, and I doubt any K-pop star looks kindly on that....
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:36 PM on September 10 [11 favorites]
He's already cozy with Kim Jung Un, and I doubt any K-pop star looks kindly on that....
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 8:36 PM on September 10 [11 favorites]
No one can pretend Trump won that "debate."
posted by rikschell at 8:37 PM on September 10 [6 favorites]
posted by rikschell at 8:37 PM on September 10 [6 favorites]
I opened my phone to find a quote, saw the headline, and said "holy shit" so loudly my partner was worried.
posted by constraint at 8:38 PM on September 10 [6 favorites]
posted by constraint at 8:38 PM on September 10 [6 favorites]
My cats and I support this turn of events.
posted by gingerbeer at 8:53 PM on September 10 [28 favorites]
posted by gingerbeer at 8:53 PM on September 10 [28 favorites]
NYTimes headline: Taylor Swift Endorses Kamala Harris and How That Will Sink Her Campaign
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 9:01 PM on September 10 [41 favorites]
posted by They sucked his brains out! at 9:01 PM on September 10 [41 favorites]
I do enjoy this one,
We Are Never Ever Going Back Together
Anti-hero Donald's cruel summer got worse than his wildest dreams when Karma-la took the stage with style and told him "you need to calm down." Then Taylor called Kam and said "you belong with me." Can Don shake it off?
by Maureen Dowd
posted by alex_skazat at 9:06 PM on September 10 [12 favorites]
We Are Never Ever Going Back Together
Anti-hero Donald's cruel summer got worse than his wildest dreams when Karma-la took the stage with style and told him "you need to calm down." Then Taylor called Kam and said "you belong with me." Can Don shake it off?
by Maureen Dowd
posted by alex_skazat at 9:06 PM on September 10 [12 favorites]
Especially considering that Trump & Vance, obviously not cat people, are now sadly attempting to win over cat lovers by amplifying a racist, fake meme about cats.
Also like, there's been enough weird animal stuff this election season that it inevitably makes people think about how known actual dangers to animals Kristi Noem and RFK Jr. are on their side
posted by jason_steakums at 9:12 PM on September 10 [18 favorites]
Also like, there's been enough weird animal stuff this election season that it inevitably makes people think about how known actual dangers to animals Kristi Noem and RFK Jr. are on their side
posted by jason_steakums at 9:12 PM on September 10 [18 favorites]
This is all really weird, isn't it? The whole republicans ranting about immigrants eating cats, childless cat ladies, eating roadkill bears and shooting a naughty puppy? It's like the Republicans *want* to *prove* that they are, in fact, really, really weird.
posted by Reverend John at 9:26 PM on September 10 [23 favorites]
posted by Reverend John at 9:26 PM on September 10 [23 favorites]
It is. I caught the Republican weird on C-SPAN a long time ago (this may warrant a slight CW...).
Every accusation a confession, aye?
posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:34 PM on September 10 [1 favorite]
Every accusation a confession, aye?
posted by JoeXIII007 at 9:34 PM on September 10 [1 favorite]
I am prone to ear-worms, including getting the lyrics wrong.
The last 5 minutes has been non-stop: "we are never ever eating cat together".
posted by Calvin and the Duplicators at 9:37 PM on September 10 [39 favorites]
The last 5 minutes has been non-stop: "we are never ever eating cat together".
posted by Calvin and the Duplicators at 9:37 PM on September 10 [39 favorites]
I do enjoy this one,
You do not, under any circumstances, have to hand it to Maureen Dowd.
posted by non canadian guy at 9:42 PM on September 10 [58 favorites]
You do not, under any circumstances, have to hand it to Maureen Dowd.
posted by non canadian guy at 9:42 PM on September 10 [58 favorites]
It's like they forgot that Americans hate anti-pet politicians.
I love her timing and her sign-off. Now where's the part where she sues him?
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:43 PM on September 10 [10 favorites]
I love her timing and her sign-off. Now where's the part where she sues him?
posted by jenfullmoon at 9:43 PM on September 10 [10 favorites]
Whodathunkit?
Honestly, every person ever who has watched or read the news (and wasn't due for a visit from the Good Humor men).
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 9:47 PM on September 10
Honestly, every person ever who has watched or read the news (and wasn't due for a visit from the Good Humor men).
posted by JustSayNoDawg at 9:47 PM on September 10
the “they’re eating cats in springfield” moment was basically indistinguishable from telling Stuart what the queers are doing to the soil
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:49 PM on September 10 [19 favorites]
posted by Jon_Evil at 9:49 PM on September 10 [19 favorites]
@non canadian guy: That's the great @DougJBalloon (aka New York Times Pitchbot) channeling Ms. Dowd for satirical effect.
posted by HillbillyInBC at 9:51 PM on September 10 [8 favorites]
posted by HillbillyInBC at 9:51 PM on September 10 [8 favorites]
> NYTimes headline: Taylor Swift Endorses Kamala Harris and How That Will Sink Her Campaign
i can't even tell if that's parody
posted by Clowder of bats at 10:04 PM on September 10 [15 favorites]
i can't even tell if that's parody
posted by Clowder of bats at 10:04 PM on September 10 [15 favorites]
At the unaffiliated Swifties for Kamala site: "It feels like a perfect night to donate to democracy."
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:18 PM on September 10 [8 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 10:18 PM on September 10 [8 favorites]
🐱
posted by HearHere at 10:22 PM on September 10 [2 favorites]
posted by HearHere at 10:22 PM on September 10 [2 favorites]
Ok, go with me here… 283 MILLION instagram followers.
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:55 PM on September 10 [22 favorites]
posted by Devils Rancher at 10:55 PM on September 10 [22 favorites]
All Trump is missing now is to pick a fight with a K-pop fandom. Go on, Vance, talk shit about BTS I dare you
I’m sure this would be trivially easy to provoke. “JD Vance, what do you say to young people who think that masculinity should be more willing to show emotional vulnerability, as evidenced by the rise in fans of Korean boy bands like BTS who demonstrate that?”
Come on, one of you has to be a reporter!
posted by corb at 11:50 PM on September 10 [55 favorites]
I’m sure this would be trivially easy to provoke. “JD Vance, what do you say to young people who think that masculinity should be more willing to show emotional vulnerability, as evidenced by the rise in fans of Korean boy bands like BTS who demonstrate that?”
Come on, one of you has to be a reporter!
posted by corb at 11:50 PM on September 10 [55 favorites]
All they have to do is reference the BTS fans as an “army” and conservatives will start decrying the brain washing and forced recruitment of k-pop stans.
posted by Mizu at 12:16 AM on September 11 [6 favorites]
posted by Mizu at 12:16 AM on September 11 [6 favorites]
I made a special exception to my practice of blocking Facebook and Instagram domains in order to check out the endorsement, meaning this is the first, and very possibly only time I'll have reason to visit Taylor Swift's Instagram.
So I don't know what her social media team is usually posting, but writing as someone who has spent a lot of time wrangling words to turn them into public statements for organizations I have represented: I was significantly impressed with how well that endorsement post was crafted. Really and sincerely. It might not seem flashy but that is some A+ work.
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:42 AM on September 11 [48 favorites]
So I don't know what her social media team is usually posting, but writing as someone who has spent a lot of time wrangling words to turn them into public statements for organizations I have represented: I was significantly impressed with how well that endorsement post was crafted. Really and sincerely. It might not seem flashy but that is some A+ work.
posted by Nerd of the North at 12:42 AM on September 11 [48 favorites]
Lesser kudos, but still an appreciative nod to the headline writer for this Rolling Stone piece
Elon Musk Threatens Taylor Swift After Harris Endorsement: ‘I Will Give You a Child’posted by Nerd of the North at 12:46 AM on September 11 [32 favorites]
This is great! Her post was clear and also democratic. Like, just to be absolutely clear, here’s where I stand, you educate yourselves and make your own decision. And timing was perfect for a number of reasons stated above.
The Mahomes thing is tricky - like your boyfriend / supposed future fiance (ie not a fuckboy)’s BFF’s wife liked some MAGA post (and then unliked it). So you can’t trounce her because she’s gonna be around; like probably forever. Also if you did trounce her some severe internet shit would reign down on her which is outsized for the level of the offense. Apparently the post she liked was meh -ish not like a 2am tirade. So would be unkind of Taylor to create that possibility especially again since she’s gonna be in her social circle for the long haul. Taylor has shown herself to be a loyal person not a fair weather friend provided of course you are the same.
PS her posts are typically well worded such as this. Measured and thoughtful.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:54 AM on September 11 [2 favorites]
The Mahomes thing is tricky - like your boyfriend / supposed future fiance (ie not a fuckboy)’s BFF’s wife liked some MAGA post (and then unliked it). So you can’t trounce her because she’s gonna be around; like probably forever. Also if you did trounce her some severe internet shit would reign down on her which is outsized for the level of the offense. Apparently the post she liked was meh -ish not like a 2am tirade. So would be unkind of Taylor to create that possibility especially again since she’s gonna be in her social circle for the long haul. Taylor has shown herself to be a loyal person not a fair weather friend provided of course you are the same.
