"Did you write that speech?"

[speak easy]

House Minority Leader Jamaal Bowman (D-N.Y.) yelled out to Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), “Did you write that speech?” after Biden finished, a nod to the address’s populist tone.

https://www.washingtonpost.com/politics/2023/02/07/biden-state-of-the-union-live-updates/#link-QMCHL4ZXTJDF5LV7BKPHLZCIIA

[betsuni]

1. Ha!

[Hortensis]

2. They didn't just goof in giving Rep. Bowman a giant leap to Minority Leader (!) ,

but they also misused the word "populism," a common disinfo trick I always find highly suspicious. Political pros know what populism is, studied and took tests on it in their poly sci classes, in their careers have been battling or supporting this era's dangerous populist waves.

President Biden's wonderful positivism, like Obama's "Yes, we can!", is the very opposite of the negative rhetoric of populist leaders that's designed to inflame dissatisfaction against "the establishment."

Our president (the leader of the "establishment"! ) spoke of the great progressive steps we've accomplished so far, spoke of over 200 bills passed with bipartisan support (showing congress can work), and called 11 times for us to continue on "to finish the job."

Versus Sarah Huckbee-Sanders and her dystopian response intended to evoke the "American carnage" speech of the other, RW populist candidate in 2016 and 2020. And the Republican hecklers yelling "angry" lies at the SOTU. Populist rhetoric at work.

Note Senator Bernie Sanders' softer but constant populist (negative) claim that our economy only works for a few and reminder of our nation's "many challenges," using a supportive SOTU message to deliver it.

"President Biden tonight gave a strong speech addressing many of the challenges our country faces. I look forward to working with him to take on powerful special interests and create an economy that works for all, not just the few."

We all agree America needs major redistribution of the national wealth we produce, but let's remind ourselves that a large majority of Americans report they're doing okay to well economically and that our goals of redistributing wealth and restoring needed regulation on business are very possible and within reach. Because populist leaders will never remind us of that.