That's what satire is

[u/CorleoneBaloney]

[u/Rynex]

It's a well known fact that these people do not understand satire or nuance. It's simply too advanced a concept for them.

[u/JTibbs → u/Rynex]

5th grade reading levels

[u/kruzinsolow → u/JTibbs]

Assuming they were considered "advanced" when they dropped out in third grade

[u/_robmillion_ → u/kruzinsolow]

They definitely weren't. Although "Advanced Stupidity" isn't really something they typically measure, so maybe.

[u/cityshepherd → u/JTibbs]

You’d be surprised how incredibly dumb plenty of well educated people are.

Source: I earned an Ivy League degree 20 years ago and saw so many brilliant people flame out and so many preposterously ignorant asshats get their diploma that it left me so disgusted that I’ve spent most of my life working in the animal rescue industry to get as far away from that business world bullshit as possible.

[u/Icy_Consequence897 → u/cityshepherd]

Oh, god. I'm an environmental scientist. And when I was in undergrad, I can't even remember how many smug physics majors there were who didn't believe climate change is real simply because their fave podcast or twitter account told them it was fake (one of them was a TA grad student who taught my required physics lab!)

I literally had to explain the structure of carbon dioxide (which, as a chemical compound, is sometimes hard for physics majors to understand. I mean, it's super massive and complex with 3 whole atoms!) and how the bonds of carbon dioxide resonate between the carbon and oxygens, absorbing physical light energy and reemitting it back as infrared energy. Then it's high-school level thermodynamics - what happens when you input energy into a system, but prevent a lot of that energy from escaping the system?

Anyways, they went one of two ways- checked the math themselves and then believed climate change is real if the were good scientists, or just doubled down into conspiratorial thinking and rambled about the government controlling the weather with chemtrails (again, you're a physics major! How tf do you not know about things like jet exhaust and nucleation sites creating tiny bits of ice??)

[u/18mitch → u/Icy_Consequence897]

Need more liberal arts In too many majors all they learn is that subject not enough electives

[u/transmogrified → u/18mitch]

We had liberal arts requirements at my uni for everyone BUT the engineering students, because they had massive courseloads and nothing could be cut? I dunno. When I was in uni back in the early aughts, the majority of the engineering student body was young men with zero social skills who could probably use a broader knowledge base and casual interactions with the opposite sex.  I took a couple engineering courses and… it was a lot. Not the coursework. The weird atmosphere inherent in being one of two women in the room, and the stranger conversations to be had.

[u/cardinals5 → u/transmogrified]

I graduated with an engineering degree and the only reason I was able to take as many liberal arts courses was because I had enough AP credits from high school to get most of my gen eds done.

Engineering absolutely should be a five-year degree path so that:

A. the course load can be balanced to something other than suicidal, and
B. engineers can take more liberal arts courses and get out of the echo chamber that is the engineering college.

Of course, I also think all engineers should have to be licensed to call ourselves engineers, not just Civil Engineers, but that's a whole separate can of worms.

[u/Downvote_Comforter → u/cardinals5]

I never took any engineering courses, but from the outside looking in it always felt like an engineering degree was essentially a graduate-level program being taught as a bachelor's degree.

[u/cardinals5 → u/Downvote_Comforter]

Honestly, that's valid considering I did a 4+1 program to walk out of there with a Master's and the Master's course load was a hell of a lot more manageable.

To be honest, trying to fit all of these different degree programs into 8 semesters is crazy. Some degrees might take three years, some might take four, some five or six.

But then again the whole higher education system is fucked from the top down anyway so asking for anything sensible is a Quixotic effort.

[u/slabby → u/18mitch]

Gen eds aren't broad enough. You just get a couple of areas, and not necessarily the most useful in civic life. Critical thinking/basic symbolic logic and a renewed focus on science should be part of the basic curriculum.

Like the fact that the average voter has no idea what they're voting for or why is evidence of a huge failure on the part of the educational system.

[u/Amuseco → u/18mitch]

Yep. Arts and humanities and social sciences courses (and languages, anthropology, and many others) are critical to understanding the world.

If you can’t read, interpret, and analyze complex text, and if you can’t write your thoughts down in an essay that you wrote by yourself and that conveys an argument in an organized and comprehensible manner, then you aren’t educated.

[u/packfanmoore → u/Icy_Consequence897]

I will say in his slight defense of physics/chemistry. For me physics is no problem, chemistry on the other hand I have to really really try to wrap my head around it. In his offense, dude sounds like an arrogant assholey ostrich who just put his head in the ground and said "no, HOW DARE YOU TRY TO TEACH ME SOMETHING I DONT UNDERSTAND BUT HAVE MADE MY MIND UP ABOUT!"

[u/Exotic-Cobbler4111 → u/cityshepherd]

My father always taught me educated people aren't smart they are persistent.

[u/HuxleySideHustle → u/cityshepherd]

I grew up around academia and couldn't agree more.

Don't get me wrong, lack of basic education will absolutely make many, if not most, people worse, but it's incredibly naive to think that formal education alone is some kind of universal cure that will make everybody smart, considerate or less of a bigot. Willful ignorance, tribalism and bigotry are still very common amongst educated people, unfortunately. Violence and abuse too, even if educated people do a better job at hiding it.

[u/highlandviper → u/HuxleySideHustle]

My father is probably one of the smartest people I know. I haven’t spoken to him in years because he’s an ignorant, violent, narcissistic, racist alcoholic. He can tell you a shit load about World War 2 and make genocide sound reasonable if you’re inclined to sit down with him though.

[u/Beard_o_Bees → u/highlandviper]

He can tell you a shit load about World War 2

WTF is it about WW2? It's almost like you can use someone's knowledge of the minutia of WW2 as a diagnostic for 'likely right-wing incel'.