PS her posts are typically well worded such as this. Measured and thoughtful.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 12:54 AM on September 11 [2 favorites]
It's like we've suddenly discovered Trump's kryptonite, and it's women.
posted by chavenet at 1:27 AM on September 11 [55 favorites]
posted by chavenet at 1:27 AM on September 11 [55 favorites]
Eh, she's just trying to not get primaried by Charli XCX
posted by jy4m at 1:29 AM on September 11 [22 favorites]
posted by jy4m at 1:29 AM on September 11 [22 favorites]
Rolling Stone: The exact weight of Swift’s endorsement in the national race is hard to immediately measure
because it landed right on top of everything and they're going to have to pry it off before surveying the damage and weighing it
posted by chavenet at 2:51 AM on September 11 [18 favorites]
because it landed right on top of everything and they're going to have to pry it off before surveying the damage and weighing it
posted by chavenet at 2:51 AM on September 11 [18 favorites]
No one can pretend Trump won that "debate."
Well, Coast to Coast AM with George Noory did give it the old high school dropout try.
posted by y2karl at 3:39 AM on September 11 [1 favorite]
Well, Coast to Coast AM with George Noory did give it the old high school dropout try.
posted by y2karl at 3:39 AM on September 11 [1 favorite]
This wasn't a surprise, but it was nice to see. Swift made her first political statement in the fall of 2018 to endorse democrats in her home state of TN, then endorsed Biden/Harris in 2020- on the night of the VP Debate, actually. In the documentary, Miss Americana, there's a scene of her talking to members of her team and her father about how she felt the need to speak up.
“I can’t see another commercial [with] her disguising these policies behind the words ‘Tennessee Christian values.’ I live in Tennessee. I am Christian. That’s not what we stand for.” Pushing back tears, she laments not having come out against Trump two years earlier, “but I can’t change that. … I need to be on the right side of history. … Dad, I need you to forgive me for doing it, because I’m doing it.”
posted by Torosaurus at 5:06 AM on September 11 [16 favorites]
“I can’t see another commercial [with] her disguising these policies behind the words ‘Tennessee Christian values.’ I live in Tennessee. I am Christian. That’s not what we stand for.” Pushing back tears, she laments not having come out against Trump two years earlier, “but I can’t change that. … I need to be on the right side of history. … Dad, I need you to forgive me for doing it, because I’m doing it.”
posted by Torosaurus at 5:06 AM on September 11 [16 favorites]
It's almost funny that one of the Republicans' greatest dangers is Taylor Swift fans. But then you realize one of the greatest dangers to Taylor Swift fans is the Republican party and it all makes sense.
posted by tommasz at 5:10 AM on September 11 [44 favorites]
posted by tommasz at 5:10 AM on September 11 [44 favorites]
Why does the timing seem strange? It was perfectly timed (I mean, basically, down to the minute) to be announced and amplified by every single media source covering the debate. It would be big news to fans, pop culture aficionados and news/political junkies no matter when but the reporting would be more diffuse, and there's a lot of people outside these spheres who wouldn't even really notice. This way it was a news bomb / press blitz. Maybe people for whom Swift isn't really on their radar at all will be thinking "what's the big deal," but they WILL be thinking (and curious).
I thought the DNC was the right time, but it would have been one among many news bursts and more relevant to fans than the public at large, so this seems like a much more canny tactic. (It wouldn't have worked if Trump had chickened out, but I bet there was a plan B. Taylor mostly doesn't miss when it comes to complex strategy.)
posted by taz at 5:17 AM on September 11 [16 favorites]
I thought the DNC was the right time, but it would have been one among many news bursts and more relevant to fans than the public at large, so this seems like a much more canny tactic. (It wouldn't have worked if Trump had chickened out, but I bet there was a plan B. Taylor mostly doesn't miss when it comes to complex strategy.)
posted by taz at 5:17 AM on September 11 [16 favorites]
Everyone's burying the lede: Taylor Swift's cat is adorable.
posted by mcstayinskool at 5:20 AM on September 11 [42 favorites]
posted by mcstayinskool at 5:20 AM on September 11 [42 favorites]
Right. It's time.
I get most of my music recommendations from MetaFilter, and as a result I get to listen to and love unique new artists and get hooked on them. MetaFilter broadens my listening repertoire and delights me with artists I would never have listened to without your suggestions.
So just this moment I checked out Taylor Swift, and for the first time knowingly listened to her music. I didn't think I'd actually find anything free to listen to. I was assuming she had a full time team pulling her stuff off the internet the way the Beatles do. But I found, "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart."
Verdict: Better than I expected. Somewhat too celebrity pop mainstream bland for my usual taste. Her music is basically inoffensive. Was surprised to find her not as conventionally pretty as I expected. Of course the bog standard glam hair and make up can't be avoided, but in fact, she is chunky. I like chunky. Muscle to do all that dancing. And they did not wardrobe her to avoid hiding the fact that she has thighs that could dropkick me through a bullet proof plate glass window. There's an aesthetic there that's not all fake.
I like her.
And I am very, very sure she can sing a LOT better than Vance.
Okay, all you Taylor Swift fans out there. Here's my challenge: Get Harris into the White House and I will add her to my routine playlist.
posted by Jane the Brown at 5:35 AM on September 11 [13 favorites]
I get most of my music recommendations from MetaFilter, and as a result I get to listen to and love unique new artists and get hooked on them. MetaFilter broadens my listening repertoire and delights me with artists I would never have listened to without your suggestions.
So just this moment I checked out Taylor Swift, and for the first time knowingly listened to her music. I didn't think I'd actually find anything free to listen to. I was assuming she had a full time team pulling her stuff off the internet the way the Beatles do. But I found, "I Can Do It With a Broken Heart."
Verdict: Better than I expected. Somewhat too celebrity pop mainstream bland for my usual taste. Her music is basically inoffensive. Was surprised to find her not as conventionally pretty as I expected. Of course the bog standard glam hair and make up can't be avoided, but in fact, she is chunky. I like chunky. Muscle to do all that dancing. And they did not wardrobe her to avoid hiding the fact that she has thighs that could dropkick me through a bullet proof plate glass window. There's an aesthetic there that's not all fake.
I like her.
And I am very, very sure she can sing a LOT better than Vance.
Okay, all you Taylor Swift fans out there. Here's my challenge: Get Harris into the White House and I will add her to my routine playlist.
posted by Jane the Brown at 5:35 AM on September 11 [13 favorites]
And I am very, very sure she can sing a LOT better than Vance.
I would give Vance the slight advantage if they were both asked to write a breakup song.
Difficulty: About a couch
posted by dr_dank at 5:45 AM on September 11 [8 favorites]
I would give Vance the slight advantage if they were both asked to write a breakup song.
Difficulty: About a couch
posted by dr_dank at 5:45 AM on September 11 [8 favorites]
"Don't be Crewel"
posted by taz at 5:58 AM on September 11 [10 favorites]
posted by taz at 5:58 AM on September 11 [10 favorites]
"From Netflix and Chill to Just Me and a Pillow"
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:05 AM on September 11 [8 favorites]
posted by seanmpuckett at 6:05 AM on September 11 [8 favorites]
"Divan Tragedy"
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:14 AM on September 11 [6 favorites]
posted by Halloween Jack at 6:14 AM on September 11 [6 favorites]
You do not, under any circumstances, have to hand it to Maureen Dowd.
Which nobody has done, since that was a New York Times Pitchbot tweet making fun of Maureen Dowd.
posted by grumpybear69 at 6:20 AM on September 11 [6 favorites]
Which nobody has done, since that was a New York Times Pitchbot tweet making fun of Maureen Dowd.
posted by grumpybear69 at 6:20 AM on September 11 [6 favorites]
“So fa Away”
posted by edithkeeler at 6:29 AM on September 11 [8 favorites]
posted by edithkeeler at 6:29 AM on September 11 [8 favorites]
Haven't heard any of the usual "shut up and play ball" replies that athletes usually get when they speak up about politics, but then she is a nice, white lady...and Taylor Damn Swift, after all.
posted by wenestvedt at 8:11 AM on September 11 [2 favorites]
posted by wenestvedt at 8:11 AM on September 11 [2 favorites]
Two Scottish Folds and a Ragdoll with penis face. That's an impressive cat collection.
Almost anyone would like some Taylor Swift songs, and not like some others, Jane the Brown, because she wrote a lot of songs.
