"How do you fit this guy into the culture? Because we need him," Michael Hirschorn, former head of programming at VH1, who oversaw Flavor of Love, Rock of Love, and I Love the '80s, tells me with a laugh when I ask about Santos's prospects. "He's like Anthony Weiner times ten, in terms of the narcissistic aspect of it, but there's just so much pleasure in watching him-the fashion, the cockiness, the unearned swag."
As any Housewife or fallen televangelist will tell you, camp shamelessness can get you far. No wonder Santos is already a star on Cameo, charging $500 a pop. I've had a few in-person run-ins with him, the most recent of which occurred after he was expelled from Congress, but never a proper on-the-record interview. I came away thinking about Trump and how he has merged politics, infamy, and brazenness in a way that gave us Santos.
Back in 2016, it was said that Trump couldn't win because he was an unserious reality-TV showboat. But running for president is the greatest reality-TV show in the world-what are the debates if not rose ceremonies?-so, as we have found out, Trump had the relevant experience for the job. In his wake, the world belongs to the beefers, the livestreamers, and the stunt queens: Marjorie Taylor Greene, Lauren Boebert, Matt Gaetz, and, yes, AOC. And then came Santos.
He had no constituency, policy goals, or résumé. But he is, in his way, a star. "Of course Santos can do something in show business," says Bill Maher. "It's the only other business besides politics where there are no rules or qualifications, just whether you can get people to support you."
Denne historien er fra December 18, 2023-utgaven av New York magazine.
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Denne historien er fra December 18, 2023-utgaven av New York magazine.
Start din 7-dagers gratis prøveperiode på Magzter GOLD for å få tilgang til tusenvis av utvalgte premiumhistorier og 9000+ magasiner og aviser.
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Early and Often: David Freedlander - Momentum vs. Machine The Trump and Harris campaigns battle it out for every last vote.
WIth two weeks left to go, the contours of the 2024 presidential election are clear: Both campaigns need voters who usually don’t vote, and Kamala Harris needs to bring the Democratic coalition, including its Trump-curious members, back home.While the Republican side plans to spend the remaining days of the contest trying to lure low-propensity voters to the polls, the Harris team will attempt to persuade voters of color to return to its side and will try to increase numbers among white voters in previously red suburbs.
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Can the Media Survive?
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Trust the Kieran Culkin Process
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