EDITORIAL
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Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show performance will be dissected and discussed for weeks if not months on end, due to the easter eggs and cultural references throughout. Ahead of the rapper dropping the “Not Like Us” diss track, Kendrick Lamar opened up with a verse referencing “40 Acres and a Mule” to introduce the song as it built to its epic opening.
Kendrick Lamar rapped the lines, “40 acres and a mule, this is bigger than the music. They tried to rig the game, but you can’t fake influence,” each stanza punctuated by the keyboard stabs from DJ Mustard’s production. The line has many wondering what “40 acres and a mule” means and with this being Black History Month, we’re offering our brief explainer of the line.
The “40 acres and a mule” is a phrase that refers to a section of Special Field Orders, No. 15 issued by Union General William Tecumseh Sherman in 1865 after slavery was officially abolished via the 13th Amendment of the U.S. Constitution. With the Union Army poised to vanquish the Confederate soldiers in the U.S. Civil War, Gen. Sherman’s declaration to divvy up land owned by the Confederacy to formerly enslaved Black people was a promise that became upended by the assassination of President Abraham Lincoln.
With Andrew Johnson taking control of the White House in succession, the promise was dismissed with the land going back to the original owners. Historians note that this takeback began a long and systemically planned series of maneuvers to keep Black people from ascending to the same level as their white counterparts, even during the largely fruitful yet brief period of Reconstruction. Today, proponents of reparation for the descendants of Black slaves in America point to this broken promise as grounds to advance their cause.
A small handful of individuals did receive land under the special field order, especially in southeastern Virginia, and parts of South Carolina including coastal lands, but those efforts were met with roadblocks eventually held up by President Johnson rescinding the offer.
Kendrick Lamar employed deeply symbolic messages throughout his performance, with many believing his American Flag-influenced backdrop, the including of Samuel L. Jackson as a brash and outspoken Uncle Sam, and the Compton native’s unrelenting focus on platforming Black music and culture was an indictment of recent political happenings.
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Naturally, many pundits, including those in right-wing media circles and even in the mainstream, have little understanding of why Jackson as Uncle Sam was pivotal to the performance and harkened back to Lamar’s loving ode and dire warning to Black America via his acclaimed third studio album, To Pimp A Butterfly.
Given the themes of some of his past releases, it could be assumed that Lamar is a champion of reparations or, further, a champion of Black excellence and perseverance despite the broken promises of 40 Acres and a Mule. Regardless of where the intent truly lay, America, especially those who have endured despite being mostly frozen out from the dream of having our own, definitely took notice.
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Yes, you read that right.
Kendrick Lamar’s Super Bowl LIX halftime show was hands down one of the Blackest moments of 2025. In just 13 minutes, he flipped Gil Scott-Heron’s The Revolution Will Not Be Televised, seemingly took aim at Trump, and delivered a powerful American story—all while throwing lyrical haymakers at Drake.
Source: Icon Sportswire / Getty
The Black Pride and Political Messaging
Let’s start with the deeper themes. The entire performance felt like a message to Drake, but it also paid homage to Spike Lee’s Bamboozled. Samuel L. Jackson, playing the role of Uncle Sam, wasn’t just a jab at Drake and the industry—it was also a shot at the executives and critics who wanted Kendrick to dial down his relentless lyrical assault on Drizzy. It even took aim at those who dismissed Lamar as doing Civil Rights Rap—as if calling out injustice is a bad thing.
Jackson’s narration made that clear when he introduced Lamar saying, “It’s your Uncle…Sam, and this is the great American game.” The line exposed how America polices Black artistic expression, punctuated by Jackson’s follow-up: “Too ghetto”—right before his mic was cut.
The symbolism didn’t stop there. The American flag served as a double entendre: a reminder that the country was built on the backs of enslaved Black people, but also a critique of how racism continues to divide. Lamar’s dancers even wore outfits reminiscent of The Mau Maus, the militant culture purists in the film Bamboozled, underscoring his message about protecting Black culture from exploitation.
Then came the “Not Like Us” moment. Looking his dancers dead in the eye, Lamar declared: “This is bigger than the music.” Highlighting the phrase—40 acres and a mule—refers to the unfulfilled reparations promise from 1865, a theme Lamar has touched on before in To Pimp a Butterfly. In the song “Wesley’s Theory,” he rapped about the illusion of prosperity for Black Americans: “What, you want you a house or a car? / Forty acres and a mule, a piano, a guitar?” By bringing it to the Super Bowl stage, he made it clear: the fight for equity isn’t over—especially in his home state of California, where reparations debates are ongoing—hence the sign in the crowd saying “wrong way” because he was speaking up in a sanitized forum.