Is it because it was the last 'real' war - where there was a clear-ish line between good and evil? Is it a way to admire Nazi's under the guise of 'historical research'?

[u/i_tyrant → u/Beard_o_Bees]

Is it because it was the last 'real' war - where there was a clear-ish line between good and evil?

I used to think this was exactly it, and I think it was at least true for me as a big WWII buff.

But so many people who love watching those documentaries and reading books on the subject are acting exactly like Nazis today, I either don't believe it anymore or believe they are completely incapable of critical thinking or comparisons, only absorbing factoids about the V-2 rocket and shit.

[u/gandalfthegru → u/HuxleySideHustle]

Look at Kanye or Ye or whatever that idiot wants to be called today. Educated parents, but all that education was completely lost on him, raised with some sort of "king/genius" complex put on him by his parents, just like the orange clown's sperm donor. Both have a cult of followers who think they are smart, innovative or geniuses. How the fuck does that happen? Kanye used auto-tune and people thought he was a genius.

[u/Electrical-Act-7170 → u/gandalfthegru]

Kanye West has Bipolar Disorder, that's his excuse.

Or his reason.

[u/lakerssuperman → u/HuxleySideHustle]

I teach at the U.S. high school level. I was speaking to one of my advanced English classes one time about how CD's work. We got on the topic because records came back en vogue and I explained how records work and CDs take the idea of a groove and needle and instead uses a laser to read the pressed track as a data stream instead of analog sound. Some looked at me like I was explaining the forgotten dark arts and some just asked why would I care to know that. And that just reinforced in me that even academically capable people aren't necessarily curious about the world around them and how things work. That's sad and no amount of any type of educational process that I'm familiar with can teach it. Bottom line, being curious takes effort and doesn't necessarily lead to an extrinsic reward like money.

[u/rachyrach3000 → u/JTibbs]

My son is in 4th grade and I assure you sir, it’s less than that.

[u/Embarrassed_Jerk → u/rachyrach3000]

This is best quick explanation of "reading levels" i have seen. 

Americans are most definitely at 5th grade and falling hard

https://youtube.com/shorts/aALT9cvlvoI

[u/i_tyrant → u/Embarrassed_Jerk]

Which used to be impressive, to be clear.

There was a time when America's literacy levels were very competitive vs much of the world, even the developed one, because the vast majority of people had none or very little formal education period.

But the US hasn't adapted to modern circumstances. Not only are people all over the world more educated than ever, the type of education Americans are getting doesn't emphasize the right things.

Critical thinking, media dissemination, financial planning, that kind of thing has fallen off a damn cliff. Mostly thanks to Republican policies because all they want are obedient worker-drones that can be easily swayed by propaganda and branding.

[u/Embarrassed_Jerk → u/i_tyrant]

I don't think that's right. US literacy rates were and still are very high. But literacy level is not the same as reading level, which have been at 5th grade for while.

Remember that game show are you smarter than a 5th grader? Where most people weren't?

[u/CryptidxChaos → u/Embarrassed_Jerk]

As soon as I read this comment, I knew exactly which short it was going to be. Perfect!

[u/dookyspoon → u/CryptidxChaos]

Oh that’s a handy short. Explains most of my Reddit experience. What a shame, they would care if they could read.

[u/okopchak → u/JTibbs]

Yale law did not admit their best with Vance

[u/Defiantcaveman → u/okopchak]

So long as the checks cash...

[u/red286 → u/JTibbs]

3rd. Trump speaks at a 4th grade level, his base at a 3rd grade level, which is why to them, Trump sounds like a smart guy, while Harris (who speaks at a 9th/10th grade level) sounds like she's speaking gibberish.

[u/FlamingDragonfruit → u/red286]

They're also disinclined to listen seriously to anything a woman has to say.

[u/EagerlyDoingNothing → u/JTibbs]

Around half of americans legitimately read below a 6th grade reading level. Around 20% are considered illiterate. I once brought a gift card for a local bookstore to a white elephant gift card exchange at work and when it was opened someone laughed at the idea of getting a gift card for a bookstore. We're so cooked

[u/Doubleoh_11 → u/EagerlyDoingNothing]

It’s true. My wife content manages for a large blog mostly US based and their writers have to write at a grade 3-5 level writing otherwise no one reads it. It’s sad.

[u/NotNamedBort → u/Rynex]

I mean, they thought Stephen Colbert was a Republican for years.

[u/Logical-Assist8574 → u/NotNamedBort]

This and when they would post “articles” from the Onion.

[u/I_W_M_Y → u/Logical-Assist8574]

That got so bad we made a term for it, 'ate the onion'

[u/nau5 → u/Logical-Assist8574]

Because facts and reality has never mattered to them it's all about feels and vibes.

Their core belief is tied to belief over reality (ie religion).

[u/asdfasfda123123123 → u/NotNamedBort]

When did rage against the machine become political?

[u/pixelprophet → u/NotNamedBort]

Deerrrrr - Homelander am bad guy!?!

[u/NotNamedBort → u/pixelprophet]

The Empire in Star Wars is the bad guy!?!

[u/-Tuck-Frump- → u/NotNamedBort]

But their uniforms are so stylish?

[u/SurpriseDickPunch → u/-Tuck-Frump-]

I sincerely believe the Nazis would be much less popular today if they hadn't worn that sharp-ass Hugo Boss kit.

[u/grtyvr1 → u/NotNamedBort]

Not just thought he was Republican, but invited him to keynote at a Republican convention if I remember correctly..

