Pete Buttigieg - The Daily Dot https://www.dailydot.com/tags/pete-buttigieg/ The Daily Dot | Your Internet. Your Internet news. Mon, 29 Jul 2024 18:21:55 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.5.5 White Dudes for Harris thinks they can turn male MAGA supporters https://www.dailydot.com/debug/white-dudes-for-harris/ Mon, 29 Jul 2024 18:20:29 +0000 https://www.dailydot.com/?p=1634352 Mark Kelly (l) Kamala Harris (c) Pete Buttigieg (r)

Vice President Kamala Harris is developing a new fan base: white dudes.

As her presidential campaign ramps up, a group of white men formed a coalition known as "White Dudes for Harris."

The group plans to kick off Monday night via a virtual call that will feature speakers including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D), singer Josh Groban, actor Mark Hamill, and others.

"Together, we aren’t going to sit around and let the MAGA crowd bully other white guys into voting for a hateful and divisive ideology because we understand that under MAGA everyone loses," the RSVP page for Monday's call reads. "We know that as white dudes, we have both a strong, and positive role to play in America’s shared future, and it begins with all of us cutting through the MAGA crap and reminding the folks who have co-opted American symbols what America actually means."

White Dudes for Harris also launched a $35 hat with its slogan ahead of the meeting.

The group said that nearly 80,000 people have RSVP'd and it collectively raised more than $300,000 in support of Harris' campaign.

What do Democrats think about White Dudes for Harris?

Democratic influencers and those planning to attend the call praised the initial organizing.

"Tonight's call represents a promising attempt to create a movement and a permission structure to lift many white dudes out of the MAGA whirlpool they've gotten sucked into," wrote one person on X. "It will allow for tough but necessary conversations that can create healing, movement, and unity around Kamala Harris and Democratic candidates like her."

He continued: "The guys organizing tonight’s call were inspired by the Black women and men, as well as all the other folks, who've organized calls over the last week. White men haven't organized ourselves well around Democratic values, which has been detrimental to the country and our ability to win elections."

Joked the pro-Democrat account VoteDarkBrandon: "Folks—white boy summer is here," riffing on the right-wing attempts to claim the phrase.

At the same time, critics of Harris were quick to put the group on blast.

Some accounts posted images of transgender women while making fun of the initiative, while others took digs at the manliness of the attendees.

"White dudes for Harris?? The Democrats return to their segregationist roots," slammed one person.

"If you belong to 'White Dudes for Harris', you've turned in your man card and didn't even realize it," snarked someone else.

"These dudes would be melting down if there was a 'White Dudes for Trump,'" mused another person.

Asked one user: "How beta-male can you be?"


Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post White Dudes for Harris thinks they can turn male MAGA supporters appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Mark Kelly (l) Kamala Harris (c) Pete Buttigieg (r)

Vice President Kamala Harris is developing a new fan base: white dudes.

As her presidential campaign ramps up, a group of white men formed a coalition known as "White Dudes for Harris."

The group plans to kick off Monday night via a virtual call that will feature speakers including Transportation Secretary Pete Buttigieg, North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper (D), singer Josh Groban, actor Mark Hamill, and others.

"Together, we aren’t going to sit around and let the MAGA crowd bully other white guys into voting for a hateful and divisive ideology because we understand that under MAGA everyone loses," the RSVP page for Monday's call reads. "We know that as white dudes, we have both a strong, and positive role to play in America’s shared future, and it begins with all of us cutting through the MAGA crap and reminding the folks who have co-opted American symbols what America actually means."

White Dudes for Harris also launched a $35 hat with its slogan ahead of the meeting.

The group said that nearly 80,000 people have RSVP'd and it collectively raised more than $300,000 in support of Harris' campaign.

What do Democrats think about White Dudes for Harris?

Democratic influencers and those planning to attend the call praised the initial organizing.

"Tonight's call represents a promising attempt to create a movement and a permission structure to lift many white dudes out of the MAGA whirlpool they've gotten sucked into," wrote one person on X. "It will allow for tough but necessary conversations that can create healing, movement, and unity around Kamala Harris and Democratic candidates like her."

He continued: "The guys organizing tonight’s call were inspired by the Black women and men, as well as all the other folks, who've organized calls over the last week. White men haven't organized ourselves well around Democratic values, which has been detrimental to the country and our ability to win elections."

Joked the pro-Democrat account VoteDarkBrandon: "Folks—white boy summer is here," riffing on the right-wing attempts to claim the phrase.

At the same time, critics of Harris were quick to put the group on blast.

Some accounts posted images of transgender women while making fun of the initiative, while others took digs at the manliness of the attendees.

"White dudes for Harris?? The Democrats return to their segregationist roots," slammed one person.

"If you belong to 'White Dudes for Harris', you've turned in your man card and didn't even realize it," snarked someone else.

"These dudes would be melting down if there was a 'White Dudes for Trump,'" mused another person.

Asked one user: "How beta-male can you be?"


Internet culture is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here. You’ll get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post White Dudes for Harris thinks they can turn male MAGA supporters appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Deplatformed: Biden’s Buttigieg gaffe won’t die https://www.dailydot.com/debug/deplatformed-biden-buttigieg-video/ Fri, 10 May 2024 11:00:00 +0000 https://www.dailydot.com/?p=1572799 Joe Biden(l), Pete Buttigieg(r)

Deplatformed is a weekly column that looks into the nether reaches of the internet—outside the big few that everyone already covers—to tell you the political discourse online. It runs on Thursdays in the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. If you want to get this column a day before we publish it, subscribe to web_crawlr, where you’ll get the daily scoop of internet culture delivered straight to your inbox.


There has been no shortage of gaffes by President Joe Biden since he took office nearly four years ago. From stumbling up the stairs of Air Force One, to aimlessly wandering off stage at events, to tripping over his own words, rarely a day goes by where Biden doesn’t do something that gets flagged by his critics.

There’s an entire cottage industry dedicated to cataloging them. The GOP’s rapid response X account, RNC Research, documents nearly all of them, and now has over a half-million followers.

But, perhaps because of Biden’s disposition, or bias on social media, the behavior never seems to cut through and permanently affix itself to the president in the way that criticism of former President Donald Trump always seemed to.

Except for one clip of Biden, which the internet loves, and which recirculates with regularity: Biden calling Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg “Secretary Booty Juice. “

In spring 2023, the nation’s airlines were beset by cancellations and delays, a spate of travel disasters that left consumers furious. In response, the White House launched a new initiative to hold airlines accountable.

Buttigieg kicked off a presser calling the rates of cancellations and delays in recent months “unacceptable,” flagging a disastrous Southwest Christmas season before introducing Biden.

“Thank you, Secretary …” Well, the internet heard BootyJuice. And the clip won’t ever go away.

Every couple of months on TikTok, the clip goes viral, and predictably people begin losing it

Videos of the clip have racked up nearly ten million views on the site, with Trump supporters blind dueting it and breaking out in fits of laughter when they hear Biden speak. But it isn’t just on TikTok.

Head to any pro-Trump platform on any given week and you’ll see the clip being reshared to shock and delight.

The moniker has stuck for Buttigieg as well. While never a darling of conservatives, he’s faced especially strong ire over a series of transportation disasters—like the East Palestine train derailment—which have happened under his watch.

He’s gotten called it while people have criticized him for the Baltimore bridge collapse.

“Tugs on the ship would have prevented this. Guess who funds the Tugs? Secretary Pete Bootyjuice. The DOT cut the tug budget 40%. The Tugs would have been able to slow / even stop the ship.”

As well as news of a recent barge collision in Ohio.

“Isn’t it odd that under biden and pete bootyjuice we have destruction of rail roads, airlines, bridges and dams ? COINCIDENCE ? Looks like ignorance and incompetent planned bureaucracy,” said one.

And over a series of close calls between airlines which went viral this past year.

“AGAIN?! WHAT THE HELL IS BOOTYJUICE DOING?!”

Others have turned it into a “Beetlejuice” type shibboleth.

Bootyjuice, bootyjuice, bootyjuice!”