WARNING WRONG WAY! Nothing but respect for Kendrick 🇺🇸 pic.twitter.com/hnxCXlIr8C
— ECP408 (@ecp408) February 10, 2025
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The Direct Shots at Drake
Now Let’s discuss the direct jabs at Drake.
During the performance, Lamar teased the crowd with the possibility of performing his Drake diss and L.A. anthem, “Not Like Us.”
“I want to play their favorite song, but you know they love to sue,” he quipped, referencing Drake’s defamation lawsuit. As the beat dropped, Lamar flashed a sly smile and rapped, “Say, Drake, I hear you like ‘em young,” before letting the audience complete the lawsuit-inspiring line—”certified pedophile.” The litigious remark comes after Drake took his issues with “Not Like Us” to court, in January filing a federal lawsuit against Universal Music Group over the diss track that accuses him of being a pedophile, allegedly.
Midway through, Lamar locked eyes with the camera and dropped another bombshell: “They tried to rig the game, but you can’t fake influence.” The line was widely seen as a response to Drake’s lawsuit against Universal Music Group, which accuses the label of helping spread the allegations fueling “Not Like Us.” With that one line, Lamar dismissed both the lawsuit and any industry attempts to undermine his influence.
The Subtle (and Not-So-Subtle) Jabs
Despite its deep cultural messaging, Lamar’s performance was full of layered shots, including the set designed as a giant PlayStation controller—pointing to Sony, the parent company of Drake’s label, OVO as he was literally controlling the narrative while fueling conspiracy theories about hidden messages.
And then there was Serena Williams. The tennis legend hit the C-walk on the X button to “Not Like Us”—a callback to the backlash she faced for using the dance to celebrate her Olympic gold medal win in 2012. This wasn’t just shade at Drake, but also a broader message about respectability politics and Black joy being policed.
Lamar closed with an electrifying performance of “tv off” with DJ Mustard, bringing the show full circle. The track’s message? Stop getting distracted—wake up to reality. And, of course, it doubled as a parting shot at Drake and J. Cole’s “First Person Shooter,” proving once again that Lamar plays the biggest game of all.
The Bigger Picture
Before the big night, Lamar told Apple Music that his performance would be culturally significant and an evolution of everything he’s done before. He wasn’t lying. The internet is still dissecting every line, every symbol, every move. But as Jay-Z said back in 2001, “You fools don’t listen to music, you just skim through it.”
Kendrick wasn’t just putting on a show. He was making history.
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*Respectfully.
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Trayvon Martin would be 30 years old today if not for the meddling of volunteer night watchman George Zimmerman. While sobering thoughts hang over the heads of many regarding the loss of Trayvon Martin, many are choosing to use this time to hold up his lasting memory.
Instead of writing my usual report regarding Trayvon Martin, I’m electing to speak as myself and completely from the heart. Martin’s death hit me particularly hard because I, like many Black men who grew up in the inner city, know full well what being Black in America means and how potentially dangerous it has largely always been.
When I was writing for NewsOne, I traveled to Sanford, the Florida town where young Trayvon was gunned down by Zimmerman. I spoke with town leaders and with Martin’s parents, trying to make sense of the pain while also doing my duty as a reporter. I can say with measurable confidence that it was one of the hardest things I’ve ever had to do. And yet, I was struck by the resilience of Sybrina Fulton and Tracy Martin, no longer romantically involved but unified in honor of their son.
Martin’s death was one of the many catalysts for the Black Lives Matter (BLM) movement, which launched in earnest a year after Martin’s 2012 passing. Of course, several observers have their thoughts about BLM, some favorable and others unsavory, but the significance of that period will never be forgotten.
I’m just a writer. I’m not an activist nor do I know what to do in times like this beyond sharing my undying devotion to the elevation of my people and that those who have been killed unjustly are never a footnote but instead an inspiration.
If we can honor Trayvon Martin in one unifying way, it would be to keep his name alive and never let those in power forget that Black bodies are not targets. Black people are not automatic threats. Black people deserve to live on the same terms and with the same grace as all people should.