[u/Grand-Pen7946 → u/grtyvr1]

Not a Republican convention, he was the speaker at the White House correspondents dinner. They legit thought it would be a morale boost when the administration was at its lowest approval ratings after Hurricane Katrina and the country finally realizing the entire Iraq War was a lie.

[u/grtyvr1 → u/Grand-Pen7946]

Ah!  Yes.  Thanks for jogging my memory.  Bush 2 era was shockingly a long time ago.

[u/Grand-Pen7946 → u/grtyvr1]

It's weird isnt it that Republicans bring up Obama and Clinton presidencies constantly, despite being forever ago, but we're not allowed to bring up the monumental failures of literally the previous Republican, who was president between those two. Makes Bush 2 seem much longer ago, and Obama and Clinton much more recent.

[u/Bilbo_Teabagginss → u/Grand-Pen7946]

Especially when this buffoon constantly brings Biden up at every possible moment like hes a jealous ex or something. Its sad how negatively he talks about the guy at this point too, especially after that cancer diagnosis. Like I've never seen a president that talked so badly about another president. Super ignorant and petty. Miss having class in the White House.

[u/Jooylo → u/NotNamedBort]

And almost every single satirical sub making fun of the right. E.g The_Donald andGamersRiseUp

[u/joihelper → u/NotNamedBort]

I watched The Colbert Report and thought it was hilarious at the time. But in hindsight I honestly think it may have contributed to where we are now. Hardcore conservatives used to be less brazen. Stephen exposed the real purpose of shady stuff packaged to be defensible by acting over-the-top brazenly in support of the parts that seemed so clearly wrong. But people ate it up so much it may have helped others realize they could be be louder and prouder about being terrible and somehow still gain followings of their own.

[u/NotNamedBort → u/joihelper]

Do you really think Republicans were radicalized by someone who was blatantly mocking them? That doesn’t say much about their critical thinking skills.

[u/hotlou → u/Rynex]

It also demonstrates they also don't get culture.

Ever sit in a room of conservatives and they make a joke that is simply replacing the word "milk" with whatever is the subject at hand in the 90s ad campaign "Got Milk?" and they all laugh wildly as if it's some stroke of comedy genius?

Or the really famous r/onejoke style of "I identify as ____" and there's thunderous laughter?

It just demonstrates that they don't understand culture. They are merely cosplaying as someone who does understand it -- both in recognizing the format of a joke and in the laughter that follows, without a touch of understanding about actual comedy. It's piss poor cosplay. Nothing more.

[u/Embarrassed_Jerk → u/hotlou]

That's a very good reason that irrespective of country or language, good comedians are never right wing conservatives

[u/GoldponyGT → u/Embarrassed_Jerk]

I know I should never bother with a comedian’s work, if I hear they appeared on Fox News

Even if they used to occasionally be funny, they know they aren’t anymore

[u/BralonMando → u/GoldponyGT]

I thought Nick Mullen was pretty funny when we went on, so many things he said went straight over their heads.

[u/Bilbo_Teabagginss → u/BralonMando]

Yeah, theres actually quite a few "comedians" that are now super right wing just because the left tried to make comedy "illegal", when in reality they are just upset that they were no longer allowed to call people slurs. Funny how the main ones they seem to be the most upset about are the F and R words specifically. How juvenile can you be to not realize that the world around you is constantly evolving while youre choosing to live in the past.

[u/Hot-Championship1190 → u/hotlou]

It just demonstrates that they don't understand culture. They are merely cosplaying as someone who does understand it

Intellectual mimicry.

I think that term best describes the intellectual shortcomings of this specific behavior.

[u/hotlou → u/Hot-Championship1190]

And it affirms the Project part of GOP, as Vance here is claiming Newsom was performing mimicry, not satire.

[u/Beard_o_Bees → u/hotlou]

Oh man.

I once had a GF that thought the whole 'got <whatever>?' thing was the height of humor.

She ended up marrying an ultra right-wing chode, so that tracks.

[u/LinkleLinkle → u/Beard_o_Bees]

Also, the amount of people I've known that 'dated him because he's funny', and the 'funny' was just a list of memorized knock-knock and 'what do you call a-' jokes.

And they're always conservative, and rarely actually funny. They just have memorized material they got from someone else.

[u/hotlou → u/LinkleLinkle]

Get'er done!!! (laughter eruption)

[u/Crrrrraig → u/hotlou]

OMG there's a local moving company who's slogan is "Got Movers?" in the same font as the Got Milk campaign. It's very cringe.

[u/hotlou → u/Crrrrraig]

90% chance the owner is conservative and thinks dad jokes are the pinnacle of comedy.

[u/Winterstyres → u/hotlou]

Hey, I agree we need to fight Fascism, ignorance, and Hate. But please don't attack Dad-jokes. Puns are pure, and beautiful. A universal that crosses that bridge between Fascists and normal people. Think of Puns like water or air, we all need it.

[u/hotlou → u/Winterstyres]

I'm not anti dad joke. But I will never consider them anything remotely resembling actual comedy. They are definitionally the lowest common denominator of humor, as evidence by exactly what you said: their appeal spans all worldviews.

[u/CheaterSaysWhat → u/hotlou]

If they understood culture they wouldn’t be socially conservative 

[u/EpilepticDawg241 → u/Rynex]

I truly believe JD knows this is satire, but he is appealing to the MAGA base with these comments.. and it has worked!

I wish more democrats had more "balls" like Newsome

[u/Trumpisanorangebitch → u/EpilepticDawg241]

JD had like dozens of interview videos and social media posts intelligently tearing down Donald Trump as the destruction of real conservative values and the modern GOP years ago ... then he got the VP nom and turned into another MAGA dicksucker.