Will repeating it summon the Transportation Secretary to your side? Well, the next time an airline bumps you without a warning, give it a try


The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here to get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Deplatformed: Biden’s Buttigieg gaffe won’t die appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Joe Biden(l), Pete Buttigieg(r)

Deplatformed is a weekly column that looks into the nether reaches of the internet—outside the big few that everyone already covers—to tell you the political discourse online. It runs on Thursdays in the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter. If you want to get this column a day before we publish it, subscribe to web_crawlr, where you’ll get the daily scoop of internet culture delivered straight to your inbox.


There has been no shortage of gaffes by President Joe Biden since he took office nearly four years ago. From stumbling up the stairs of Air Force One, to aimlessly wandering off stage at events, to tripping over his own words, rarely a day goes by where Biden doesn’t do something that gets flagged by his critics.

There’s an entire cottage industry dedicated to cataloging them. The GOP’s rapid response X account, RNC Research, documents nearly all of them, and now has over a half-million followers.

But, perhaps because of Biden’s disposition, or bias on social media, the behavior never seems to cut through and permanently affix itself to the president in the way that criticism of former President Donald Trump always seemed to.

Except for one clip of Biden, which the internet loves, and which recirculates with regularity: Biden calling Secretary of Transportation Pete Buttigieg “Secretary Booty Juice. “

In spring 2023, the nation’s airlines were beset by cancellations and delays, a spate of travel disasters that left consumers furious. In response, the White House launched a new initiative to hold airlines accountable.

Buttigieg kicked off a presser calling the rates of cancellations and delays in recent months “unacceptable,” flagging a disastrous Southwest Christmas season before introducing Biden.

“Thank you, Secretary …” Well, the internet heard BootyJuice. And the clip won’t ever go away.

Every couple of months on TikTok, the clip goes viral, and predictably people begin losing it

Videos of the clip have racked up nearly ten million views on the site, with Trump supporters blind dueting it and breaking out in fits of laughter when they hear Biden speak. But it isn’t just on TikTok.

Head to any pro-Trump platform on any given week and you’ll see the clip being reshared to shock and delight.

The moniker has stuck for Buttigieg as well. While never a darling of conservatives, he’s faced especially strong ire over a series of transportation disasters—like the East Palestine train derailment—which have happened under his watch.

He’s gotten called it while people have criticized him for the Baltimore bridge collapse.

“Tugs on the ship would have prevented this. Guess who funds the Tugs? Secretary Pete Bootyjuice. The DOT cut the tug budget 40%. The Tugs would have been able to slow / even stop the ship.”

As well as news of a recent barge collision in Ohio.

“Isn’t it odd that under biden and pete bootyjuice we have destruction of rail roads, airlines, bridges and dams ? COINCIDENCE ? Looks like ignorance and incompetent planned bureaucracy,” said one.

And over a series of close calls between airlines which went viral this past year.

“AGAIN?! WHAT THE HELL IS BOOTYJUICE DOING?!”

Others have turned it into a “Beetlejuice” type shibboleth.

Bootyjuice, bootyjuice, bootyjuice!”

Will repeating it summon the Transportation Secretary to your side? Well, the next time an airline bumps you without a warning, give it a try


The internet is chaotic—but we’ll break it down for you in one daily email. Sign up for the Daily Dot’s web_crawlr newsletter here to get the best (and worst) of the internet straight into your inbox.

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Deplatformed: Biden’s Buttigieg gaffe won’t die appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Vivek Ramaswamy, Pete Buttigieg both appearing in old MSNBC clips 20 years ago is driving people mad https://www.dailydot.com/debug/vivek-ramaswamy-pete-buttigieg-2003-msnbc-town-hall/ Wed, 30 Aug 2023 18:04:54 +0000 https://www.dailydot.com/?p=1389016 Vivek Ramaswamy speaking into microphone outside (l) Pete Buttigieg speaking into microphone in front of blue with white stars background (r)

The internet is trying to wrap its head around the recently discovered fact that both Vivek Ramaswamy and Pete Buttigieg appeared at town hall events held by MSNBC all the way back in 2003.

Earlier this week, footage of Ramaswamy, who is currently running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, showed the then-18-year-old questioning civil rights leader and presidential candidate Al Sharpton on his political experience.

https://twitter.com/MikeSington/status/1696483967669772495?s=20

Incredibly enough, internet users found footage shortly after of Buttigieg, who ran for president in 2020 as a Democrat, asking a question at another town hall event that same year.

The then-21-year-old Buttigieg had appeared at the town hall, held by MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, to question then-Democratic presidential candidate Dick Gephardt about the youth vote.

In 2019, Matthews even showed the old clip to Buttigieg while he was a presidential candidate taking questions during an MSNBC town hall.

https://youtu.be/WOpRyJ5Obh0

While many online initially assumed both men appeared at the same event, Buttigieg's appearance was on Nov. 3, 2003, while Ramaswamy attended one week earlier on Oct. 27, 2003.

The fact that both individuals had appeared on the same show during the same time period prior to becoming presidential candidates themselves quickly produced memes and reactions across social media this week.

"I know I call Vivek the Republican Pete Buttigieg but god damn they were at the same 2004 campaign event?? Wild," reporter Kyle Kulinski wrote.

https://twitter.com/KyleKulinski/status/1696609952704450587?s=20

https://twitter.com/KTmBoyle/status/1696664069674016872?s=20

Some noted that both men were attending Harvard University at the time, a likely explanation for why they were chosen to attend. Others compared the incident to a "Disney Channel original series."

"I know some people are shocked that Secretary Pete Buttigieg & Vivek Ramaswamy both showed up on @MSNBC's Hardball when they were young to ask the 04 presidential candidates questions at a town hall, but it makes sense once you realize it happened while they were both at Harvard," another added.

https://twitter.com/sgrant525/status/1696750799064342594?s=20

https://twitter.com/PopulismUpdates/status/1696623877324185917?s=20

Many conservatives, however, immediately responded to the revelation with conspiracy theories.

A popular far-right Twitter user argued that the occurrence proved that "something strange" was going on.

"Ok what the hell is going on. Pete Buttigieg and Big Pharma Vivek both getting called to ask questions on MSNBC?! Both running for President in their late 30s?! Both getting money from the Soros family?! Something strange going on here…"

Right-wing commentator Ian Miles Cheong likewise brought up the incident while stating that he had "so many questions."

"Vivek Ramaswamy claims he wasn’t politically engaged in the past, yet here he is on MSNBC asking a Democratic presidential candidate questions," he wrote. "Democrat Pete Buttigieg was also present as a questioner. I have so many questions."

https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1696579882015486357?s=20

Since failing to secure the Democratic nomination in 2020, Buttigieg went on to secure a position with the current administration of President Joe Biden as Secretary of Transportation. Ramaswamy, known best for his history in the tech field, is currently trailing former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) in Republican primary polls.

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Vivek Ramaswamy, Pete Buttigieg both appearing in old MSNBC clips 20 years ago is driving people mad appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Vivek Ramaswamy speaking into microphone outside (l) Pete Buttigieg speaking into microphone in front of blue with white stars background (r)

The internet is trying to wrap its head around the recently discovered fact that both Vivek Ramaswamy and Pete Buttigieg appeared at town hall events held by MSNBC all the way back in 2003.

Earlier this week, footage of Ramaswamy, who is currently running for the 2024 Republican presidential nomination, showed the then-18-year-old questioning civil rights leader and presidential candidate Al Sharpton on his political experience.

https://twitter.com/MikeSington/status/1696483967669772495?s=20

Incredibly enough, internet users found footage shortly after of Buttigieg, who ran for president in 2020 as a Democrat, asking a question at another town hall event that same year.

The then-21-year-old Buttigieg had appeared at the town hall, held by MSNBC's Hardball with Chris Matthews, to question then-Democratic presidential candidate Dick Gephardt about the youth vote.

In 2019, Matthews even showed the old clip to Buttigieg while he was a presidential candidate taking questions during an MSNBC town hall.

https://youtu.be/WOpRyJ5Obh0

While many online initially assumed both men appeared at the same event, Buttigieg's appearance was on Nov. 3, 2003, while Ramaswamy attended one week earlier on Oct. 27, 2003.