And with that, I pledge to live out loud for Trayon. May he rest powerfully in peace.
Keep scrolling to see thoughts from X, formerly Twitter.
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Two of the so-called Jan. 6 U.S. Capitol insurrectionists who received a blanket pardon from President Donald Trump recently found themselves in the news for unfortunate reasons. One of the Jan. 6 participants was shot and killed during a traffic stop, while another is on the run for soliciting a minor.
As reported by local outlet Fox 59, Indiana man Matthew Huttle was one of the 1,500 individuals involved in storming the Capitol on January 6, 2021, and was given freedom by the newly-inaugurated President Trump who felt those insurrectionists were serving their duty as Americans despite their seditious aims.
According to the outlet, Huttle, 42, was stopped by a Jasper County Sheriff’s Department deputy this past Sunday (Jan. 26) for an unnamed violation. As the deputy attempted to arrest Huttle, a struggle ensued leading to the deputy using his service weapon as Huttle resisted. Indiana state police say Huttle had a firearm in his possession and it is still being unsaid why the deputy pulled him over.
Huttle and his uncle Dale Huttle were arrested for participating in the Jan. 6 standoff, with the uncle stating publicly that he had no regrets for the actions he and his nephew took in 2021.
As seen on Houston Public Media, Andrew Taake of Houston was released from a Colorado prison on Jan. 20 after the sweeping pardons of President Trump. However, Harris County District Attorney Sean Teare shared with the outlet that Taake, 36, is wanted under a pending state warrant for online solicitation of a minor in 2016. The Harris County DA’s office attempted to have Taake held in prison by showing a warrant to the Federal Bureau of Prisons five days ahead of his pardon.
Harris County authorities are currently searching for Taake to bring him to justice for the alleged crime.
“Re-arresting individuals, like Taake, who were released with pending state warrants, will require significant resources,” Teare said in a statement. “Know that we are already in the process of tracking Taake down, as he must answer for [the] 2016 charge of soliciting a minor online.”
It seems like President Donald Trump feels like the Jan. 6 domestic terrorists are “very fine people” because they did his bidding with murderous and treasonous intent.
On X, folks are taking note of the pardoned insurrectionists and their checkered trails since being cleared of their crimes. Check out the reactions below.
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Sen. Bradford Blackmon, a Black Democratic Party state senator in Mississippi, introduced a bill, the “Contraception Begins At Erection Act” that pokes fun at the position of anti-abortion critics. While the bill would most likely fail to pass, the Contraception Begins At Erection Act was designed by Sen. Blackmon to highlight men and their role in pregnancies and place the onus on them to be active in the process.
Local outlet WLBT reports that Mississippi’s Sen. Bradford Blackmon drafted and posted the bill earlier this week, which would make masturbation against the law and would result in fines that range between $1,000 to $10,000 for each offense. Sen. Blackmon said such self-assisted emissions would be allowed for sperm bank donations or when using contraception that prevents pregnancies.
“All across the country, especially here in Mississippi, the vast majority of bills relating to contraception and/or abortion focus on the woman’s role when men are fifty percent of the equation,” Blackmon said via a statement to WLBT. “This bill highlights that fact and brings the man’s role into the conversation. People can get up in arms and call it absurd but I can’t say that bothers me.”
Mississippi is one of a dozen states that either have a full ban or mostly total ban of abortion according to data shared by the Kaiser Family Foundation (KFF). Blackmon
The full bill can be read via the state’s legislative bill status system here.
On X, folks are applauding Sen. Blackmon’s bill for calling out the hypocrisy of critics and the policing of women’s bodies done by certain segments of elected officials and the wider population
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6. Laughter died.
8. Someone didn’t read the story.
10. Another non-reader.
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Donald Trump has once more ascended to the office of the President of the United States, doing so as a convicted felon, which has all but emboldened not only his base but also the cronies he’s surrounded himself with. In the past few days and earlier times, we’ve seen stalwarts of the Hip-Hop community pledge allegiance to the incoming regime of Donald Trump, but what exactly does that mean for the Hip-Hop community at large?
Donald Trump has enjoyed an almost surreal connection with Hip-Hop dating back to his days as a flashy New York business magnate with stars of the culture rapping favorably about him in the decades before he became president in 2016. Despite cozying up to the mogul, Trump has demonstrated disdain for Black people as many saw in 1989. At the time, Trump took out a full-page ad in one of New York’s biggest news publications in an attack on the Exonerated Five (formerly the Central Park 5), five teenagers who were wrongly convicted of the sexual assault of jogger Trisha Meili.
