The Absurd State of American Politics

The current landscape of American politics presents a bewildering spectacle, where the clash between earnest political posturing and absurdist online culture has reshaped public discourse. A vivid example unfolded in Portland, Oregon, when federal agents faced an unexpected adversary: an individual in an inflatable frog costume. As the frog mimicked suggestive gestures before a line of heavily armed officers, the scene quickly spiraled into viral absurdity. This wasn’t just a random act of silliness; it became a potent symbol of resistance, capturing how political communication has transformed during the second Trump presidency.

Unlike the first administration, which often tried to maintain a veneer of normality after the former president’s provocative statements, the current political environment fully embraces chaos. The Republican Party and its allies now oscillate between memes promoting extreme policies and calls to confront perceived enemies, creating a disorienting rhythm. Even figures like California Governor Gavin Newsom engage in similar tactics, blending serious rhetoric with attempts to mimic the inflammatory style of online trolling.

This isn’t satire, which traditionally subverts meaning to convey a message. The frog costume and similar memes lack any coherent reference point. They are exercises in intentional meaninglessness, designed to disrupt and mock rather than persuade. When the person inside the frog suit gave a television interview expressing genuine concerns about federal agents’ conduct, the contrast between their serious words and the ridiculous costume created a jarring effect. It underscored how potent absurdity can be when set against a backdrop of militarized authority.

American political expression now operates through three distinct modes. Most people still attempt to engage in normal, reasoned debate, but they are increasingly overshadowed by two internet-influenced behaviors: aura farming and shitposting. Aura farming involves crafting a public image of strength and defiance, often through dramatic statements or symbolic actions. Vice President JD Vance threatening retaliation or Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem posing on a federal building rooftop exemplify this approach.

Shitposting, by contrast, deploys nonsense as a form of humor, rejecting engagement with substantive issues. It mocks seriousness itself, and when directed at aura farmers, it often prevails. Noem’s defiant stance lost its impact when her opponent was someone in a chicken suit, a classic shitposter. Similarly, official videos from the White House that meme-ify deportation policies function as institutional shitposts, aiming to disrupt opponents’ earnest activism rather than communicate a coherent message.

This dynamic resembles a twisted game of rock-paper-scissors. Normal political engagement, based on persuasion and compromise, typically loses to aura farming’s aggressive theatrics. Yet aura farming crumbles when confronted with shitposting’s deliberate absurdity. Unfortunately, shitposting itself fails to resonate with people seeking genuine dialogue, leaving society caught in a cycle where posturing and mockery override problem-solving.

The frog costume’s emergence as a political force highlights both the creativity and the profound dysfunction of modern politics. While it effectively punctures the pomp of authority, the descent into performative conflict comes at a cost. Debates become disconnected from material needs, justice, or the public good, reducing governance to a competition of online tactics. For an administration deeply intertwined with internet culture, the reliance on these strategies makes the future unpredictable. One thing remains clear: as long as posturing dominates, the absurdists will continue to win, and meaningful progress will remain elusive.

(Source: The Verge)