Issue #168: Solar Eclipse Politics

Short and fun piece

Today is the 2024 Solar Eclipse in America!

Over the course of this afternoon, people from Texas to Maine will be able to see the full totality while all of the lower 48 will be able to see some degree of the sun being blocked.

If you have followed me on twitter, you know I have traveled from Tallahassee up to Akron, OH for the full experience. I saw the 2017 eclipse in Tennessee and it is a sight to behold. Unfortunately for many, the cloud cover could be an issue for many parts within the totality, and it is not a guarantee where I am either. For me though, the consolation is I’m with my sister and my young nephews, so its a good family vacation either way. (And my last before the 2024 election consumes my entire soul).

So why I am writing about the eclipse? Am I going to change this newsletter to an astronomy theme? Well its tempting, but no. Instead I’m writing largely to share this map I made: the 2020 election within the solar eclipse totality.

Behold, the Presidential vote, specifically waited by vote density, within the eclipse path.

If you have been following folks in the election mapping world on twitter, X, or whatever that bot-riddled mess of a site is called these days, you will have likely seen an increase in density-maps. Here, mapping out votes per square mile helps highlight the power of the urban Democratic cities in countering the vast Republican rurals. It also highlights the remaining Republican suburbs/exurbs. While Trump won 62% of the precincts within the eclipse, the Democratic margins in the cities kept the Presidential vote margin at 6.6%.

Here is the vote broken down by their respective state.

The power of the cities is perhaps no where better highlighted than in Texas, which narrowly backed Biden within the totality.

You Should Watch ‘Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood’

So with every eclipse there is always some level of conspiracies, and especially in the Q-anon era it’s gone to a distressing level. But I'm not going to talk about any of that. Instead, I’m going to talk about “what if the eclipse will be used to sacrifice millions of people.”

That’s right!!! The secret plan is to sacrifice millions to an ancient, dark God!!!! Here you can see the sacrifice line across the lower 48 vote by density.

Ok no, a massive sacrifice is probably not happening.

So why am I saying any of this? Because there is an anime that played out this exact idea. Based off a manga/comic, the show “Fullmetal Alchemist: Brotherhood” centers around the plot of a secret cabal that has formed to create a nation that will be sacrificed during a solar eclipse.

In the show, it turns out the nation the main characters live in, Amestrice, is not being led by the human leaders we see at first, but rather a secret other-worldy being known as FATHER.

FATHER intends to use magic, which exists in this world, to sacrifice the 50 million people of Amestrice to harness their souls and essentially become a God.

The 64-episode anime has nearly 15 episodes dedicated to the final conflict itself, which does see the nationwide sacrifice take place!

In the final episodes, as the heroes we follow strive to stop FATHER and restore the souls of the people, an epic final fight takes place.

The show covers the real issues of war, politics, democracy, religious extremism, genocide, and with a full cadre of a great and relatable characters and heroes to root for.

Seriously it’s some of the best television in all of the television.

It’s SO SIMILAR to all the Q-anon and classic lizard people stuff that I swear someone just watched this show, reworked it, and started posting on 4-Chan.

I figured it out everyone. The original Q is someone who watched that show and thought “I can make money with this” and started grifting off crazy MAGA people.

Anyway. Enjoy the eclipse if you are in its path! And if you are not sacrificed to the secret ruler of the country, watch that show.