Hell hath no fury like a suburban mom scorned
I chat with the creator at the center of it all
“When we stay quiet, decisions are made for us.”
In an era of excusing and obfuscating, this is a crystal clear commandment. And in an era of Democratic leaders faltering and outright flopping, it comes as no surprise that other leaders are starting to break containment.
Between breastfeeding sessions and school pickups, millennial moms are literally raging against the political machine. We’re talking an explosive level of righteous indignation being shepherded by a network of dozens of women, through carousels with thousands of likes, pushing action items out to millions.
From an outsider’s view, Adriana Goblirsch sits at the nucleus of this campaign. And I’m not the only one whose algorithm delivered them to her virtual doorstep — the Minneapolis mom’s following has grown by over 20% in the past 30 days, bringing in almost 15M views. (You know I had to ask).
From there the network spreads to others with even bigger audiences in Minneapolis like Beth Leipholtz and beyond, like Sara Wiles in FL or Shelli Enright in CA. They share each other’s content to their feed much like digital media outlets do. They write messages of solidarity in the comments. They’re honest about their struggle to maintain composure around their kids.
“When you’re a mother of young children, politics stops being abstract. It becomes whether families can safely go to the doctor, send their kids to school, or walk down the street. I think many women reached a point where posting only about outfits or home life felt impossible to separate from the reality their children are inheriting,” Adriana told me.
That last thing is worth probing. Reputationally, moms are known for perpetual, successful balancing acts traversing the thinnest of tightropes. Walking the line in the midst of our country’s political inflammation is no different. In their view, you can be gentle with yourself and angry with the world.
The content maintains their traditional visual markers, flowers for example, while delivering a more unapologetic anti-authoritarian messaging than we’ve seen from any leader of the party most belong to.
The Elder Millennial aka Erika Dus posted what looks like a typical “day in the life” video that harbors a message about how rights disappear over time without attention (using a Diet Coke to illustrate, no less!)
And the suggestion that things should just carry on as normal? Not only preposterous, but offensive and counterintuitive to what it means to have influence. Redefining the boundaries of social acceptability is a key pursuit of any momfluencer, political or not. Willful ignorance or silent cowardice will no longer fly.
And losing followers? Not even a consideration. So I asked Adriana, what about fear then?
“Of course there is fear. I have two small children and I live in the middle of this. But motherhood has removed my ability to look away. Silence doesn’t actually keep families safe. What helps is knowing I’m not alone. There is a whole network of women standing up together. I know I’m doing the right thing.”
WHERE THEY DIVERGE
The only splits I see among the “gang of wine moms,” as Fox News called them, are between those who call out and those who call in. I didn’t know this was an existing designation, so let me demonstrate:
Call out: White women especially, if you have a platform I urge you to use it for good … Silence is not acceptable anymore. Silence is compliance … When you have the ability to look away, that means you are protected by the system hurting others. (Mommy.Realist)
Call in: People who voted for Trump and are maybe now having second thoughts on what that vote meant ... What happens next if you keep looking away? ... You have a choice to make ... If you’re ready to dial in, let’s go. We need everybody. (Lauren Lehman Carter)
ONE BATTLE AFTER ANOTHER
Right-wing women building their own motherhood networks are not taking lightly to the rise of left-wing family values. Here are three pressure points they’re hoping lead to a breakdown.
Whataboutism: The word “consistency” is coming up a ton and I think it originated with an IG post from a Christian mom influencer. But Allie Beth Stuckey remains the professor emerita of modern trad wife theory. And she’s not holding back in challenging women who didn’t speak up after murders conservatives rallied around.
“Why do you only feel compelled to tune in and pipe up when Democrats are angry? Why do you only feel the need to speak out against perceived injustice when the liberal media is telling you to?”
Psyop accusations: This counterattack obeys the same laws of aesthetics as many of the creators on the left. But if a name like “The Conservateur” doesn’t make itself clear, this post on the left’s “The Manipulation Playbook” will.
It’s one of several pieces of content the publication has made in the aftermath of ICE shootings to lead their audience to a conclusion that this event, like many others before it, are a “psyop.”
Note: Karoline Leavitt’s comment “So true”
Stay in your lane: Whatever the mom version of “shut up and dribble” is … this is that. This thread from Daily Wire reporter Megan Basham sums it up:
“So a bunch of Instagram are influencers now posting anti-ICE propaganda on Instagram. Once again, we have women whose primary careers are picking outfits and lipsticks (both things I love!) attempting to become political commentators on an issue for which they possess little understanding. What would be really wonderful to avoid a repeat of 2020 is if all of us conservative women DIDN’T ignore it this time.”
OTHER MOVEMENTS I’M TRACKING:
White Blank Page: This is the backing track to moms’ rage — such a big throwback for me, I couldn’t believe it. But then I wondered if they knew that the band’s former banjo player left to pursue a career of minor celebrity in right-wing media circles 👀
Signal investigation: Cam Higby (who we’ve talked about) infiltrated a leftist organizing chat on Signal and has handed over all the information to the feds who say an investigation is on the way
General strike: I’ve been keeping my eye on momentum for a general strike (yes, like everyone, everywhere, all at once) since the October “No Kings” march … consider traction gained when both Hasan Piker and Scott Galloway are team strike
LOOSE ENDS
📝 Word I learned today: toady
one who flatters in the hope of gaining favors — “Tim Cook is such a toady” (via my boyfriend, at home)
📰 Something you should read today: From Rachael Shepard-Ohta 👇
🕵️ Someone you should know today: Liz Minnella — her video explaining how permission structures that influencers oversee translates into social change … so good.
🥹 Something to make you smile today: I’m watching “Avatar: The Last Airbender” all the way through for the first time … holy shit. I think it might be top five shows ever made. I’m so serious. Uncle Iro??? C’mon, this isn’t for kids!
This is wild. Incredible view of the battle front.
Also Toady=kiss ass•=suckup.