Aside from beaning's observations, Liz and Dick Cheney endorsing Kamala Harris changes the tone, like how can Swift's MAGA-ish fans even complain after the Cheneys endorsements? lol
Amusing Feb 2021 article: Dolly Parton turned down presidential medal of freedom twice from Trump. She’s not sure she’ll accept it from Biden either.
posted by jeffburdges at 8:16 AM on September 11 [4 favorites]
Almost anyone would like some Taylor Swift songs, and not like some others, Jane the Brown, because she wrote a lot of songs.
Aside from beaning's observations, Liz and Dick Cheney endorsing Kamala Harris changes the tone, like how can Swift's MAGA-ish fans even complain after the Cheneys endorsements? lol
Amusing Feb 2021 article: Dolly Parton turned down presidential medal of freedom twice from Trump. She’s not sure she’ll accept it from Biden either.
posted by jeffburdges at 8:16 AM on September 11 [4 favorites]
the “they’re eating cats in springfield” moment was basically indistinguishable from telling Stuart what the queers are doing to the soil
THANK YOU. I actually got that vibe immediately from "she wants transgender operations for undocumented immigrants in prison" and followed it up in an FB post with "And they're building landing strips for gay Martians! I swear to God!" I'm so glad I'm not the only one.
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:48 AM on September 11 [5 favorites]
THANK YOU. I actually got that vibe immediately from "she wants transgender operations for undocumented immigrants in prison" and followed it up in an FB post with "And they're building landing strips for gay Martians! I swear to God!" I'm so glad I'm not the only one.
posted by dlugoczaj at 8:48 AM on September 11 [5 favorites]
Taylor Swift's endorsement hit the news while Tim Walz was talking with Rachel Maddow.
Maddow read Swift's letter aloud, and you simply have to see Walz's reaction as he's hearing it for the first time.
He is so good at this.
posted by cheshyre at 8:53 AM on September 11 [29 favorites]
Maddow read Swift's letter aloud, and you simply have to see Walz's reaction as he's hearing it for the first time.
He is so good at this.
posted by cheshyre at 8:53 AM on September 11 [29 favorites]
Trump: "She seems to always endorse a Democrat, and she’ll probably pay a price for it ... in the marketplace."
He's probably right. Probably millions of Swifties right now, tearing up their Eras shirts and replacing them with Kid Rock merch.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:06 AM on September 11 [18 favorites]
He's probably right. Probably millions of Swifties right now, tearing up their Eras shirts and replacing them with Kid Rock merch.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:06 AM on September 11 [18 favorites]
Trump, after a deepfake TSwift "endorses" him: I AM OBVIOUSLY THE CHOSEN ONE
Trump, after the real TSwift endorses Harris: Who cares? She doesn't matter. She's stupid anyway.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:15 AM on September 11 [15 favorites]
Trump, after the real TSwift endorses Harris: Who cares? She doesn't matter. She's stupid anyway.
posted by DirtyOldTown at 9:15 AM on September 11 [15 favorites]
Of course the bog standard glam hair and make up can't be avoided, but in fact, she is chunky. I like chunky. Muscle to do all that dancing.
What? I feel like I'm reliving Jessica Simpson size 4 pants 2009.
posted by phunniemee at 9:22 AM on September 11 [68 favorites]
What? I feel like I'm reliving Jessica Simpson size 4 pants 2009.
posted by phunniemee at 9:22 AM on September 11 [68 favorites]
can’t tell if this is genuinely a big deal or just because i’m a millenial and my age group is generally obsessed so i have an inflated sense of its importance.
posted by crime online at 9:29 AM on September 11
posted by crime online at 9:29 AM on September 11
Taylor Swift is "chunky?" TAYLOR SWIFT? uh yeah, no. She wears like a size 2...
posted by tiny frying pan at 9:31 AM on September 11 [31 favorites]
posted by tiny frying pan at 9:31 AM on September 11 [31 favorites]
"can’t tell if this is genuinely a big deal or just because i’m a millenial and my age group is generally obsessed so i have an inflated sense of its importance."
The way it is I figure is that this world is a social media world. Taylor Swift has an amazing following and engagement. In just over 24 hours after she posted that, it has over 8 million likes and who knows how many views. That's gotta count for something.
posted by milnak at 9:33 AM on September 11 [5 favorites]
The way it is I figure is that this world is a social media world. Taylor Swift has an amazing following and engagement. In just over 24 hours after she posted that, it has over 8 million likes and who knows how many views. That's gotta count for something.
posted by milnak at 9:33 AM on September 11 [5 favorites]
an’t tell if this is genuinely a big deal or just because i’m a millenial and my age group is generally obsessed so i have an inflated sense of its importance.I mean every generation is so far up it's own nose, that it's not surprising.
But as a grumpy grouchy sleepy GenX dude, yeah, it's a big damn deal.
posted by drewbage1847 at 9:34 AM on September 11 [3 favorites]
if she's chunky then i must be the evergreen container ship ever given
posted by i used to be someone else at 9:34 AM on September 11 [44 favorites]
posted by i used to be someone else at 9:34 AM on September 11 [44 favorites]
~ Could have done without the body commentary ~
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:35 AM on September 11 [84 favorites]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 9:35 AM on September 11 [84 favorites]
Why are we talking about whether Taylor Swift is chunky? What decade is this?
posted by MiraK at 9:49 AM on September 11 [57 favorites]
posted by MiraK at 9:49 AM on September 11 [57 favorites]
Sorry it was an easier thing for me to latch on and respond to than to marvel how that commenter has somehow not noticed the last decade and a half+ of free and legal music streaming content online.
posted by phunniemee at 9:53 AM on September 11 [21 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 9:53 AM on September 11 [21 favorites]
Yeah, this is a big deal. If you think there are more Trump supporters than Taylor Swift fans (especially TS fans who can vote!), imagine the wide-eyed emoji.
Republicans and, well frankly, a good chunk of Democrats have this idea that TS is for the underage, not of age voters, but this woman has been releasing music for nearly 20 years. She is generational at this point. My sister is 46, has two teens; she's been listening to TS since her first release in 2006, her kids starting listening over a decade later. This endorsement is important because it isn't the youth only. It's the parents too!
posted by Kitteh at 9:57 AM on September 11 [17 favorites]
Republicans and, well frankly, a good chunk of Democrats have this idea that TS is for the underage, not of age voters, but this woman has been releasing music for nearly 20 years. She is generational at this point. My sister is 46, has two teens; she's been listening to TS since her first release in 2006, her kids starting listening over a decade later. This endorsement is important because it isn't the youth only. It's the parents too!
posted by Kitteh at 9:57 AM on September 11 [17 favorites]
I'd like to point out that 100% of the times that Taylor Swift has endorsed a ticket with Harris in it, that ticket has won.
Just sayin'.
posted by signal at 10:15 AM on September 11 [11 favorites]
Just sayin'.
posted by signal at 10:15 AM on September 11 [11 favorites]
DirtyOldTown: Trump: "She seems to always endorse a Democrat, and she’ll probably pay a price for it ... in the marketplace."
and another thing: hes not mad. please dont put in the newspaper that he got mad.
posted by signal at 10:24 AM on September 11 [11 favorites]
and another thing: hes not mad. please dont put in the newspaper that he got mad.
posted by signal at 10:24 AM on September 11 [11 favorites]
Elon Musk Threatens Taylor Swift After Harris Endorsement: ‘I Will Give You a Child’
The grossest timeline. I assume there is a reasonable chance that Elon bumps into TS and/or Travis Kelce at some point at a fancy event/gala/awards show or what not. Oh to be a fly on the wall then…..
posted by inflatablekiwi at 10:32 AM on September 11 [6 favorites]
The grossest timeline. I assume there is a reasonable chance that Elon bumps into TS and/or Travis Kelce at some point at a fancy event/gala/awards show or what not. Oh to be a fly on the wall then…..
posted by inflatablekiwi at 10:32 AM on September 11 [6 favorites]
Go Woke and Go broke Fabulously Wealthy.