The fact that both individuals had appeared on the same show during the same time period prior to becoming presidential candidates themselves quickly produced memes and reactions across social media this week.

"I know I call Vivek the Republican Pete Buttigieg but god damn they were at the same 2004 campaign event?? Wild," reporter Kyle Kulinski wrote.

https://twitter.com/KyleKulinski/status/1696609952704450587?s=20
https://twitter.com/KTmBoyle/status/1696664069674016872?s=20

Some noted that both men were attending Harvard University at the time, a likely explanation for why they were chosen to attend. Others compared the incident to a "Disney Channel original series."

"I know some people are shocked that Secretary Pete Buttigieg & Vivek Ramaswamy both showed up on @MSNBC's Hardball when they were young to ask the 04 presidential candidates questions at a town hall, but it makes sense once you realize it happened while they were both at Harvard," another added.

https://twitter.com/sgrant525/status/1696750799064342594?s=20
https://twitter.com/PopulismUpdates/status/1696623877324185917?s=20

Many conservatives, however, immediately responded to the revelation with conspiracy theories.

A popular far-right Twitter user argued that the occurrence proved that "something strange" was going on.

"Ok what the hell is going on. Pete Buttigieg and Big Pharma Vivek both getting called to ask questions on MSNBC?! Both running for President in their late 30s?! Both getting money from the Soros family?! Something strange going on here…"

Right-wing commentator Ian Miles Cheong likewise brought up the incident while stating that he had "so many questions."

"Vivek Ramaswamy claims he wasn’t politically engaged in the past, yet here he is on MSNBC asking a Democratic presidential candidate questions," he wrote. "Democrat Pete Buttigieg was also present as a questioner. I have so many questions."

https://twitter.com/stillgray/status/1696579882015486357?s=20

Since failing to secure the Democratic nomination in 2020, Buttigieg went on to secure a position with the current administration of President Joe Biden as Secretary of Transportation. Ramaswamy, known best for his history in the tech field, is currently trailing former President Donald Trump and Gov. Ron DeSantis (R-Fla.) in Republican primary polls.

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Vivek Ramaswamy, Pete Buttigieg both appearing in old MSNBC clips 20 years ago is driving people mad appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Tech Tuesday newsletter: The internet loves Pete Buttigieg all of a sudden https://www.dailydot.com/debug/tech-news-newsletter-10-13-2020/ Tue, 13 Oct 2020 18:51:13 +0000 https://www.dailydot.com/?p=889058 Tech Tuesday News Letter Image 10132020

Sign up to receive the best of the internet straight to your inbox.

Welcome to the 'Tech Tuesday' edition of the Internet InsiderRemember Pete Buttigieg? Well, he's now a viral darling. (No, it's not another "High Hopes" revival). 

Here's what we've got on deck this week: 

  • 2020’s biggest twist? The internet now loves Pete Buttigieg
  • What is Section 230 and why does Washington want to meddle with it?
  • Here's what you need to know from Congress’ big tech antitrust report


BREAK THE INTERNET

2020’s biggest twist? The internet now loves Pete Buttigieg

Analysis

Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s campaign to be the Democratic presidential nominee may have ended, but he’s found a way to appease his party: Going on Fox News.

In recent weeks, Buttigieg has become one of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s most effective campaign surrogates on cable. Buttigieg has been on Fox before, but his appearance before the vice presidential debate last week really caught the internet’s eye. 

Martha MacCallum asked the 38-year-old about how Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) differs from Biden on healthcare policy. Buttigieg scoffed at the “classic parlor game” of looking for “daylight between running mates.” Then the former cringiest 2020 candidate turned the tables.

“If people want to play that game, we could look into why an evangelical Christian like Mike Pence wants to be on a ticket with the president caught with a porn star, or how he feels about the immigration policy that he called ‘unconstitutional’ before he decided to team up with Donald Trump,” he said.

An awkward silence ensued. Buttigieg apparently left MacCallum and co-host Bret Baier at a rare loss for words. People noticed. After the former 2020 hopeful appeared on Fox News the following morning, the internet had a taste of Buttigieg on Fox—and it wanted more.

Over the weekend, someone unearthed a clip of Buttigieg in a May 2019 town hall on the network. In it, Buttigieg calmly shuts down Chris Wallace’s attempt to bait him on reproductive freedom. Like others before it, the clip went viral.

Here's why it matters: Whatever the cause of Buttigieg’s star turn on Fox, the internet has stood up and taken notice. For Buttigieg—after many disliked him in the Democratic primary—they finally stan. Buttigieg may no longer be in the running for president, but he’s definitely the king of crossing the aisle on cable.

—Claire Goforth, contributing writer


how to vote

SPONSORED

We're less than a month away from one of the most electrically charged elections in decades. When you cast your vote, there are many ways to do so while still protecting your health and that of those around you.


No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider

KNOW YOUR NET

What is Section 230 and why does Washington want to meddle with it?

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a fairly obscure—yet vitally important—law that has shaped the modern internet has suddenly been thrust into the political spotlight in recent months.

So what is Section 230 and why has it suddenly become one of the more hotly debated parts of tech policy in recent months?

Section 230 is part of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. It acts as a liability shield for all websites. Essentially, it shields websites from being held responsible for the content posted on it by its users. The section has a lot of backers, despite the recent criticisms from both sides of the aisle. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) calls it “one of the most valuable tools for protecting freedom of expression and innovation on the Internet.”

Despite this, a laundry list of lawmakers seeking to change Section 230 runs from Congress all the way to the presidential level of politics. Both President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have spoke about repealing, or revoking, Section 230.

Trump has signed a social media executive order that targets Section 230. Meanwhile, Biden’s gripe with Section 230 seems to be about misinformation on platforms like Facebook, a company that he has taken direct aim at on the campaign trail. The 2020 Democratic presidential nominee has called for Section 230 to be "revoked." 

But it's not just Trump and Biden who have expressed interest in using Section 230 as a crux for social media and big tech gripes. Congress has introduced 17 bills about the law this year as of early October, according to Tech Dirt. Outside of Congress, the Justice Department and Attorney General William Barr have also advocated for Section 230 changes and even have offered Congress a legislative framework for changes that it would like to see happen.

But tech advocates have warned that changing Section 230 could have big implications. Changes to Section 230 would affect pretty much every internet user.

Reddit, in its public comment to the FCC opposing Trump’s social media order, noted that changes to the law would threaten individual moderators of the site’s subreddits to being open to liability.

—Andrew Wyrich, deputy tech editor


RECOMMENDED

  • Amazon Prime Day is happening after a pandemic-related delay. Here's a look at the best Prime Day deals of 2020
  • The weather’s getting cooler, the leaves are changing color, and everything edible under the sun is suddenly pumpkin-spiced. Spooky season is upon us, and with it, you can stream 31 Nights of Halloween, the most fun programming block of the year.


Big Tech AntiTrust Report Congress

OVERLORDS

What you need to know from Congress’ big tech antitrust report

The House Judiciary Committee published a mammoth antitrust report, criticizing big tech for what they view as wide-reaching monopoly power. The Democrat-supported report decries tech giants Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook as monopolies. The report follows a year-long probe of committee hearings and testimonies from company CEOs.

The report was quick to note that the tech giants are no longer the startups they once were. Over the years, Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon amassed almost all of the shares in the industry’s pie, the report says. The report likens the tech giants to “oil barons and railroad tycoons.”

It also argues that antitrust laws are “designed to protect not just consumers, but also workers, entrepreneurs, independent businesses, open markets, a fair economy, and democratic ideals.” But it also notes that antitrust laws have been “significantly weakened” since they were enacted, and the result is “an approach to antitrust that has significantly diverged from the laws Congress enacted.”

On the same lines of decreasing the size of companies, the report recommends that Congress makes it harder for the monopolies to acquire other companies. As you might expect, Amazon, Apple, Google, and Facebook all pushed back hard against the report's findings. 

Here's why it matters: The antitrust report provides Congress with three main recommendations to monitor tech giants: prohibit preferential treatment across platforms, more requirements for acquisitions, and increased oversight over the companies.

