Did you feel that, YangGang? Last Saturday, November 23, 2019, when Yang went live on CNN and told the world in no uncertain terms that the game is rigged? Did you feel it when we trended #BoycottMSNBC or #TellTheTruthMSNBC straight to the top with a mere flick of our mouses and keyboards? I sure as hell felt it. But what does it mean?

I was right there, standing behind him, my quivering hand mere inches from his supple hind quarters. Six cameras with as many operators poised themselves in front of a room full of ‘rabid’ supporters. The crowd stood in a horseshoe formation around them all. The operator of the camera front and center admonished us all into silence, with less than modest success. Only at the almost reluctant, cool and casual beckoning — through jokes and laughter — by the focal point of the room did we respectfully quell our excitement.

For four whole minutes over a hundred of the most dedicated, high energy, well synchronized supporters of the most important campaign in the history of the world (no, that is not hyperbolic) stood in thick and heavy stillness so that CNN could get their ‘up next’ shot of us all. The central figures in view of the camera stayed still and focused, but around the edges and further back the energy flowed subtly. Camera phones stuck up in the air scanning the room, constrained smiles burst across faces guiltily, arms and hands fidgeted, bodies swayed gently shifting weight from foot to foot, one or two slow motion dances broke out, and countless signs flapped ever so slightly. For as little movement going on there was an overwhelmingly palpable tension in the room.

*****************************

If you’ve been following the campaign with any significant attention, you’ve probably been caught by at least one of the ever so tantalizing, dopamine inducing strategies carefully tuned to draw maximal attention they so dutifully drip out to us hungry supporters and observers. The loot box achievements unlocked as our donations move little cartoon Yang up the mountains. Pictures from Halloween past (happy birthday, Evelyn!). Endlessly creative merch drops in ‘limited’ supply. Secret endorsements. Surprise cameos in music videos and concerts. The ten hour ask me anything marathon.

Before the second debate Yang held an AMA in which the top comment asked him to break the fourth wall. His reply:

“ Thank you for the suggestion. I like this idea and will take it very seriously. The 4th wall reminds me of pro wrestling. :)”

In his closing statement at that debate he called out our current political system as a reality T.V. show. And he has proven to be the most entertaining actor thus far.

*******************************

Springs are an interesting invention. A coil can contain a massive amount of energy from simple compression. The more you compress it, the more energy it takes to compress it further, and the more potential energy is stored within the coil. At maximum compression, when all of the layers of metal are flush against each other, the spring appears to be perfectly still. But as soon as you release that pressure — BAM — all of the captured energy explodes outward in both directions.

********************************

The four minutes of silence ended and we all breathed a short sigh. The energy remained slow in the room and everyone stayed in their place for the interview coming up shortly, but for the moment the camera was off. Signs dropped, ripples of subdued chatter broke out, and everyone sort of dropped their mannequin postures. After a couple minutes the camera woman told Yang it was just about time, he turned to us and quipped, “alright I’m gonna trash talk MSNBC then we can get to my speech” then shot us a look to rank up before the camera went live.

We couldn’t hear the questions coming from CNN, but the answers he gave were enough to feel the significance of that interview. Until that day Yang had only ever addressed the media blackout indirectly, never placing blame but simply observing the oddity of him being left out of graphs and mentions. It has happened more times than we can count at this point, and MSNBC may be the worst aggressor, but certainly not the only.

Even as Yang drew his line in the sand with the actions of primarily one media entity (which has not been entirely dismissive of the campaign) he acknowledged and commended the actions of another (which has not been entirely supportive). No entity is without flaw and everyone deserves a chance to change. But it must be made patently clear and easily understood that change is desired, and in precisely what way.

This has never been about being punitive or seeking justice. This evolution is about the will of the people being honored. With the power dynamics in this country as heavily centralized as they are, the only way our collective will had a chance to be heard was to concentrate our energy as tightly as a fully flush coil.

For years, well before Yang, the spring of humanity has been compressing ever tighter. I believe history will show that last Saturday that built up pressure was finally released.

************************************

If you like this project please check out the various ways to support. Thanks! :)