Bad News Trump-Adjacent Weirdos Delights Meyers
Late-night talk show host Seth Meyers has made a name for himself by delivering biting political commentary with a healthy dose of humor. One of his favorite targets in recent years has been the Trump administration and its supporters. In particular, Meyers has taken aim at what he calls “Trump-adjacent weirdos” – people who may not be directly associated with the former president, but who share his worldview and often make headlines for their controversial statements and actions.
In this article, we’ll take a closer look at Meyers’ fascination with these individuals and explore why they continue to captivate audiences in the post-Trump era.
The Rise of Trump-Adjacent Weirdos
To understand why Meyers has fixated on Trump-adjacent weirdos, it’s important to first examine the cultural and political landscape that gave rise to them. During the Trump presidency, many Americans became increasingly polarized and tribalistic in their beliefs. This was reflected in the media landscape, where conservative outlets like Fox News and Breitbart gained significant influence and mainstream outlets like CNN and MSNBC became more openly partisan.
At the same time, social media platforms like Twitter and Facebook allowed individuals to create their own echo chambers, where they could surround themselves with like-minded people and consume news and information that reinforced their existing beliefs. This created a fertile ground for conspiracy theories, fake news, and extremist viewpoints to spread.
As a result, a number of figures emerged who were not necessarily part of the Trump administration but who shared its worldview and often espoused similar rhetoric. These included figures like Alex Jones, the founder of conspiracy website Infowars; Milo Yiannopoulos, a far-right commentator known for his inflammatory statements about women and minorities; and Laura Loomer, a self-described “proud Islamophobe” who has been banned from multiple social media platforms for her extremist views.
The Appeal of Trump-Adjacent Weirdos
So why do figures like Jones, Yiannopoulos, and Loomer continue to captivate audiences even after Trump has left office? For Meyers, part of the appeal lies in their sheer absurdity. These are individuals who often say and do things that are so outrageous that they seem almost like caricatures of themselves.
At the same time, however, Meyers recognizes that these figures represent a real threat to democracy and civil society. Their extremist views and conspiracy theories can sow division and mistrust, and their influence can be felt far beyond their own followers. By shining a light on their antics, Meyers hopes to expose their dangerous ideas and prevent them from gaining even more power and influence.
The Limits of Satire
Of course, not everyone is a fan of Meyers’ approach. Some critics argue that by giving these figures a platform, he is only amplifying their message and giving them more attention than they deserve. Others worry that by turning politics into a spectacle, he is contributing to the very polarization and tribalism that he claims to be fighting against.
Meyers himself has acknowledged these concerns, but he argues that satire has an important role to play in our political discourse. By using humor to expose the absurdity of certain ideas and behaviors, he believes that he can help people see through the lies and propaganda that are all too common in today’s media landscape.
The Future of Trump-Adjacent Weirdos
As we look ahead to the future, it’s unclear what role figures like Jones, Yiannopoulos, and Loomer will play in our politics. On the one hand, their influence may wane now that Trump is out of office and the media landscape is shifting once again. On the other hand, their extremist views may continue to find fertile ground among certain segments of the population, particularly as social media continues to play a dominant role in shaping our public discourse.
Whatever the future holds, it’s clear that Meyers will continue to keep a close eye on these figures and use his platform to call out their dangerous ideas and behaviors. Whether you love him or hate him, there’s no denying that he has become one of the most important voices in our political discourse today.
