The Democrats Who Got Weird During the State of the Union
The Atlantic
February 25, 2026
AI-Generated Deep Dive Summary
The Democrats held a unique and unconventional event, *State of the Swamp*, as a counterprogramming response to President Trump’s State of the Union address. Organized by Defiance.org at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., the gathering featured comedian Rob Potylo (aka Robby Roadmaster) leading attendees in throwing inflatable dildos at a live stream of Trump’s speech and twerking in a giraffe costume. The event aimed to challenge Trump’s tactics by embracing absurdity rather than valor, with attendees wearing quirky costumes like inflatable frog suits and green hats with bulbous eyes.
Hosted by Miles Taylor, a former Homeland Security chief of staff who later became a Trump critic, the event brought together a mix of progressive figures, including actors Robert De Niro and Mark Ruffalo, conservative-turned-Trump-hater George Conway, voting-rights activist Stacey Abrams, and former CNN anchor Jim Acosta. The atmosphere was intentionally chaotic and confrontational, with speakers using profanity and mock press conferences. A video montage honored civil rights icons, but the tone remained irreverent, reflecting a broader shift in Democratic strategy to counter Trump’s dominance of the attention economy.
This event highlights the growing trend of political partisans abandoning traditional norms and engaging in more brazen and fragmented actions. Instead of silently defying during the State of the Union, Democrats opted for loud, absurd counterprogramming, mirroring similar efforts like Turning Point USA’s response to the Super Bowl halftime show. This approach reflects a coarsening political landscape, where both parties increasingly resort to extreme tactics to capture public attention.
The *State of the Swamp* exemplifies how politics is becoming less about shared national rituals and more about catering to ideological echo chambers. By embracing absurdity and confrontation, Democrats are attempting to compete with Trump’s ability to dominate the spotlight. However, this shift raises questions about whether such tactics effectively advance their policy goals or further divide the nation. The event underscores a broader cultural and political transformation, where winning attention—and votes—often takes precedence over substantive dialogue.
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Originally published on The Atlantic on 2/25/2026