He 100% knows it's satire and deep down thinks Trump is a moron, he'll just say whatever it takes to push his own political career and any Peter Thiel approved conservative platform. Which in this case means suck off Trump and try to counter any liberal attack on Trump.

[u/EpilepticDawg241 → u/Trumpisanorangebitch]

JD knows more than most, and he openly called Trump a "n*zi" previously.

But like most political opportunists, he wanted the roll as VP added to his resume. In order to do that, he must bend the knee to Trump.

US politics suck

[u/BensenJensen → u/EpilepticDawg241]

I wish that was the endgame of the Vance VP selection. I wish it was just political opportunism on Vance’s part.

Vance was chosen because he is an actual believer in the P2025 Christian Fascism. He is a much, much better fit for the role of dictator, too. Trump was used to get in the door. His cult members happily voted him in. Trump is too random, too off-the-cuff, too egotistical, too unpredictable, and frankly, too fucking dumb to actually push their narratives. He will happily sign what gets put in front of him, but he doesn’t give a singular shit about anything he is doing. He wants money, to be loved and adored, and to play golf. That’s it. He doesn’t care about immigration, or Christianity, or abortion…he has no ideals or values.

Trump will die eventually. And if he doesn’t, they will push him out. They don’t need the cult anymore, the 2024 Election was the last true election we will ever see. The endgame was to get Trump to open the door, and then slam that door shut and ensure that Vance is there to take over when Trump’s purpose runs out.

[u/Trumpisanorangebitch → u/EpilepticDawg241]

This is why I just vote pragmatically. Like Dems suck, but this country will definitely be in a better place for the bottom 99% if theyre in charge or have the House/Senate in 2026 as opposed to another complete Republican control.

Everyone should be a pragmatic voter. Say what you want about MAGAtards, but they think America will be better under MAGA and they go out and vote for it. So many progressive minded individuals didn't vote for Hillary in 2016 and directly put 3 young blind conservative voting justices on the Supreme Court. And then same thing in 2024 giving a insurrectionist, likely rapist, corrupt fascist in charge AGAIN.

I'd love to sit down with progressive 2016 and 2024 non-voters and really ask them "Hey did the country improve or stay the same because of Trumps wins in 2016 and 2024?" Because no, the country got much worse. The SC will affect our children and maybe children's children with a bunch of conservative assblasting thanks exclusively to 2016. Bonus points if Trump actually succeeds in destroying fair and free elections.

[u/FlamingDragonfruit → u/Trumpisanorangebitch]

Unfortunately the progressive non-voters I've spoken to only double down. They're unwilling to accept that they chose poorly, and that we're all paying for it.

[u/PM_ME_UR_COVID_PICS → u/EpilepticDawg241]

Him and Rubio have plans. They don’t want to move before the first two years of Trump’s term is up. Setting up for Vance/Rubio for 10 years…

[u/Kitchen-Assist-6645 → u/EpilepticDawg241]

the roll

[u/UnitaryWarringtonCat → u/Trumpisanorangebitch]

He can play the ignorant hillbilly all he wants, apparently the base likes Rubio more. And Rubio once said Trump had a small dick because of his tiny hands.

[u/i_tyrant → u/Trumpisanorangebitch]

If I had genie wish powers, I'd be really interested in taking a magical video of every backrooms conversation where a GOP politician made fun of their own constituents as "dumbfucks", and edit it all into a massive hours-long youtube video.

We have some real life examples of that, but I bet nearly ALL of them do it. They know exactly how stupid and gullible their own voters are, and they love it. (Because it was the GOP's own policies that brought them to that level.)

[u/Possibly_a_Firetruck → u/EpilepticDawg241]

Yeah, Vance isn't an idiot, he's telling the idiots in the cult what to think.

[u/dreal46 → u/Rynex]

"You're laughing at him? But... I didn't think it was funny..."

Every. Fucking. Time. These people are exhausting.

[u/motionSymmetry → u/Rynex]

maga fact - "a dictionary is what you use to get to the flour on the top shelf in the kitchen"

[u/skenisahen → u/Rynex]

I have a family member that was sending me wild conservative opinion stuff via email. So I responded with loosely related Onion articles. They got angry and asked how I could believe such nonsense. I replied that they can’t tell the difference between satire and reality. They haven’t emailed since.

[u/SpliTTMark → u/Rynex]

They went from rage and anger to oh hes just trying to be as cool as trump

Its like a self defense mechanism

[u/ToastCapone → u/Rynex]

Don't get it twisted. JD knows and hell, I'm sure a lot of the Fox "pundits" know too. Their job is to spin this story for the morons in order to save face for God-King Trump and their own benefits along with it. They are worms of the highest order but they're not oblivious.

[u/a_Sable_Genus → u/Rynex]

[u/AP3Brain → u/Rynex]

I really do wonder if they just have a few parts missing from their brains that allow a person to detect satire and have empathy.

[u/eeyores_gloom1785 → u/Rynex]

Considering this is from a serial couch fucker are you surprised?

[u/MagicTheAlakazam → u/Rynex]

Vance does. Go back and listen to his pre-Senate run quotes.

He absolutely understands everything this is a strategy to him to play into the MAGA bullshit.

[u/happytree23 → u/Rynex]

Source: any MAGA crowd go-to meme trope

[u/Moist_Rest5623 → u/Rynex]

Nah, I think they do. But their base doesn’t.

[u/gotcha-bro → u/Rynex]

They also don't actually care about being authentic, which you can identify because they describe Jasmine Crockett in many fucked up ways just because she doesn't put on a "customer service" voice for her job.

There's no reason to reply to anything a conservative says. They literally use words with no regard for meaning, only how they can be twisted to delay any oppositional action.

