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Donald Trump and JD Vance are failing America's favorite political test

By Joy Reid

This is an adapted excerpt from the Aug. 7 episode of "The Reid Out."

Let’s talk about joy — no not me, Joy, but the feeling of joy. More specifically, the joy being felt by Americans backing the Harris-Walz ticket. A joy that is palpable and pervasive. 

We saw that joy on full display, with massive crowds greeting Vice President Kamala Harris and Minnesota Gov. Tim Walz at their rallies in Wisconsin and Michigan on Wednesday. It feels like we are experiencing another 2008 Obama moment. The energy, the excitement, the enthusiasm. It feels fun.

Imagine that, American politics … joyful again.

The 2024 presidential election has quickly become the tale of two tickets: one radiates joy and the other is dour and frankly, frightening. And it’s clear that has Republicans freaking out.

Harris has not only been criticized for her race, gender and parental status — but also for laughing . As if an infectious, energizing belly laugh — the literal display of joy — is a bad thing.

Walz is also a joyful guy. His former students love him. He was a popular and successful high school football coach. He made “weird” happen. He’s a Midwesterner with “big dad energy” who will offer tips on how to fix your car and save money to boot.

Some of you may be familiar with the “beer question” in U.S. politics: a thought experiment often utilized by the media or in polling, which says voters will generally elect the candidate they would rather have a beer with. Victory in American politics often goes not to the candidate who better articulates their platform, but rather, to whoever is more likable.

So you be the judge: Who would you rather have a beer with?

Harris, who dares to laugh and Walz, the plain-spoken fun uncle who will defend the people he loves?

Or Trump, who rambles about sharks and hatred, who makes fun of people and smirks but who rarely laughs, and who doesn’t seem capable of talking to a child — even his own grandkids?

And his cat lady-hating sidekick Sen. JD Vance?  That guy is really weird. So weird the couch meme won’t die.

Vance is basically stalking the Democratic ticket. On Wednesday, he stunned reporters by attempting to confront Harris and Walz on the tarmac when their planes arrived in Wisconsin at similar times. 

Vance told reporters he “just wanted to check out [his] future plane.” Walking up to the vice president and Air Force Two is not a thing that normal people do.

His weirdness aside, this race has also been a total reversal of how the parties are normally framed. The Republicans love to attack Democratic elites — but this time around, Harris and Walz actually feel like the more regular, normal middle-class folks. Yes, they are living extraordinary political lives but due to hard work, not connections or riches. 

The Republicans love to attack Democratic elites — but this time around, Harris and Walz actually feel like the more regular, normal middle-class folks.

Harris went to Howard University, an HBCU, then The University Of California, Hastings College Of Law. Walz attended an open-admissions teachers college in northwest Nebraska.

Quite the opposite of the candidates on the Republican side — with Trump-Vance being the Ivy League ticket, loved by the billionaires. It’s a conundrum for the Republican Party.

The so-called populist MAGA movement is now bankrolling a celebrity who inherited his wealth, who is not out there campaigning but instead golfing at this exclusive ritzy resort, and a vice presidential candidate anointed by another super weird guy, tech investor Peter Thiel.

It’s also a ticket backed by billionaire tech bros who want to unleash Project 2025 — the brainchild of rich people — on the American people. 

It is a hateful vision that all people should fear … and it’s a vision reflected perfectly by the two men who want to execute it.

Join Joy Reid, Rachel Maddow and many others on Saturday, Sept. 7, in Brooklyn, New York, for “MSNBC Live: Democracy 2024,” a first-of-its-kind live event. You’ll get to see your favorite hosts in person and hear thought-provoking conversations about what matters most in the final weeks of an unprecedented election cycle.  Buy tickets here .

Joy-Ann Reid is host of “The ReidOut” at 7 p.m. ET on MSNBC. “The ReidOut” features one-on-one conversations with politicians and newsmakers while addressing provocative political issues both inside and outside of the beltway.

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What Is Smoked Beer? Here's What to Know, and 5 to Try

Throughout history, most beer tasted smoky, but modern trends have left the style in the past. Here's why some brewers are reviving smoked beers.

Courtesy of Alaskan Brewing Company

Smoked beer makes up a tiny percentage of the U.S. market, but it’s a polarizing style, even among hardcore beer fans. From lightly smoked helles lagers to intense, full-bodied rauchbiers , these beers utilize smoked malts. Styles can vary widely, depending on the different types of wood and length of time used by the maltster. As a result, they can impart different levels of smokiness.

“Historically, all beer at one point probably was smoky,” says Ben Smith, vice president of brewing operations at Surly Brewing Company in Minneapolis. “Initially, when people were drying malted barley, they were using a kind of a direct fire system, where you're going to get some smoke coming through the malt as it's drying.” Today, malts are dried indirectly in kilns to avoid that smoky essence, unless smokiness is the goal. 

It can take a little getting used to smoked beers. Thankfully, they tend to play well with other flavors. 

