The Memeification Of Kamala Harris | Colbert Is Brat | Trump Struggles To Attack Harris

The Late Show with Stephen Colbert
23 Jul 202412:30

TLDRStephen Colbert humorously discusses Kamala Harris's rapid rise to the Democratic presidential nomination after Joe Biden's withdrawal and endorsement. With a focus on Harris's fundraising success and the 'brat' meme trend, Colbert highlights her campaign's viral moments and the internet's creative engagement. He also touches on Trump's struggle to find an effective attack against Harris, including a past donation to her campaign.

Takeaways

  • 😀 Kamala Harris has been declared the presumptive Democratic presidential nominee after securing enough delegate endorsements in just 48 hours.
  • 🏁 The Democrats plan to hold a virtual nomination by August 7th, reflecting a quick transition to a more European-style election process.
  • 💰 Harris's campaign broke a single-day fundraising record with 1.1 million individual donors, 60% of whom were first-time contributors to the 2024 cycle.
  • 📈 Harris raised $1.5 million on a Zoom call with 44,000 black women, indicating a strong and motivated voter base.
  • 📞 Kamala Harris received a call from Joe Biden, showing continued support and a united front within the Democratic party.
  • 🥥 The 'coconut meme' from a previous speech has gone viral, contributing to Harris's reputation as the 'meme candidate' and engaging the internet community.
  • 🎉 Kamala's campaign has embraced the 'brat' label, with Charlie XCX tweeting 'Kamala is brat' and the campaign adopting a brat theme on social media.
  • 🤔 Trump seems to be struggling to find an effective line of attack against Harris, resorting to nicknames and highlighting past donations to her campaign.
  • 💡 There is speculation that Trump might secretly like Harris, as he once donated to her re-election campaign when she was running for California attorney general.
  • 🎙️ Stephen Colbert humorously discusses the campaign's momentum and the challenges faced by Trump in his Late Show monologue.
  • 📺 The script is a transcript from The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, highlighting current political events and the dynamics of the 2024 election.

Q & A

  • Who is the host of The Late Show mentioned in the script?

    -The host of The Late Show mentioned in the script is Stephen Colbert.

  • How many days are left until the election according to the script?

    -According to the script, there are 104 days left until the election.

  • What significant event happened with Kamala Harris in the script?

    -In the script, Kamala Harris secured enough delegate endorsements to win the Democratic presidential nomination within 48 hours.

  • What is the plan for the Democrats regarding the nomination process?

    -The Democrats plan to hold a virtual nomination by August 7th.

  • How long do campaigns typically last in the UK and France as mentioned in the script?

    -Campaigns in the UK typically last five to six weeks, and in France, they can last no longer than two weeks.

  • What fundraising record did Kamala Harris' campaign break in the script?

    -Kamala Harris' campaign broke a single-day fundraising record with 1.1 million individual donors.

  • How much money did Kamala Harris raise during a Zoom call with black women as mentioned in the script?

    -Kamala Harris raised $1.5 million during a Zoom call with 44,000 black women.

  • What is the term 'brat' referring to in the context of the script?

    -In the context of the script, 'brat' refers to a term used by singer Charlie XCX to describe someone who is a bit messy, likes to party, and might say some dumb things sometimes.

  • What is the significance of the coconut tree and banana peel references in the script?

    -The coconut tree and banana peel references are related to a viral speech by Kamala Harris that has been turned into memes and songs, contributing to her reputation as the 'meme candidate'.

  • How did Trump react to Biden dropping out and endorsing Kamala Harris according to the script?

    -According to the script, Trump expressed frustration about having to spend time and money fighting Biden, and then having to start over against Harris. He also made jokes about Biden's age and memory.

  • What past connection does Trump have with Kamala Harris mentioned in the script?

    -The script mentions that Trump donated $5,000 to Kamala Harris' re-election campaign when she was running for California attorney general.

Outlines

00:00

🎉 Kamala Harris' Rapid Ascend to the Democratic Nomination

In an unexpected turn of events, Kamala Harris secures the Democratic presidential nomination within 48 hours, following Biden's withdrawal and endorsement. The Democrats plan a virtual nomination event by August 7th, aligning with the brevity of campaigns in other democracies like the UK and France. Harris' campaign also breaks fundraising records with 1.1 million individual donors, 60% of whom are first-time contributors. Her digital presence is boosted by her reputation as the 'meme candidate,' with viral speeches and an active online community remixing her speeches into popular songs.

05:00

🎵 The Memeification and Pop Culture Impact of Kamala Harris' Campaign

Kamala Harris' campaign gains significant pop culture traction as her speeches are remixed into songs by artists like Taylor Swift, Charlie Puth, and Beyonce. The term 'brat,' popularized by singer Charlie XCX, is adopted by Harris' campaign, leading to a 'brat campaign' moniker. The concept of 'brat' is explained as a fun, party-loving persona, which Harris appears to embrace. This lighthearted branding is contrasted with the more serious tone of political campaigns, adding a unique angle to Harris' public image.

