It’s always a little awkward when someone says the quiet part out loud, especially on live TV. That’s exactly what happened when political commentator Peter Hamby took an unexpected jab at Minnesota Governor Tim Walz during a segment on CNN hosted by Dana Bash. Hamby, discussing the Democrats’ struggle to connect with young male voters, delivered a line that left Bash scrambling to keep things professional and the internet chuckling in the background.
While talking about how Donald Trump has been making inroads with young men by doing things like playing golf with Bryson DeChambeau and appearing on comedian Theo Von’s podcast, Hamby contrasted this with the Democrats’ lack of a “cool guy” candidate. And then, without much warning, he dropped the roast: “With all due respect to Tim Walz—like, Tim Walz appeals to a lot of men, but he also appeals to that guy, Bruce, who’s just packaged; he’s wearing a ‘Future is Female’ shirt.” Ouch. Talk about a subtle but brutal takedown.
Peter Hamby: "Donald Trump, he plays golf with Bryson DeChambeau, he goes on Theo Von… Democrats, I'm sorry, they haven't had a cool guy candidate in a while. With all due respect to Tim Walz… he also appeals to that guy… who's wearing a 'Future is Female' shirt." pic.twitter.com/awlPKfIptc
— Scott Adams (@scottadamsshow) September 19, 2024
Bash, clearly not expecting this hot take, tried to pivot back to a serious discussion, but the damage was done. Hamby’s off-the-cuff comment highlighted a very real issue the Democratic Party is facing: they’re not exactly winning over young men, a key demographic in every election. Sure, Tim Walz might appeal to the ultra-progressive guy named Bruce, rocking his “Future is Female” gear, but Hamby’s quip nailed a deeper problem. Where’s the Democrat who can reach across the aisle—or across the generational divide—and connect with younger voters?
Republicans, of course, had a field day with this moment. They’ve long accused Democrats of being out of touch, especially when it comes to connecting with regular, working-class men. And Trump has capitalized on this by going where the young voters are. His appearance on Theo Von’s podcast is a perfect example. In a bizarre yet hilarious exchange, Trump asked Von about the effects of cocaine—yes, really—and the interaction quickly went viral. Von’s description of the drug as something that “turns you into a damn owl, homie” had both Trump and the internet buzzing.
Theo Von teaching Donald Trump about cocaine is the funniest thing I’ve seen all year pic.twitter.com/OVPHLENcZx
— Adam Foster (@AdamFostermusic) August 20, 2024
This is the kind of moment that resonates with younger audiences. Trump isn’t pretending to be something he’s not—he’s engaging with people on a more personal, sometimes ridiculous, level. Meanwhile, Democrats like Walz are left in the dust, appealing to the same predictable crowd, while missing the boat with younger, more diverse voters.
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