It is a shameful display of cowardice and an odd worship of power that only seeks to serve Trump instead of rightly critiquing him for his faults.
As recently as last September, Donald Trump stuck to his guns regarding the Exonerated Five during the presidential debate in September against Vice President Kamala Harris. In the debate, Trump confusingly said, “They admitted, they said they pled guilty and I said, ‘well, if they pled guilty they badly hurt a person, killed a person ultimately. And they pled guilty, then they pled not guilty.”
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The Exonerated Five never pled guilty nor did anyone die in the case yet the mainstream media, illustrating the tepid coverage of Trump during his presidential campaign, barely covered how often Trump would speak gross mistruths and stumbling statements. While that moment should’ve been the time that the Hip-Hop community broke with Trump, he still managed to maintain support from Rap figures including Waka Flocka, Kodak Black, Azealia Banks, Fivio Foreign, Sheff G, Lil Pump, and others. Naturally, none of these individuals pointed to any actionable policies offered by the incoming Trump administration but praised his wealth and personality and the fact he pardoned several individuals.
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The pardons, as some have come to learn, were thought to come with the perk of unyielding fealty to Trump. Lil Wayne, Roc Nation CEO Desiree Perez, Death Row Records co-founder Michael “Harry O” Harris, and the aforementioned Kodak Black were all pardoned in Trump’s first term. The politically astute framed these moves for what they seemingly were, a deposit to get long-term support down the road for a second run at the White House.
Ice Cube, who has been mentioned among Black entertainers who have either softened their views of Trump or aligned themselves with him, was early in taking negative shots via his 1990 video for “Who’s The Mack” by superimposing the words “Broke Mack” over Trump’s face near the end of the video. However, Cube later spoke admirably of Trump, stating in 2016 that “he looks like a boss.”
The disappointment of Vice President Kamala Harris’ narrow loss to Trump still hangs over the heads of many and the insult to injury continued up until the eve of the inauguration. Snoop Dogg, Rick Ross, and Soulja Boy reportedly all performed over the weekend at the first-ever “Crypto Ball,” a gathering to celebrate Donald Trump and the cryptocurrency industry.
Unsurprisingly, Trump upped the grift by launching a new crypto token which is a clear sign of the president’s embrace of the industry and signs that he’s playing by new rules. Snoop, who has previously been critical of Trump recently as last year, somewhat addressed his connection with the Crypto Ball via a cryptic social media jab and Soulja Boy flat-out admitted that he was only in it for the money. Nelly was also named as an upcoming performer, along with country star Carrie Underwood, beer specialist Kid Rock, and The Village People, among others.
Make no mistake, the culture has given Ross, Snoop, Soulja, and many of the aforementioned Hip-Hop entertainers more than enough grief but to interpolate the great words of Kendrick Lamar, it doesn’t feel like it’s enough. Yes, there has been visible disappointment in these figures but it hasn’t adequately stopped these occurrences from happening. There seems to be an easy answer to this.
The money, so it seems, is what some in Hip-Hop (and music overall) seem to respect far more than themselves. Forget the broken promises and shady alliances. What of Trump’s comments about Black men and women, or the lack of anything resembling solid policy as it relates to the communities these entertainers hail from? It is a shameful display of cowardice and an odd worship of power that only seeks to serve Trump instead of rightly critiquing him for his faults.
Despite the heaviness some are feeling, there are several ways the Hip-Hop community can weather the storm.
Civic Literacy Is Sorely Needed
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A study published by the U.S. Chamber of Commerce Foundation in February 2024 noted that from a survey of 2,000 registered voters, 70% of Americans would fail a basic civic literacy quiz. The dearth of knowledge around civic participation and how to lessen the gap has been the aim of organizations like the National Coalition on Black Civic Participation and the National Civic League. Just this past election cycle, we were inundated with several examples of the common American voter not knowing how the electoral system works, what the three branches of government are, and what functions the chambers of Congress perform.
