Freed from the Past, Bernie Bros Embrace the KHive
Online progressives who once had strong negative feelings towards Kamala Harris are now using memes to elevate her political campaign.
TroibNews 
Vice President Kamala Harris has nearly secured her party’s nomination thanks to endorsements from leading Democrats. Interestingly, she is also gaining support from an unexpected group: Bernie Bros. These fervent online progressives are siding with Harris, armed with coconut memes and Charli XCX references.
This shift is surprising given the contentious atmosphere during the 2020 Democratic primary. The KHive, Harris’ fierce supporters, often clashed with Bernie Sanders’ fans, accusing them of racism, sexism, and unrealistic progressive ideals. Sanders’ supporters retaliated by labeling Harris as “Cop-ala” to criticize her tenure as California’s attorney general.
However, these same progressives are now central to Harris’ rising online presence, crafting memes and using trendy songs to reshape her image from a stiff politician to a quirky icon. Reformed Bernie Bros have made Harris seem more relatable and likable, effectively improving her brand.
“KAMALA NOW!!!!!,” tweeted Josh Cohen, author of the popular newsletter “ettingermentum.”
“I’m buckled up and ready to go,” writer and activist David Atkins posted, using a coconut emoji.
“She’s having the time of her life lol,” posted Sam Adler-Bell from the leftist “Know Your Enemy” podcast.
This newfound support reflects the evolving political landscape within the Democratic Party. With Bernie Sanders’ last campaign fading into history and progressive star Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez not yet ready for a presidential bid, there’s no clear heir to Sanders’ movement. As progressive goals like free college and universal health care face setbacks and ongoing issues like the Israel-Hamas conflict persist without resolution, the scope of progressive possibilities has diminished.
Within this context, replacing Biden—criticized by progressives as a neoliberal—is seen as a desperately needed change. Harris, though not perfect and once criticized as part of the “carceral state,” now appears to be a preferable option. Her candidacy brings hope to leftist voters disillusioned by a potential Trump-Biden rematch, becoming a symbol of pragmatism in challenging times. NYC Councilmember Chi Ossé, a previously staunch Sanders supporter, emphasizes this strategic decision: progressives, while holding onto their ideals, recognize the need to prevent a Trump victory, even if it means rallying around Harris.
Ossé initially opposed Harris due to her criminal justice record but has since shifted his stance as Biden’s performance deteriorated. He supports Harris as a more vibrant candidate capable of carrying the administration’s accomplishments forward. Even before Biden’s withdrawal, Ossé demonstrated his support by posting a video of Harris clips set to RuPaul’s “Call Me Mother” with the caption “Coconut tree summer,” referencing Harris’ viral speech about her mother.
“Progressives are being pragmatic here. We want to win,” Ossé explained. “While Harris and Biden are not progressives by definition, a Trump presidency is antithetical to the progressive movement. Harris has a better chance of defeating Trump and the GOP than Biden does.”
Other progressives cite Harris’ identity as a younger, energetic woman of color as a positive factor, injecting enthusiasm into the election. Alejandra Caraballo, a leftist civil rights lawyer, noted, “I do think [the pragmatism] works in conjunction with her being a younger, more dynamic candidate, offering hope and something to vote for rather than against Trump.”
Prominent progressives like Matthew Sitman and Emma Vigeland have also shown consistent support for Harris. Sitman, a long-time Sanders fan and cohost of the “Know Your Enemy” podcast, added coconut and palm tree emojis to his online name, advocating Harris as a livelier alternative to Biden. Vigeland, co-host of the “Majority Report,” joyfully embraced Harris with posts and polls presenting her as a strong candidate post-Biden’s withdrawal.
In a video titled “Biden Drops Out!!! COCONUT GANG, RISE UP!” Vigeland expressed relief and support for Harris, contrasting it with the anxiety brought on by Biden’s candidacy.
Although these reformed Bernie supporters differ from prominent figures like AOC and Sanders, who supported Biden until the end, many see this as strategic politics rather than a betrayal. AOC has since endorsed Harris, though Sanders has yet to do so.
The focus now is on using memes and online strategies to elevate Harris to the White House. Progressives, skillful in internet culture, recognize that viral moments can significantly impact a campaign. Ossé believes Harris’ relatability and intelligence are invaluable, particularly against pervasive racial and misogynistic stereotypes.
“While it may appear to be a joke or a trend, it reaches potential voters and can benefit her campaign,” Ossé said, adding that the Democratic Party must acknowledge the GOP threat, even if it means deviating from tradition.
Varsha Venkatasubramanian, a 30-year-old progressive, sees supporting Harris as a recognition of leftists’ concerns about Biden’s electability being heard by the Democratic establishment. Despite potential resurfacing criticisms of Harris’ past, progressives are willing to support her for the greater goal of preventing a Trump victory.
