Why calling Trump "weird" is so effective for Democrats

The MoJo Daily newsletter, Monday through Friday. [View in browser]( [Support our nonprofit journalism]( [Mother Jones Daily Newsletter](     August 5, 2024 Kamala Harris is set to unveil her running mate by Tuesday morning. And one of the top contenders for the spot is Tim Walz, the Minnesota governor who is widely popular among progressives and has an impressive record of flipping red districts. Walz is also the reason the [Democratic Party finally has an effective insult](: "weird." "These guys are just weird," Walz said about his Republican counterparts, namely JD Vance, during a recent appearance on Morning Joe. The slogan has since deeply resonated among voters and the Democratic Party's top brass. So why has it been so effective? My colleague Jacob Rosenberg has an excellent analysis of the politics of "weird" and how it reverses the right's message to Americans that their racism and hatred are shared and broadly accepted. As Jacob writes, "weird" rejects that hatred and, more crucially, calls it deeply strange; [people are tired of it](. I wholeheartedly agree with this take, and very much enjoyed Jacob's [thought-provoking piece]( that touches upon the supposed silent majority, what's normal and what isn't, and how "weird" aptly describes the right's disturbing thoughts on sex, babies, and more. I encourage you to read it. —Inae Oh Advertisement [Surfshark]( [Top Story] [Top Story]( [Elon Musk’s X Is Spreading Deepfakes of Kamala Harris]( Two phony videos seen by tens of millions of users appear to violate X’s own terms of service. BY JULIANNE MCSHANE MOTHER JONES MEMBERSHIP UPDATE   DONALD TRUMP & DEMOCRACY You’re a Mother Jones Daily reader, so you know the stakes and you know reporting like ours matters so freaking much in these next few months (and beyond). About that: We need [the support of our newsletter readers like never before]( to vigorously fight back against the existential threats American democracy and journalism face. We’re running behind our targets and urgently need all hands on deck. We can’t afford to come up short—we have no cushion; we leave it all on the field. Please help with a donation if you can—even just a few bucks helps. A [monthly gift]( would be incredible. [Donate]( [Trending] [An Arizona voter fraud activist is on the verge of winning a critical county office]( BY TIM MURPHY   [The big money push to oust Cori Bush]( BY SOPHIE HURWITZ   [Why does “weird” work?]( BY JACOB ROSENBERG   [What drug policy advocates want to see from a Kamala Harris administration]( BY MELVIS ACOSTA Advertisement [Surfshark]( [Special Feature] [Special Feature]( [JD Vance reiterates false claim that Democrats "tried to kill" Trump]( The VP candidate and other Trump allies keep pushing a narrative that threat experts say will fuel violence. BY MARK FOLLMAN Did you enjoy this newsletter? Help us out by [forwarding]( it to a friend or sharing it on [Facebook]( and [Twitter](. [Mother Jones]( [Donate]( [Donate Monthly]( [Subscribe]( This message was sent to {EMAIL}. To change the messages you receive from us, you can [edit your email preferences]( or [unsubscribe from all mailings.]( For advertising opportunities see our online [media kit.]( Were you forwarded this email? [Sign up for Mother Jones' newsletters today.]( [www.MotherJones.com]( PO Box 8539, Big Sandy, TX 75755