This chapter delves into the popularity and impact of internet memes centered around Kamala Harris, such as her catchphrase and love for Venn diagrams. It discusses how these memes have resonated with various online communities, including the gay community, and how meme culture can play a significant role in political campaigns by generating excitement and engagement. The chapter also touches on the importance of translating online enthusiasm into real-world actions like voting, as well as the potential risks of relying too heavily on memes for campaign strategies.
This week, the memes didn’t just fall out of coconut trees — a rundown of the social media reaction to Kamala Harris’s election campaign, and an exploration of what her tech platform might look like. Then we discuss a major new study on universal basic income with Elizabeth Rhodes, research director at OpenResearch, and ask whether it could be a solution to job losses to A.I. And finally, Kate Conger, a New York Times reporter, joins us to break down how the cybersecurity company CrowdStrike crashed the global IT infrastructure.
Guests:
- Elizabeth Rhodes, Research Director at OpenResearch
- Kate Conger, New York Times reporter
Additional Reading:
We want to hear from you. Email us at hardfork@nytimes.com. Find “Hard Fork” on YouTube and TikTok.