“Her ability to stand across from Donald Trump as a former prosecutor and make the case against him is very strong,” Venkatasubramanian said. “She’s a literal cop. I’m not saying I love cops. I’m just saying she’s a literal cop standing across from a felon.”
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
This shift is surprising given the contentious atmosphere during the 2020 Democratic primary. The KHive, Harris’ fierce supporters, often clashed with Bernie Sanders’ fans, accusing them of racism, sexism, and unrealistic progressive ideals. Sanders’ supporters retaliated by labeling Harris as “Cop-ala” to criticize her tenure as California’s attorney general.
However, these same progressives are now central to Harris’ rising online presence, crafting memes and using trendy songs to reshape her image from a stiff politician to a quirky icon. Reformed Bernie Bros have made Harris seem more relatable and likable, effectively improving her brand.
“KAMALA NOW!!!!!,” tweeted Josh Cohen, author of the popular newsletter “ettingermentum.”
“I’m buckled up and ready to go,” writer and activist David Atkins posted, using a coconut emoji.
“She’s having the time of her life lol,” posted Sam Adler-Bell from the leftist “Know Your Enemy” podcast.
This newfound support reflects the evolving political landscape within the Democratic Party. With Bernie Sanders’ last campaign fading into history and progressive star Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez not yet ready for a presidential bid, there’s no clear heir to Sanders’ movement. As progressive goals like free college and universal health care face setbacks and ongoing issues like the Israel-Hamas conflict persist without resolution, the scope of progressive possibilities has diminished.
Within this context, replacing Biden—criticized by progressives as a neoliberal—is seen as a desperately needed change. Harris, though not perfect and once criticized as part of the “carceral state,” now appears to be a preferable option. Her candidacy brings hope to leftist voters disillusioned by a potential Trump-Biden rematch, becoming a symbol of pragmatism in challenging times. NYC Councilmember Chi Ossé, a previously staunch Sanders supporter, emphasizes this strategic decision: progressives, while holding onto their ideals, recognize the need to prevent a Trump victory, even if it means rallying around Harris.
Ossé initially opposed Harris due to her criminal justice record but has since shifted his stance as Biden’s performance deteriorated. He supports Harris as a more vibrant candidate capable of carrying the administration’s accomplishments forward. Even before Biden’s withdrawal, Ossé demonstrated his support by posting a video of Harris clips set to RuPaul’s “Call Me Mother” with the caption “Coconut tree summer,” referencing Harris’ viral speech about her mother.
“Progressives are being pragmatic here. We want to win,” Ossé explained. “While Harris and Biden are not progressives by definition, a Trump presidency is antithetical to the progressive movement. Harris has a better chance of defeating Trump and the GOP than Biden does.”
Other progressives cite Harris’ identity as a younger, energetic woman of color as a positive factor, injecting enthusiasm into the election. Alejandra Caraballo, a leftist civil rights lawyer, noted, “I do think [the pragmatism] works in conjunction with her being a younger, more dynamic candidate, offering hope and something to vote for rather than against Trump.”
Prominent progressives like Matthew Sitman and Emma Vigeland have also shown consistent support for Harris. Sitman, a long-time Sanders fan and cohost of the “Know Your Enemy” podcast, added coconut and palm tree emojis to his online name, advocating Harris as a livelier alternative to Biden. Vigeland, co-host of the “Majority Report,” joyfully embraced Harris with posts and polls presenting her as a strong candidate post-Biden’s withdrawal.
In a video titled “Biden Drops Out!!! COCONUT GANG, RISE UP!” Vigeland expressed relief and support for Harris, contrasting it with the anxiety brought on by Biden’s candidacy.
Although these reformed Bernie supporters differ from prominent figures like AOC and Sanders, who supported Biden until the end, many see this as strategic politics rather than a betrayal. AOC has since endorsed Harris, though Sanders has yet to do so.
The focus now is on using memes and online strategies to elevate Harris to the White House. Progressives, skillful in internet culture, recognize that viral moments can significantly impact a campaign. Ossé believes Harris’ relatability and intelligence are invaluable, particularly against pervasive racial and misogynistic stereotypes.
“While it may appear to be a joke or a trend, it reaches potential voters and can benefit her campaign,” Ossé said, adding that the Democratic Party must acknowledge the GOP threat, even if it means deviating from tradition.
Varsha Venkatasubramanian, a 30-year-old progressive, sees supporting Harris as a recognition of leftists’ concerns about Biden’s electability being heard by the Democratic establishment. Despite potential resurfacing criticisms of Harris’ past, progressives are willing to support her for the greater goal of preventing a Trump victory.
“Her ability to stand across from Donald Trump as a former prosecutor and make the case against him is very strong,” Venkatasubramanian said. “She’s a literal cop. I’m not saying I love cops. I’m just saying she’s a literal cop standing across from a felon.”
Rohan Mehta contributed to this report for TROIB News
