The day before Robert F. Kennedy Jr. dropped out of the presidential contest, a pair of his most ardent supporters were circling the Democratic National Convention in an ancient RV repurposed into an unofficial campaign bus—a fact largely hidden by the explosion of red, white, and blue graphics and slogans …
Read More »The Trump Campaign’s Rhetoric About Women Sounds a Lot Like Andrew Tate’s
When US senator JD Vance, an Ohio Republican, was rolled out as former president Donald Trump’s running mate last month, the move had several seeming aims. It was a nod to rich supporters like Vance’s patron, Peter Thiel; a way to present the electorate with a more youthful face than …
Read More »Astrologers Say 2024’s Political Future May Be Written in the Stars
Kamala Harris’ meteoric rise to the top of the Democratic ticket was unexpected. Two months ago, no one could have predicted it. Well, almost no one. On June 6, 2023, astrologer Laurie Rivers, who goes by the name AstroLaurie on TikTok and hosts the Awake Space podcast, posted a video …
Read More »Trump’s New Silicon Valley Supporters Really Want You to Forget He Called Nazis ‘Fine People’
Some of Donald Trump's biggest and newest supporters from finance and Silicon Valley, including Elon Musk and Bill Ackman, have spent the past several weeks trying to whitewash comments the former president and current Republican presidential nominee made in relation to the Unite the Right rally in Charlottesville in 2017. …
Read More »RFK Jr. Suspends Presidential Campaign, Endorses Trump
Today, independent candidate Robert F. Kennedy Jr. announced his withdrawal from the presidential race. “I am not terminating my campaign, I am simply suspending it, not ending it,” said Kennedy. “My name will remain on the ballot in most states.” But Kennedy said that after “deep prayer,” he had decided …
Read More »It’s a ‘Hotties for Harris’ World and We’re Just Living in It
It’s Democratic National Convention Week! For all the politicians, delegates, journalists, and influencers in Chicago this week, that means days of nonstop events, speeches, parties, and networking. I’ve been on the ground covering it with my colleague, senior security writer Dhruv Mehrotra (More from Dhruv below). Some of the events …
Read More »Kamala Harris’ Campaign Is Launching a Twitch Channel
The Kamala Harris campaign is launching its own Twitch channel, where it will be streaming the vice president’s acceptance speech on Thursday. The Twitch channel is part of the campaign’s broader strategy for engaging young and difficult-to-reach voters online. The account, which is under the handle of “kamalaharris,” joins the …
Read More »Influencers Take Over the DNC
The Democratic National Convention organizers really rolled out the blue carpet for influencers this year. Today on the show, WIRED senior reporter Makena Kelly joins from Chicago to talk about the Democrats’ strategy of favoring creators over journalists, and whether it will help them win votes. Plus, behind the scenes …
Read More »Crypto’s Shiny New Political Machine
Amongst the sea of American flags and ubiquitous blue signs at the Democratic National Convention in Chicago this week prowled Jonathan Padilla, the “crypto guy.” Wearing a baseball cap and conspicuous pineapple-print shirt, Padilla tramped the halls of the convention, talking crypto policy with anyone who would listen. In a …
Read More »The DNC Is Officially the Influencer Convention
Yacht parties, free snacks, and multiple lounges: This is what the Democratic National Convention in Chicago looks like so far for the influencers and creators invited. For the first time ever, 200 creators have been credentialed to cover the convention as part of the Democrats’ attempt to reach young voters. …
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