Follow up request, Madame Swift, slap the shit out of your boyfriend's kicker.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 10:33 AM on September 11 [3 favorites]
Follow up request, Madame Swift, slap the shit out of your boyfriend's kicker.
posted by Abehammerb Lincoln at 10:33 AM on September 11 [3 favorites]
Kamala Harris Leaves Post-Debate Party to Strains of Taylor Swift's ‘The Man' After Pop Star's Endorsement
#chefskiss
posted by gottabefunky at 10:41 AM on September 11 [13 favorites]
#chefskiss
posted by gottabefunky at 10:41 AM on September 11 [13 favorites]
My 87-year-old mother's response when I texted her the news:
Love that cat, Benjamin Button is his name. He’s handsome.
posted by gottabefunky at 10:43 AM on September 11 [29 favorites]
Love that cat, Benjamin Button is his name. He’s handsome.
posted by gottabefunky at 10:43 AM on September 11 [29 favorites]
If she didn't endorse Harris, all of the fans who were dragging her for hugging Brittany would be straight up accusing her of being MAGA, so I don't see that she had much of a choice. But it is still a good thing.
posted by grumpybear69 at 11:13 AM on September 11 [1 favorite]
posted by grumpybear69 at 11:13 AM on September 11 [1 favorite]
(For those for whom the NBC video won't show, here's the Walz reacting to Swift video on YouTube.)
posted by nonethefewer at 11:20 AM on September 11
posted by nonethefewer at 11:20 AM on September 11
I assume there is a reasonable chance that Elon bumps into TS and/or Travis Kelce at some point
Elon will regret making rape threats about an NFL player's girlfriend when he finds out how rich, smart, fierce, litigious, and popular she is.
posted by straight at 11:38 AM on September 11 [9 favorites]
Elon will regret making rape threats about an NFL player's girlfriend when he finds out how rich, smart, fierce, litigious, and popular she is.
posted by straight at 11:38 AM on September 11 [9 favorites]
I thought the Musk thing had to be bad Onionesque parody.
But he apparently really said that? That's up there with "grab them by the ...".
Wow. Musk is a piece of shit but I didn't think he'd be that publicly a piece of shit. Masks off, I guess.
posted by jclarkin at 11:41 AM on September 11 [8 favorites]
But he apparently really said that? That's up there with "grab them by the ...".
Wow. Musk is a piece of shit but I didn't think he'd be that publicly a piece of shit. Masks off, I guess.
posted by jclarkin at 11:41 AM on September 11 [8 favorites]
He said ‘I Will Give You a Child’ - so he's endorsing child trafficking.
posted by The_Vegetables at 11:49 AM on September 11 [3 favorites]
I'm here for the counter messaging:
The party that shoots their dog, drives across the cape cod bridge with a dog on the roof of their car, and leaves dead bear cubs in central park is lying about Haitians eating people's pets.
posted by constraint at 11:50 AM on September 11 [9 favorites]
The party that shoots their dog, drives across the cape cod bridge with a dog on the roof of their car, and leaves dead bear cubs in central park is lying about Haitians eating people's pets.
posted by constraint at 11:50 AM on September 11 [9 favorites]
Too bad Ms. Swift didn’t coordinate with the Harris campaign. Would have had more impact later this week.
That being said - if she goes out on the campaign trail even a bit it’ll move the needle. Harris just needs a few states to flip and it’ll be a landslide for Harris.
I am hoping for some follow up activities from the Swifties. A few people opting to register and vote vs. sitting on the couch makes all the difference.
posted by Farce_First at 11:54 AM on September 11 [3 favorites]
That being said - if she goes out on the campaign trail even a bit it’ll move the needle. Harris just needs a few states to flip and it’ll be a landslide for Harris.
I am hoping for some follow up activities from the Swifties. A few people opting to register and vote vs. sitting on the couch makes all the difference.
posted by Farce_First at 11:54 AM on September 11 [3 favorites]
Big I don't start shit, but I can tell you how it ends energy.
posted by atbash at 12:05 PM on September 11 [9 favorites]
posted by atbash at 12:05 PM on September 11 [9 favorites]
Too bad Ms. Swift didn’t coordinate with the Harris campaign. Would have had more impact later this week.
I would be inclined to think they did coordinate - the endorsement right after a strong Harris debate was a one-two punch, and probably made a bunch of politically indifferent or unaware Swifties go looking for debate clips to see why Taylor said what she said.
If it had been a middling debate performance from Harris it would make more sense for the Swift news to hit in a couple weeks for a boost just before voter registration deadlines start to hit.
posted by soundguy99 at 12:12 PM on September 11 [15 favorites]
I would be inclined to think they did coordinate - the endorsement right after a strong Harris debate was a one-two punch, and probably made a bunch of politically indifferent or unaware Swifties go looking for debate clips to see why Taylor said what she said.
If it had been a middling debate performance from Harris it would make more sense for the Swift news to hit in a couple weeks for a boost just before voter registration deadlines start to hit.
posted by soundguy99 at 12:12 PM on September 11 [15 favorites]
Dang, the split-screen "real-time" Walz reaction to Swift's statement as Maddow reads aloud puts a still of Swift & Button over the Walz-praising portion? Is that evidence for or against campaign coordination? Also Taylor followed up the Brittany Mahomes separate-seating at the game teacup tempest by embracing Mrs. Mahomes at the US Open, hanging out during the match, and having dinner together afterwards.
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:14 PM on September 11 [1 favorite]
posted by Iris Gambol at 12:14 PM on September 11 [1 favorite]
soundguy99: ...the endorsement right after a strong Harris debate was a one-two punch...
Agreed: the Instagram post appeared in prime time on the west coast, didn't it?
(Sleepy east coast'er here, bad at math...)
posted by wenestvedt at 12:24 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
Agreed: the Instagram post appeared in prime time on the west coast, didn't it?
(Sleepy east coast'er here, bad at math...)
posted by wenestvedt at 12:24 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
From NPR's Elena Moore: A General Services Administration spox tells NPR that as of 11 a.m. ET today there have been 306,422 visitors to vote.gov referred from Taylor Swifts’s URL she shared on Instagram last night
posted by mcdoublewide at 12:36 PM on September 11 [28 favorites]
posted by mcdoublewide at 12:36 PM on September 11 [28 favorites]
Elon will regret making rape threats about an NFL player's girlfriend when he finds out how rich, smart, fierce, litigious, and popular she is.
I don't think that he thinks it's a rape threat - I think that he thinks it's a seduction tactic. Which just makes it even ickier.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:40 PM on September 11 [18 favorites]
I don't think that he thinks it's a rape threat - I think that he thinks it's a seduction tactic. Which just makes it even ickier.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 12:40 PM on September 11 [18 favorites]
[for anyone else who keeps seeing this word and did not know: spox=spokesperson]
posted by Glinn at 12:41 PM on September 11 [6 favorites]
posted by Glinn at 12:41 PM on September 11 [6 favorites]
Harris/Walz friendship bracelets - Sold Out.
posted by soundguy99 at 12:48 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
posted by soundguy99 at 12:48 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
I don't think that he thinks it's a rape threat - I think that he thinks it's a seduction tactic. Which just makes it even ickier.
What he said is offensive and gross. I don't think it's necessary to qualify how much more disgusting it is because he lacks self-awareness. That unfortunately implies that there's some sort of scale, and suggests that it would have been less icky if only he had said the same thing with more candor.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 1:07 PM on September 11 [7 favorites]
What he said is offensive and gross. I don't think it's necessary to qualify how much more disgusting it is because he lacks self-awareness. That unfortunately implies that there's some sort of scale, and suggests that it would have been less icky if only he had said the same thing with more candor.
posted by RonButNotStupid at 1:07 PM on September 11 [7 favorites]
Trump smiling and winking at female photographers during the 9/11 memorial ceremony in New York. Trump and sons looking around during a moment of silence. JV Dance in Trump cosplay.
posted by kirkaracha at 1:12 PM on September 11 [4 favorites]
posted by kirkaracha at 1:12 PM on September 11 [4 favorites]
Huh, between Vance's "childless cat ladies" quip, Walz's beautiful cat Honey, the apparently delicious housecats of Springfield, Ohio, and Taylor Swift's three pretty beasties, this is turning into a surprisingly feline-intensive election season.
I assume some manner of pet is in Kamala Harris's future. From Coolidge's Rebecca* to Nixon's Checkers through to the present day, a pet is the smallest token effort every President who wants not to be seen as a complete monster has taken to humanize themselves.
*Rebecca was a raccoon, and in keeping with the dictum that the past is a foreign country, was sent from Mississippi to the White House with the suggestion that she should be the Coolidge's Thanksgiving dinner, and this action apparently was not meant as an insult.
posted by jackbishop at 2:17 PM on September 11 [7 favorites]
I assume some manner of pet is in Kamala Harris's future. From Coolidge's Rebecca* to Nixon's Checkers through to the present day, a pet is the smallest token effort every President who wants not to be seen as a complete monster has taken to humanize themselves.
*Rebecca was a raccoon, and in keeping with the dictum that the past is a foreign country, was sent from Mississippi to the White House with the suggestion that she should be the Coolidge's Thanksgiving dinner, and this action apparently was not meant as an insult.
posted by jackbishop at 2:17 PM on September 11 [7 favorites]
It's okay to just think "I don't like her" and not post it.
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:55 PM on September 11 [51 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 2:55 PM on September 11 [51 favorites]
How is it that so few men like women?
posted by i used to be someone else at 2:59 PM on September 11 [13 favorites]
posted by i used to be someone else at 2:59 PM on September 11 [13 favorites]
Oh I’m sure she’s absolutely messy up close just like any other one of us miserable beings but whenever she posts shit like this glorious Harris endorsement I get… whatever the exact opposite of schadenfreude is, I get that.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 3:07 PM on September 11 [6 favorites]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 3:07 PM on September 11 [6 favorites]
Erm, anyway, so ...