—Libby Cohen, contributing writer


BTW


Now reading: The Captain: A Memoir by David Wright and Anthony DiComo

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Tech Tuesday newsletter: The internet loves Pete Buttigieg all of a sudden appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Tech Tuesday News Letter Image 10132020

Sign up to receive the best of the internet straight to your inbox.

Welcome to the 'Tech Tuesday' edition of the Internet InsiderRemember Pete Buttigieg? Well, he's now a viral darling. (No, it's not another "High Hopes" revival). 

Here's what we've got on deck this week: 

  • 2020’s biggest twist? The internet now loves Pete Buttigieg
  • What is Section 230 and why does Washington want to meddle with it?
  • Here's what you need to know from Congress’ big tech antitrust report

BREAK THE INTERNET

2020’s biggest twist? The internet now loves Pete Buttigieg

Analysis

Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg’s campaign to be the Democratic presidential nominee may have ended, but he’s found a way to appease his party: Going on Fox News.

In recent weeks, Buttigieg has become one of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden’s most effective campaign surrogates on cable. Buttigieg has been on Fox before, but his appearance before the vice presidential debate last week really caught the internet’s eye. 

Martha MacCallum asked the 38-year-old about how Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) differs from Biden on healthcare policy. Buttigieg scoffed at the “classic parlor game” of looking for “daylight between running mates.” Then the former cringiest 2020 candidate turned the tables.

“If people want to play that game, we could look into why an evangelical Christian like Mike Pence wants to be on a ticket with the president caught with a porn star, or how he feels about the immigration policy that he called ‘unconstitutional’ before he decided to team up with Donald Trump,” he said.

An awkward silence ensued. Buttigieg apparently left MacCallum and co-host Bret Baier at a rare loss for words. People noticed. After the former 2020 hopeful appeared on Fox News the following morning, the internet had a taste of Buttigieg on Fox—and it wanted more.

Over the weekend, someone unearthed a clip of Buttigieg in a May 2019 town hall on the network. In it, Buttigieg calmly shuts down Chris Wallace’s attempt to bait him on reproductive freedom. Like others before it, the clip went viral.

Here's why it matters: Whatever the cause of Buttigieg’s star turn on Fox, the internet has stood up and taken notice. For Buttigieg—after many disliked him in the Democratic primary—they finally stan. Buttigieg may no longer be in the running for president, but he’s definitely the king of crossing the aisle on cable.

—Claire Goforth, contributing writer


how to vote

SPONSORED

We're less than a month away from one of the most electrically charged elections in decades. When you cast your vote, there are many ways to do so while still protecting your health and that of those around you.


No provider or user of an interactive computer service shall be treated as the publisher or speaker of any information provided by another information content provider

KNOW YOUR NET

What is Section 230 and why does Washington want to meddle with it?

Section 230 of the Communications Decency Act, a fairly obscure—yet vitally important—law that has shaped the modern internet has suddenly been thrust into the political spotlight in recent months.

So what is Section 230 and why has it suddenly become one of the more hotly debated parts of tech policy in recent months?

Section 230 is part of the Communications Decency Act of 1996. It acts as a liability shield for all websites. Essentially, it shields websites from being held responsible for the content posted on it by its users. The section has a lot of backers, despite the recent criticisms from both sides of the aisle. The Electronic Frontier Foundation (EFF) calls it “one of the most valuable tools for protecting freedom of expression and innovation on the Internet.”

Despite this, a laundry list of lawmakers seeking to change Section 230 runs from Congress all the way to the presidential level of politics. Both President Donald Trump and former Vice President Joe Biden have spoke about repealing, or revoking, Section 230.

Trump has signed a social media executive order that targets Section 230. Meanwhile, Biden’s gripe with Section 230 seems to be about misinformation on platforms like Facebook, a company that he has taken direct aim at on the campaign trail. The 2020 Democratic presidential nominee has called for Section 230 to be "revoked." 

But it's not just Trump and Biden who have expressed interest in using Section 230 as a crux for social media and big tech gripes. Congress has introduced 17 bills about the law this year as of early October, according to Tech Dirt. Outside of Congress, the Justice Department and Attorney General William Barr have also advocated for Section 230 changes and even have offered Congress a legislative framework for changes that it would like to see happen.

But tech advocates have warned that changing Section 230 could have big implications. Changes to Section 230 would affect pretty much every internet user.

Reddit, in its public comment to the FCC opposing Trump’s social media order, noted that changes to the law would threaten individual moderators of the site’s subreddits to being open to liability.

—Andrew Wyrich, deputy tech editor


RECOMMENDED

  • Amazon Prime Day is happening after a pandemic-related delay. Here's a look at the best Prime Day deals of 2020
  • The weather’s getting cooler, the leaves are changing color, and everything edible under the sun is suddenly pumpkin-spiced. Spooky season is upon us, and with it, you can stream 31 Nights of Halloween, the most fun programming block of the year.

Big Tech AntiTrust Report Congress

OVERLORDS

What you need to know from Congress’ big tech antitrust report

The House Judiciary Committee published a mammoth antitrust report, criticizing big tech for what they view as wide-reaching monopoly power. The Democrat-supported report decries tech giants Apple, Amazon, Google, and Facebook as monopolies. The report follows a year-long probe of committee hearings and testimonies from company CEOs.

The report was quick to note that the tech giants are no longer the startups they once were. Over the years, Google, Facebook, Apple, and Amazon amassed almost all of the shares in the industry’s pie, the report says. The report likens the tech giants to “oil barons and railroad tycoons.”

It also argues that antitrust laws are “designed to protect not just consumers, but also workers, entrepreneurs, independent businesses, open markets, a fair economy, and democratic ideals.” But it also notes that antitrust laws have been “significantly weakened” since they were enacted, and the result is “an approach to antitrust that has significantly diverged from the laws Congress enacted.”

On the same lines of decreasing the size of companies, the report recommends that Congress makes it harder for the monopolies to acquire other companies. As you might expect, Amazon, Apple, Google, and Facebook all pushed back hard against the report's findings. 

Here's why it matters: The antitrust report provides Congress with three main recommendations to monitor tech giants: prohibit preferential treatment across platforms, more requirements for acquisitions, and increased oversight over the companies.

—Libby Cohen, contributing writer


BTW


Now reading: The Captain: A Memoir by David Wright and Anthony DiComo

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Tech Tuesday newsletter: The internet loves Pete Buttigieg all of a sudden appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
2020’s biggest twist? The internet now loves Pete Buttigieg https://www.dailydot.com/debug/internet-loves-buttigieg-fox-news/ Tue, 13 Oct 2020 12:00:01 +0000 https://www.dailydot.com/?p=888501

Analysis

Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg's campaign to be the Democratic presidential nominee may have ended, but he's found a way to appease his party: Going on Fox News. (Yes, you read that right.)

In recent weeks, Buttigieg has become one of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's most effective campaign surrogates on cable. While others make the rounds with friendly media, Buttigieg has comfortably walked straight into the lion's den of President Donald Trump's favorite cable news channel.

Buttigieg has been on Fox before, but his appearance before the vice presidential debate last week really caught the internet's eye.

Martha MacCallum asked the 38-year-old about how Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) differs from Biden on healthcare policy.

Buttigieg scoffed at the "classic parlor game" of looking for "daylight between running mates." Then the former cringiest 2020 candidate turned the tables.

"If people want to play that game, we could look into why an evangelical Christian like Mike Pence wants to be on a ticket with the president caught with a porn star, or how he feels about the immigration policy that he called ‘unconstitutional’ before he decided to team up with Donald Trump,” he said.

An awkward silence ensued. Buttigieg apparently left MacCallum and co-host Bret Baier at a rare loss for words.

People noticed.

https://twitter.com/TheYoungTurks/status/1315283066647130112?s=20

https://twitter.com/ava/status/1314248569994375168?s=20

Buttigieg similarly owned the conversation in his appearance on Fox News the following morning. First, co-host Steve Doocy asked what he thought of news that Trump was refusing to participate in a virtual debate.

