Topic: Charli Xcx

The segment traces the history of internet stardom from "Rocket Boom" to the modern "Brat Summer" trend associated with Charli XCX and Kamala Harris. Experts predict that social media spaces will become increasingly co-opted by political factions and culture war rhetoric in 2025.

The "Brat Summer" marketing trend adopted by the Harris campaign is discussed alongside the emerging "very demure, very mindful" TikTok trend started by Jules Lebron. The conversation suggests that political campaigns risk appearing out of touch by latching onto fleeting internet subcultures that may already be declining in popularity.

NPR and USA Today analyzed the transition from "Brat Summer"—a trend of embracing chaos and messiness inspired by Charli XCX—to "Demure Fall," which emphasizes quiet competence and gentility. The hosts interpret these trends as a sign of the younger generation's withdrawal from economic and political reality in favor of niche social media aesthetics.

The Harris campaign has seen a surge in viral social media support through "Brat" memes inspired by pop star Charli XCX. The "coconut tree" meme, originating from a 2023 White House speech where Harris quoted her mother, has become a central symbol for younger supporters using palm tree and coconut emojis. Reuters and other news outlets have reported on how these memes are being used to rebrand Harris's public persona for Gen Z voters.

Saturday Night Live aired its holiday show hosted by Paul Rudd without a live audience due to Omicron concerns, while musical guest Charli XCX canceled her appearance. Meanwhile, the UK Health Minister refuses to rule out new restrictions before Christmas, citing gaps in data regarding the variant.