Skip to main content

The context you need, when you need it

When news breaks, you need to understand what actually matters — and what to do about it. At Vox, our mission to help you make sense of the world has never been more vital. But we can’t do it on our own.

We rely on readers like you to fund our journalism. Will you support our work and become a Vox Member today?

Join now

Bernie Sanders wore the world’s most confusing suit to the Democratic debate

Black, blue, brown, or green?
Black, blue, brown, or green?
Black, blue, brown, or green?
Joe Raedle/Getty Images

The most dreaded internet meme is back, but this time it’s not about a black-and-blue dress (to all white-and-gold truthers, science proved you wrong).

It’s about the suit Bernie Sanders wore to a Univision Democratic debate on Wednesday night.

The much-hyped debate between Hillary Clinton and Sanders in Miami, Florida, is the first face to face between the Democratic presidential candidates after Sanders won the Michigan primaries in an incredible upset Tuesday night.

But from the moment the two candidates were called to the stage, attention on Twitter turned away from policy and toward figuring out whether Sanders’s suit is black or blue or brown.

Everyone from reporters to political pundits have weighed in on this highly contested debate within a debate. CNN’s Brian Stelter says blue:

And Sanders’s rapid response director Mike Casca confirmed in an effort to put the debate to rest.

But brown suit believers did not put the issue to rest.

And now the suit has its own Twitter account:

Thanks, Twitter.

Vox has its own poll. Cast your vote (seriously):


Bernie Sanders’s accent, explained

More in Politics

The Logoff
Trump’s DOJ wants to undo January 6 convictionsTrump’s DOJ wants to undo January 6 convictions
The Logoff

How the Trump administration is still trying to rewrite January 6 history.

By Cameron Peters
Politics
Donald Trump messed with the wrong popeDonald Trump messed with the wrong pope
Politics

Trump fought with Pope Francis before. He’s finding Pope Leo XIV to be a tougher foil.

By Christian Paz
Podcasts
A cautionary tale about tax cutsA cautionary tale about tax cuts
Podcast
Podcasts

California cut property taxes in the 1970s. It didn’t go so well.

By Miles Bryan and Noel King
Podcasts
Obama’s top Iran negotiator on Trump’s screwupsObama’s top Iran negotiator on Trump’s screwups
Podcast
Podcasts

Wendy Sherman helped Obama reach a deal with Iran. Here’s what she thinks Trump is doing wrong.

By Kelli Wessinger and Noel King
Politics
The Supreme Court could legalize moonshine, and ruin everything elseThe Supreme Court could legalize moonshine, and ruin everything else
Politics

McNutt v. DOJ could allow the justices to seize tremendous power over the US economy.

By Ian Millhiser
The Logoff
The new Hormuz blockade, briefly explainedThe new Hormuz blockade, briefly explained
The Logoff

Trump tries Iran’s playbook.

By Cameron Peters