R.F.K., Jr., and the Central Park Bear, with Clare Malone
Aug 13, 2024
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Clare Malone, a talented staff writer for The New Yorker, dives into the eccentricities surrounding Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., a politician with a unique campaign. They discuss Kennedy's bizarre admission about a dead bear cub in Central Park, revealing an intriguing connection to his past. The conversation also uncovers the humorous and bizarre claims linked to falconry and a decade-old incident, highlighting the intersection of nature and politics. Finally, they explore Kennedy's political ambitions and the quirky merchandise emerging from his campaign.
Robert F. Kennedy Jr.'s bizarre confession about the Central Park bear incident reflects his unusual personality and attempt to control narratives.
Despite facing challenges, Kennedy's unique candidacy could still sway key demographics and influence election outcomes in swing states.
Deep dives
The Bear Incident Unveiled
Robert F. Kennedy Jr. confessed to a bizarre event involving a dead bear cub that he placed in Central Park in 2014. During a falconry outing, he discovered a dead bear cub in upstate New York and decided to take it home in his trunk. In a strange twist, he later set up a scene in Central Park to make it appear as if the bear had been hit by a bicycle, motivated by a spate of bike accidents in the city. This odd choice seems to reflect more about his personality and imagination, as even his daughter commented in a past speech about his unusual behavior with animals.
Strategic Confession
Kennedy's admission came just before the release of a profile piece, leading to speculation that he aimed to get ahead of potentially damaging reporting. Despite a conversation with the journalist where he didn't fully acknowledge the incident, his social media post appeared to be an attempt to pre-spin the story. The curious timing indicates a strategic effort to mitigate the fallout from the profile's revelations about his past behavior, including drug use and controversial choices. This reflects his understanding of media dynamics and his attempt to control the narrative surrounding his candidacy.
A Complicated Political Landscape
Kennedy's candidacy, while initially seen as a potential spoiler in the upcoming election, has faced challenges in gaining traction among voters. Although he had support from certain demographics, like younger black and Latino voters, the perception of him has shifted as election day approaches. Political analysts suggest that despite his peculiarities and the controversies surrounding him, he holds some sway in key swing states that could impact the overall outcome. His potential influence, coupled with Trump's outreach for a possible position should he win, underscores the complexities of his role in this political cycle.
The New Yorker staff writer Clare Malone’s Profile, What Does Robert F. Kennedy, Jr., Actually Want? sheds light on Kennedy’s position in this Presidential race—and it also solves a ten-year-old mystery about a dead bear cub found in Central Park. On Sunday, Kennedy tried to get ahead of the publication of Malone’s story by relating the bizarre scheme (involving roadkill, falconry, dangerous bike lanes, and more) in a video that he released on social media. David Remnick talks with Malone about Kennedy’s highly unusual candidacy, and why he’s staying in the race.
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