Democracy Dies on the Treadmill
11th July 2023
Miami mayor and presidential contender Francis Suarez ran a 5k last week. Vivek Ramaswamy, another 2024 hopeful, likes to play tennis. RFK Jr. recently posted a video of himself doing shirtless chest presses. The eagle-eyed folks at Politico have noticed these facts, connected a few dots and decided that the presidential race has descended into a “testosterone primary.” Politico is following in the footsteps of MSNBC, who last year suggested working out was “far right.”
“Brawn and bravado are in demand, particularly among a GOP base conditioned by a steady dose of both in the Trump era. Thirst traps are a new wedge issue,” reports Adam Wren. The race, according to Wren, has become “a frenetic fit boy summer sidequest in which candidates are drawing fewer contrasts on policy and proving more keen on comparing feats of strength.”
Hard-hitting stuff, and a sign that what Brits call “silly season” — that summer slowdown in which trivial stories get column inches they don’t deserve — starts earlier every year.