An educated electorate is an empowered one and it is something that should be urged beyond election cycles and promoted at the state and local level. The political machinations of certain states within the union are consistently at play with little in the way of blueprints to prevent being duped by hopeful politicians. Those of us of a certain age might remember taking civics in school, and those of us with more seasoning on our bones should also recall Schoolhouse Rock! which used music to educate young viewers of the processes of government. If we can return to explaining the nuances of politics with the right amount of flair that appeals to all ages, then we can assume many won’t feel as blindsided as they might now.
Find Your Tribe & Organize
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The Trump administration is most certainly riding a wave with the Republican Party in lockstep and owning all three branches of the federal government. Some might find the task of combating any ill-doings of the Trump White House daunting, which is why an effort to combat the incoming wave of inanity sure to come is necessary.
Groups such as Democracy Forward, headed by Skye Perryman, are part of a growing number of left-leaning organizations that last November launched a multi-organizational coalition titled Democracy 2025 in stark defiance of the Project 2025 that some believe is in play now that Trump is back in power. Other groups such as the Pro-Democracy Campaign work on a multi-state level to help individuals strategize and organize in their respective regions to help shape what they want to see happen on the national level.
No matter how one votes, the criticism of Trump and his administration should be consistently factual and unrelenting in its intensity.
The heaviest lift will be to engage those affected by the policies of the incoming administration regardless of political affiliation because those who pulled the lever for Trump are also woefully unprepared for what’s to come. That said, it is best to start small and gather with those who share your vision of an equitable future where all are treated fairly and equally. This might look like starting small at your local libraries or places of worship, or it might involve those grassroots organizations that could use volunteers to advance the messages you want to be heard.
Message In The Music
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Hip-Hop music and politics aren’t necessarily bedfellows but it would be false to say the two haven’t intersected in the past five decades. During the “Golden Era” of the 1980s, several groups platformed political positions and voiced the concerns of the downtrodden and oppressed. Hip-Hop music, at least on the mainstream level, has largely moved away from that much to the detriment of the eager ears of the youth.
If there was ever a time that Hip-Hop was considered the voice of the people, now would be the time to see that emerge. No, we can’t expect rappers and entertainers to be perfect in their execution of political messaging, nor can we expect a barrage of “FDT” tracks (RIP Nipsey Hussle). Several bold acts on the underground level probably won’t be adding their voices to the flurry of conversations to come but some do speak the will of the people. If those acts are supported and encouraged to continue that line of creativity, perhaps some can provide a measure of hope for the coming generations that democracy can thrive in the face of oligarchs and autocrats.
Sadly, it’s tough to give concrete examples as most underground rappers have only spoken about the conflict in the Gaza region and America’s hand in the matter. Others are addressing the flood of violence that plagues Black communities but in recent times, it is a rarity to hear Hip-Hop acts fully aim the power of the music at dismantling the rise of MAGA and shouting down the divisiveness that only seems to grow by the day.
Yet there were glimmers of hope with Eminem famously taking shots at Trump in his freestyles and songs along with appearing onstage alongside President Barack Obama at a Detroit Rally for Vice President Harris. Adding to the voices of disagreement for Trump were the likes of T.I., Megan Thee Stallion, and Cardi B. The culture will need many more acts to take a similarly bold stance and show up beyond election cycle celebrity appearances.
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In closing, Hip-Hop and the community overall have an opportunity to change the course of conversations regarding politics, democracy, and the power of the vote. The lines are drawn but this isn’t a time to cower in fear or render ourselves inactive out of frustration. No matter how one votes, the criticism of Donald Trump and his administration should be consistently factual and unrelenting in its intensity. It is the only way we’ll be heard and digging deep into our reserve could inspire the next generation to stand up against any regime that seeks to quell their fire.
As the years roll on, Hip-Hop Wired, along with our Urban One family, will continue to add ideas and carefully present solutions because we know Donald Trump will almost certainly give us reasons to speak up. We’ll need each other more than ever.
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Donald Trump will officially become the 47th President of the United States on Monday, January 20, but there are far better ways to spend your time than watching the convicted felon’s second inauguration. Set to officially start at noon, we have some suggestions, for the sake of your anxiety and stress levels, that will make for a far more enjoyable day than watching the Grifter in Chief reassume power,
For example, it is Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, a federal holiday, which means plenty of people fortunate enough to be employed might have the day off. That means folk will be home, turning on their TV’s and perhaps noting that all the major networks will be broadcasting the inauguration. While there are those curious, and pro-MAGA, readily tuning in to see who continues to kiss the ring and hear newscasters ultimately sane wash convicted felon Trump, millions of folk ain’t trying to hear or see all that.