10:02

🤔 Trump's Struggle to Find an Attack Vector Against Harris and Biden's Patriotic Exit

The script discusses President Trump's difficulty in formulating an effective attack against Kamala Harris, resorting to a mocking nickname and attempting to discredit her with a past donation he made to her campaign. It also highlights Biden's exit from the race as a patriotic and selfless act, which Trump tries to downplay. The narrative suggests that Trump is envious of the attention Biden's withdrawal has garnered, and humorously suggests that Trump could steal the spotlight by dropping out himself.

Mindmap

Keywords

💡Memeification

Memeification refers to the process of turning a person, phrase, or idea into a meme, which is a humorous image, video, or piece of text that is copied and spread rapidly by internet users, often with slight variations. In the context of the video, Kamala Harris has become a meme candidate due to her viral speeches and the internet's response to them. This concept is highlighted by the script's mention of her speeches being turned into memes and songs.

💡Democratic presidential nomination

The Democratic presidential nomination is the process by which the Democratic Party selects its candidate for the U.S. presidential election. In the script, it is mentioned that Kamala Harris has secured enough delegate endorsements to win this nomination, indicating a significant political milestone in her campaign.

💡Virtual nomination

A virtual nomination refers to a political event held online, often due to restrictions or limitations that prevent in-person gatherings. The script mentions that the Democrats plan to hold a virtual nomination by August 7th, reflecting the adaptation of political processes to the digital age.

💡Fundraising

Fundraising in the political context involves collecting financial contributions to support a candidate's campaign. The script highlights Kamala Harris's success in fundraising, mentioning that her campaign broke a single-day record with 1.1 million individual donors, which is a key aspect of her campaign's momentum.

💡Zoom call

A Zoom call is a video conference conducted using the Zoom platform, which has become popular for remote meetings during the COVID-19 pandemic. The script mentions a Zoom call with 44,000 black women that raised $1.5 million for Harris's campaign, demonstrating the effectiveness of digital tools in political engagement.

💡Brat

In the context of the video, 'brat' is used as a term of endearment or a playful nickname, possibly derived from a song lyric or a cultural reference. The script discusses how the term 'brat' has been associated with Kamala Harris's campaign, with the Harris team embracing it and using it as a theme for their Twitter profile.

💡TikTok

TikTok is a social media platform known for its short-form videos, often featuring music, dance, and humor. The script mentions TikTok users remixing a clip of Kamala Harris into songs, showing how social media platforms are used for political engagement and meme creation.

💡Coconut memes

Coconut memes are a specific type of internet humor that emerged from Kamala Harris's speeches, where she used the phrase 'you think you just fell out of a coconut tree'. The script refers to these memes as a way the internet has humorously engaged with her public statements, further contributing to her memeification.

💡Joe Biden

Joe Biden is a prominent U.S. politician who has served as the President of the United States. In the script, his decision to drop out of the race and endorse Kamala Harris is a significant event that impacts the political narrative and the dynamics of the election.

💡Trump

Donald Trump, referred to as 'Trump' in the script, is the 45th President of the United States. The script discusses his reactions to Joe Biden's decision to drop out and his struggle to find a line of attack against Kamala Harris, highlighting the political rivalry and the strategic aspects of the election.

💡Patriotic and selfless sacrifice

The term 'patriotic and selfless sacrifice' is used in the script to describe Joe Biden's decision to drop out of the race, framing it as an act of selflessness for the greater good. This phrase is part of the political discourse around Biden's actions and their perceived impact on the election.

Highlights

Kamala Harris has secured the Democratic presidential nomination in just 48 hours.

The Democrats plan to hold a virtual nomination by August 7th.

Harris's campaign broke a single-day fundraising record with 1.1 million individual donors.

60% of the donors were making their first contribution to a 2024 cycle.

Harris raised $1.5 million on a zoom call with 44,000 black women.

Harris visited campaign headquarters and received a call from Joe Biden.

Harris is known as the meme candidate due to viral speeches.

The internet is exploding with coconut memes referencing Harris's speeches.

Harris's website features an error message referencing the coconut meme.

Harris fans on TikTok are remixing the coconut clip into songs.

Singer Charlie XCX tweeted 'kamala is brat', leading to the brat campaign theme.

Harris's team responded by giving their official Twitter profile a brat theme.

The term 'brat' is defined as a girl who is a little messy and likes to party.

CNN's Jake Tapper embraced the 'brat' theme, calling everyone 'brat'.

Trump is struggling to find a good attack on Harris.

Trump donated $5,000 to Harris's reelection campaign when she was running for California attorney general.

Trump's best attack so far is a weird nickname for Harris.

Trump is jealous of the attention Joe Biden's patriotic and selfless sacrifice is receiving.