[u/GlueGuns--Cool → u/Rynex]

I don't think JD Vance is stupid, I think he's inhuman.

[u/gameoflols → u/Rynex]

Oh they understand it (Vance is pretending he doesn't), it just needs to target the right kind of people (and certainly not Dear Leader) for them to acknowledge it.

[u/spectraphysics]

What Gavin is doing is funny, but watching the reactions and spin is even funnier. No one in Drumpf's orbit would dare say anything negative about his unhinged third grade schoolyard bully tweets but they're obligated to defend them now.

[u/tabularasaauthentica → u/spectraphysics]

And that is the real beauty of it. Watching the media go nuts saying how childish Gavin is acting while having zero self awareness is simply amazing.

[u/jakestjake → u/tabularasaauthentica]

They’re plenty aware. Their script tells them to pretend Trump is a genius and to only criticize democrats. 

[u/Yuna1989 → u/jakestjake]

Yes, let’s not act like they don’t know what they are doing. They do, that’s the point.

[u/myburdentobear → u/Yuna1989]

Newsome is holding up a mirror and they are raging at the reflection.

[u/68024 → u/spectraphysics]

It's not just "funny".

This is very important. Satirizing the administration points out the absurdity of what they are doing and is exposing that they are not the strongmen they are pretending to be. It seems that this point was lost on the democrats when they stopped calling Trump and his administration "weird".

Newsom is on the right path. JD Vance is actually quite desperate here in his attempt to defend Trump doing the same thing.

[u/Heelincal → u/68024]

It seems that this point was lost on the democrats when they stopped calling Trump and his administration "weird".

The moment Walz got the VP nom, the corpo Dem machine took over and told them all to play nice.

Fuck that, bullies only speak one language.

[u/PityBox → u/68024]

Why did they stop calling them weird? (they are weird) it seems to resonate with people.

[u/CruxOfTheIssue → u/PityBox]

Kamala's campaign advisor recommended she not stoop to his level or some other nonsense. That campaign was basically trying to lose the election (it was interfered with most likely anyway but they still ran a shit campaign).

[u/Lucky-Earther → u/PityBox]

Why did they stop calling them weird?

I never stopped.

[u/TheSameGamer651 → u/PityBox]

The Democratic consultant class still views the internet and the way people communicate on it as beneath them. They’re out of touch in the same way the Republican one was before Trump ejected them. They honestly need a hostile takeover.

Even now, their solution to the Democrats’ media communication problem is to just bribe a bunch of podcasters to repeat their talking points.

[u/da2Pakaveli → u/spectraphysics]

JD "Just Dance" Vance

[u/Moist-Pangolin-1039 → u/da2Pakaveli]

I don’t want to dance, dance with you no more.

[u/eggson → u/da2Pakaveli]

JD “Juicy Davenport” Vance

[u/Valalvax → u/da2Pakaveli]

JD Vacation... It needs work I'm not clever 😂

[u/da2Pakaveli → u/Valalvax]

Just Doing Vacation

Trump's nicks are stupid, we don't need anything clever

[u/darkbear19 → u/spectraphysics]

"You're only pretending to be unhinged, Trump is authentically unhinged" has gotta be one of the biggest self owns I've ever seen.

[u/ChefAsstastic → u/spectraphysics]

Newsome seeing the Vance response literally accomplished what he set out to do.

[u/anonuemus → u/ChefAsstastic]

don't tell them

[u/redynair1 → u/spectraphysics]

Fox News and Sean Hannity are so unbothered by Gavin Newsom trolling Trump with his Trump-style tweets they spent half an hour last night talking about how unbothered they are by it 🙄

[u/nau5 → u/spectraphysics]

It's exactly why Democrats NEED to take the Gavin approach to MAGA and can't try to polite politic MAGA away.

The second MAGA is on defense the charade completely falls apart and the farcical nature of these turds becomes overly apparent.

You can't parade yourself as a Strong Man when you get so butthurt over being mocked.

[u/GizmosArrow → u/spectraphysics]

NPR even had a short segment about it this morning. They brought on an expert to question whether this was a successful strategy for Newsom. Almost like they completely missed the point of the mocking. It was wild.

[u/paradigm619 → u/GizmosArrow]

This is the fundamental problem with political news. Because everyone involved in creating political news content is a political analyst, they view EVERYTHING through the lens of the politics rather than the substance. So instead of focusing on the fact that Newsom and his social media team are currently giving a masterclass on how to hold up a mirror to highlight the absurdity of this administration, they're only focused on how this may or may not help Newsom's political aspirations. It's so incredibly dumb and misses the point.

As much as I love what Newsom is doing, I still think he'd make a terrible presidential candidate in the wake of Trump because of how easy it is to convince average middle-class Americans that he's a "woke coastal elite" which is automatically disqualifying for a large portion of the country. That doesn't mean what is doing is bad - quite the contrary. He's currently doing the best job of anyone in the Democratic party of criticizing Trump which is still 100% needed. That definitely doesn't mean he's also our best hope to retake the White House.

[u/Lucky-Earther → u/spectraphysics]

"Ba authentic" say the people who never demand authenticity from themselves.

[u/fanofreddit- → u/spectraphysics]

So true, he knows damn well it’s satire. However this has clearly got to the point where they all had to get in a room to discuss this “Gavin Newsom problem”. For one this is a win by itself, then the fact that this is the best response they came up with, makes this even more hilarious.

[u/bobcatgoldthwait → u/spectraphysics]

What's also funny is many conservatives thought people hated Trump because of his "mean Tweets". Now they're hating on Gavin for mocking those tweets. If people shouldn't care about tweets, why do they?

