We Don't Kink Shame, But... | The Next Level
Quick Read
Summary
Takeaways
- ❖The hosts apply an ironic 'no kink shaming' rule to criticize Kristi Noem's political actions, not her husband's alleged 'bimboification' kink.
- ❖Lindsey Graham's Disney World trip during a deepening war in Iran is framed as a symbol of political disconnect and lack of seriousness.
- ❖Trump's communication style regarding the Iran conflict is described as deliberately confusing and non-linear, creating strategic ambiguity.
- ❖CPAC is seen as a declining institution, losing its 'juice' to newer, more conspiratorial right-wing groups and failing to attract young people.
- ❖JD Vance's new book on converting to Catholicism is dismissed as 'phony' and inauthentic, particularly given his political allegiances and perceived misrepresentation of Catholic identity.
- ❖There's a concern about the lack of passionate, galvanizing leadership within the pro-democracy movement, especially among younger demographics.
Insights
1Kristi Noem's Husband Scandal: Hypocrisy, Not Kink, is the Target
The hosts adopt a 'no kink shaming' stance regarding reports of Kristi Noem's husband's alleged 'bimboification' kink. Their criticism is directed not at his personal preferences, but at Noem's public political actions, such as her role in mass deportations and 'pinup girl' photo ops in front of prisoners, which they argue make her undeserving of privacy or prayers. They suggest that her husband could have spoken out against her policies.
The hosts explicitly state, 'No king shaming. We support some people into bimboification... I will not though be offering either prayers or privacy to Christina [Noem]... because she does not merit either.' They link the public scrutiny to her 'henchwoman' role for Donald Trump and her 'mass deportation campaign.'
2Lindsey Graham's Disney Trip: A Symbol of Disconnect Amidst War
Senator Lindsey Graham, a prominent hawk advocating for war in Iran, was photographed at Disney World with a bubble wand during a critical period of escalating conflict. The hosts criticize this as a profound disconnect, comparing it to Ted Cruz's spring break trip during a Texas storm. They speculate his presence might be a 'favor' to a donor, further highlighting a perceived lack of seriousness and accountability among political elites during a time of national crisis.
Tim Miller notes Graham 'hunkered down and went to Disney World' with a 'Little Mermaid bubble wand' while 'the war was continuing to go south.' Sarah adds, 'If you're going to architect this thing, maybe go sit in a chair somewhere and do big kid work, not go and get a bubble wand at Disneyland.'
3Trump's Chaotic Foreign Policy: Strategic Ambiguity or Haphazard Governance?
The discussion highlights the non-linear and contradictory nature of Trump's public statements regarding the war in Iran, delivered primarily through his personal social media. The hosts debate whether this is a deliberate 'madman theory' or 'strategic ambiguity' designed to keep options open, or simply a reflection of his chaotic, haphazard management style. They emphasize the difficulty of discerning truth and strategy when the government's communication is so inconsistent, leading to confusion among allies and the public.
Sarah states, 'It's basically impossible to have a read on this situation because we can't trust our own government is telling us the truth about what's going on.' Tim adds, 'He's a chaos president. Jeb was right.'
4CPAC's Decline and Youth Disengagement in Protests
The hosts observe CPAC's diminishing influence, attributing its decline to internal controversies (like Matt Schlapp's sexual assault accusations) and the rise of alternative right-wing platforms like Turning Point USA. They also ponder the broader phenomenon of youth disengagement from pro-democracy protests, contrasting it with older generations' participation and questioning why younger people, who have grown up with political chaos, are not more actively protesting current events.
Tim Miller asserts, 'Turning Point USA has stolen all of CPAC's juice... There was nobody at CPAC. CPAC's over. It's done.' Sarah questions, 'Why no one's protesting now even like where are those where are the college protests about what's happening right now?'
