When JD Vance used “drinking Diet Mountain Dew” to joke about how liberals are too easily offended and quick to point out what they perceive to be racist behavior, the large campaign event crowd barely applauded. But it wasn’t because JD Vance is weird (and clearly not a comedian), the joke went straight over the head of mostly everyone because it was packed with multilayered symbolism. Regardless, it got me thinking about how politics and consumer packaged goods oftentimes get mixed together knowingly (and unknowingly). As an example, did you know conservatives prefer drinking A&W Root Beer compared to liberals with LaCroix? Or that liberals are more likely to eat plant-based meat and conservatives prefer sausage and hot dogs? What do both political parties agree on…that advertisements are a waste of their time!