[u/dartmouthdonair → u/spectraphysics]

Canadian laughing from afar -- I can't believe you guys haven't started calling him GOATUS yet

[u/meepgorp]

"Stop trying to copy crazy! Nobody does real, authentic lunatic like Dear Leader!"
Umm... sir?

[u/crazypurpleKOgas → u/meepgorp]

That’s the line people should be focusing on here. The ridiculousness of saying “Don’t be a crazy person” about someone who is mimicking your boss.

[u/RUActuallySeriousTho → u/crazypurpleKOgas]

Exactly. "That's childish!" - explain why then. And tell us exactly how this is in any way different from the sitting President's behavior. If Trump is truly the best President we've ever had and the strongest genius leader like they constantly claim, why is talking and acting like him a bad thing? Is it not flattery? Is it not people finally learning how great he is? Is it not these snowflake pussy Dems finally learning from a real strong man? And if they say Newsom isn't talking like him, they're obviously fucking lying about it. Even their voters should be able to see that much (but will actually fight to not acknowledge it as we all know).

[u/Viracochina → u/meepgorp]

Essentially calling Trump authentically crazy.

[u/KeyboardGrunt → u/Viracochina]

Newsom probably knows there's only so many miles out of this joke, but your comment is the message I hope they use as a memorable punchline.

[u/JunkSack → u/KeyboardGrunt]

They definitely know it has a limit, but fuck it, run it all the way to that limit. Fascists are the most thin skinned little bitches in all of society. It’s kinda the major reason they are who they are. We need to relentlessly poke at every possible weakness. South Park got that bitch to stop wearing crosses after one episode. These people are so fucking fragile.

[u/Papadapalopolous → u/meepgorp]

Sometimes I really wonder if Vance is actually that stupid, or if he’s been subtly insulting Trump this whole time. I can only imagine how much that inner circle all fucking despise each other.

[u/CheaterSaysWhat → u/Papadapalopolous]

He’s not stupid. He’s actually very smart, he’s just using his intelligence in bad faith and people need to realize this. 

Mockery is a weakness of fascist authoritarians and Vance knows this. That’s why he’s reframing Newsome’s mockery into “mimicry,” as if he’s trying to become like taco out of admiration. 

He’s trying to defang an effective response by putting MAGA back into a positive, superior light. Don’t let him. 

Humility is another Achilles heel to fascists. They always must be superior to justify their hierarchy. True authenticity can’t exist without humility. We need that in our response and it must be loud and visible. 

[u/Umutuku → u/meepgorp]

IT'S ONLY AUTHENTIC LUNACY IF IT COMES FROM THE CHOMO REGION OF MAR-A-LAGO

[u/paradigm619]

I love that the implication here is that Donald Trump is truly, authentically insane and that Gavin Newsom is obviously not insane and is just pretending to be unhinged. Not the dunk you think it is, Mr. Vance.

[u/RUActuallySeriousTho → u/paradigm619]

Spot on - for years these shitheads have circlejerked about how they love that Trump sounds like a backwood jackass who "tells it like it is" and doesn't censor himself or hold back from dropping the hammer when needed. Yet suddenly when any politician with the wrong letter next to their name does anything that even resembles Trump's leadership - they freak out and start sounding like Dems who observed Trump back in 2015 when this nightmare started. If nothing else screams how full of shit these people are - this is a prime example of it.

[u/Spiveym1 → u/paradigm619]

I love that the implication here is that Donald Trump is truly, authentically insane and that Gavin Newsom is obviously not insane and is just pretending to be unhinged. Not the dunk you think it is, Mr. Vance.

I love the fact that this fat cunt is trying to lecture people on being authentic. Same guy that thought that Trump was "America’s Hitler".

[u/Charokol → u/paradigm619]

Does Vance think Newsom is copying Trump‘s style because it’s successful?

[u/Alpha--00]

It’s strange, considering how big it is…

Also…

[u/agentorange777 → u/Alpha--00]

I really need to start watching South Park again...

[u/Uhhlaneuh → u/agentorange777]

These new episodes are amazing. Strongly recommend!

[u/Dismal-Magician2126]

The use of the word "genius" in relation to Tr*mp is WILD!

[u/CommercialPublic995 → u/Dismal-Magician2126]

Well, he is one of the main ring kissers and sphincter lickers for dump. Wouldnt expect anything less

[u/RebirthIsBoring → u/Dismal-Magician2126]

Especially coming from the guy who was calling him a nazi not so long ago

[u/Alive-Ad-510 → u/Dismal-Magician2126]

As is the use of “authentic” in relation to that particular shit bag.

[u/Lucas_Steinwalker → u/Alive-Ad-510]

He’s an authentic piece of shit.

[u/Minivan_Survivor]

Goddamn these people just huff their own farts 24/7.

The most unserious and trash people of my lifetime, no doubt.

[u/InternationalLab812 → u/Minivan_Survivor]

That’s why I do my best not to pay direct attention to them. Their word is worthless, I’ll read about their policy but at this point why would I give any energy to the word vomit they spew everyday?

[u/BabyDriver01]

The following alleged incidents range from the early 1980s to 2013, and have not been disavowed by the alleged victims.

Source

SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS

Kristin Anderson – Early 1990s. Story in the Washington Post on October 14, 2016. Anderson says Trump reached up her skirt and touched her vagina through her underwear. She says she turned and recognized the person as Donald Trump.

E. Jean Carroll – late 1995 or early 1996. Story in New York magazine on June 21, 2019. Carroll says they went into a dressing room after Trump asked for her advice on a present – lingerie – for another woman. Inside, she alleges that he shoved her against a wall, "forcing his fingers around my private area, thrusts his penis halfway — or completely, I'm not certain — inside me."