As far as I can work out US presidential elections are won and lost on voter turnout. So the Tay thing is a big deal because she's got the influence to push the Swifties into voting, and into pushing all *their* friends to vote, and their demographic is very likely to vote for the most progressive alternative available to them.
"Undecided voters" aren't the battleground here. Voters who might or might not enrol to vote, might or might not turn up, might or might not make it through the voting queues, etc, are. Thus the Tay callout for registration and pre-voting.
posted by nickzoic at 3:15 PM on September 11 [19 favorites]
As far as I can work out US presidential elections are won and lost on voter turnout. So the Tay thing is a big deal because she's got the influence to push the Swifties into voting, and into pushing all *their* friends to vote, and their demographic is very likely to vote for the most progressive alternative available to them.
"Undecided voters" aren't the battleground here. Voters who might or might not enrol to vote, might or might not turn up, might or might not make it through the voting queues, etc, are. Thus the Tay callout for registration and pre-voting.
posted by nickzoic at 3:15 PM on September 11 [19 favorites]
whatever the exact opposite of schadenfreude is
ɘbυɘɿʇnɘbɒʜɔƨ (apologies to people using text readers; what you just heard was "schadenfreude" run through a thing that uses unicode glyphs to generate reversed and mirrored text)
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 3:20 PM on September 11 [4 favorites]
ɘbυɘɿʇnɘbɒʜɔƨ (apologies to people using text readers; what you just heard was "schadenfreude" run through a thing that uses unicode glyphs to generate reversed and mirrored text)
posted by GCU Sweet and Full of Grace at 3:20 PM on September 11 [4 favorites]
If Taylor Swift wants a snub back at Musk, then I'd suggest adapting Ashes to Ashes by David Bowie, because that song has promissing raw material and Bowie rocks.
A possible dig at Musk's media shenanigans:
Also Rocket Man by Elton John could produce a dig at Musk' family life:
Around this topic..
After this thread, the song Extinction Event Souvenir T-Shirt by Broken Chanter instantly joined my favorite songs. Imho perfect lyrics.
posted by jeffburdges at 3:26 PM on September 11 [1 favorite]
A possible dig at Musk's media shenanigans:
They got a message from the Action ManA possible dig at Musk's hair:
"I'm happy, hope you're happy too
I've loved all I've needed, love
Sordid details following"
I ain't got no money and I ain't got no real hairA possible dig at Musk's drug use:
But I'm hoping to kick but the planet it's glowing
Ashes to ashes, funk to funkyA possible dig at Musk's supposed skill at running buisnesses:
We know Major Tom's a junkie
Strung out in heaven's high
Hitting an all-time low
My mother said, to get things doneI'll leave the real adaptation to someone serious, but much potential here. Aside from Ashes to Ashes, Major Tom appears in Space Oddity, Hallo Spaceboy, Blackstar, and maybe more, which could all yield references. Also Major Tom by Peter Schilling winds up being interpreted about substance abuse too.
You'd better not mess with Major Tom
Also Rocket Man by Elton John could produce a dig at Musk' family life:
Mars ain't the kind of place to raise your kidsAfaik Player Of Games by Grimes maybe the only song about Musk right now.
In fact, it's cold as hell
And there's no one there to raise them if you did
Around this topic..
After this thread, the song Extinction Event Souvenir T-Shirt by Broken Chanter instantly joined my favorite songs. Imho perfect lyrics.
Billionaire rocket-menI doubt Taylor Swift wants to cover a song about climate change and class struggle, but those lyrics have among the best digs at Musk and the dick ship guy anywhere in music.
Got me rooting for the vacuum of space
Community policing
Punching communities square in the face
...
Beware of the hand that fixes the lens
Hold on to your friends, hold on to your friends
The sooner we start, the sooner it ends
Organise with your friends, organise with your friends
posted by jeffburdges at 3:26 PM on September 11 [1 favorite]
Mod note: A few deleted. It’s not ok to argue/insult users and use profanities. Please take a break from the thread.
posted by travelingthyme (staff) at 3:37 PM on September 11 [2 favorites]
posted by travelingthyme (staff) at 3:37 PM on September 11 [2 favorites]
Social struggle and progressive change often takes place outside the conventional arena of election politics. People like Jackie Robinson affected social change through venues like sports. I have plenty of racist uncles in Kentucky who would be really at a loss and angry if racial segregation took away their entertainment and winning teams. Taylor Swift provides the very same function to women in the deep south. I also have plenty of racist and misogynist aunts who hated Hillary Clinton and referred to her at "The Bitch" all the way through her campaign. I am so grateful for The (Dixie) Chicks, Taylor Swift, Dolly Parton, Garth Brooks who have put their privacy on the line by backing progressive causes. They are making incremental changes to a demographic that is very difficult to reach by conventional electioneering methods. If Taylor manages to get a couple of million young women to register and vote, it could be a major tipping point for feminist progress in the US. We're not going back.
posted by effluvia at 3:58 PM on September 11 [42 favorites]
posted by effluvia at 3:58 PM on September 11 [42 favorites]
I always knew Taylor Swift was popular. I'm in my late 50s, but I am at least aware of whatever music is popular (and am much more connected to current popular music since getting on TikTok a few years ago). However, until the Eras tour, I hadn't paid attention to Swift as an economic force. Further, I'd mostly focused on the interest in her music among young women (something I've not been for many decades), until I saw how her music resonated with men and women, teens to seniors. My 88yo mother can quote her music to me.
It's easy to be dismissive of art (particularly television and music) that is popular because the very concept of popularity implies a commonality of interest; in lesser measure, I've seen Billy Joel maligned similarly. However, the popularity of something, particularly something delightful, doesn't, de facto, mean that it is bad, without quality or excellence, or even average. Ice cream is popular for a reason.
Do I think Swift is a goddess? No. Would I buy tickets to her concerts? Also, claustrophobically, no. But do I appreciate the emotional weight of the "still in the restaurant" part of Right Where You Left Me? Indeed. Some people are touched by music; others (like me) by lyrics; others still by the combination or the confederacy of a fandom based on any of these concepts. She's not in the top 10 or even top 30 of my favorite performers or songwriters, but I recognize the power of her opinion as an appealing human being.
People like Taylor Swift. They like her music. They like her performance style. They like her philanthropy. They like her sense of humor. Nothing she, per se, has done, has been hurtful to anyone, so the derail in this thread of talking about a personal experience with housemates (who might just as easily have been awful people with similar opinions about a football team or political party or veganism or a religion) has no bearing (outside one's imagination) about Swift herself.
The value of Swift's endorsement is the same as any other popular person's endorsement. She is well-known. She is well-liked. She is representative of 51% of the population of this country (that is, women) and she, like many of us, have had our rights stripped of us. Further, as a single woman with a cat who has no need nor desire for a man to control her financially or artistically (see: Scooter Braun), she is powerfully able to clap back on behalf of so many women who have been insulted by J.D. Vance and violated by the Trump/GOP/MAGA agenda.
The value of the endorsement is the same, but the power is magnified by the extreme nature of her popularity. She is better known and more liked by more (and a greater variety of) people than is typical of those who endorse politicians. Indeed, than is typical of most humans.
Her endorsement is also powerful because she, like another powerful, philanthropic, and beloved American woman, Dolly Parton, and those like them, don't often speak about their political opinions, having no desire to be attacked with the virulence and violence that The (Dixie) Chicks experienced for having spoken their own political minds. We are stronger when we are not timid, when we speak out against those who are wrong, and particularly those who are lying and wrong, and more particularly, those who are lying, wrong, and seek to subvert our rights and our societal norms. Women who aren't even Swift fans erupted in joy and last night and today with the understanding of the power of this endorsement. Here in the South, in particular, this has particularly been the case.
I don't know if the timing would have been better closer to the election or if it packs a more powerful punch on the heels of Trump's debate performance. But even the experts don't know; you can't generally judge something that happened against an imaginary alternative. But I do know that millions of Americans don't, for whatever reason, pay attention to politics, whether candidates and elections or just issues that affect their lives. Swift's endorsement brought attention to exactly why she finds Trump reprehensible and Harris appealing, and while one can debate the timing, one is unlikely to find any endorsement (by a current or former national leader, military member, or other citizen) that is as likely to draw attention and contemplation from those who do not already have a firm political position.