Buttigieg wondered why Trump was "afraid" of the virtual format that millions of Americans have been forced into during the coronavirus pandemic. Then he went for the jugular.

https://twitter.com/PeteButtigieg/status/1314212949255319556

"Of course, the only reason that we’re here in the first place is that the president of the United States is still contagious, as far as we know, with a deadly disease."

“I don’t know why you’d want to be in a room with other people if you were contagious with a deadly disease, if you care about other people. But maybe the president of the United States doesn’t care about other people.”

Later in the interview, Buttigieg delivered yet another kill shot.

The former mayor said he appreciated that Harris stood up for the troops during the debate, which he contrasted with Trump calling the military's dead servicemembers "suckers" and "losers." When Doocy interrupted to sputter that Trump denies saying that, Buttigieg brushed him off. "Right, but we know he's lying."

Doocy persisted. "How do we know he's lying?"

"Well, cause his denial was, 'I never called John McCain a loser,' and anyone with Twitter can go on and see where he did. So to believe he was lying in that part of the sentence and not another part? ... If you really believe the president now on this kind of stuff, I've got a bridge to sell you."

https://twitter.com/deanofdublin/status/1315198616143720448?s=20

Now that the internet had a taste of Buttigieg on Fox, it wanted more.

Over the weekend, someone unearthed a clip of Buttigieg in a May 2019 town hall on the network. In it, Buttigieg calmly shuts down Chris Wallace's attempt to bait him on reproductive freedom.

After he said he supports women's right to make decisions for their own health, Wallace asked him about third-trimester abortion. Falsely claiming that abortion is available on-demand in the third trimester is conservatives' most beloved bit of abortion disinformation. In reality, it's only legal when the woman's life or health are seriously threatened, or the fetus won't survive to term.

Buttigieg was the epitome of calm and reasonable as he exposed the fallacy about what is often called "late-term abortion" while thoroughly establishing the callousness of outlawing the procedure.

"We're talking about women who have perhaps chosen a name," he said. "We're talking about women who have purchased a crib, families that then get the most devastating medical news of their lifetime, something about the health or life of the mother or viability of the pregnancy that forces them to make an impossible, unthinkable choice.

"And the bottom line is that as horrible as that choice is, that women, that family, may seek spiritual guidance, they may seek medical guidance, but that decision is not going to be made any better, medically or morally, because the government is dictating how that decision should be made."

https://twitter.com/javiergleddy/status/1130261245964087296?s=20

Like others before it, the clip went viral.

Some may wonder why a prominent Democrat is willing to go on a network so notorious for its Republican bias that most liberals don't bother. Buttigieg's spokesperson told the Daily Beast that he thinks it's important to reach Americans where they're at, and besides, he enjoys it.

"He knows it’s a valuable way to connect with voters who might not otherwise hear our message."

Whatever the cause of Buttigieg's star turn on Fox, the internet has stood up and taken notice. For Buttigieg—after many disliked him in the Democratic primary—they finally stan.

https://twitter.com/KaraRBrown/status/1314251471869808640?s=20

https://twitter.com/BonnieHe/status/1315512154578063361?s=20

https://twitter.com/occamsrazor45/status/1315443201516371972?s=20

https://twitter.com/OMaraRules/status/1315667927358734340?s=20

https://twitter.com/Kansas4Pete/status/1315633965911494657?s=20

https://twitter.com/daveentrentmann/status/1315326918913335296?s=20

https://twitter.com/GeorgeTakei/status/1314231567607365633?s=20

https://twitter.com/bguggs/status/1314225335752421376?s=20

https://twitter.com/nerdypursuit/status/1313999316521017345?s=20

Buttigieg may no longer be in the running for president, but he's definitely the king of crossing the aisle on cable.

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post 2020’s biggest twist? The internet now loves Pete Buttigieg appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>

Analysis

Former South Bend, Indiana Mayor Pete Buttigieg's campaign to be the Democratic presidential nominee may have ended, but he's found a way to appease his party: Going on Fox News. (Yes, you read that right.)

In recent weeks, Buttigieg has become one of Democratic presidential nominee Joe Biden's most effective campaign surrogates on cable. While others make the rounds with friendly media, Buttigieg has comfortably walked straight into the lion's den of President Donald Trump's favorite cable news channel.

Buttigieg has been on Fox before, but his appearance before the vice presidential debate last week really caught the internet's eye.

Martha MacCallum asked the 38-year-old about how Democratic vice presidential nominee Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.) differs from Biden on healthcare policy.

Buttigieg scoffed at the "classic parlor game" of looking for "daylight between running mates." Then the former cringiest 2020 candidate turned the tables.

"If people want to play that game, we could look into why an evangelical Christian like Mike Pence wants to be on a ticket with the president caught with a porn star, or how he feels about the immigration policy that he called ‘unconstitutional’ before he decided to team up with Donald Trump,” he said.

An awkward silence ensued. Buttigieg apparently left MacCallum and co-host Bret Baier at a rare loss for words.

People noticed.

https://twitter.com/TheYoungTurks/status/1315283066647130112?s=20
https://twitter.com/ava/status/1314248569994375168?s=20

Buttigieg similarly owned the conversation in his appearance on Fox News the following morning. First, co-host Steve Doocy asked what he thought of news that Trump was refusing to participate in a virtual debate.

Buttigieg wondered why Trump was "afraid" of the virtual format that millions of Americans have been forced into during the coronavirus pandemic. Then he went for the jugular.

https://twitter.com/PeteButtigieg/status/1314212949255319556

"Of course, the only reason that we’re here in the first place is that the president of the United States is still contagious, as far as we know, with a deadly disease."

“I don’t know why you’d want to be in a room with other people if you were contagious with a deadly disease, if you care about other people. But maybe the president of the United States doesn’t care about other people.”

Later in the interview, Buttigieg delivered yet another kill shot.

The former mayor said he appreciated that Harris stood up for the troops during the debate, which he contrasted with Trump calling the military's dead servicemembers "suckers" and "losers." When Doocy interrupted to sputter that Trump denies saying that, Buttigieg brushed him off. "Right, but we know he's lying."

Doocy persisted. "How do we know he's lying?"

"Well, cause his denial was, 'I never called John McCain a loser,' and anyone with Twitter can go on and see where he did. So to believe he was lying in that part of the sentence and not another part? ... If you really believe the president now on this kind of stuff, I've got a bridge to sell you."

https://twitter.com/deanofdublin/status/1315198616143720448?s=20

Now that the internet had a taste of Buttigieg on Fox, it wanted more.

Over the weekend, someone unearthed a clip of Buttigieg in a May 2019 town hall on the network. In it, Buttigieg calmly shuts down Chris Wallace's attempt to bait him on reproductive freedom.

After he said he supports women's right to make decisions for their own health, Wallace asked him about third-trimester abortion. Falsely claiming that abortion is available on-demand in the third trimester is conservatives' most beloved bit of abortion disinformation. In reality, it's only legal when the woman's life or health are seriously threatened, or the fetus won't survive to term.

Buttigieg was the epitome of calm and reasonable as he exposed the fallacy about what is often called "late-term abortion" while thoroughly establishing the callousness of outlawing the procedure.

"We're talking about women who have perhaps chosen a name," he said. "We're talking about women who have purchased a crib, families that then get the most devastating medical news of their lifetime, something about the health or life of the mother or viability of the pregnancy that forces them to make an impossible, unthinkable choice.

"And the bottom line is that as horrible as that choice is, that women, that family, may seek spiritual guidance, they may seek medical guidance, but that decision is not going to be made any better, medically or morally, because the government is dictating how that decision should be made."

https://twitter.com/javiergleddy/status/1130261245964087296?s=20

Like others before it, the clip went viral.

Some may wonder why a prominent Democrat is willing to go on a network so notorious for its Republican bias that most liberals don't bother. Buttigieg's spokesperson told the Daily Beast that he thinks it's important to reach Americans where they're at, and besides, he enjoys it.

"He knows it’s a valuable way to connect with voters who might not otherwise hear our message."

