This episode was originally released on November 12, 2021.
If you typed “inauguration” into your web browser anytime between 2017 and 2020, you likely saw an image of a person in a neon green jacket, black winter hat and glasses screaming “Nooooooooooo!” That person was Jess, who was in Washington D.C. on January 20, 2017 to protest the inauguration of President Donald Trump.
This “Nooooooooooo!” flew out of Jess after the oath of office, during what seemed to be a deeply painful and private moment. But what Jess didn’t know at the time was that they were being filmed by a UK media outlet. Within hours, this became the scream heard ‘round the world, the meme seen ‘round the world, and a symbol of “liberal fragility” for Trump supporters. Fearing for their safety, Jess went into a sort of hiding – on social media, and in their personal life. Four years later, Jess told their story to Endless Thread.
We're revisiting this episode in advance of Donald Trump's second inauguration, just as the Internet has been resurfacing this poignant — and, for some, highly relatable — meme.
Credits:
Episode producer: Amory Sivertson
Co-hosts: Amory Sivertson and Ben Brock Johnson
Show producers: Dean Russell and Grace Tatter
Editor: Maureen McMurray
Mixer, sound designer and music creator: Paul Vaitkus
Additional production: Josh Crane, Frank Hernandez, Kristin Torres, Sofie Kodner and Rachel Carlson