Finally, it is ridiculous for anyone to call Taylor Swift chunky. Words have meanings. She is no more chunky than she is Asian or a redhead or a carburetor. Discussing her body is tacky and rude. Discussing it in a counterfactual way is beneath the Blue.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 4:21 PM on September 11 [60 favorites]
It's easy to be dismissive of art (particularly television and music) that is popular because the very concept of popularity implies a commonality of interest; in lesser measure, I've seen Billy Joel maligned similarly. However, the popularity of something, particularly something delightful, doesn't, de facto, mean that it is bad, without quality or excellence, or even average. Ice cream is popular for a reason.
Do I think Swift is a goddess? No. Would I buy tickets to her concerts? Also, claustrophobically, no. But do I appreciate the emotional weight of the "still in the restaurant" part of Right Where You Left Me? Indeed. Some people are touched by music; others (like me) by lyrics; others still by the combination or the confederacy of a fandom based on any of these concepts. She's not in the top 10 or even top 30 of my favorite performers or songwriters, but I recognize the power of her opinion as an appealing human being.
People like Taylor Swift. They like her music. They like her performance style. They like her philanthropy. They like her sense of humor. Nothing she, per se, has done, has been hurtful to anyone, so the derail in this thread of talking about a personal experience with housemates (who might just as easily have been awful people with similar opinions about a football team or political party or veganism or a religion) has no bearing (outside one's imagination) about Swift herself.
The value of Swift's endorsement is the same as any other popular person's endorsement. She is well-known. She is well-liked. She is representative of 51% of the population of this country (that is, women) and she, like many of us, have had our rights stripped of us. Further, as a single woman with a cat who has no need nor desire for a man to control her financially or artistically (see: Scooter Braun), she is powerfully able to clap back on behalf of so many women who have been insulted by J.D. Vance and violated by the Trump/GOP/MAGA agenda.
The value of the endorsement is the same, but the power is magnified by the extreme nature of her popularity. She is better known and more liked by more (and a greater variety of) people than is typical of those who endorse politicians. Indeed, than is typical of most humans.
Her endorsement is also powerful because she, like another powerful, philanthropic, and beloved American woman, Dolly Parton, and those like them, don't often speak about their political opinions, having no desire to be attacked with the virulence and violence that The (Dixie) Chicks experienced for having spoken their own political minds. We are stronger when we are not timid, when we speak out against those who are wrong, and particularly those who are lying and wrong, and more particularly, those who are lying, wrong, and seek to subvert our rights and our societal norms. Women who aren't even Swift fans erupted in joy and last night and today with the understanding of the power of this endorsement. Here in the South, in particular, this has particularly been the case.
I don't know if the timing would have been better closer to the election or if it packs a more powerful punch on the heels of Trump's debate performance. But even the experts don't know; you can't generally judge something that happened against an imaginary alternative. But I do know that millions of Americans don't, for whatever reason, pay attention to politics, whether candidates and elections or just issues that affect their lives. Swift's endorsement brought attention to exactly why she finds Trump reprehensible and Harris appealing, and while one can debate the timing, one is unlikely to find any endorsement (by a current or former national leader, military member, or other citizen) that is as likely to draw attention and contemplation from those who do not already have a firm political position.
Finally, it is ridiculous for anyone to call Taylor Swift chunky. Words have meanings. She is no more chunky than she is Asian or a redhead or a carburetor. Discussing her body is tacky and rude. Discussing it in a counterfactual way is beneath the Blue.
posted by The Wrong Kind of Cheese at 4:21 PM on September 11 [60 favorites]
Ms. Swift has a better sense of timing than Eminem, whose 2004 protest song Mosh dropped only about a week before the election.
In some states, it looks like you can start voting on Sept 20: https://www.vote.org/early-voting-calendar/
posted by kurumi at 4:32 PM on September 11 [5 favorites]
In some states, it looks like you can start voting on Sept 20: https://www.vote.org/early-voting-calendar/
posted by kurumi at 4:32 PM on September 11 [5 favorites]
To follow up on Kurumi's comment about early voting, this is a great strategic support to all of the hard working, door knocking, get out the vote volunteers!!!! Your early vote will be tallied and they can see you already voted and can focus on other people that have not voted yet. So early and often!!!
posted by effluvia at 4:40 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
posted by effluvia at 4:40 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
Is it far to say that Taylor Swift is a more successful businessperson than Trump?
posted by clawsoon at 4:41 PM on September 11 [13 favorites]
posted by clawsoon at 4:41 PM on September 11 [13 favorites]
Mod note: Several deleted. Derail about roommates is unnecessary and creating lots of noise for users and mod. In the future if there’s a comment that doesn’t sit right or implies something bad, flag it or memail us. Engaging and causing a bigger derail is not encouraged. Please do not derail further.
posted by travelingthyme (staff) at 4:42 PM on September 11 [11 favorites]
posted by travelingthyme (staff) at 4:42 PM on September 11 [11 favorites]
Last year for National Voter Registration Day (9/19/2023), Swift posted a brief message on Instagram encouraging her followers to register to vote. Vote.org reported a 1,226% jump in participation in the hour after the post. Overall: The 35,252 new registrations on National Voter Registration Day were the most since 2020, the organization said, and a 23% jump over last year. The number of 18-year-olds registered was more than double 2022. (NPR, Billboard)
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:03 PM on September 11 [13 favorites]
posted by Iris Gambol at 5:03 PM on September 11 [13 favorites]
No one can pretend Trump won that "debate."
Absolutely they can, by individually adjusting the heights of the bars the candidates have to jump over. They can (and are) saying he won by being more alert than Biden was at the last debate. And in essence they can say she failed to pack a primary season's worth of defining herself as distinct from Biden and his policies to the public into 2 hours.
posted by otherchaz at 5:38 PM on September 11 [1 favorite]
Absolutely they can, by individually adjusting the heights of the bars the candidates have to jump over. They can (and are) saying he won by being more alert than Biden was at the last debate. And in essence they can say she failed to pack a primary season's worth of defining herself as distinct from Biden and his policies to the public into 2 hours.
posted by otherchaz at 5:38 PM on September 11 [1 favorite]
I am going to just make the assumption that the woman who worked out how to fuck over a record executive she hated who was profiting off her back catalogue by re-recording all the albums he owned and branding them "Taylor's Version" (a move simultaneously genius and the most petty thing in history) is someone who is going to be savvy enough to know when to drop a political endorsement so it will create maximum impact. She is very smart, and PR, branding and communication is part of her core skillset.
I don't think dropping it a few days later would have had anywhere near the same impact as the coup de grace she delivered by waiting until just after the debate - her endorsement solidified the debate narrative of Harris demolishing Trump, and also gets Swifties to tune into politics just in time to see all these political talking heads talking about how much better Harris is than Trump. It was intended for it to be seen by as many people as possible, at a time where it would mean the absolute most to the candidate.
posted by Merus at 5:45 PM on September 11 [43 favorites]
I don't think dropping it a few days later would have had anywhere near the same impact as the coup de grace she delivered by waiting until just after the debate - her endorsement solidified the debate narrative of Harris demolishing Trump, and also gets Swifties to tune into politics just in time to see all these political talking heads talking about how much better Harris is than Trump. It was intended for it to be seen by as many people as possible, at a time where it would mean the absolute most to the candidate.
posted by Merus at 5:45 PM on September 11 [43 favorites]
To update Iris Gambol's point above, today's NPR All Things Considered reports that they asked vote.gov, which says that so far as of 11am today 306,000 people have visited the web site via the link Taylor Swift provided in her Instagram post.
posted by brambleboy at 5:50 PM on September 11 [12 favorites]
posted by brambleboy at 5:50 PM on September 11 [12 favorites]
Aubrey Plaza also endorses Harris, by posting a picture of herself with Grumpy Cat
posted by mmoncur at 7:44 PM on September 11 [11 favorites]
posted by mmoncur at 7:44 PM on September 11 [11 favorites]
Petty is her business strategy… and business is booming.
posted by St. Peepsburg at 8:42 PM on September 11 [4 favorites]
posted by St. Peepsburg at 8:42 PM on September 11 [4 favorites]
Petty smart. This has been a master class in effective engagement.
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 8:56 PM on September 11 [2 favorites]
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 8:56 PM on September 11 [2 favorites]
Luvs me some Audrey, BTW.
She is awesomely weird. https://youtu.be/GYS1UFY05as?t=115
We would adopt her into the tribe
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 9:01 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
She is awesomely weird. https://youtu.be/GYS1UFY05as?t=115
We would adopt her into the tribe
posted by PareidoliaticBoy at 9:01 PM on September 11 [3 favorites]
‘Childless Dog Lady” Stevie Nicks recreates Taylor Swift’s viral endorsement post.
