Carbon Costume

At Joe Biden’s inauguration after defeating Donald Trump in the presidential election, Bernie Sanders, the firebrand from Vermont, was spotted in attendance. What made Bernie stand out was his choice of clothing for the formal occasion. Granted the Burton winter parka and wool mittens made from recycled plastic bottles were both practical for the chilly January weather and on brand for the conscientious politician. But the image of the seated Senator quickly went viral, right on the heels of his “I am once again asking” meme.

Mark and Patricia McCloskey were speakers at the Republican National Convention because they waved guns at Black Lives Matter protesters. The St. Louis couple rose to national notoriety in late June when they were captured in viral videos and photos outside their mansion in a gated community, pointing a rifle and handgun at peaceful protesters. Since then, they have turned into a Rorschach test for where people stand on the Black Lives Matter movement and gun rights in America.