Inland Empire Progressive

Donald Trump’s most recent blunder cultural blunder? His outrage at the selection of  Bad Bunny  to headline the 2026 Super Bowl LX halftime show and admitting he’s never heard of the artist, is a staggering display of how out of touch the Trump administration is with the 21st century culture. This isn’t simply one old man shaking his fist at cultural norms, it’s part of a broader pattern. The Trump administration has made deliberate incursions into cultural institutions: from attempting to rename the John F. Kennedy Center for the Performing Arts to orchestrating sweeping reviews of museums to whitewash the contribution of Black Americans, the message is clear: art, music, performance are for the people Trump chooses to approve. So, when the cultural moment of the halftime show meets Trump’s cultural gatekeeping, it’s no surprise he seems out of touch with modern times. Bad Bunny is one of the world’s most-streamed artists, and the first primarily Spanish-language s...

The Super Bowl halftime show is an American tradition where millions gather to witness the pinnacle of musical artistry and cultural diversity. But leave it to conservatives to ruin the party.  Turning Point USA , the self-proclaimed guardians of American values, have decided that the halftime show is the perfect battleground for their latest culture war. According to their brilliant plan, the halftime show should feature only "All-American" music because nothing says freedom like a state-sponsored playlist from Dear Leader Trump. Forget about the rich tapestry of musical genres that reflect the diverse fabric of American society; apparently, the only acceptable tunes are those that fit neatly into a narrow, nostalgic box of what they deem "patriotic." Turning Point USA is also calling for a ban on any halftime performances that don't align with their vision of American values. That means no hip-hop, no Banda, no Reggaeton, and especially no pop stars pushing bo...