SF Chronicle Article
twitter post
(Though she doesn’t specifically mention Kamala, unless I’ve missed part of it)
posted by Glinn at 9:03 PM on September 11 [4 favorites]
SF Chronicle Article
twitter post
(Though she doesn’t specifically mention Kamala, unless I’ve missed part of it)
posted by Glinn at 9:03 PM on September 11 [4 favorites]
Yay! Thanks Taylor!
posted by freakazoid at 4:57 AM on September 12
posted by freakazoid at 4:57 AM on September 12
Maybe a stretch. but is today's google doodle a nod?
posted by lucidium at 5:29 AM on September 12 [2 favorites]
posted by lucidium at 5:29 AM on September 12 [2 favorites]
I don't think so. Those are lanyards, not friendship bracelets.
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:45 AM on September 12 [3 favorites]
posted by The corpse in the library at 7:45 AM on September 12 [3 favorites]
found the girl scout
posted by phunniemee at 11:48 AM on September 12 [9 favorites]
posted by phunniemee at 11:48 AM on September 12 [9 favorites]
Petty smart. This has been a master class in effective engagement.
Try and come for her job.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 12:10 PM on September 12
Try and come for her job.
posted by We put our faith in Blast Hardcheese at 12:10 PM on September 12
Is it far to say that Taylor Swift is a more successful businessperson than Trump?
Yes, and it's not even close. I mean IIRC Swift hasn't declared bankruptcy even once.
posted by Mitheral at 1:22 PM on September 12 [7 favorites]
Yes, and it's not even close. I mean IIRC Swift hasn't declared bankruptcy even once.
posted by Mitheral at 1:22 PM on September 12 [7 favorites]
I just came across this on MeidasTouch: in his newest ads TFG is doubling down on the cat, dog, goose and duck eating part of the debate. JFHC! Donald Trump as protector of pets? I would want to say someone could not make this shit up but obviously someone has. I repeat: what an obscene H.P. Lovecraftian and Philip K Dickian abomination this monster is.
posted by y2karl at 2:36 PM on September 12 [3 favorites]
posted by y2karl at 2:36 PM on September 12 [3 favorites]
Any info out there on how many vote.org hits came out of Dick Cheney's endorsement? 🙃
posted by kensington314 at 5:34 PM on September 12 [2 favorites]
posted by kensington314 at 5:34 PM on September 12 [2 favorites]
Interesting that they're getting ducks and geese into it, since it's not unusual to hunt ducks and geese for food. If someone were to take a local wild duck or goose for food, even if it isn't legal, it's a lot different than taking someone's pet, whether cat, dog, duck or goose. It sounds like they're trying to find some incident of someone illegally taking a duck or goose to justify their absurd claims.
posted by Reverend John at 7:06 PM on September 12 [4 favorites]
posted by Reverend John at 7:06 PM on September 12 [4 favorites]
Oh, LINDA. Ronstadt's Instagram post, from box's link:
Donald Trump is holding a rally on Thursday in a rented hall in my hometown, Tucson. I would prefer to ignore that sad fact. But since the building has my name on it, I need to say something.
It saddens me to see the former President bring his hate show to Tucson, a town with deep Mexican-American roots and a joyful, tolerant spirit.
I don't just deplore his toxic politics, his hatred of women, immigrants and people of color, his criminality, dishonesty and ignorance — although there's that.
For me it comes down to this: In Nogales and across the southern border, the Trump Administration systematically ripped apart migrant families seeking asylum. Family separation made orphans of thousands of little children and babies, and brutalized their desperate mothers and fathers. It remains a humanitarian catastrophe that Physicians for Human Rights said met the criteria for torture.
There is no forgiving or forgetting the heartbreak he caused.
Trump first ran for President warning about rapists coming in from Mexico. I'm worried about keeping the rapist out of the White House.
Linda Rondstadt
P.S. to J.D. Vance:
I raised two adopted children in Tucson as a single mom. They are both grown and living in their own houses. I live with a cat. Am I half a childless cat lady because I’m unmarried and didn’t give birth to my kids? Call me what you want, but this cat lady will be voting proudly in November for @kamalaharris and @timwalz.
The rally went as you'd expect: "Donald Trump attacked Kamala Harris as a “communist,” promised to remove taxes from overtime pay and doubled down on unfounded, dramatic claims of migrant crime during lengthy remarks at an event in Tucson." Claims like: “I’m angry at Venezuelan gangs taking over Aurora, Colorado. And illegal Haitian migrants taking over a beautiful place — Springfield, Ohio. I’m angry about young American girls being raped and sodomized and murdered by savage, criminal aliens.”
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:27 PM on September 12 [10 favorites]
Donald Trump is holding a rally on Thursday in a rented hall in my hometown, Tucson. I would prefer to ignore that sad fact. But since the building has my name on it, I need to say something.
It saddens me to see the former President bring his hate show to Tucson, a town with deep Mexican-American roots and a joyful, tolerant spirit.
I don't just deplore his toxic politics, his hatred of women, immigrants and people of color, his criminality, dishonesty and ignorance — although there's that.
For me it comes down to this: In Nogales and across the southern border, the Trump Administration systematically ripped apart migrant families seeking asylum. Family separation made orphans of thousands of little children and babies, and brutalized their desperate mothers and fathers. It remains a humanitarian catastrophe that Physicians for Human Rights said met the criteria for torture.
There is no forgiving or forgetting the heartbreak he caused.
Trump first ran for President warning about rapists coming in from Mexico. I'm worried about keeping the rapist out of the White House.
Linda Rondstadt
P.S. to J.D. Vance:
I raised two adopted children in Tucson as a single mom. They are both grown and living in their own houses. I live with a cat. Am I half a childless cat lady because I’m unmarried and didn’t give birth to my kids? Call me what you want, but this cat lady will be voting proudly in November for @kamalaharris and @timwalz.
The rally went as you'd expect: "Donald Trump attacked Kamala Harris as a “communist,” promised to remove taxes from overtime pay and doubled down on unfounded, dramatic claims of migrant crime during lengthy remarks at an event in Tucson." Claims like: “I’m angry at Venezuelan gangs taking over Aurora, Colorado. And illegal Haitian migrants taking over a beautiful place — Springfield, Ohio. I’m angry about young American girls being raped and sodomized and murdered by savage, criminal aliens.”
posted by Iris Gambol at 7:27 PM on September 12 [10 favorites]
Absolutely worth the look and the listen:
Reviewing the debate, Tim Miller from The Bulwark tears apart Donald Trump’s twisted defense of January 6th rioters and shocking comments about Capitol police.
posted by y2karl at 12:00 AM on September 13
Reviewing the debate, Tim Miller from The Bulwark tears apart Donald Trump’s twisted defense of January 6th rioters and shocking comments about Capitol police.
posted by y2karl at 12:00 AM on September 13
A friend has a grumpy MAGA uncle who snarked at her pro-Harris post with a comment about the pets. I am sharpening my claws on him (with her blessing). He tried to double down with a NEW YORK POST article about migrants "overwhelming" the city's courts
I just asked him "hang on - if that's true, why are we NOT hearing about people stealing pets in New York? Why is Springfield, Ohio the ONLY place we're hearing about?"
....he hasn't answered yet. I wonder why.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:43 AM on September 13 [4 favorites]
I just asked him "hang on - if that's true, why are we NOT hearing about people stealing pets in New York? Why is Springfield, Ohio the ONLY place we're hearing about?"
....he hasn't answered yet. I wonder why.
posted by EmpressCallipygos at 4:43 AM on September 13 [4 favorites]
It sounds like they're trying to find some incident of someone illegally taking a duck or goose to justify their absurd claims.
There is a photo of a black man carrying a goose corpse down what looks like a residential street making the rounds. The only piece of confirmed information about the photo is that it was taken in Columbus, not Springfield. The unknown facts about the photo include whether the man in question is Haitian, why he's carrying the goose, and where the goose came from.
I'll admit, "guy carrying a goose" is not a super-common occurrence, but there are reasonable explanations for it beyond "poaching waterfowl from public lakes to eat" (which is not, mind you, an impossibility; a lot of people do eat geese and ducks, and I can imagine someone from ignorance or indifference taking one from somewhere they weren't supposed to be hunting).
posted by jackbishop at 4:50 AM on September 13 [5 favorites]
There is a photo of a black man carrying a goose corpse down what looks like a residential street making the rounds. The only piece of confirmed information about the photo is that it was taken in Columbus, not Springfield. The unknown facts about the photo include whether the man in question is Haitian, why he's carrying the goose, and where the goose came from.
I'll admit, "guy carrying a goose" is not a super-common occurrence, but there are reasonable explanations for it beyond "poaching waterfowl from public lakes to eat" (which is not, mind you, an impossibility; a lot of people do eat geese and ducks, and I can imagine someone from ignorance or indifference taking one from somewhere they weren't supposed to be hunting).
posted by jackbishop at 4:50 AM on September 13 [5 favorites]
In the UK there’s an urban mythology of immigrants eating swans. Apparently it’s most recently been Eastern Europeans the targets, during Brexit, but I heard it as second hand resentment from my parents’ generation (can you believe people accused us?) with Australians the swan-eating colonials in the 1960s, with apparently broke backpackers slaughtering and cooking birds from the Serpentine. There’s some credit that the myth goes back to Irish labourers being accused of eating swans in the 19thC.
