Our president is a former reality show host and may or may not have used the N word on camera, yet some candidates still shock us all. Right now politics is like American Idol tryouts, where you wonder who ever told that person they were good enough to sing on TV, except with people who directly effect how our country is run. (I’m crying and you should be too.) Typically the citizens of our wonderful country – or at least the dismal number of citizens who actually vote – are smart enough to not vote for the wackos. But, then again, I’ll point you to the whole “Donald Trump is president” thing. The 2018 midterms are only a few months away, but we’ve already had some surprising candidates.

Like most surprises, some are good (surprise! everyone has off work today because of a gas leak!) and some are bad (surprise! you have to go to the hospital because of the gas leak and don’t even get to rest on your day off!), so here are 5 you need to know.

The One That Didn’t Have a Diploma

Melissa Howard was running for Florida’s State House when a debacle over her college diploma got in the way. While there totally are members of Congress without college degrees, Melissa didn’t want to be one of them, – you guessed it – she lied about her diploma. She even went so far as to pose with a picture next to a fake diploma, which is some next level shit. Eventually, Miami University (in Oxford, Ohio) was like, “Ummm…she didn’t even go here,” and she had to apologize.

Anyways,  she dropped out of the race at this point but pour one out for commitment to such an easily traced lie.

The One From The Hit TV Show

Cynthia Nixon, who you def know as Miranda from Sex And The City, decided she was fed up with current New York politics and is now running for governor. For any true fan, this seems like Miranda’s – I mean Cynthia’s – ultimate destiny, and she’s like kind of killing it on the female front. Cynthia started embracing Miranda’s persona when talking about her primaries against Andrew Cuomo, reminding us that maybe we shouldn’t have overlooked her character in the series. We can’t all be Carries.

The One Who Made History

Here’s one for the “good surprise” category. Christine Hallquist is a name you should write down and remember. She is the first openly trans woman nominated for governorship by a major party, and we’ll let you guess which party that is. She’s running in Vermont and is now the only trans candidate in the 2018 election. Christine and others hope that they can inspire the trans community to see that they can do whatever they want. 

The One Who Immigrated

This is a big F U to the whole travel ban and general immigrant hatred that has been going on in the White House. Ilhan Omar won the Democratic nomination for Minnesota’s 5th congressional district which is a safe and open Democratic seat, making her the favorite to win in November. She is a she, an immigrant, and a Muslim, aka everything that triggers our snowflake-in-chief. She is also on her way to getting elected! Representatives are meant to obv represent those in their districts and SHOCKER there are a bunch of female immigrants in America so it kind of makes sense to have at least one in Congress.

The One That Doesn’t Think The Holocaust Happened

Most people left that whole denying the Holocaust ever happened thing back in the 1900s, John Fitzgerald, a candidate who somehow won his primary in California, still isn’t convinced. This guy sucks worse than your ex. He is openly denying factual historical events… there are pics and it did happen so accept it, move on! Fitzgerald has also made many anti-semitic comments and other absurd shit, but yeah people still voted for him… again take a guess at which party this guy is making great (again) with.

To be fair, the Republican party clearly stated that they do not support him at all and his views do not reflect the party at all, like fair. Fitzgerald is just a friendly reminder that there are plenty of ass backwards people living here in the 21st Century.

How To Get Registered

So elections bring the good and the literal stinky armpits of humanity into the limelight, reminding us that yeah, we’ve come a long way but still have a lot to overcome. The general prediction at this time seems to be that the blue wave is set to crash on DC, or simply put, Democrats are set to take back the majority of the house.  November is still a few months away so there is still plenty of time for more drama political activity to unfold. There’s also plenty of time to get registered, which is why The Betches Sup has partnered with Rock The Vote to help make sure all our readers are registered and ready to vote.

>>Click here to register and find out about all your local and national candidates.<<

Heads up, you need to keep up with the news. It’s not cute anymore. That’s why we’ve created a 5x weekly newsletter called The ‘Sup that will explain all the news of the week in a hilarious af way. Because if we weren’t laughing, we’d be crying. Sign up for The ‘Sup now!

