‘Weird’ has become political, but here’s why it shouldn’t be an insult

Republicans, as you’ve probably heard, are being called “weird.” In a quip that launched a million memes, Minnesota Governor-turned-VP-candidate Tim Walz referred to his right-wing political opposition as “weird people” in a July 23, 2024, interview on MSNBC. Since then, the barb has stuck, with leading Democratic party figures, from Senate Majority Leader Chuck Schumer to presidential nominee Kamala Harris, branding their Republican opposition with the moniker. Of...