The Navigator, Saturday, August 24, 2024
Meme politics, workaholics, race "science," extreme weather, fave books, and more
Happy weekend, subscribers!
The Democratic National Convention roared into and out of Chicago this week. Team Harris showed its mettle on the communications front, delivering a raucous event, both in-person and online, with the release of a new campaign ad featuring Beyoncé’s Freedom, a first-of-its-kind simulcast event between the DNC’s roll-call vote and a rally in Milwaukee, and, of course, more memes and references to memes than we could count, including the “coconut brown” suit she wore on Monday.
More importantly, Team Harris is remaking the political communications game, illustrating how new media can reach and activate voters nationwide, including many new and young voters. It’s working, at least for now.
If you missed Marcia’s story from Chicago on the new media strategy—reported from inside the Convention Center earlier this week and updated Thursday and Friday with how Donald Trump is reacting to it, plus the latest poll data—please read it today via the link below.
Politics, re-wired
Old-style political organizing—and messaging—no longer work. Today, it’s a battle over mobilization. Those who flourish now, post-Biden, will be those “new power” leaders best able to channel the participatory energy of those around them.
In other news, Bradley will be in Milan from September 2 to 4. He would love to meet with those of you there over coffee between meetings. And, if you’re in Manhattan next week, Marcia will be back at our Bryant Park office and would love to share a rooftop coffee with you there and our unique, Instagram-able view of the city skyline. If you're around then, in Milan or New York—and interested, respond directly to this email or send us a message via the Substack app.
As always, thank you for making us part of your regular reads. Keep the conversation going by commenting.
A Nation of Workaholics Has a New Fixation: Working Less (The Wall Street Journal)
Fresh statistics are blowing a hole in Germany’s reputation for hard work as a new generation discovers the joys of taking it easy
5 Personal Branding Lessons from ‘Emily in Paris’ That Can Transform Your Career (Forbes magazine)
Emily in Paris returns with its highly anticipated Season 4, and GenZ viewers are once again captivated, with future of work experts drawing parallels from the popular show to advise you how to brand your career.
The Far Right Is Becoming Obsessed With Race and IQ (The Atlantic)
“Race science” has returned.
Why Are More Latino Voters Supporting Trump? (The New Yorker Radio Hour)
Don’t write off Donald Trump just yet this election year. The Republican message is resonating with many of them, and interviews with prominent Latinos help to explain why.
How the Proud Boys are Prepping for a Second Trump Term (1843 magazine from The Economist)
They led the charge on the Capitol. What next?
The Best Summer Reads for Food-Loving Bookworms (Bon Appetit)
Among them are Bad Witches by Heather Akumiah, Maame by Jessica George and the The Pairing by Casely McQuiston, and more.
COVID is getting so bad again, new vaccines were given early emergency approval (Salon magazine)
New shots from Pfizer and Moderna will be available within days. Here’s how to get yours.
Boiling Point: Heat, fires, floods — extreme weather has affected 99% of Americans (The Los Angeles Times)
A new assessment of U.S. weather alerts underlines the growing risks the country faces as climate change continues to intensify extremes.
Humans age dramatically at two key points in their life, study finds (CNN)
Scientists have found that human beings age at a molecular level in two accelerated bursts – first at the age of 44, and then again at 60.
The US states where people die younger than in Palestine and Syria (The Daily Mail)
A new map based on official data lays bare Americans' shockingly low life expectancy.