Newsflash: People want to go to a bar to watch politics
My hypothesis has been proven right. Again.
They said it couldn’t be done — on a week night, coming out of a historic blizzard.
On top of those odds, I was asking hundreds of people to make peace with the possibility that they might be signing up to listen to what is, simultaneously, the longest ad-libbed speech ever given yet also a speech they’ve heard one thousand times before. Tough gamble.
Over the course of four hours, about 200 people decided it was worth it to watch the marquee political speech of the year with complete strangers — and some of you are now subs. Thank you!
While it didn’t hurt that we had an open bar, Scarr’s Pizza, games, giveaways, and more, I do think the turnout is a testament to one thing: The 2024 election burnout is over, curious minds are rising again and looking for ways to connect in the chaos. Even if that means showing up alone.
Most of the people I met, especially those I didn’t personally invite, told me they came because they’re interested in politics and don’t necessarily have the spaces or friendships that allow them to explore and engage in depth. Mood.
And where you might expect this to be a room of high-strung people looking for a fight — flinging stinging “well, actuallys” at a moment’s notice — it felt much more like a collective exhale. Depressurizing the cabin.
That is, until we got to our live version of The Recount’s social hit: “Hottest Political Take.” Big ups to all the people who were willing to claim and defend their takes. A guy named Kane had three different people stand up to refute his argument that the U.S. should annex Mexico. It somehow stayed respectful. And mostly intelligent.
The hot take the most people actually agreed with? Epstein is still alive. The majority of the room says yes. (Nancy Mace does too). A guy argued we should build a monument for America 250. He won a lot of us over! The floppiest takes: NYC needs less public housing, and voting doesn’t really matter that much. God, it’s my favorite game.
Next thing we knew, Trump was on time. It was his last out-of-character move of the night.
SLUMP SPEECH
I cannot believe, I’d say, 40 people made it to the very bitter end in the main viewing area. My mother included. Trump did end up giving the longest SOTU address ever. Someone reached bingo within what felt like four minutes of him speaking.
The majority of the room lasted til about 10:15. Luckily for you, my cohost Alexx and I were there, start to finish, and we got you one of my typical Big Night™️ offerings, the reaction cam.
It felt like the sinister sister of the joyous Olympics watching we all just did — the same cheering, hissing, aweing, gasping at the TV in a crowded room filled with fans of both teams. And I am Mike Tirico ... if he had several glasses of wine, was kind of annoying, kept asking someone to open a window, and freely wielded a variety of expletives.
VANTAGE POINTS
I thought it might be nice to pass the mic to some of the fascinating people who made the time and effort to come watch with us. I asked most of them if they thought Trump offered up anything new or compelling in the speech, especially as it pertains to young people.
But I went to Evie Goodman first/specifically to ask if Trump’s vibes and cultural impact were receding. Her writing is awesome, and this response is right on, imo:
“I don’t know if his shtick is necessary ‘retired’ — I think people who are influenced by him most likely continue to be — but the vibe at the watch party was definitely one of watching a spectacle rather than a respected politician. We were laughing like it was a Sunday night episode of reality TV and I think that captures the shift for me: I don’t take the bait the way I used to. I want to know what the hell he’s actually doing and advocating for, not focusing on the ridiculously inflammatory language that is meant to distract. So I would say his cultural cachet feels a lot weaker than it did a few years ago because of a refusal to engage with the obvious pleas for publicity.”
Chelsea Jacobson — comedian, creator, contributor to The Free Press
“Oh man where to begin … saying America is the hottest country certainly might appeal to young people. (Wrong by the way). We’re the greatest country but not the hottest. I would also say targeting SCOTUS and making stuff up during SOTU is new for a president.
But he still appealed to our Olympic athletes and veterans and what’s great about America so that was successful.”
Carlos Calzadilla-Palacio, President of BK Young Dems, founder of Disrupt PAC
“I think it was very fascinating that he attacked the word affordability even though he ran on it. And blatantly disregarded concern for it.”
Do you think he actually really understands what the word means?
“He is an out of touch billionaire who doesn’t and has never understood the feeling of life being unaffordable. Which is why he’s focused on spending tax payer money on his ballroom while ignoring the real pain of Americans. He only used the word to get elected.”
Kelsey Russell, media literacy creator
“That was actually the first time I sat down and watched an entire State of the Union. I thought it was interesting how much he focused on what he’s done versus what are the most pressing issues to tackle which is what the State of the Union is for lol.”
Just one more shoutout to our friends at The Bench for allowing us to invade the most perfect space in New York City. I’m a member, and I can’t recommend it enough!
ODDS AND ENDS
I was lowkey panicking that I had nothing for this section until I discovered that I dm’d myself actually 40 tweets at 2:30 in the morning. So … here you go!
MeidasTouch hit 6 million subs on YouTube right before orchestrating their counterprogramming event hosted by Joy-Ann Reid and Katie Phang, Sens. Murphy, Gallego, Van Hollen, Merkley, Markey, Schiff and whole host of representatives
Not to be confused with another Dem counterprogram, State of the Swamp hosted by Miles Taylor, featuring Mehdi Hasan, Jim Acosta, Glenn Kirschner, and … Robert De Niro?? Minneapolis Mayor Jacob Frey seems like the youngest person featured (44, mistake)
This was the first clip I saw from it and I was like … hoo boy 😬 … the whole thing is frog themed
Dems had a third sanctioned counterprogramming operation via a show I’m unfamiliar with, called Find Out Podcast — big crew of lawmakers and influencers rolled through there
Biggest online moment for the right: The moment Trump asked for people who agree that the government should “protect American citizens, not illegal aliens” to stand and Democrats didn’t [Ex: Nick Sortor, Glenn Beck, Libs of TikTok, Steven Crowder, Collin Rugg, Sarah Fields, etc.]
Benny Johnson streamed for four hours, live, from the Capitol, titled, “Trumpmageddon,” for some reason, featuring Reps. Byron Donalds, James Comer, Tim Burchett, and Sen. Kennedy
There’s some drama with Nick Shirley (yes, that one) who was supposed to attend the speech as the guest of a congressman I have literally never seen or heard of, but there’s no visual evidence to prove he was in the chamber, so Polymarket bettors are now up in arms over whether they can be paid out for betting on his attendance or not
In case there’s any part of you that woke up today and wondered what Stephen A. Smith thinks about Democrats boycotting, here you go
Stories to watch next week:
Will Rep. Tony Gonzales resign, as more in his own caucus demand he step away?
What is good with Candace Owens’ new Erika Kirk miniseries? Ep. 1 cruising to 1M views in 2 hours