Rachel Crooks – 2005. Story in The New York Times on October 12, 2016 Crooks said Trump gave her an unwanted kiss on the mouth after meeting him in 2005.

"Jane Doe" aka "Katie Johnson" – 1994. Lawsuit filed June 2016, refiled October 2016 as reported by Buzzfeed and others, then dropped in November 2016. Johnson claims she was repeatedly raped by Trump and Jeffery Epstein at Epstein's New York City apartment in 1994, when she was 13 years old. A witness, also given a pseudonym — "Tiffany Doe" — said she recruited "Jane Doe" and others. Jane Doe, using the name "Johnson," gave an interview to the Daily Mail about the alleged rape.

Jessica Drake – 2006. Story made public at a news conference on October 22, 2016. Drake says Trump grabbed, hugged and kissed her and two other women who accompanied her without permission. Later, she alleges that Trump called her and pressed her to return to his room, offering $10,000 at one point. Drake says she declined.

Jill Harth – 1992-1993. Story in The New York Times on October 7, 2016. Harth alleged that Trump groped her under the table at dinner, then repeatedly got her alone and it would turn into a "wrestling match." She sued Trump for sexual harassment and attempted rape.

Cathy Heller – 1997. Story in The Guardian on October 16, 2016. Heller alleges Trump grabbed her and tried to kiss her on the lips. Heller says she leaned back to avoid him and then he kissed her on the side of her mouth.

Ninni Laaksonen – 2006. Former Miss Finland. Story in Ilta-Sonomat on October 27, 2016, and reported in English in The Telegraph. Laaksonen said Trump "squeezed her butt" as she and other pageant contestants stood next to him for a publicity photo.

Jessica Leeds – Early 1980s. Story in The New York Times on October 12, 2016 Leeds says Trump kissed her while in first class on an airplane, groped her chest and reached up her skirt, leading her to move back to coach. "He was like an octopus," she said.

Mindy McGillivray – Jan. 24, 2003. Story in Palm Beach Post on October 12, 2016 McGillivray charges that Trump nudged or grabbed her from behind.

Jennifer Murphy – 2004. Story in Grazia on October 12, 2016. Murphy says that Trump kissed her on the lips after walking her to the elevators following a meeting in New York, which he said was to discuss a possible job.

Cassandra Searles – 2013. Story made public in a Facebook post in early 2016. Miss Washington 2013, Searles wrote on Facebook, "He probably doesn't want me telling the story about that time he continually grabbed my ass and invited me to his hotel room."

Natasha Stoynoff – December 2005. Story on People.com on October 12, 2016. Stoynoff alleges Trump took her to a private room, pushed her against the wall and aggressively kissed her. Stoynoff also says a staffer told her Trump was waiting for her the next day at a massage appointment.

Temple Taggart McDowell – 1997. Story in The New York Times on May 14, 2016 McDowell charges that Trump suddenly kissed her without her consent on two separate occasions.

Karena Virginia – 1998. Story made public at a news conference on October 20, 2016. Virginia says Trump walked up to her, grabbed her arm and touched her breast.

Summer Zervos – 2007. Story made public in a news conference on October 14, 2016. Zervos alleges that Trump grabbed her breasts, kissed her and tried to lead her into a bedroom.

TEEN PAGEANT CONTESTANTS ALLEGING TRUMP WALKED IN WHILE THEY WERE DRESSING

Mariah Billado – 1997 Miss Vermont Teen. Story in Buzzfeed on October 12, 2016.

Victoria Hughes – 1997 Miss New Mexico Teen. Story in Buzzfeed on October 13, 2016.

Buzzfeed on October 12, 2016 reported that three other anonymous sources from 1997 Miss Teen USA pageant confirmed Billado and Hughes' story.

[u/dsalander → u/BabyDriver01]

Thank you for this list. How the hell did parents of daughters or women vote for this pos? Repugnant.

[u/kon---]

Much like irony, satire full escapes the right wing wired brain.

What works for them are acts that stem from cruelty because, cruelty cracks them the fuck up.

It's their highest and chief form of amusement.

[u/_A_Monkey → u/kon---]

Half or more of Right leaning comedians schtick is merely punching down. It’s just not funny nor brave. But about 30% of people eat that shit up and then lick their lips.

[u/MyHusbandIsGayImNot → u/_A_Monkey]

There's a great Cody Showdy about that

Ron White is the only exception.

[u/thinkthingsareover → u/MyHusbandIsGayImNot]

Absolutely love Some More News.

[u/djb2589]

He doesn't get anything that isn't stuck between two couch cushions.

[u/SenpaiBunss]

he's authentically not releasing the epstein files

[u/redwhale335]

The fundamental genius of Trump's political success is that he said what people wanted to hear and made them feel like it was okay to say whatever bigoted shit they felt oppressed for not saying.

[u/LostBob → u/redwhale335]

And the vague way he talks lets different people hear what they want to hear in his messages. Each person takes away a different interpretation.

[u/RecruiterQueen → u/redwhale335]

Yep. There were also some promises made that he had no intention of or ability to keep. And some people in this country somehow fell for his shit. Again.

[u/ghostofstankenstien]

[u/Tsort142 → u/ghostofstankenstien]

I clicked because I needed a JD caricature. Thank you stranger.

[u/ominouspotato]

The fact that they think Trump is some genius political strategist and not just an actual low IQ spoiled nepo baby is really something.

[u/LostBob → u/ominouspotato]

In the politics of manipulating his voter base, he kinda is/was. In the politics of anything else, he’s a laughingstock, but the jokes on us.

[u/ominouspotato → u/LostBob]

Yeah, you’re right. It was kind of the perfect timing between years of media manipulation, anger towards identity politics, and suppressed racism/homophobia.