Whatever the cause of Buttigieg's star turn on Fox, the internet has stood up and taken notice. For Buttigieg—after many disliked him in the Democratic primary—they finally stan.

https://twitter.com/KaraRBrown/status/1314251471869808640?s=20
https://twitter.com/BonnieHe/status/1315512154578063361?s=20
https://twitter.com/occamsrazor45/status/1315443201516371972?s=20
https://twitter.com/OMaraRules/status/1315667927358734340?s=20
https://twitter.com/Kansas4Pete/status/1315633965911494657?s=20
https://twitter.com/daveentrentmann/status/1315326918913335296?s=20
https://twitter.com/GeorgeTakei/status/1314231567607365633?s=20
https://twitter.com/bguggs/status/1314225335752421376?s=20
https://twitter.com/nerdypursuit/status/1313999316521017345?s=20

Buttigieg may no longer be in the running for president, but he's definitely the king of crossing the aisle on cable.

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post 2020’s biggest twist? The internet now loves Pete Buttigieg appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Private jet tracker sparks Mayor Pete veep mania https://www.dailydot.com/debug/pete-buttigieg-private-jet-vice-president/ Tue, 11 Aug 2020 13:49:58 +0000 https://www.dailydot.com/?p=861979 Pete Buttigieg

Analysis

Earlier in on the primary season, as candidates of color dropped out, and a couple of white men surged to the top, former Vice President Joe Biden pledged during a debate to pick a woman candidate for his running mate.

And that has been the framework through which everyone has processed and analyzed his choice. Could it be Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), or Susan Rice, or even, at one point, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)?

But what if... Biden didn't. After all, politicians go back on their word all the time. Whether reneging on his pledge would hurt him, or look bad is one thing, but there's nothing physically stopping him from doing so.

And so a private jet last night out of South Bend, Indiana got everyone on Twitter abuzz at the possibility. What if Biden picks Pete Buttigieg for vice president? (Team Buttigieg denies that Buttigieg is a VP finalist.)

https://twitter.com/aelfred_D/status/1292964815229595651

Politico's Adam Wren spotted the flight, heading from Buttigieg's hometown to Biden's current headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.

https://twitter.com/adamwren/status/1292932633966649346

There was no more information other than that. No passenger manifest or shots of the diminutive former Indiana mayor disembarking down the gangway.

But with news that Biden's VP pick is "imminent"—and with Buttigieg's less-than-stellar reputation among the online sect—Twitter users lost it at the possibility of Biden going back on his promise to pick, of all people, Buttigieg.

https://twitter.com/ldrinkh20/status/1292949178365206534

https://twitter.com/zlingray/status/1292976727409352704

https://twitter.com/SocialistMMA/status/1293004918413053955

Biden surveying every single of the most powerful liberal women in America and settling on a young centrist guy as his top choice would just be the kind of groan-inducing turn of events left-wing Democrats have come to expect in recent party history. But alas, Buttigieg's team denied it.

"I know a lot of people had high hopes, but can confirm this plane was not for our favorite South Bend resident..." wrote Sean Seavett, Buttigieg's former rapid response director.

https://twitter.com/ssavett/status/1292997019745898509

Unless he was told to keep it a secret until the announcement came.

READ MORE:

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Private jet tracker sparks Mayor Pete veep mania appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Pete Buttigieg

Analysis

Earlier in on the primary season, as candidates of color dropped out, and a couple of white men surged to the top, former Vice President Joe Biden pledged during a debate to pick a woman candidate for his running mate.

And that has been the framework through which everyone has processed and analyzed his choice. Could it be Sen. Kamala Harris (D-Calif.), or Susan Rice, or even, at one point, Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.)?

But what if... Biden didn't. After all, politicians go back on their word all the time. Whether reneging on his pledge would hurt him, or look bad is one thing, but there's nothing physically stopping him from doing so.

And so a private jet last night out of South Bend, Indiana got everyone on Twitter abuzz at the possibility. What if Biden picks Pete Buttigieg for vice president? (Team Buttigieg denies that Buttigieg is a VP finalist.)

https://twitter.com/aelfred_D/status/1292964815229595651

Politico's Adam Wren spotted the flight, heading from Buttigieg's hometown to Biden's current headquarters in Wilmington, Delaware.

https://twitter.com/adamwren/status/1292932633966649346

There was no more information other than that. No passenger manifest or shots of the diminutive former Indiana mayor disembarking down the gangway.

But with news that Biden's VP pick is "imminent"—and with Buttigieg's less-than-stellar reputation among the online sect—Twitter users lost it at the possibility of Biden going back on his promise to pick, of all people, Buttigieg.

https://twitter.com/ldrinkh20/status/1292949178365206534
https://twitter.com/zlingray/status/1292976727409352704
https://twitter.com/SocialistMMA/status/1293004918413053955

Biden surveying every single of the most powerful liberal women in America and settling on a young centrist guy as his top choice would just be the kind of groan-inducing turn of events left-wing Democrats have come to expect in recent party history. But alas, Buttigieg's team denied it.

"I know a lot of people had high hopes, but can confirm this plane was not for our favorite South Bend resident..." wrote Sean Seavett, Buttigieg's former rapid response director.

https://twitter.com/ssavett/status/1292997019745898509

Unless he was told to keep it a secret until the announcement came.

READ MORE:

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Private jet tracker sparks Mayor Pete veep mania appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Wait, did Pete Buttigieg cut his own hair in quarantine? https://www.dailydot.com/debug/pete-buttigieg-haircut-quarantine/ Fri, 17 Apr 2020 17:43:06 +0000 https://www.dailydot.com/?p=807777 Pete Buttigieg with coronavirus quarantine haircut

We need to talk about Pete Buttigieg.

Specifically, we need to talk about his hair. Or, lack thereof, as the case seems to be.

The former presidential candidate appeared on several news broadcasts this past month, displaying a very different look from the one Americans have become accustomed to.

His questionable new hairstyle has people online theorizing that Buttigieg, stuck like the rest of us in quarantine, may have tried his hand at self-barbering.

Buttigieg made an appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe program yesterday to discuss the importance of mayors during coronavirus and mounting unemployment rates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mZP65ilOhQ

When he appeared on screen, many people were shocked to see him sporting short-cropped, thinned hair that had been trimmed far enough back to give the impression of a receding hairline.

The side-by-side of the image they used for Buttigieg is downright shocking.

Curious viewers quickly took to social media to express their surprise at the change and question what had inspired Buttigieg's new do.

https://twitter.com/CHIZMAGA/status/1251019694582018049

The look matches a previous interview he did on ABC, where he also had a close-cropped style.

https://twitter.com/kylezeman33/status/1248418315803848705

Soon, Buttigieg's Morning Joe and ABC appearances exploded, becoming the subject of memes.

"Dude looks like they were working on a SIMS character and were like, nah, this one is messed up. delete it," one Twitter user joked.

https://twitter.com/realBoJazzy/status/1251031380982665217

Jokes about the challenges of cutting your hair at home quickly overtook the conversation. "Thank you Pete Buttigieg for single-handedly convincing me that cutting my own hair may be a bad idea," one user wrote.

https://twitter.com/LoganLeavitt/status/1250957500419112960

https://twitter.com/KamarisaL/status/1251027445244784640

https://twitter.com/TerriGreenUSA/status/1250903104784039936

https://twitter.com/ghostmanatee/status/1248286011345580034

https://twitter.com/ratemyskyperoom/status/1250784597056425986

https://twitter.com/hughsharpe/status/1251159734318555139

https://twitter.com/drjorgemd/status/1250848342269181952

Many people put the blame for Buttigieg's disastrous new look on his husband, Chasten.

"Chasten cut his hair and it didn't go well," one user wrote.

https://twitter.com/Ship_Love_00/status/1250967757652480000

https://twitter.com/ChasenDeHeaux/status/1250767725103919106

https://twitter.com/Maryis4dacubs/status/1250838579351355396

https://twitter.com/CJonthestreet/status/1248651953393078273

At least he's responsibly keeping a barber from doing house calls.

The Daily Dot has reached out to Buttigieg's team and will update this if we receive a response.

READ MORE:

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Wait, did Pete Buttigieg cut his own hair in quarantine? appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Pete Buttigieg with coronavirus quarantine haircut

We need to talk about Pete Buttigieg.

Specifically, we need to talk about his hair. Or, lack thereof, as the case seems to be.

