Senator Ted Cruz is not the zodiac killer: Not surprised, but still disappointed

KATHRYN CHAVEZ: This fall's hottest trend in Washington, D.C., is mosquito bites, and Kim Kardashian killed it on SNL last weekend. It has been a fun week of Republicans thinking President Joe Biden is Santa Claus and having a mini-crisis that AOC is only 30 and has already done so much. Here are the best and worst digital and social media moments from the past week!

Best: N.J. Democrats killer ad

My only experience with New Jersey is visiting the Cake Boss bakery, but based on what I have seen on the Jersey Shore, swearing is the norm.

In an ad from the N.J. Democrats supporting current governor Chirs Murphy, they highlighted a previous legislative proposal from GOP candidate Jack Ciattarelli. That proposal, to ban swearing. This ad captures your attention, makes you laugh and highlights the lack of common sense from the GOP candidate. It is just a damn good ad. 

Best: To vote or not to vote… Republicans do not understand how elections work 

I understand the electoral college can be confusing, but it does not take a genius to understand that votes matter even with that system. Additionally, most elections besides the President are determined by the popular vote. So, as a Democrat, I say, “that will show us, stay home on election day GOP, make your point.”

Best: She's (my) Monica Lewinsky and she is hilarious

I am a fan of Monica Lewinsky, as I do not know how I could have survived what she faced at 22. She was taken advantage of by a grown man and president and shamed by the public; Clinton is not the victim. Anyways, her Twitter has long been one of my favorites to follow, as she uses the platform to hold her head high and often find the humor in what happened in the 90s. This tweet made me laugh out loud and want to be her friend even more. 

Best: Charlie Kirk should not become an OBGYN or marine biologist anytime soon

Turning Point USA Founder and President Charlie Kirk was beautifully tricked into showing how little he knows about the female body and pregnancy. While I am pro-choice, I am from Texas and have many anti-choice friends, so I am not here to belittle that view. I am here to point out how hypocritical it is for him to want a say in what happens to the female body when he has no idea what a fetus looks like. Thanks to California Representative Eric Swalwell for putting this on my feed. 

Best: Happy birthday to First Gentleman Doug Emhoff! 

Doug, what a fun name to say. First Gentleman and dream supportive husband blueprint Doug Emhoff was celebrated by the official Democrats Instagram page with a fan edit, as he should be. The reel shows off just how fun he is and supportive he is of his wife, Vice President Kamala Harris. 


Professional warm and fuzzy: Department of Transportation rides a trend

I very well know the Secretary of Transportation and former Presidential Candidate and Mayor Pete Buttigieg does not run the DOT Twitter, but in my head, he does. So when the DOT does something trendy, I picture Secretary Buttigieg being the one behind the tweet sharing his love of trains, planes and automobiles.

Worst: Senator Chuck Grassley, no one wants to see your half-eaten burger. 

First, ew. Second, what is with the text lingo? Is he 88 (yikes) or in 8th grade? BTW, this is your friendly reminder that if he wins in 2022, he will be 95 when the term ends. And this is not me age shaming, it is just nuts that the average US person is 38, but we have Senators who were adults in the same time period my American Girl dolls are from.

I’ll spare you the link on this one.

Worst: Georgia Representative Marjorie Taylor Greene casually suggests secession 

We all knew she already was not well versed in American history, but this feels like a step too far. Reminder, the last time states left the union was because they wanted to keep slaves… not because of “states rights.”

Worst and best, but mostly worst: Texas Senator Ted Cruz makes us laugh and then reminds us how awful he is

I have Senator Cruz to thank regarding where I got my current passion for politics following Former Texas Representative and Presidential Candidate Beto O’Rourke loss in 2018. But, this week, Senator Cruz made us laugh when he poked fun at the recurring joke that he is the Zodiac Killer, then quickly turned that sour when he made light of the fact he left Texans freezing at home to vacation in Mexico. Next week will he blame the tweet on his two young daughters? Or is it too early to tell?

Kathryn Chavez is a First Year Master of Public Policy student at the McCourt School. Originally from outside Dallas, Texas, she graduated from Southern Methodist University in 2021 with degrees in Business Management, Advertising and Fashion Media with a minor in Journalism.