5JD Vance's 'Phony' Conversion to Catholicism
JD Vance's new book, 'Communion,' detailing his conversion to Catholicism, is critiqued as deeply inauthentic. The hosts, particularly Tim Miller as a 'cradle Catholic,' argue that Vance's rhetoric and aesthetic choices align more with evangelical Protestantism than traditional Catholicism, and that his 'faith journey' is incongruous with his role as a 'wingman' and 'apologist' for Donald Trump, whom they describe as embodying 'all of the deadly sins.'
Tim Miller states, 'It is the most phony thing.' He points out Vance 'doesn't like the current Pope. He doesn't like the last two Popes.' He also quotes the book's description, 'Communion is a spiritual exploration of what it means to be a Christian in all the seasons of life,' and remarks, 'That's not something somebody who is a Catholic would write. We're not Christians.'
Bottom Line
The public scrutiny of politicians' private lives (like Kristi Noem's husband) is not about 'kink shaming' but a consequence of their public hypocrisy and harmful policies, particularly when they champion 'moral' causes.
This suggests that for public figures, a 'private' life is only truly private if their public persona and policies align with a consistent moral framework, or if they avoid actions deemed egregious by critics. Hypocrisy invites scrutiny into all areas.
Political strategists could advise public figures to either maintain a consistent public and private moral stance or to avoid moralistic grandstanding if their private lives contain elements that could be perceived as hypocritical.
The decline of traditional conservative gatherings like CPAC and the lack of youth engagement in pro-democracy protests indicate a generational shift and a potential vacuum for new, more radical or charismatic leaders.
Established political movements are failing to connect with younger demographics, leaving them susceptible to figures who offer passionate, albeit potentially problematic, narratives. The 'anti-MAGA right' needs to find new voices and communication strategies.
There is an opportunity for new political figures or movements to emerge that can genuinely galvanize young people through authentic passion and relevant policy discussions, rather than relying on traditional political structures or outdated messaging.
Lessons
- Critically evaluate political figures' calls for 'prayers' and 'privacy' by examining their public actions and policies; hypocrisy can negate claims to personal sanctity.
- Recognize that chaotic or contradictory political communication, especially from top leaders, may be a deliberate strategy of 'strategic ambiguity' rather than mere incompetence, but it still has significant consequences for public trust and international relations.
- Support and seek out political leaders who demonstrate genuine passion and coherence in their beliefs, rather than those perceived as performative or opportunistic, especially when addressing complex issues like foreign policy or social change.
Notable Moments
The hosts' ironic adoption of 'no kink shaming' to frame their criticism of Kristi Noem's political actions, despite her husband's alleged 'bimboification' kink.
This moment sets the tone for the episode, using dark humor to highlight the perceived hypocrisy of public figures who demand privacy while engaging in controversial public policies.
The hosts' discussion of Lindsey Graham being photographed at Disney World with a bubble wand while advocating for war in Iran.
This image serves as a powerful symbol of political disconnect and perceived unseriousness among leaders, especially when contrasted with the gravity of their policy decisions.
Tim Miller's detailed critique of JD Vance's new book on converting to Catholicism, highlighting specific linguistic and aesthetic inconsistencies.
This moment provides a deep dive into the perceived inauthenticity of a prominent political figure, using specific examples to argue that his 'faith journey' is politically motivated and disingenuous.
Quotes
"I will not though be offering either prayers or privacy to Christina [Noem]. Okay, I just want to be abundantly clear about that. I will not pray for her and I will not offer her privacy because she does not merit either."
"If you're going to architect this thing, maybe go sit in a chair somewhere and do big kid work, not go and get a bubble wand at Disneyland."
"Every cradle Catholic I ever met like just, you know, believes that it's about doing good works for other people and caring about other people. And every convert I met uh believes that they ju wants to tell you that they just read the Archon of Constantinople's epistle on the Pentecost rights of the Eucharist and why that means that we can do mass deportations or something."
"He wants the evangelical readers to connect with it, but he doesn't he doesn't he doesn't want to be that low class. Like he doesn't want to go down to being a megachurch guy. So he wants to be a trad which has a little bit of a more well respect."
Q&A
Recent Questions
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