If there's a single moment that sums up just how absurd the 2020 presidential race feels to me right now, it's this one, from George Stephanopoulos's Sunday talk show last weekend.

I'm not running for president, you know. I guarantee you that I'm not going to run for president.

To me, probably ever.

First, Stephanoplas plays this tape, Julian Castro, the former mayor of San Antonio.

It's from a few years back, and Castro is denying he'd ever be interested in a presidential run.

But then Stephanopolis welcomes Castro to the show.

Listen, everybody has a right to change their minds, to find their passion.

What's changed for you?

Well, a lot of things have changed, George.

Where he announces not that he's running, not quite, but that he's thinking about it.

And, oh, yeah, he's got a big announcement to make later this week.

It was this elaborate presentation of a pretty simple idea, a presidential kabuki dance.

It is, I think kabuki is the exact right term for it.

It's just sort of the ritual of running.

Jamel Bowie's been Slate's political guru for years.

I asked him to tell me I'm not crazy.

Even though presidential campaign coverage can

make me feel that way, as I try to keep track of exploratory committees and chicken dinners in Iowa.

It's for whatever reason considered to be bad for them, just sort of plainly say, I want to be

president, and I'm going to run for it, and I've been planning this for some time. You have to pretend as if that somehow isn't the case.

Like it or not, we're going to be seeing a lot more of these announcements about announcements.

Jamel says even if it feels like it's too early to be paying attention, it isn't.

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