The Politics of Weirdness: Language, Identity, and Media

This chapter explores the manipulation of language in political communications and the adoption of scripted narratives by journalists, leading to a decline in media integrity. It examines the implications of labeling opposition as 'weird' and how this reflects deeper issues of conformity and civic engagement within American identity. Through discussions of exceptionalism and the embrace of eccentricity, the chapter highlights the challenges of fostering national unity in a polarized political landscape.