Images: Giphy (3)

I don’t live in New York, because I value things like open space and affordable rent (I live in D.C. instead, where those things are only marginally more available and the people are uglier). That said, I do know that New Yorkers are pretty fed up with Governor Andrew Cuomo, mostly because the subway is all fucked up. I feel that. If that’s you, fret not: you’ll have the opportunity to primary Cuomo’s ass into the stratosphere on the back of … Miranda from Sex And The City? Yes, Cynthia Nixon is running for Governor of New York.

She even has a little campaign video raring to go on Twitter:

I love New York, and today I'm announcing my candidacy for governor. Join us: https://t.co/9DwsxWW8xX pic.twitter.com/kYTvx6GZiD

— Cynthia Nixon (@CynthiaNixon) March 19, 2018

It’s a pretty slick production, which you’d expect from an actor. She talks about being a lifelong New Yorker, and how the subway she has almost certainly never used is fucked up. Oh yeah, and something about how people who live upstate are super poor and how she’s gonna “turn the system upside down,” or whatever.

Her battle is an uphill one. Despite being an activist and starring in one of the most popular TV shows in history, she lacks name recognition. According to the NY Daily News, Cynthia Nixon only registers at all with 42% of NY Democrats; 26% view her favorably, 16% view her negatively, and the rest have no opinion. Maybe she should just run as Miranda Hobbes?

Worst is that despite his shittiness (seriously, he allowed for one of the bluest states in the country to be run by Republicans in the House and Senate), Cuomo is extremely popular with Democrats. A poll this morning found that he womps Miranda by a margin of 66% to 19%, though the poll was conducted before she formally announced her candidacy. Still, New Yorkers love them some Cuomos. Seriously, between Andrew, Mario, and Hillary Clinton, you guys really can’t get enough of political dynasties, huh? Then again, his job approval rating is slipping, and fewer people say they’d re-elect him in other polls.

Anything can happen, I guess, though it seems unlikely Cynthia Nixon would win. The question is, if Carrie and co. were hesitant to visit Miranda in Brooklyn, what’s going to happen if she moves all the way to fucking Albany?

Heads up, you need to keep up with the news. It’s not cute anymore. That’s why we’ve created a 5x weekly newsletter called The ‘Sup that will explain all the news of the week in a hilarious af way. Because if we weren’t laughing, we’d be crying. Sign up for The ‘Sup now!

The legacy of Sex and the City has been debated hotly and often since its debut. As an avid fan—like, own-a-SATC-branded-tote-bag avid—I’ve faced a wide range of reactions. More often than not, I’m made to feel I should be embarrassed, if not apologetic. It makes sense—SATC haters see, at best, a grating six-year chick flick. At worst, they see a cesspool of materialistic internalized misogyny. And while I see (and cringe at) those aspects, I also see an exploration of women’s problems that no one else was putting on TV. I see a defense of the right to care deeply about things men laugh at, or dismiss. So, is Sex and the City sexist? In the interest of deciding once and for all whether I’m going to apologize for my love of SATC, I’ve compiled a list of the show’s best and worst moments, sexism-wise. Let’s dive in.

Best: Crying At Work

There’s a hilarious scene after Samantha is called “emotional” at work. That’s code, she explains, for “I don’t want to hire this woman.” Charlotte is still haunted from the one time she cried 10 years ago. Miranda has cried, but only in the privacy of her office. Samantha has never cried; Carrie faked crying to get out of a deadline. The girls inform her, with annoyance but no real anger, that she’s making all of them look bad.

This is where SATC shines—it presents the expectations women are faced with, and explores their options. There’s a huge power just in naming this dynamic they’ve all faced, and even more in not laying down a judgment on how they handle it. Even Carrie, who gets the most heat for playing to men’s expectations, is gleefully frank in her reasoning: “Boo hoo, it was 80 degrees and sunny.” I fully respect that, and I equally respect Miranda fleeing to her office. They’re just doing what they can to live their best lives.

Worst: Working At Work

The depiction of the women’s careers—other than Miranda’s—I find troubling for a few reasons. Both Samantha and Charlotte frequently sleep with people they should be treating as clients, muddling the success they’re then seen to enjoy with their desirability for men. Carrie by definition is sexualized in her work—and tops it off with a level of incompetence (that girl needs several months of computer classes) that brings any professional success into serious question. If three out of four successful women have their careers depend on men finding them sexy, and every single one of those instances is met with reciprocated desire instead of discomfort, that’s a problem for me.

