Dems miss mark again as Kamala Harris touts ‘cringy’ youth outreach

Former Vice President and failed presidential candidate Kamala Harris on Thursday unveiled an online New Democratic Party headquarters for youth outreach, targeting what's known as "Gen Alpha" (presently teens and younger), and critics say she widely missed the mark.

Harris touted the "major announcement" on Wednesday as many speculated she might be throwing her hat in the ring for another presidential run in 2028. The post included a cryptic teaser video hinting at a major upcoming reveal, building anticipation among her followers and observers. 

Gen Z "brain rot"

The announcement came Thursday that her dormant 2024 campaign social media accounts (previously @KamalaHQ) were being rebranded and relaunched as Headquarters67, a self-described "Gen-Z led progressive content hub" focused on youth outreach, sharing updates, and creating progressive messaging — likely aimed at mobilizing young voters ahead of the 2026 midterms.

Although her initial announcement video referred to her project as "Headquarters," she was forced to switch to a new handle on X (@headquarters_67) as they couldn't secure @headquarters, reportedly due to it being unavailable. The "67" references a viral Gen Z meme/TikTok trend (often stylized as "6-7" or tied to slang and internet humor popular among younger users). The Urban Dictionary describes the phrase as originating from a specific rap song, but its modern usage is largely nonsensical and acts as a "brain rot" interjection used primarily by Gen Alpha and Gen Z.

A launch video featured young creators welcoming viewers to the hub, emphasizing it as youth-driven.

Reactions were heavily polarized and often critical if not outright mocking. Many conservatives and online commentators called it underwhelming and "cringy" after the hype — mocking the attempt to sound youthful, the "67" reference as forced, and the overall rebrand as a low-impact move from a failed 2024 campaign. Outlets like Twitchy, The Post Millennial, Daily Wire, and Washington Free Beacon highlighted the backlash, portraying it as tone-deaf or coming off as desperately seeking relevance.

"How do you do, fellow kids?"

The "big announcement" trended with a lot of mockery rather than excitement, contributing to the "fell flat" narrative. Conservative commentator Jim Treacher likened Harris' efforts to an infamous meme from the popular NBC TV show "30 Rock" in which actor Steve Buscemi plays a middle-aged private investigator failing at trying to blend in with high-school students.

Humorist Stephen Green dryly mocked Harris' latest effort with the headline: "Kamala Harris Teaches the Young Hep-Cats About This Whole Internet Thing." Green also noted that as of Thursday, users cannot actually create an account or log in anywhere, and neither of Kamala's X posts includes a link to the revamped site.