Podcast Summary: All Of It – “Kamala Goes Viral”

Date: July 30, 2024
Host: Alison Stewart, WNYC
Guest: Shirley Lee, staff writer at The Atlantic
Theme: The viral meme-ification and “Bratification” of Kamala Harris as she becomes the presumptive Democratic nominee for President, exploring how internet culture, memes, and pop-vibes are shaping political narratives.

Episode Overview

This episode explores the Internet frenzy surrounding Vice President Kamala Harris following President Joe Biden’s withdrawal from the 2024 presidential race and her subsequent rise as the Democratic nominee. Host Alison Stewart and guest Shirley Lee dissect Harris’s sudden viral ubiquity, meme culture’s political power, and the influence of aesthetics like “Brat”—the vibe inspired by British pop star Charli XCX’s latest album—on both politics and pop culture. Through listener calls and expert analysis, they consider what this meme moment means for the election, the risks and rewards of “leaning in,” and the broader implications for political communication.

Key Discussion Points and Insights

1. The Meme-ification of Kamala Harris (00:47–04:34)

• Rapid Rise of Viral Memes:
  • Harris’s gaffes, unique speaking style (“word salads”), and tendency to laugh off awkward moments have made her inherently memeable.
  • Example: Clips of her “coconut tree” analogy have proliferated on TikTok and Instagram.
  • Her internet presence previously was traditional and campaign-run, but also buoyed by grassroots creativity from the "KHive"—her online fan base.
  • “There’s something about the office of the vice president that makes it easy to make fun of...Kamala Harris herself has a tendency to deliver word salads and then to laugh it off in this memeable way.” – Shirley Lee [02:50]

2. The Shift After Biden’s Withdrawal (04:34–06:04)

• Campaign Strategy:
  • Harris herself hasn’t commented on the memes directly, but her campaign has subtly leaned into the meme wave—adopting the lime green ("Chartreuse" or "bile green") coloring and font from Charli XCX’s “Brat” album, echoing youth culture aesthetics.
  • While risky (since it appeals mostly to the chronically online), it feels organic—distinct from cringy past political attempts to court youth, e.g. “Pokemon Go to the polls.”
  • "The trick here is not to overdo it." – Shirley Lee [05:14]

3. Brat as Aesthetic, Attitude, and Culture (06:04–09:40)

• Explaining 'Brat':
  • “Brat Summer” comes from Charli XCX’s 2024 album, which radiated a messy, confrontational, yet vulnerable club energy.
  • “It is so not brat to explain Brat exactly, but essentially ‘brat summer’ is a trend inspired by Charli XCX’s album... It’s intentionally confrontational and provocative, but also messy... being able to party through your woes.” – Shirley Lee [06:16]
  • Harris is not necessarily “a 365-party girl,” but the campaign’s embrace of the brat aesthetic—courageously playful, under pressure—invites association.
  • Lyrics from Brat discuss childlessness, female scrutiny, and vulnerability—mirroring the narratives now swirling around Harris.
• Notable Quote:
  • “Just look at J.D. Vance’s comments about Kamala being less fit for office because she’s, quote, childless… a judgment male candidates don’t get.” – Shirley Lee [08:14]

4. Listener Engagement: Memes, Media Diets, and Calm (09:40–12:59)

• Listeners Share:
  • Karen (caller): Used to seek news solely from late night comedy due to anxiety, felt sudden hope and calm upon Harris’s announcement.
    • “As soon as she announced, all of that disappeared... I’m so much calmer. I feel like the ship has been righted.” – Karen [10:07]
  • Alison references a New York Times observation: Whereas excitement for Biden felt “manufactured from vapor,” there’s real, organic excitement for Harris online.

