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A podcast about music, and politics as told by musicians who sing about politics
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Thursday Jul 18, 2024
Thursday Jul 18, 2024
Welcome to today's episode, where we dive into the political theater and imagery that shapes our current landscape. The recent assassination attempt on former President Donald Trump has, unsurprisingly, become a galvanizing moment for his fervent fanbase—notice I say fanbase, not the Republican Party. The zealous MAGA crowd envisions Trump as he envisions himself, almost as if a 50-year career in the pop culture spotlight has induced a group hypnosis on millions. Image has always been central to Trump’s persona, evolving from a billionaire playboy to a no-nonsense reality TV boss, and now, to his final form as an anti-elite warrior for the working class.
From the 80s and 90s as a gregarious hotel magnate to his stint as a pro wrestling hall-of-famer and television character, Trump's presence on "The Apprentice" aired on NBC for 13 years before he transitioned from Hollywood to the White House. One thing has remained constant: Trump has always stayed in character, often to his professional detriment.
His latest persona as a defiant "Washington outsider" was immortalized this past week with an iconic image: a fist raised in the air, shouting "fight" to his supporters. This moment wasn't deep faked or photoshopped; it was a genuine snapshot emblematic of our current epoch. Images tell the story, and we fill in the blanks with our imaginations or lived experiences—whatever helps us sleep at night.
In contrast, Joe Biden continues to be scrutinized publicly for signs of cognitive decline. Both men represent the oldest presidential race to date, yet Biden has garnered bipartisan media attention for his often stammering speeches, raising questions about his candidacy. This scenario is reminiscent of another television president, Ronald Reagan, who also stumbled during debates and forgot critical issues like the Iran-Contra affair, yet won his second term by a landslide. Why don't we remember Reagan as the same doddering old man that we see in Biden? Does any of this matter when electoral politics often resemble team sports, where loyalty to the team trumps individual performance?
Will Donald Trump be able to leverage this assassination attempt into a second presidential victory, or is this simply another marketing opportunity for a shallow huckster who sees everything, even an attempt on his life, as a money-making venture?
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