When the NFL announced that Bad Bunny would be headlining this year’s Superbowl Halftime show, most people sighed in resignation. The days of Prince, Michael Jackson, and Aerosmith were admittedly gone. It was another example of how great American performers were being traded for international musicians who appealed to a largely foreign audience.
The NFL then doubled down on their cultural proclivities, opting to have Green Day open the Super Bowl. Green Day, who were famous in the 1990s for being counter-cultural, hit the heights of their popularity in the early 2000s. Their anti-Bush, contra-conservative album, “American Idiot” became the anthem for a generation of people who were dissatisfied with neo-con foreign policies. Unfortunately, any hope of it offering a thoughtful, artistic critique was overshadowed by the concept album’s reliance on profanity.
In the decades since the release of “American Idiot,” Green Day managed to keep themselves in the headlines by being staunchly anti-Trump and anti-American. Their shows often include segments where the lead singer, Billie Joe Armstrong, says Trump should “Shut the f*ck up.” Other times, he will lead chants in the middle of the songs, calling for “No Trump, No KKK, No fascist USA.” It’s become part of Green Day’s identity. Although the band has always been political, their creative expression has spiraled into absurdity.
The NFL’s choice in musical acts is making a statement to its American fans: We don’t care about you.
There has been a decades-long understanding that artistic movements largely belonged to the liberals. “Conservatives can’t make art” has become one of the few bipartisan agreements in the country. Despite this, much of American culture was largely apolitical for a majority of the country’s history. Musicians didn’t usually sing about politics; instead, they more often chose to sing about love, good times, and memories. They also didn’t build their identities around their politics. In the current age, this is no longer the case. The music industry has begun to split along political lines. Conservatives have ‘claimed’ musicians like Kid Rock, Jason Aldean, and John Rich. Alternatively, liberals have leaned into musicians like Bad Bunny, who has leaned into cross dressing, and Chappel Roan, whose hit song promotes sex work.
The political divide has also become increasingly clear in other artistic settings. Late night talk shows are highly reflective of political inclinations, as conservatives side with Gutfeld and liberals stick with Jimmy Kimmel. Actors like Mel Gibson and Tim Allen appeal to conservative audiences, while liberals applaud Mark Ruffalo. The conservative comedian Rob Schneider has seen his audience grow, while Bill Burr’s deranged liberal antics have largely put him out of touch with his fanbase.
The cultural divide is the result of conservatives not being complacent when faced with relentless attacks from left-wing propaganda. After decades of musicians, actors, and comedians bashing America, conservatives have finally started to create their own artistic alternatives.
When the NFL, Hollywood, and much of mainstream media doubles down on its We don’t care about you messaging, we should take them seriously. For many years, conservatives were content with being the butt of the joke. Saturday Night Live relied on George Bush spoofs for most of the early 2000s, and ran out of steam in 2008 when they largely refused to mock Barack Obama. Republicans gritted their teeth and smiled. They did the same as music and television shows became increasingly sexual and explicit. The amount of profanity used in charting Billboard songs skyrocketed, while shows like Game of Thrones bordered on being outright pornographic.
If conservatives want to maintain their current political momentum, they will have to engage with modern culture. Young people are naturally drawn to artistic mediums. By forfeiting music, movies, and television, conservatives are surrendering a huge part of their voter base. Gen Z is extremely open to conservatism, something seen in their participation in the 2024 election. Many young people are terrified by inflation, the rising cost of housing, and their college debt. Liberals prey on those fears, promising socialism will be the cure to their financial concerns. Conservatives can offer real solutions, but they will only be able to do so if they can first make contact through the culture.
Conservatives can’t take their foot off the gas. They must keep investing in culture. They must create more artistic alternatives. When Christian movies like 2025’s David premiers in theaters, buy tickets. When the Daily Wire debuts its television show The Pendragon Cycle, tune in. When musicians like Nicki Minaj are willing to speak out about the murder of Nigerian Christians, give her support. Our only response to liberal hatred can’t be resentment, we must also offer an alternative.