Here’s a list of activities to keep you busy while next wave of lies, gaslighting and corruption kicks off for another four years. Just saying.
1. Get more more familiar with the late, great Martin Luther King, Jr.
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Martin Luther King, Jr. represents the best of what humanity has to offer, and the Civil Rights leader was instrumental in getting the the Civil Rights Act of 1964. But in 2025, many on the far right would dismiss him as “woke,” which is now often a replacement for the n-word on the lips of those who seek a thinly veiled alternative to the slur. Today would be a good time to study up on the full spectrum of Dr. King’s vision, and how close we or have not come to achieving it. Start at the King Center, and go down the rabbit hole.
2. Watch NBA on MLK Day Games
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Speaking of, the NBA on MLK Day schedule of games, with an emphasis on honoring Dr. King’s legacy, has become a proper event over the years. 2025’s lineup features eight games of NBA action including the Wolves vs. Grizzlies at 2:30 pm ET and the Celtics vs. Warriors at 5 pm ET, both on TNT. Kicking off at noon, same as the inauguration (hint, hint) are the Mavs vs. Hornets, if you have NBA TV.
3. Let’s Organize
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Spring cleaning does not have to wait until the Spring. It has been exhaustively reported that decluttering and organizing your home or office space all kinds of mental health benefits to aid any anxiety, stress and generally boost your mood. And you don’t even need to take any drugs to [loses signal.
4. Watch ‘The Twilight Zone’ on streamers
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Watching The Twilight Zone marathon is a staple of New Year’s Eve and New Year’s Day. It just hits different at the top of the year considering the series is readily available on Prime Video (Seasons 1 – 5), Pluto and other streaming services. And if the black and white OG version is a little too vanilla—Jordan Peele’s update, which was only a short-lived two seasons, it well worth a binge watch (also on Prime).
5. Log Off
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Contrary to popular believe, the world will not end if you don’t check in your various social media timelines (Facebook, Instagram, BlueSky, Spill…you’re off Xitter, right, soon?). Of course, this does not mean, for example, to go AWOL from the job that pays, to fail to feed your children or other such examples of handling your business and responsibilities. But it’s safe bet the world will go on if you simply log off for a spell, trust.
6. Listen to Black women.
Source:Getty
Hey, if Michelle Obama can skip the inauguration, so can you.
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Method Man, born Clifford Smith, 53, is being accused of assaulting a man at a Crunch Fitness gymnasium in Staten Island. The kicker is that the alleged receiver of the Wu-Tang Clan rapper and actor’s flying fists of Shaolin was his daughter’s ex-boyfriend.
Details are still scant, but the New York Post first reported about an assault on what the rag described as a “family friend” that occurred on Thursday, January 16. Reportedly, Method Man, allegedly struck Patrick Sokoya, 28, seven times in the face “with a closed fist” according to the cops.
Reportedly, the fisticuffs stemmed from a past relationship Sokoya had with the Iron Lung’s daughter (who is a rapper herself), which was over 10 years ago. Sokoya told the police that he felt dizzy but he passed on medical attention. Although a complaint was filed with NYPD, Method Man was not arrested.
We’re thinking there is a lot more to this story—but don’t expect Meth to give up the goods and you can bet this will be quietly settled, out of court. A rep for Method Man did tell the Post, “Mr. Smith categorically denies the allegations as reported and has not been the subject of an arrest by any law enforcement agency.”
Method Man being at a Crunch gym shouldn’t be a surprise since over the past years he has taken his health seriously and has spoken about heading to the gym early to get his workouts in to various outlets, including CassiusLife.com.
Considering what details we do have, we hope Method Man’s hand is okay. Respectfully.
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January 6, 2021, the United States Capitol was attacked by a mob of largely white domestic terrorists operating under the orders of Donald Trump as part of his “Stop The Steal” movement. On the fourth anniversary of the heinous attack on democracy, many on X are remembering the January 6 insurrection just as Trump is gearing up for a second term in the White House.
The events of January 6 were an example of how unchecked power in the White House could be dangerous, and how the lack of checks and balances might essentially doom our democracy. Under Trump’s guidance and fueled by misinformation and conspiracy theories from the darkest corners of the Web, the mob of Trump supporters swarmed the Capitol under the veil of misguided justice in the name of their leader.
