Brian Lear on WNC, we're going to talk about the maimification of politics and the presidential election year now because viral content dominates the political landscape. I obviously am not bringing you anything new by saying that.

And memes, and we're going to define memes,

are playing an outsized role and an ever-increasing role in shaping American politics.

There's a good article about this in the New Yorker by staff writer Claire Malone,

who's going to join us in just a second to delve into the maimification of our politics

and she explores the way internet culture has helped

politicians.

They're definitely trying to use it.

Observers and the broader public spread their ideas, their misinformation, rally support,

or at times create a degree of chaos.

And as a result, rights the 2024 election seems likely to be

waged in a media environment where more and more voters are forming opinions

based on the funny video their cousin's husband's sister shared in a group chat.

Sound familiar?

So what's the first image that you have if I say, Joe Biden?

Maybe not for you, Brian Lershell listeners, but for a lot of Americans, it might be what they saw

on Tik-Toc of Joe Biden falling off a bicycle or Donald Trump as seen in mug shots and

Americans may have doubts about Biden's age as reflected by that video but the

former president Trump himself only a few years

younger than Biden, so far according to Clara, seems less affected by the memeification.

Maybe that's a good example of the way memes can shape the public's perception

accurate or not.

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