“Everything is political.”
When I was younger, this saying irked me. At the time, my less developed frontal lobe viewed the idea as pessimistic; A glass-half empty approach on humanity. As years have passed, the grey matter of my brain has lost its rose-tinted glasses. I have come to terms that when living in America, politics is everything. I see it in clothing, like the time I changed my entire outfit because the pairing of a red jacket, white t-shirt, and blue denim just felt “too patriotic.” I see it laced within advertisements, such as Sydney Sweeney and her “good jeans.” I see it most harshly at family dinners. Politically, I am the black sheep of my family. Just recently, I saw it during a football game. More specifically, Super Bowl LX’s halftime show, America’s most recent display of its greatest divide.
At its essence, film and television has always aligned itself as reflections to political climates. Time machines on screen that displace us, reminding us of who we are, who we were, and who we hope to be. In recent years, this outward calling of social issues has found itself on soil that is entirely synthetic turf. The Super Bowl, one of the most uniting televised programs in America, has ironically become a reminder to the separation consuming the country. Puerto Rican rapper and singer, Bad Bunny, headlined the halftime show performance this year. As I watched him move across my TV, the clear influence of Latin culture in his performance beamed through the screen. The words, “The only thing more powerful than hate is love,” flashed on a Jumbotron behind him in the distance, a reminder to the realities that lay outside of the arena, and the comfort of American’s living rooms.
With immigration policies and ICE-related incidents circulating American news headlines, Bad Bunny’s performance had intentionally become political. This was not new. Halftime show headliner, Kendrick Lamar, similarly used the time to stand for Black culture in his 2025 performance. However, unlike Lamar, this year, the efforts to refuse progression metamorphosed into an alternate halftime show entirely. While Bunny sang in his native Spanish tongue, Turning Point USA, the non-profit organization soaked in conservatism, aired their own program: “The All-American Halftime Show.”
Despite the irony of the name, especially given Bad Bunny’s stance as an American citizen, the separation of the programs erupted that daunting feeling in the pit of my stomach. A dystopian buzz, like when I think about self-driving cars, A.I. generated art, and the overall impending doom of human empathy. It was so ridiculous that I almost wanted to laugh. Others felt similar, and despite the comical efforts to refuse recognition, Bad Bunny’s performance garnered 135 million viewers, the most in Super Bowl history.
Though the great divide seeps its claws into everything, including movies, television, and football games, it is almost comforting to know that I can pick a side. Right and wrong. Left and right. Up and down. Just as similar as fans scream for a touchdown, I can choose my team. Sure, everything is political, but everything is also subjective. The glass will be half full, while some believe the glass is half empty. Some will blame the burdens of this country on the people who helped build it and laugh in their faces when they beg for acknowledgement. Some will believe hate is more powerful than love, and for those who do, I hope you enjoyed your lackluster, all-American viewing of Kid Rock.