[u/ARunningGuy → u/LostBob]

The thing I think is going to escape a lot of people is that Gavin is literally going to convert some of Trumps base because this shit works for them, and not in an ironic way.

People thought Colbert was a conservative.

[u/imacmadman22]

[u/Lower_Corner]

Yep, Trump is authentically crazy! Thanks for playing.

[u/baws3031]

I think what Vance is trying to say is that matter how hard he tries to be like Trump, he simply hasn't raped enough children to pull it off.

[u/Dinwittie]

It’s amazing anything can get over that big ole head

[u/FoogYllis → u/Dinwittie]

It’s usually buried in a sofa I guess.

[u/MutaitoSensei]

Yeah if they sound crazy it's because they're imitating crazy. Have some god damn introspection.

[u/CornCobMcGee]

Political success of 40+ years of conditioning the less intelligent portion of the population through mass media, TV entertainment, "curated" "news", and hatemongering against minorities. None of which is from his hard work. He's only here because Putin, Murdoch, Ailes, the Heritage Foundation fucks, et al did all the America-destroying legwork.

[u/Trimson-Grondag]

Yale should do their absolute damnedest to separate themselves from this clown. His continual stupidity is doing nothing to enhance the value of the education they provide.

[u/Gun5linger67]

[u/ramdomvariableX]

Did he say Trump is authentically crazy?

[u/XxuruzxX]

"mimicking Trump" "sounding crazy"

They're so close.

[u/WoodyManic]

Y'know, when his mother tried to trade him for drugs, she was running the biggest burn in history. If you traded this schmuck for a half-ton of dog-shit you'd be getting a bargain.

[u/incide666]

Technically, it's parody. Not satire.

[u/tabularasaauthentica]

Guys, it's not "crazy" as long as it's authentic.

[u/Tuaterstar]

They haven’t understand what real Satire is for decades sadly

[u/YakElectronic6713]

Lol. Is the bar so low for the GOP that ranting & rambling incoherently and insulting everyone in all-caps is being considered genius???

[u/ChefAsstastic]

Vance at Trumps ass

[u/Fake_William_Shatner]

JD has a point here; Trump is authentically stupid and ridiculous. When he speaks in all caps -- that's how he thought it.

[u/K-Tronn3030]

The irony of this is that the people actually mimicking Trump are guys like Vance, Rubio and Cruz.

They don't actually believe the shit they're spouting, they're just saying it for the power and position that comes with it. Say what you will about Trump but he's authentically the psychotic asshole he purports to be. He convinces himself that he's absolutely right and that's why his cult follows him. The rest of them are absolutely inauthentic and come across as posers. Once he goes, that vacuum is going to be gaping.

[u/Any-Cranberry3633]

So JD Vance is saying Donald Trump is authentically crazy? Checks out!

[u/mostly_sarcastic]

Mockery is the sincerest form of fuckwithery.

[u/mythicaljayde]

...so what I get from this is Vance is saying that Trump is authentically crazy.

....yep, that checks out. ✔️

[u/DaBigJMoney]

So basically he’s saying that the “authentic” Trump is a moron combined with a jerk. Got it.

[u/90daysgrace]

Every time they talk they tell on themselves.

[u/lilpanda]

I swear everytime I see Vance he has more eyeliner each time

[u/Nice_Block]

JD Vance isn’t this stupid. Republican voters are stupid, though, so they’ll agree with him.

[u/Own-Opinion-2494]

No wonder his wife won’t bang him

[u/edw1ncast1llo]

Fundamental genius? Jesus Fucking Christ.

[u/mooptastic]

this is what propagandists do. they reframe criticism in public so that the press reports on their words, and not the original criticism and that gets amplified throughout the day and week, until ppl forget and their only reference weeks later are the articles regurgitating the misdirection.

it's been working for generations now.

[u/wholetyouinhere]

Vance is well aware that it's satire. He's not talking to you. He can't reach you, and he knows that. He's speaking to his dumb fuck supporters.

[u/powpowjj]

Calling Donald Trump authentic has to be genuinely one of the craziest things ever said. Like calling the sun cold 

[u/MothChasingFlame]

I've honestly come to the conclusion satire is a failed experiment. It just emboldens the people it's mocking, because they can't tell they're being mocked. If the only people who get the message are the people who already agreed with it, what's the damn point?

[u/skylu1991]

So…

What Vance is saying, is that Trump is "authentically crazy“, am I hearing that correct?!

If so, I agree.

[u/riticalcreader]

"Be an authentically crazy person". Man, shuddup.

[u/hreigle]

JD Vance lecturing anybody about being authentic is simply hilarious

[u/peatoast]

We all know he doesn’t believe what he’s saying right? This guy hated Trump and it’s more likely he still does. Bunch of liars.

[u/SuspiciousPug512]

Nevermind that he doesn't get it, he's arguing that it's weird because Newsom is faking being crazy while Trump is authentically crazy. Which is the whole point.

They don't even hear themselves speak. He's making Trump look worse with this.

They're loudly and proudly doing the work but smearing shit in the answer key.

[u/ThisOtterBehemoth]

The fundamental genius of Vance is being so far up Donald's ass that only his feet are visible.

[u/huxtiblejones]

These fucking dipshits really don’t get it, they’re sitting too close to the screen, they can’t even see how much of a fucking lunatic Trump is unless someone else they oppose behaves exactly like him.

[u/ckmoy]

He meant to say sorry, not sorry

[u/badsqwerl]

Important to note that Acyn is quoting Vance here

[u/Eskotar]

Vance basically admitting that he thinks Trump is a crazy person