Reports of the death of "woke" may have been premature, at least according to the jokes spreading across the internet in the wake of Tuesday's Democratic election victories. The progressive politics branded "woke" have become a potent target for Republicans in recent years, with President Donald Trump and his allies campaigning against policies associated with the term, such as transgender rights and diversity, equity and inclusion. However, within hours of Democrats winning control of the House and Senate, social media users announced, "Woke 2.0 has arrived." Memes and jokes poured in, with quips that gained thousands of views and likes, including a comment about replacing the "Ten Commandments in Texas classrooms with the terms and conditions of Grindr," and that "CNN is now saying the national anthem has been changed to a reggaeton cover of Pink Pony Club." As conservative voices began to respond to the wave of Democratic victories, some of the online humor was directed at their reactions.
Laura Loomer, a far-right activist and conspiracy theorist who has described herself as a "proud Islamophobe" and expressed support for white nationalism, declared that "America is over." "We now have reps who openly speak about their hatred of America, their love of communism and their support for sharia law," Loomer wrote on X on Tuesday evening. Her remarks were quickly mocked, with users deliberately confusing references to Sharia law with the name of Colombian pop star Shakira. The topic "Shakira law" began trending on X, with more than 16,000 posts associated with the term.
Jemele Hill, a contributing writer for The Atlantic, wrote on the platform: "Anybody know when Shakira law starts? I need to warm up my hips." "So, so ready for that Shakira law," another user wrote, while others posted videos of the singer dancing. Over the summer, Democratic Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez of New York said in an interview, "Woke 1 was crazy," borrowing a phrase from New York City Councilmember Chi Ossé.
Ocasio-Cortez used the phrase while discussing some of the more provocative progressive rhetoric that emerged around 2020, saying it was "not rhetoric that we would use today." Ocasio-Cortez invoked the phrase while discussing Wisconsin Assemblymember and gubernatorial candidate Francesca Hong, whose pandemic-era social-media posts included a call to "cancel Thanksgiving." Hong, a member of the Democratic Socialists of America, lost the primary in August by less than 4,000 votes to more moderate candidate David Crowley. On Tuesday, Crowley defeated Trump ally Tom Tiffany to become the state's first Black governor. Despite the joking calls for "Woke 2.0" following the Democratic victories, the midterm results were hardly an unambiguous mandate for a new progressive era.
While Abdul El-Sayed's victory in Michigan offered a major boost to the party's left, Democrats also saw success with establishment and moderate candidates, including Crowley in Wisconsin and pastor Adam Hamilton in Kansas. Hamilton, whose victory makes him the first Democrat elected to the U.S. Senate from the Sunflower State since 1932, describes himself as an "independent-minded Democrat, dedicated to leading from the center." For now at least, "Woke 2.0" appears to be a much clearer description of Democrats' online victory lap than of the ideological direction of the next Congress.
Contact Newsweek editors on this story: Ben Kelly and Shakeema Edwards.
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