The former presidential candidate appeared on several news broadcasts this past month, displaying a very different look from the one Americans have become accustomed to.

His questionable new hairstyle has people online theorizing that Buttigieg, stuck like the rest of us in quarantine, may have tried his hand at self-barbering.

Buttigieg made an appearance on MSNBC's Morning Joe program yesterday to discuss the importance of mayors during coronavirus and mounting unemployment rates.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_mZP65ilOhQ

When he appeared on screen, many people were shocked to see him sporting short-cropped, thinned hair that had been trimmed far enough back to give the impression of a receding hairline.

The side-by-side of the image they used for Buttigieg is downright shocking.

Curious viewers quickly took to social media to express their surprise at the change and question what had inspired Buttigieg's new do.

https://twitter.com/CHIZMAGA/status/1251019694582018049

The look matches a previous interview he did on ABC, where he also had a close-cropped style.

https://twitter.com/kylezeman33/status/1248418315803848705

Soon, Buttigieg's Morning Joe and ABC appearances exploded, becoming the subject of memes.

"Dude looks like they were working on a SIMS character and were like, nah, this one is messed up. delete it," one Twitter user joked.

https://twitter.com/realBoJazzy/status/1251031380982665217

Jokes about the challenges of cutting your hair at home quickly overtook the conversation. "Thank you Pete Buttigieg for single-handedly convincing me that cutting my own hair may be a bad idea," one user wrote.

https://twitter.com/LoganLeavitt/status/1250957500419112960
https://twitter.com/KamarisaL/status/1251027445244784640
https://twitter.com/TerriGreenUSA/status/1250903104784039936
https://twitter.com/ghostmanatee/status/1248286011345580034
https://twitter.com/ratemyskyperoom/status/1250784597056425986
https://twitter.com/hughsharpe/status/1251159734318555139
https://twitter.com/drjorgemd/status/1250848342269181952

Many people put the blame for Buttigieg's disastrous new look on his husband, Chasten.

"Chasten cut his hair and it didn't go well," one user wrote.

https://twitter.com/Ship_Love_00/status/1250967757652480000
https://twitter.com/ChasenDeHeaux/status/1250767725103919106
https://twitter.com/Maryis4dacubs/status/1250838579351355396
https://twitter.com/CJonthestreet/status/1248651953393078273

At least he's responsibly keeping a barber from doing house calls.

The Daily Dot has reached out to Buttigieg's team and will update this if we receive a response.

READ MORE:

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Wait, did Pete Buttigieg cut his own hair in quarantine? appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Pete Buttigieg’s Joe Biden endorsement starts dumbest online drama of 2020 https://www.dailydot.com/debug/pete-buttigieg-joe-biden-endorsement/ Tue, 03 Mar 2020 15:26:50 +0000 https://www.dailydot.com/?p=781516 pete buttigieg joe biden

Analysis

When Pete Buttigieg abruptly announced he was leaving the 2020 Democratic primary just two full days before Super Tuesday, it seemed extremely (extremely!) obvious he was doing so to throw his support behind a candidate to help the party coalesce on the eve of a major primary vote.

And unless you were actively pulling large parts of brain matter out your ear and discarding it causally on the sidewalk, you could deduce he was going to rally behind Joe Biden. Outside of Buttigieg, Biden is one of two candidates to have won a primary—having just pulled off a big victory in South Carolina—and it wasn't likely Buttigieg was going to do a complete about-face and stump for Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.).

So when CNN reported Buttigieg would endorse Biden at a rally in Dallas last night, it was met with a collective "well, duh," because, well, duh.

https://twitter.com/abbydphillip/status/1234568431850151945

Except that Buttigieg's communications director Lis Smith felt the need to call CNN's report false.

https://twitter.com/Lis_Smith/status/1234641613013553154

"Just a note on sources: this source was wrong. This info was wrong. This report was wrong. Networks & news orgs will be better off when they cross off people who tell them falsehoods from their list and also wait to report until they have it solid from people who actually know," Smith wrote.

Here's a video of Buttigieg endorsing Biden last night.

https://twitter.com/keithboykin/status/1234641701106601984

Undeterred by what that above video appears to show (which is Buttigieg endorsing Biden at a rally), Smith continued because, well, here's the pettiest argument of 2020.

That is not a rally for Joe Biden. It's a rally before the rally for Joe Biden.

https://twitter.com/Lis_Smith/status/1234644977671720964

"If you are mad about this tweet- @petebuttigieg didn’t go to endorse at the big Dallas rally as CNN reported. We set up an OTR separately and CNN got it wrong. At some point, media outlets should acknowledge when they get it wrong."

Apparently, this move by Buttigieg, in Smith's mind, was a state secret tantamount to that time George Bush surprised U.S. troops in Iraq on Thanksgiving.

https://twitter.com/Lis_Smith/status/1234650459526307840

CNN's Abby Phillips, who reported the story first, noted that she said "rally" when she only had confirmation that an endorsement was going to happen.

https://twitter.com/abbydphillip/status/1234662887072780290

Naturally, everyone was tweeting a video of the endorsement to Smith.

https://twitter.com/arb/status/1234642259431182336

https://twitter.com/ashleyfeinberg/status/1234643236322467840

So do people cheering in public for a person onstage constitute a rally? Did Buttigieg even endorse Biden? In this wild, mixed-up time, who can say?

READ MORE:

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Pete Buttigieg’s Joe Biden endorsement starts dumbest online drama of 2020 appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
pete buttigieg joe biden

Analysis

When Pete Buttigieg abruptly announced he was leaving the 2020 Democratic primary just two full days before Super Tuesday, it seemed extremely (extremely!) obvious he was doing so to throw his support behind a candidate to help the party coalesce on the eve of a major primary vote.

And unless you were actively pulling large parts of brain matter out your ear and discarding it causally on the sidewalk, you could deduce he was going to rally behind Joe Biden. Outside of Buttigieg, Biden is one of two candidates to have won a primary—having just pulled off a big victory in South Carolina—and it wasn't likely Buttigieg was going to do a complete about-face and stump for Sen. Bernie Sanders' (I-Vt.).

So when CNN reported Buttigieg would endorse Biden at a rally in Dallas last night, it was met with a collective "well, duh," because, well, duh.

https://twitter.com/abbydphillip/status/1234568431850151945

Except that Buttigieg's communications director Lis Smith felt the need to call CNN's report false.

https://twitter.com/Lis_Smith/status/1234641613013553154

"Just a note on sources: this source was wrong. This info was wrong. This report was wrong. Networks & news orgs will be better off when they cross off people who tell them falsehoods from their list and also wait to report until they have it solid from people who actually know," Smith wrote.

Here's a video of Buttigieg endorsing Biden last night.

https://twitter.com/keithboykin/status/1234641701106601984

Undeterred by what that above video appears to show (which is Buttigieg endorsing Biden at a rally), Smith continued because, well, here's the pettiest argument of 2020.

That is not a rally for Joe Biden. It's a rally before the rally for Joe Biden.

https://twitter.com/Lis_Smith/status/1234644977671720964

"If you are mad about this tweet- @petebuttigieg didn’t go to endorse at the big Dallas rally as CNN reported. We set up an OTR separately and CNN got it wrong. At some point, media outlets should acknowledge when they get it wrong."

Apparently, this move by Buttigieg, in Smith's mind, was a state secret tantamount to that time George Bush surprised U.S. troops in Iraq on Thanksgiving.

https://twitter.com/Lis_Smith/status/1234650459526307840

CNN's Abby Phillips, who reported the story first, noted that she said "rally" when she only had confirmation that an endorsement was going to happen.

https://twitter.com/abbydphillip/status/1234662887072780290

Naturally, everyone was tweeting a video of the endorsement to Smith.

https://twitter.com/arb/status/1234642259431182336
https://twitter.com/ashleyfeinberg/status/1234643236322467840

So do people cheering in public for a person onstage constitute a rally? Did Buttigieg even endorse Biden? In this wild, mixed-up time, who can say?

