Swift Sways for Harris

Plus, a gift of wheels.

September 13, 2024

The Flag

Good morning and Happy Friday! Here are the Flag’s Top Five stories that should be on your radar to start the day:

  • US: Republicans urge Trump to accept second debate against Harris (The Hill)

  • World: U.N. condemns Israel after 6 workers killed in Gaza school strike (NBC News)

  • Business: McDonald's extends $5 value meal at most US locations (Fox Business)

  • Technology: Apple AirPods Pro granted FDA approval to serve as hearing aids (TechCrunch)

  • Sports: Pac-12 to add Boise St., Fresno St., San Diego St., Colorado St. in 2026, poaching Mountain West (AP)

And of course, some good news: Virginia High School Students Raise $20K to Surprise Custodian with a Gift He 'Could Never Afford.'

BECOME A FLAG BEARER

🇺🇸 A high school assignment, a B-, and a future president—what do these have in common? Let’s just say a certain flag design wasn’t exactly on the syllabus. Discover how a student's ambitious project became an American symbol!

💰 Sunday Sneak Peak: What do you get when a Civil War pension survives into the 21st century? A tale of history, inheritance, and a life lived at the crossroads of eras. Don’t miss out on the full story of Irene Triplett—click here to get our Sunday newsletter delivered directly to your inbox.

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Hands Down Some of the Best Credit Cards for Balance Transfers

Did you know some credit cards can actually help you get out of debt faster? Yes, it sounds crazy. But it’s true. The secret: Find a card with a “0% intro APR" period for balance transfers. Then, transfer your debt balance and pay it down as much as possible during the intro period. No interest means you could pay off the debt faster. Check out the full list of cards you can use to do this here.

Right: Tren de Aragua and the Border Fiasco in a Nutshell, Editorial Board, New York Post

Right: Senior DOJ spokesman acknowledges cases against Trump are bogus Editorial Board, Washington Times

Left: Harris Is Good at This, Bill Scher, Washington Monthly

Left: Notes for Next Time, Robert Kuttner, American Prospect

Left: Harris Baited Trump Into Scaring Swing Voters, Jeet Heer, The Nation

2024

Swift Sways for Harris

Today’s Top Story: On Tuesday, Taylor Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for the 2024 election, praising her on Instagram as a "steady-handed, gifted leader" who champions the rights and causes Swift believes in, and expressing confidence that Harris's leadership would bring calm and progress to the country.

Reporting from the Right: Taylor Swift Endorses Kamala Harris Two Days After Variety Says No Endorsement Would Be ‘Regrettable’ (Breitbart)

Reporting from the Left: Donald Trump, Tim Walz respond to Taylor Swift’s endorsement of Kamala Harris (New York Daily News)

RIGHT-LEANING SENTIMENT

Silly Idolatry. Who Cares?

The Top Argument From The Right: Will Taylor Swift pay those high rent, gas, grocery, or energy bills? Christopher Tremoglie, Washington Examiner: “Pop music sensation Taylor Swift made headlines on Tuesday when she gave the least-shocking political endorsement arguably in the history of political endorsements. To no one’s surprise, Swift endorsed Vice President Kamala Harris for president. It’s silly idolatry that really should not hold any relevance. … The singer’s absurd explanation for endorsing Harris, especially the part in which she connected Harris with ‘calm and not chaos,’ apparently forgetting about the vice president’s support for the destructive Black Lives Matter riots, was posted under a picture of Swift with a cat and concluded with ‘Childless Cat Lady.’ Obviously, this was a dig at Sen. J.D. Vance’s (R-OH) controversial comments. Swift’s admittedly witty post aside, whoever she supports or endorses for president should be met with just one simple question: Who cares? If voters are selecting their presidential candidates based on the opinions and comments of musicians, then this country is imminently doomed. Forget comparisons to the collapse of the Roman Empire — the United States will set a record of decadent stupidity if Swift’s endorsement actually has legitimate sway. Moreover, if it does, it is indicative of intellectual decay, cultural rot, and a lack of gravitas in our nation.”

Honorable Mention #1: No, Taylor Swift Did Not Coordinate Her Kamala Harris Endorsement With the Campaign, Neil Shah and Ken Thomas, The Wall Street Journal.

LEFT-LEANING SENTIMENT

Turning Tables

The Top Argument From The Left: Taylor Swift’s Harris Endorsement Turns Tables on AI Abusers, Dave Lee, Bloomberg: “It has also done another very important job. The 34-year-old fought back against a technology that had been used to mischaracterize her views — not to mention degrade and sexualize her — and turned its viral power back on those who cynically abused it. Weeks earlier, former President Donald Trump had pushed AI-powered disinformation that suggested Swift and her fans, known as Swifties, were backing him in the Nov. 5 election. Contained in the post on his Truth Social site were several cheaply made fakes, the kind of material that is coming to be known as AI “slop” generated with minimal effort using any number of the powerful tools now available for free. The sole purpose of these images is to go viral on social media, truth be damned. … Swift’s announcement has achieved global attention and swamped the internet. Her previous political stances have prompted a rise in voter registration, primarily among young, typically Democrat voters. Even itchy-fingered Trump will surely now think twice about firing out posts with deep fakes or other AI-powered falsehoods in the future — lest he provoke someone else into publicly embarrassing him while holding a cute cat.”

Honorable Mention #1: How Kamala Harris Liberated Taylor Swift, Joan Walsh, The Nation.

Honorable Mention #2: Taylor Swift Immediately Makes Trump’s Terrible Debate Night Way Worse, Tori Otten, The New Republic.

FLAG THIS

The Swift Effect

Swift’s endorsement led to a significant spike in voter engagement, with over 405,999 people visiting Vote.gov through the registration link she shared (CBS News).

This surge highlights Swift’s influence, though her impact may be limited; polling conducted in April by Beacon Center found that while 37% of registered Tennessee voters, Swift’s home state, identify as her fans, only 12% of them would be swayed by her endorsement to vote for a candidate (Axios).

Do you believe Swift's endorsement will make a difference in swing states?

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WATERCOOLER

You Get a Car!, Bully Proof, “Muscleless” Fingers

On This Day in 2004, TV talk-show host Oprah Winfrey gives a brand-new Pontiac G-6 sedan, worth $28,500, to everyone in her studio audience: a total of 276 cars in all.) Oprah had told her producers to fill the crowd with people who “desperately needed” the cars, and when she announced the prize (by jumping up and down, waving a giant keyring and yelling “Everybody gets a car! Everybody gets a car!”), mayhem–crying, screaming, delirium, fainting–broke out all around her. It was, as one media expert told a reporter, “one of the great promotional stunts in the history of television.”

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