5. Why is Harris So Memeable? (11:24–13:04)

• Age and Playfulness:
  • Shirley Lee points to youth, and Harris’s playful “auntie vibe,” making for authentic, joyful online moments.
  • Example: Viral clip of her affectionately greeting Senator Bennet’s family.
  • “It’s a little dorky... she exudes some of that playfulness in the work. Catches people off guard.” – Shirley Lee [12:06]
  • "It's the auntie vibe." – WNYC Host [12:59]
  • “That too.” – Shirley Lee [13:03]

6. The “Coconut Tree” Meme Dissected (13:46–16:51)

• Origin:
  • The meme comes from a May 2023 White House speech:
    • “You think you just fell out of a coconut tree? You exist in the context of all in which you live and what came before you.” – Kamala Harris
• Reaction:
  • Initially, just another awkward moment; but iterated online, it became oddly endearing and widely shared.
  • “It’s just remarkably inelegant...there’s something funny and kind of relatable about it.” – Shirley Lee [15:27]

7. Young Listener Skepticism and the Limits of Memes (16:52–21:10)

• Kayleigh (caller, 24 years old):
  • Concerned that memeification trivializes Harris, possibly obscuring her substance for those outside “the club.”
  • “…Why are we not talking about this potential leader in a more articulate way?... Brat, like, honestly, what is that even showing us?” [16:57]
• Shirley Lee’s Response:
  • Memes keep Harris “in the conversation,” but substance has to come from the candidate herself.
  • “Memes keep someone in the conversation. And what’s working for Kamala… she can seem like she’s in on the joke without being aggressive about it. These memes are just fun... But in the months to come, she’ll have to define who she is as a leader.” [18:18]
  • “Don’t overdo it—once you kill a meme, it’s dead.” – Shirley Lee [21:10]

8. Pop Culture: Serious Tool or Sideshow? (21:10–23:19)

• Why Lean In to TikTok and Memes?
  • Neglecting internet culture risks losing generational attention; “the language of pop culture is important.”
  • “Pop culture is a good way to keep someone present... younger generations define what in pop culture is being paid attention to.” – Shirley Lee [22:40]

9. Defining the Candidate—and the Dangers (23:19–26:20)

• Caller Michael:
  • Emphasizes the need for “defining Harris” themselves before the opposition does; sees viral content as a way to humanize.
  • “The other side will define Kamala Harris if we don't define her ourselves... I’m all for making her likable.” – Michael [23:23]
• Memes of JD Vance:
  • Vance is memeified too, but mostly in a “laugh at,” not “laugh with” manner—unfortunate rumors and awkward moments get spotlighted rather than joyful remixing.
  • “When it comes to JD Vance, it seems like people are laughing at him. When it comes to Kamala Harris, it’s like people are laughing with her.” – Shirley Lee [25:04]

Notable Quotes & Moments

• Shirley Lee on Harris’s meme magic:
  • "What tickles the Internet usually requires this inexplicable X factor." [02:50]
• On the risk of meme politics:
  • “It's risky, first of all, because it is… for the really chronically online. And it sounds like gibberish to anybody who doesn't even know who Charli XCX is.” – Shirley Lee [04:44]
• On Brat’s paradoxical depth:
  • “It is so not brat to explain Brat exactly…” – Shirley Lee [06:16]
• On meme shelf life:
  • “Once you overdo a meme, the meme is dead. We're getting close to that.” – Shirley Lee [18:18]
• On the language of pop:
  • “The language of pop culture, it's there. Do you see the irony in this?” – Shirley Lee [22:40]

Timestamps for Key Segments

• 00:47–04:34: Harris’s pre-candidacy online persona and memeability
• 04:34–06:04: Campaign’s shift post-Biden and embracing Brat
• 06:04–09:40: What is Brat? (And why does it matter?)
• 09:40–12:59: Listener reactions; the sense of hope, and comparing to Biden
• 13:46–16:51: The coconut tree meme explained and contextualized
• 16:52–18:18: Skepticism from young voters and meme culture’s downsides
• 18:18–21:10: Are people laughing with or at Harris? Memes’ political function
• 21:10–23:19: TikTok/Gen Z attention and Harris’s campaign strategy
• 23:19–26:20: The meme war for candidate definition; JD Vance’s contrasting meme moments

Conclusion

The episode offers a sharp, culture-savvy analysis of how meme culture and the “Brat” vibes have become a defining part of Kamala Harris’s candidacy, for better or worse. While the fun, party-through-the-chaos energy has rallied the chronically online, both the host and guests recognize the double-edged sword: memes keep candidates visible and relatable, but risk overshadowing more substantive engagement. Ultimately, as Shirley Lee notes, it’s up to Harris herself to show the country what kind of leader she will be—before her moment in the meme-sun expires.

Summary compiled from “All Of It – Kamala Goes Viral,” WNYC, July 30, 2024.