READ MORE:

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Pete Buttigieg’s Joe Biden endorsement starts dumbest online drama of 2020 appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Bernie supporters criticized for video celebrating Pete dropping out https://www.dailydot.com/debug/bernie-sanders-supporters-celebrate-pete-buttigieg-drop-out/ Tue, 03 Mar 2020 02:40:34 +0000 https://www.dailydot.com/?p=771280 Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders

A small group of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) supporters received backlash online Monday for a video celebrating former mayor Pete Buttigieg's decision to drop out of the 2020 presidential race.

The video, uploaded by the East Bay chapter of the Democratic Socialists, showed around eight members of the group, as well as a cardboard cutout of Sanders himself, imitating the choreographed "High Hopes" dance used by the Buttigieg campaign.

https://twitter.com/Bert_TheBruce/status/1234579607367618560?s=20

Opponents of the Vermont senator, including Ben LaBolt, an ex-spokesman for former President Barack Obama, used the video to criticize Sanders before it was eventually pulled down.

"Will the Bernie Sanders campaign ever do anything to rein in their supporters?" LaBolt said. "It's a constant drip drip drip of dehumanizing hate for the other campaigns, self righteousness and attempts to alienate anyone who disagrees with them. Politics is about addition, not this."

https://twitter.com/BenLaBolt/status/1234524497908158464?s=20

Since removing the tweet, the group has not commented on the video. But the reaction is unsurprising, given that critics of Sanders have often attempted to blame the candidate for the actions of his supporters, often dubbed "Bernie Bros."

Buttigieg's decision to bow out of the race came one day before his fellow candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) dropped out as well. Both politicians have since endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden.

Sanders responded to the news of Buttigieg's announcement on Monday by congratulating the candidate for running a "brilliant campaign."

"He is the first openly gay candidate for president of the United States and he did extraordinarily well," Sanders said. "And tonight I just want to welcome all of his supporters into our movement and to urge them to joining us in the fight for real change in this country."

READ MORE:

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Bernie supporters criticized for video celebrating Pete dropping out appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Pete Buttigieg and Bernie Sanders

A small group of Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) supporters received backlash online Monday for a video celebrating former mayor Pete Buttigieg's decision to drop out of the 2020 presidential race.

The video, uploaded by the East Bay chapter of the Democratic Socialists, showed around eight members of the group, as well as a cardboard cutout of Sanders himself, imitating the choreographed "High Hopes" dance used by the Buttigieg campaign.

https://twitter.com/Bert_TheBruce/status/1234579607367618560?s=20

Opponents of the Vermont senator, including Ben LaBolt, an ex-spokesman for former President Barack Obama, used the video to criticize Sanders before it was eventually pulled down.

"Will the Bernie Sanders campaign ever do anything to rein in their supporters?" LaBolt said. "It's a constant drip drip drip of dehumanizing hate for the other campaigns, self righteousness and attempts to alienate anyone who disagrees with them. Politics is about addition, not this."

https://twitter.com/BenLaBolt/status/1234524497908158464?s=20

Since removing the tweet, the group has not commented on the video. But the reaction is unsurprising, given that critics of Sanders have often attempted to blame the candidate for the actions of his supporters, often dubbed "Bernie Bros."

Buttigieg's decision to bow out of the race came one day before his fellow candidate Sen. Amy Klobuchar (D-Minn.) dropped out as well. Both politicians have since endorsed former Vice President Joe Biden.

Sanders responded to the news of Buttigieg's announcement on Monday by congratulating the candidate for running a "brilliant campaign."

"He is the first openly gay candidate for president of the United States and he did extraordinarily well," Sanders said. "And tonight I just want to welcome all of his supporters into our movement and to urge them to joining us in the fight for real change in this country."

READ MORE:

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Bernie supporters criticized for video celebrating Pete dropping out appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Pete Buttigieg drops out of the 2020 presidential race https://www.dailydot.com/unclick/pete-buttigieg-drops-out-2020-presidential-race-memes/ Mon, 02 Mar 2020 00:09:54 +0000 https://www.dailydot.com/?p=753347 Pete Buttigieg in campaign video

Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg is dropping out of the 2020 presidential race.

Reports are circulating that Buttigieg will formally announce his campaign suspension in a speech on Sunday evening.

https://twitter.com/NPR/status/1234256800981098497

As the news began to make its rounds, Twitter users were quick to share their thoughts, with President Donald Trump being one of the first.

"Pete Buttigieg is OUT. All of his SuperTuesday votes will go to Sleepy Joe Biden. Great timing. This is the REAL beginning of the Dems taking Bernie out of play - NO NOMINATION, AGAIN," Trump wrote.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1234263037110083587

Others were more supportive of Buttigieg, with many noting that he was the most successful openly gay presidential candidate in the country's history.

"Mayor Pete has so much to be proud of. What a historic candidacy," Former U.S. Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal tweeted.

https://twitter.com/neal_katyal/status/1234257202350895105

https://twitter.com/tomandlorenzo/status/1234260388780347394

https://twitter.com/JoeNBC/status/1234261485913804800

https://twitter.com/kylekrieger/status/1234262091126771713

But many Twitter users celebrated the news––mostly with memes.

"Mayor Pete dropped out?" Twitter user @TylerRickyTynes wrote along with a compilation of the Office characters dancing.

https://twitter.com/TylerRickyTynes/status/1234257826383572993

https://twitter.com/benyahr/status/1234262645731184640

https://twitter.com/oihamza/status/1234262910454714369

Those who weren't commemorating or celebrating were weighing in on who the former candidate should endorse. Most people thought he showed throw his support behind Democratic hopefuls Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren.

https://twitter.com/NickiMorris321/status/1234262545055322112

https://twitter.com/JessicaValenti/status/1234256924159377410

https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/1234260425467932672

The Democratic nomination is now down to six candidates: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Michael Bloomberg, Tulsi Gabbard, and Amy Klobuchar.

READ MORE:

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Pete Buttigieg drops out of the 2020 presidential race appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>
Pete Buttigieg in campaign video

Democratic candidate Pete Buttigieg is dropping out of the 2020 presidential race.

Reports are circulating that Buttigieg will formally announce his campaign suspension in a speech on Sunday evening.

https://twitter.com/NPR/status/1234256800981098497

As the news began to make its rounds, Twitter users were quick to share their thoughts, with President Donald Trump being one of the first.

"Pete Buttigieg is OUT. All of his SuperTuesday votes will go to Sleepy Joe Biden. Great timing. This is the REAL beginning of the Dems taking Bernie out of play - NO NOMINATION, AGAIN," Trump wrote.

https://twitter.com/realDonaldTrump/status/1234263037110083587

Others were more supportive of Buttigieg, with many noting that he was the most successful openly gay presidential candidate in the country's history.

"Mayor Pete has so much to be proud of. What a historic candidacy," Former U.S. Acting Solicitor General Neal Katyal tweeted.

https://twitter.com/neal_katyal/status/1234257202350895105
https://twitter.com/tomandlorenzo/status/1234260388780347394
https://twitter.com/JoeNBC/status/1234261485913804800
https://twitter.com/kylekrieger/status/1234262091126771713

But many Twitter users celebrated the news––mostly with memes.

"Mayor Pete dropped out?" Twitter user @TylerRickyTynes wrote along with a compilation of the Office characters dancing.

https://twitter.com/TylerRickyTynes/status/1234257826383572993
https://twitter.com/benyahr/status/1234262645731184640
https://twitter.com/oihamza/status/1234262910454714369

Those who weren't commemorating or celebrating were weighing in on who the former candidate should endorse. Most people thought he showed throw his support behind Democratic hopefuls Bernie Sanders or Elizabeth Warren.

https://twitter.com/NickiMorris321/status/1234262545055322112
https://twitter.com/JessicaValenti/status/1234256924159377410
https://twitter.com/mattyglesias/status/1234260425467932672

The Democratic nomination is now down to six candidates: Joe Biden, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Michael Bloomberg, Tulsi Gabbard, and Amy Klobuchar.

READ MORE:

Sign up to receive the Daily Dot’s Internet Insider newsletter for urgent news from the frontline of online.

The post Pete Buttigieg drops out of the 2020 presidential race appeared first on The Daily Dot.

]]>