According to scientists across the board, the human body is made up of around 60% water. For Jack Schlossberg, that is a misnomer.
“I would say 90% of my body’s made of mayonnaise,” Schlossberg said.
He then went on to elaborate on the bountiful applications it can have on any piece of food, ranging from broccoli to turkey.
Schlossberg, political correspondent for Vogue magazine, social media star and grandson to the 35th president John F. Kennedy was greeted by a roaring crowd when he walked into Mitchell Hall on Oct 18.
Schlossberg joined the Biden Institute and the SNF Ithaca Initiative for their Gen Z Impact: Your Vote Matters event.
Schlossberg sat down with The Review prior to that roaring crowd to talk about what he holds near and dear to his heart, whether that be Japanese history, his love for mayo or the critical part that Gen-Z plays in cultivating governance.
The frustrations of the past decade of political turmoil are not lost on him, adding to the impact it has on his social media presence.
Schlossberg’s social media, which has amassed just over 900,000 followers between his various accounts, consists of political commentary, ranging from satirical impressions to genuine frustrations and heartfelt moments.
In reference to his online presence, he admitted that the issues he speaks on are more or less spontaneous representations of whatever is going on inside his head in conjunction with the many years he has spent studying law and living in the political world.
“I think that if you want to succeed in getting your message out there, you gotta take risks, you have to be somewhat controversial, you have to be entertaining, or else no one’s going to listen,” Schlossberg said. “And that’s just what I’m trying to do, trying to break through any way I can.”
One of Schlossberg’s biggest points of contention involves two frequently competing issues: the environment and the economy. But for Schlossberg, that dispute between the two is part of the issue.
“The environment and the economy are not at odds with each other,” Schlosserg said. “Protecting the environment and growing the economy can happen simultaneously. The Biden administration has shown that with record investments in renewables, infrastructure, new technologies, but also producing the most oil we ever have. So I think that we can celebrate economic growth and environmental progress at the same time and convince everybody that Democrats are actually better on the economy.”
Schlossberg says that Democrats have immense work to do on presenting the facts as they are, and that the crux of the issue is purely a messaging problem for the Democrats.
That messaging comes down to the economy. Schlossberg claims that under Democratic presidents, more jobs have been created than under Republican presidents, a sentiment backed up by economic reports.
“The facts show a completely different story, where Democrats have out-created Republicans on jobs, 50 to one GDP growth,” Schlossberg said. “Every number you look at, Democrats have a better record, Republicans are better at messaging, that drives me crazy.”
Beyond messaging, the impetus to “get involved” is at the very center for Schlossberg. It revolves around everything he has done and the mindset given to every piece of work he makes.
A young Schlossberg was able to gain a unique perspective into his family and democracy building when he decided to study Japanese history at Yale to help his mother, Caroline Kennedy, former U.S. ambassador to Japan during the Obama administration.
“Japan is near and dear to my heart,” Schlossberg said. “My mom, at the same time, moved to Japan, and so I wanted to take a class to be helpful to her. There is no better example of reconciliation and cooperation and the spread of democracy than the U.S.-Japan alliance, and I think that I never would have gotten that exposure had my mom not taken a job, and I’m just so grateful.”
He added his favorite time period of Japanese history is the Meiji Restoration. He emphasized the intricacies of the time period, and how both bad and good can shed a light on the complexities of our time.
Family was another critical factor for Schlossberg to get involved in public service, as his family has been involved in American politics for almost a century.
He touched on his family many times, explaining that he was inspired to speak out on politics more due to his cousin Robert Francis Kennedy Jr.’s recent third party presidential campaign and subsequent endorsement of former president Donald Trump.
Also, the impression they left upon him from a very young age and a continual factor throughout his life.
“They believed in politics, and they believed in it in a way that I think now might seem quaint because of the division that you’re talking about,” Schlossberg said.
Schlossberg contended that getting involved reflects the basic necessity of living in America. For him frustration faced in his own family acted as an intense motivator to get involved, and allowed for an outlet to help solve problems that younger generations face.
“Young people are always the critical demographic block that changes elections and elects progressive candidates,” Schlossberg said. “No progressive candidate ever wins without a huge youth turnout and so if you are frustrated, I think it’s a great motivator to show up.”
It has not always about voting, however, and that ever vague “get involved” is something that he clarified.
He elaborated on how he personally fulfills that goal by volunteering at a homeless shelter every Wednesday and by simply paying attention to the issues that impact everyday people. He also included a solution to building a voice and using the new “town square” of social media to do exactly that.
“The easiest way to stay involved, and the most effective way, is to just pay attention, pay attention to what’s going on,” Schlossberg said. “If you think that you have a statement to make that can be clearer than how other people have made it, I encourage people to make those statements and release it on their social media.”
In closing, Schlossberg recognized that not everything happens immediately, and that not everything moves as quickly as the modern world. Those barriers to getting involved are a key motivator for him. He explained that our unique history that this almost 250-year experiment is only worth as much as those who get to interact with the system.
Schlossberg argued that when the Continental Congress met and they tried to agree on the Constitution, it took years for them to hammer out the final project and the plenty of work they left over.
He called on the trial by fire the Republic faced during the Civil War and the World Wars, and how exciting a message it is to young people that it has always been tough and the time is now.
“I think a more exciting message is that it’s always been tough, maybe it’s as tough as it’s ever been today,” Schlossberg said. “What better time to get involved? What better time than the most difficult time?’’