Topic: Karen Meme

The "Karen" meme saw a resurgence during the pandemic, often used to describe women who denied the reality of COVID-19. In the agricultural sector, Wisconsin dairy farmers were forced to dump thousands of pounds of milk due to supply chain disruptions. The closure of schools and restaurants created a surplus that retail grocers could not immediately absorb, leading to significant waste.

April Williams, a professor at the University of Michigan, explains the "Karen" meme as a representation of white female entitlement. She categorizes similar archetypes by age: "Kylie" (15-20), "Becky" (20-35), and "Karen" (35-45). The hosts criticize this academic framing as racist and "anti-white," arguing that the behavior described—calling for a manager—is a class issue rather than a racial one.