The group, sparked by politically motivated bloodlust, was sent to attack Vice President Mike Pence for failing to block the confirmation and there were clear intentions to harm any elected official who was a perceived enemy of Trump. This mob felt ordained to carry out Trump’s justice as wayward vigilantes fighting under a false flag.
Given the level of meddling Trump engaged in on the state level regarding losing votes over what he thought would be shoo-ins for his reelection, the weaponizing of his base to enact a coup of sorts should have had its day in court before winning the election last fall. Even members of Trump’s party sought a path where the president-elect would face the facts of his actions.
However, procedural delays, political hand-wringing, and an unprecedented move by the United States Supreme Court empowered Trump and will most likely allow him and the January 6 insurrectionists to sidestep justice unscathed. The embers of hope that Trump would have his day in court were effectively snuffed out after Department of Justice Special Counsel Jack Smith filed to have felony charges against Trump dropped.
The election interference matter Trump has been accused of was marred by the typical tug-of-war of politics, with Trump supporters stating that the DOJ was on a “witch hunt” and a true denial of any sort of accountability from Trump. It is sobering that Donald Trump yet avoided penalties for his actions yet again, and the populace at large is bracing for another four years under Trump’s reign.
On X, formerly Twitter, many are remembering the January 6 insurrection attack, and the reactions are centered on the truth of what happened, not centering on any political side.
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Elon Musk‘s X is now firmly the main meeting space for all things MAGA, offering a safe haven for the hateful and belligerent who fell in line with the movement. However, “First Buddy” Elon Musk and his DOGE Bro Vivek Ramaswamy are catching MAGA wrath on Musk’s social media platform.
To illustrate what is happening with the proposed DOGE (Department of Government Efficiency) coalition of Elon Musk and Vivek Ramaswamy, we look into their recent activity on X as the impetus of the critique both are receiving. On Christmas Day (Dec. 25), Musk posted a missive on X shooting down the idea that more American engineers should be hired over foreign workers, sparking a testy debate.
“The number of people who are super talented engineers AND super motivated in the USA is far too low. Think of this like a pro sports team: if you want your TEAM to win the championship, you need to recruit top talent wherever they may be. That enables the whole TEAM to win,” Musk wrote.
An X user fired back with, “There are over 330 million people in America. Surely, there must be enough among them to build your ultimate team? Why would you deny real Americans that opportunity by bringing foreigners here?” to which Musk fired back and doubled down with, “Your understanding of the situation is upside-down and backwards. OF COURSE my companies and I would prefer to hire Americans and we DO, as that is MUCH easier than going through the incredibly painful and slow work visa process. HOWEVER, there is a dire shortage of extremely talented and motivated engineers in America.”
The H-1B visa, which allows foreign nationals to work for American companies in special capacities, has been criticized by President-elect Donald Trump in the past and he has shown his preference in hiring American workers first.
Ramaswamy added fuel to the proverbial fire by siding with Musk, who is an immigrant, and pushing the concept of hiring outside of the United States to bring a standard of excellence to the nation. It was a lengthy post from Ramaswamy and we’ll share a portion below.
From Vivek Ramaswamy’s X account:
The reason top tech companies often hire foreign-born & first-generation engineers over “native” Americans isn’t because of an innate American IQ deficit (a lazy & wrong explanation). A key part of it comes down to the c-word: culture. Tough questions demand tough answers & if we’re really serious about fixing the problem, we have to confront the TRUTH:
Our American culture has venerated mediocrity over excellence for way too long (at least since the 90s and likely longer). That doesn’t start in college, it starts YOUNG.
A culture that celebrates the prom queen over the math olympiad champ, or the jock over the valedictorian, will not produce the best engineers.
A culture that venerates Cory from “Boy Meets World,” or Zach & Slater over Screech in “Saved by the Bell,” or ‘Stefan’ over Steve Urkel in “Family Matters,” will not produce the best engineers.
The posts from Musk and Ramaswamy have created quite a firestorm of comments from the likes of Laura Loomer and other conservative figures who believe that the pair are getting this wrong. You can read one of Loomer’s X replies to Musk here.
On X, observers are taking note of the MAGA infighting and potential for implosion within the incoming Trump administration and he hasn’t even been sworn in yet. We’ve got reactions below.
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