Best: Trey’s (Literal) Impotence

Trey is both Charlotte’s downfall and her saving grace. At first, he’s everything terrible that she wants—he’s the white knight of all her worst Victorian daydreams. But once the wedding’s over, it’s immediately hollow. They don’t have sex. He refuses to discuss it. If she wants sex or openness in their marriage, she’s on her own. And, as women do in a crisis, she handles it like a boss. Charlotte, a woman who has never willingly looked at her own vagina, becomes an overnight expert on the physical and emotional triggers for ED. She handles it with more comfort than her literal doctor of a husband. And eventually, she leaves him, giving up the option of continuing in a picture-perfect marriage. Charlotte realizes she needs an equal partner who will fight as hard as she does, even if it isn’t easy. This is a lovely moment because Charlotte is almost strong in spite of herself. You can feel how badly she wants it to work.

Worst: Big’s (Figurative) Impotence

Speaking of women being strong, let’s discuss Carrie’s kryptonite: Mr. Big. (I’m totally Team Big over Team Aidan, no one from either camp @ me.) But Jesus Christ. It’s oft repeated in the show and in subsequent interviews, like this one from Chris Noth, that Mr. Big is “honest.” He’s honest that he doesn’t want a serious relationship, that he can’t commit. You probably recognize this line from every college fuckboy, because 22 is the suggested age cap on accepting this bullshit.

The thing his, Carrie is honest too. She might not be as on-the-nose about it as Big, but that’s because admitting you like someone and want to be with them is a lot scarier than saying you don’t want those things. It’s evident to anyone with half a brain that Carrie wants a relationship, that she loves him. And yet, the storyline here is largely of Carrie being dumb for letting a guy repeatedly ruin her life. Why is everyone on this show, Carrie included, forced to act as though Big was incapable of leaving her the fuck alone?

Carrie: Just let me be happy.

Big:

Best: Anal Sex

The scene where the girls discuss anal sex in the back of a cab is among the show’s most iconic. In under five minutes, they lay out all the considerations a woman must make before engaging in sexual activity. Yes, desire is on that list, but as women, it’s never the only thing we have to consider. There’s the shift in power. The longstanding effect to your reputation. Whether the request contained adequate regard for your comfort and enjoyment. What it would mean if you said no. As with the discussion of crying at work, the options are laid out, not judged. What for a man amounts to “do you want to” is revealed in all its complicated, messy glory for women. Watch it just to see Carrie deliver this line: “Sir, we’re talking up the butt. I think a cigarette is in order.”

*Carrie during this conversation:*

Worst: Gay Sex

I have neither time nor energy to delve into SATC’s overall BAD treatment of gay people. To stick to specifically sexist moments, let’s all admit that Samantha’s brief lesbian relationship was more than a little embarrassing. It was a dull, insulting imagining of how men picture lesbian relationships. Samantha leaves her girlfriend because “too much talking” and because she can’t live without a healthy amount of dick in her life. I’m not saying every minute aspect of this was unrealistic, but it was the most uninteresting scenario possible. It affirms absolutely nothing beyond dull tropes like “women are all talk and no sex” and “dick cures all.” No, and definitely not.

The only acceptable type of Samantha breakup:

While SATC covers “small dramas”—dating, friendships, shopping—I refuse to call those issues petty in a negative sense. I care deeply about all of those things, and I love that SATC offers a defense of being “petty,” of caring about things deemed too “small” in the face of Important Manly Tasks. Men scoff at so many so-called “feminine” things because they have the option of doing so. (If men faced the same judgment for going makeup-free, for example, they’d all be up at 6am with contour kits.) Sex and the City, in my opinion, is a portrayal of what it’s like to simultaneously live within and struggle against society’s expectations. It’s not perfect, but it’s not stupid or negligible either. Is Sex and the City sexist? Sometimes. But among so many other deeply sexist TV shows of the 90s, I’d argue it’s a better choice than most.