“Smoked beers are surprisingly versatile for food pairings,” says Tim Adams, founder of Oxbow Brewing Company in Oxbow, Maine. 

Adams points out that the capital of smoked beer is considered to be Bamberg, Germany, so he suggests to start with traditional pork and cabbage-focused German cuisine . Smith says it’s best to start pairing “like with like.” For example, smoky barbecue marries well with a more delicately smoked beer. However, he cautions against pairing desserts or other sweet flavors that may exacerbate the harshness of smoked malt.

Brian Yaeger, founder of the Diff’rent Smokes festival of rauchbiers and a self-described smoked beer enthusiast, says to have fun and remain open-minded. “Rauchbier is the most punk rock style,” he says. “It is awesome, but it's easy to understand why it's a turn-off to many, so brewing and drinking it is a delectable middle finger to the masses in a way no other craft beer style is.” 

Here are a few suggestions for beers to get your smoke on. 

Surly Brewing Company – You Want This Smoke

Food & Wine / Surly Brewing Company

Smith calls this taproom-only light German lager an homage to the smoked beer tradition of Bamberg, Germany. It’s a great introduction to the style, thanks to the small amount of beech-smoked malt used, mostly for aroma and a hint of flavor. 

“Halfway through the pint, you almost don't even taste the smoke anymore,” says Smith. After the first few sips, he says, the rest of the beer’s character starts to shine through. “It’s low ABV [at 4.5%], so you can have two or three of them. They’re great in a mug at Oktoberfest.” 

Oxbow Brewing Company – Oxtoberfest

Food & Wine / Oxbow Brewing Company

As a Marzen-inspired smoked bière de garde , Oxtoberfest draws inspiration from Belgian, German, and French brewing traditions, says Adams. “The majority of our smoked beers are yeast-driven, Belgian-style farmhouse ales, “ he says. “There are very few examples of smoked beers in modern Belgian brewing, but we find the smoke character to be complementary to the fruit and spice flavor found in these styles.” 

Oktoberfest lands at 6% ABV with a deft balance between the malt and yeast profiles. It has a moderate amount of smoke in the finish, but it goes down smoothly, especially paired with a soft Bavarian pretzel.

Dovetail Brewery – Grodziskie

Food & Wine / Dovetail Brewery

Grodziskies are one of the more subtly smoked styles in the category. Often difficult to find, they are among the best entry points,  thanks to their light body and low alcohol levels. Dovetail’s seasonal take on the style comes in at 3.8% ABV, and it balances between a citrusy brightness and light smokiness, wrapped up in a medium body and refreshing finish. 

Alaskan Brewing Company – Smoked Porter

Food & Wine / Alaskan Brewing Company

Rauchbier, which translates to “smoke beer” in German, didn’t make its way to the U.S. until 1988. That’s when Alaskan first launched its smoked porter , a groundbreaking smoky brew that helped introduce American drinkers to the style. Alaskan’s Smoked Porter has won more medals at the Great American Beer Festival than any beer in history. It’s rich, complex, and ages beautifully, but it can also be enjoyed fresh. 

Threes Brewing – Thought Experiment Smoked Peach

Food & Wine / Threes Brewing

Matt Levy, head brewer at Threes Brewing in Brooklyn, New York, is behind the brand’s Thought Experiment series, in which smoked helles is taken out of an oak foeder and aged on whole fruit from their barrel-aged program. The peach iteration comes in at 5.2% ABV with a bubbly saison body and bright fruit expression, accented by an evocative smoke note. 

“There’s something primal about the flavor,” says Levy, who urges beer lovers to taste a range of smoked styles. “Why not try and see if you can find one that you like?”

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Wanderjack began as part of the series of 24 collaboration beers that we brewed for our 10th anniversary. and it proved to be among the most popular. To make it, we paired with our good friends Tyler Brown and the team at Barley Brown’s Beer. Tyler is a legend in the beer industry, the godfather of modern IPA in the Northwest, and one of the best storytellers you’ll meet.

We’ve been lucky to soak up tons of knowledge from Tyler and his crew at Barley Brown’s. There’s no doubt that Breakside IPA and Wanderlust exist the way they do today thanks to the influence of Tyler, Eli, and Addison. It was a no brainer to host them as part of our 10th anniversary collaborations and also a no-brainer to make a West Coast IPA with them. When we sat down to make this beer, we asked, ‘how would you design a new West Coast IPA in 2020 if you were opening a new brewery? How can we make an IPA that captures the direction that the style is heading?’ The beer that came out of that thought experiment is filled with three of the fruitiest hops around, Strata, Mosaic, and Azacca, along with a touch of Simcoe to anchor the beer in classic dank and catty West Coast flavor. The bitterness is modest. The malt bill is extremely lean, and the ABV is robust enough to provide some body and support. It’s our take on a contemporary West Coast IPA for the 2020s.

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• Availability Aug-Dec. 2024
• Hops Strata, Mosaic, Simcoe, Amarillo
• MALT Two Row, Vienna
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Wanderjack AWARDS

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