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:00 AM on September 13 [6 favorites]
posted by Fiasco da Gama at 5:00 AM on September 13 [6 favorites]
Harris Walz friendship bracelets are back in stock.
posted by donut_princess at 6:47 AM on September 13 [2 favorites]
posted by donut_princess at 6:47 AM on September 13 [2 favorites]
I heard it as second hand resentment from my parents’ generation (can you believe people accused us?) with Australians the swan-eating colonials in the 1960s
Australians have of course moved on to eating ibises, which they call 'bin chickens'.
posted by Merus at 7:52 AM on September 13 [1 favorite]
Australians have of course moved on to eating ibises, which they call 'bin chickens'.
posted by Merus at 7:52 AM on September 13 [1 favorite]
Native Californian here, and I have eaten our ducks. I spent a season traveling up and down the state, duck hunting at Gray Lodge, Dry Creek, Sacramento, Grizzly Island, out on San Pablo Bay, down through the Central Valley at Los Banos and Mendota.
And I can tell you that 90% of duck hunters are old white Republican men. Of course they are.
posted by ryanrs at 8:54 AM on September 13 [3 favorites]
And I can tell you that 90% of duck hunters are old white Republican men. Of course they are.
posted by ryanrs at 8:54 AM on September 13 [3 favorites]
MAGA grandpas and uncles kill and eat 10 million wild ducks and geese a year.
posted by ryanrs at 8:58 AM on September 13 [2 favorites]
posted by ryanrs at 8:58 AM on September 13 [2 favorites]
Hunting, schmunting, you can get geese at Whole Foods and ducks at Kroger! In the American tradition, they're food, not pets. Keeping them as pets is the thing that is weird and alien! What is it with Republicans and livestock as pets? It all started with W and The Pet Goat. It's the beef industry behind it all! Well, I'm not falling for it. We're having a Christmas goose and duck for NYE. For Thanksgiving? Two turgoosucks; one roasted, one fried in peanut oil.
posted by Don Pepino at 10:27 AM on September 13 [2 favorites]
posted by Don Pepino at 10:27 AM on September 13 [2 favorites]
We're having a Christmas goose and duck for NYE.
I really do wish Americans ate more goose. First, because goose is delicious, like duck only more so (and, yes, I realize there are people for whom "succulently dripping with fat" is not a desirable feature in their poultry; they can have turkey, which is terrible, like chicken only more so). Second, because geese are horrible creatures whose main public function is terrorizing parkgoers and crapping everywhere, and becoming food is frankly the noblest thing they can do.
posted by jackbishop at 11:08 AM on September 13 [1 favorite]
I really do wish Americans ate more goose. First, because goose is delicious, like duck only more so (and, yes, I realize there are people for whom "succulently dripping with fat" is not a desirable feature in their poultry; they can have turkey, which is terrible, like chicken only more so). Second, because geese are horrible creatures whose main public function is terrorizing parkgoers and crapping everywhere, and becoming food is frankly the noblest thing they can do.
posted by jackbishop at 11:08 AM on September 13 [1 favorite]
Hey. "You got a problem with [Canada] Gooses, you got a problem with me!"
*I cannot find the comment that someone here made with that exact clip, but I am forever in their debt for showing me the very best show ever. Ever.
posted by Snowishberlin at 11:22 AM on September 13 [2 favorites]
*I cannot find the comment that someone here made with that exact clip, but I am forever in their debt for showing me the very best show ever. Ever.
posted by Snowishberlin at 11:22 AM on September 13 [2 favorites]
I really do wish Americans ate more goose.
Well, I've promised to do it, so I'm going to do it.* But the one time we did make goose it was like if you put a watermelon packed full of lard in the oven. We opened the oven to find the shriveled remains of the goose bobbing in about two gallons of molten goose grease sloshing precariously in the roasting pan. Basically a bomb.
OTOH, that was a long time ago. Now I have a huge Le Crueset, so I'm not worried I'll blow up the oven and burn down the house, and I would not today throw away the goose grease, as we did then. Is it anything like schmaltz, which I have lately discovered is The Most Delicious Fat? Can I do the amazing thing you can do with chicken where you fry a piece of skin crisp in a dry pan and drain it on paper towels and throw on some salt end up with something better than bacon?
*The Christmas goose, and possibly the NYE duck. Definitely not either the roasted or the fried turgoosuck. That shit is not happening.
posted by Don Pepino at 12:00 PM on September 13
Well, I've promised to do it, so I'm going to do it.* But the one time we did make goose it was like if you put a watermelon packed full of lard in the oven. We opened the oven to find the shriveled remains of the goose bobbing in about two gallons of molten goose grease sloshing precariously in the roasting pan. Basically a bomb.
OTOH, that was a long time ago. Now I have a huge Le Crueset, so I'm not worried I'll blow up the oven and burn down the house, and I would not today throw away the goose grease, as we did then. Is it anything like schmaltz, which I have lately discovered is The Most Delicious Fat? Can I do the amazing thing you can do with chicken where you fry a piece of skin crisp in a dry pan and drain it on paper towels and throw on some salt end up with something better than bacon?
*The Christmas goose, and possibly the NYE duck. Definitely not either the roasted or the fried turgoosuck. That shit is not happening.
posted by Don Pepino at 12:00 PM on September 13
Has anyone considered that the gentleman simply found the goose dead on the side of the road earlier that day and now after drinks with some friends is simply going to place it in central park for a laugh?
posted by jermsplan at 12:19 PM on September 13 [13 favorites]
posted by jermsplan at 12:19 PM on September 13 [13 favorites]
In case it's relevant to folks, I posted an Ask about supporting the Haitian immigrant community in Ohio. Low number of answers, which I anticipated because it's a small town in a place most MeFites don't live, but the two answers seemed like great places if you wanted to pitch some monetary support in this community's direction.
Haitian Community Help & Support Center
According to queensissy, "The Haitian Community Help & Support Center is run by Haitian immigrants for Haitian immigrants," and they also linked to an interesting interview with the person who runs HCHSC.
Rocking Horse Community Health Center
Rocking Horse is a community health clinic not specifically serving the Haitian community, but dryad confirmed they work in coalition with orgs supporting Haitian immigrant in Springfield. They're a 501c3 and accept donations.
Also related/unrelated, for people upthread who confessed unfamiliarity with Taylor Swift's music, here's a Tidal link to a playlist I made from songs mentioned in a now-deleted Ask where someone was basically like, "What am I not getting about Taylor Swift?" I'm mostly a Red-era Taylor Swift person so I enjoy listening to this playlist with songs from albums I've had a harder time connecting with.
posted by kensington314 at 1:07 PM on September 13 [5 favorites]
Haitian Community Help & Support Center
According to queensissy, "The Haitian Community Help & Support Center is run by Haitian immigrants for Haitian immigrants," and they also linked to an interesting interview with the person who runs HCHSC.
Rocking Horse Community Health Center
Rocking Horse is a community health clinic not specifically serving the Haitian community, but dryad confirmed they work in coalition with orgs supporting Haitian immigrant in Springfield. They're a 501c3 and accept donations.
Also related/unrelated, for people upthread who confessed unfamiliarity with Taylor Swift's music, here's a Tidal link to a playlist I made from songs mentioned in a now-deleted Ask where someone was basically like, "What am I not getting about Taylor Swift?" I'm mostly a Red-era Taylor Swift person so I enjoy listening to this playlist with songs from albums I've had a harder time connecting with.
posted by kensington314 at 1:07 PM on September 13 [5 favorites]
I’ve roasted duck and it is delicious.
kensington314, thank you for the links.
A friend of mine lives not too far from Springfield and her kid’s school was shut down earlier this week due to threats. A former neighbor has a child in a local school that went on lockdown this week. Deeply, deeply stressed.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 1:30 PM on September 13 [1 favorite]
kensington314, thank you for the links.
A friend of mine lives not too far from Springfield and her kid’s school was shut down earlier this week due to threats. A former neighbor has a child in a local school that went on lockdown this week. Deeply, deeply stressed.
posted by theBigRedKittyPurrs at 1:30 PM on September 13 [1 favorite]
Threats of some kinds have been happening in in the area I work in, according to my coworkers who are getting alerts from the school districts, but so far nothing bad's happened? It's confusing.
Donald Trump And Kamala Harris Compete With Taylor Swift-Themed Merch
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:44 PM on September 13
Donald Trump And Kamala Harris Compete With Taylor Swift-Themed Merch
posted by jenfullmoon at 1:44 PM on September 13
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posted by rikschell at 8:22 PM on September 10 [7 favorites]