State Champ Radio politics
Page: 6
Cardi B has called out the less fortunate who voted for Donald Trump in the 2024 presidential election, and who thought that the former mogul being in office would improve their economic state.
The Grammy-winning rapper hopped on Instagram Live over the weekend, where she bluntly stated, “Donald Trump was never for y’all poor motherf—kers.”
She continued to say that Trump’s alleged disdain for the poor applies to all ethnicities. “Donald Trump was never for the poor people. For the white poors, for the Black poors, for the Spanish poors, for the Asians, for the Indians. He don’t give a f—k about none of y’all motherf—s,” Cardi said. “To him, even millionaires are poor.”
Cardi’s rant was seemingly inspired by the USDA’s announcement that checks for the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, which provides food stamps for 40 million Americans, will not go out on Nov. 1. The news came after Dept. of Agriculture memo surfaced Oct. 24, indicating that the Trump administration will not use about $5 billion in contingency funds to help the program as the government shutdown continues, according to the Associated Press.
“Now, Donald Trump was blaming the immigrants for America’s downfall,” she said. “Like, I do understand if a country wants to enforce more strict immigration laws. I understand that. However, he was using that as an excuse for the issues that we have in this country, in this economy.”
The 33-year-old went on: “Now, how many f—king immigrants has he deported? He has deported so many people. So, now the immigrants are deported, who are we blaming for the fact that we are practically going into a recession? We don’t even have food stamps.”
Cardi B originally wasn’t going to vote in the 2024 election, as she didn’t agree with Democrats’ “funding wars,” but she ended up throwing her support behind Kamala Harris. Cardi gave the former VP her endorsement with a public appearance at a Milwaukee rally ahead of the election.
“You really wanted better for ALL of us!” the rapper wrote in a post-election letter to Harris following the loss to Trump. “This may not mean much but I am so proud of you! No one has ever made me change my mind and you did! I never thought I would see the day that a woman of color would be running for the President of the United States, but you have shown me, shown my daughters and women across the country that anything is possible.”
James Manning – PA Images / Kamala Harris
Kamala Harris isn’t done with politics and hints at wanting another crack at becoming President of the United States, even though the United States let her down.
First reported by the BBC, Kamala Harris’ promo tour for her memoir, 107 Days, has officially reached the UK, and she said it’s “possible” she could be POTUS one day. Even though it doesn’t look that way, she feels that her grandnieces will see a woman sitting in the Oval Office “in their lifetime, for sure.”
Sunday, Harris spoke with Laura Kuenssberg and gave folks the strongest vibes yet that she wants to run again, while shutting down polls claiming that she isn’t the favorite to earn the Democratic nomination for president.
Harris also took shots at the current wannabe dictator in the White House, Donald Trump, calling him a “tyrant” while not missing the opportunity to hit us with a well-deserved “I told you so” letting the audience know that everything she warned US voters about Trump, and what a second term under his “leadership” would look like has come to fruition.
Some People Want Kamala Harris To Run Again
Of course, Harris’ latest comments are sparking reactions with some folks already on board with the former VP taking another swing at the White House.
“Let me clarify a point: Kamala Harris must and would be our nominee for the next election. She gained 75 MILLION votes in just 3 f*cking months. NOBODY did that before. Give her time to run a real campaign and we will win,” one person wrote on social media.
If she decides to run again, it might be a rematch with the Orange Menace, who is flirting with the idea of an unconstitutional third term.
Lord help us all.
You can see more reactions, for and against her running again, below.
Trending on Billboard With just over a week until Election Day, NYC mayoral candidate Zohran Mamdani made a surprise appearance during PinkPantheress’ Brooklyn concert on Friday (Oct. 24). The British singer’s “True Romance” performance was interrupted by a Mamdani cameo, as the Democratic candidate — who was in the audience — appeared on the screen, […]
Stephen A. Smith used his massive platform to lash out at Rep. Jasmine Crockett, urging the Texas congresswoman to put aside her grievances with President Donald Trump. With the smoke clearing and after getting blasted online and in the media, Stephen A. Smith walked back his critiques of Crockett and took a shot at Trump as well.
Via his Straight Shooter With Stephen A program, Stephen A. Smith, apparently inspired by President Trump and his administration’s targeted attacks against Rep. Crockett, gave an apology that wasn’t as full-throated as his earlier digs against the Texas congresswoman.
“I can look Jasmine Crockett in the face and say I’m sorry for any kind of noise I caused in your direction, because she is accomplished, and she is smart, and she does have an incredible, incredible challenge working in this political climate on Capitol Hill,” Smith said.
Love News? Get more! Join the Hip-Hop Wired Newsletter
We care about your data. See our privacy policy.
Smith also said, “I saw something disturbing in regards to President Donald Trump and how he came at Representative Jasmine Crockett. I get it now with Trump feeding into that nonsense, giving him ammunition to continue to go out there and talk about our Black women that way, I got it.”
President Trump referred to Congresswoman Crockett as a “low IQ person” this past June, a shot she didn’t take without returning fire of her own.
Smith also hit back at his critics, who felt that his words were meant to attack or harm Crockett because she’s a woman.
“When somebody tries to take that to accuse me of being disrespectful or in any way misogynistic, I’m going to push back on that because that’s emphatically false. There’s no truth to that whatsoever, and I’m not accepting that, and I’m not owning that,” Smith added.
Smith also took a dig at the Democratic Party, suggesting that its leaders figure out better strategies to appeal to voters, stating that Trump won the past election due to frustrations with the party at large.
—
Photo: Getty
Joan Baez has a theory about Donald Trump, who is the subject of her new poem published Thursday (Oct. 23).
In the piece titled “Little Green Worm: A Note to the President” shared with Rolling Stone, the folk icon slams the politician’s lack of “empathy,” “impulse control” and “basic intelligence,” positing that Trump has none of the above due to a “little green worm” entering his brain and eating it all up. It comes amid the ongoing “No Kings” rallies protesting the twice-impeached POTUS’ policies.
“I’ve been thinking about a little green worm that has worked its way into your anterior insular cortex, the part of the brain where empathy originates,” Baez wrote. “The little green worm quickly devoured yours. He then munched onward until he came to the prefrontal cortex, which is involved in impulse control and regulating social behavior.”
“It’s meant to stop us from blurting out vulgarities such as ‘Grab her by the p—y’ and ‘S–thole countries’ or accusing all Mexican immigrants of being criminals, rapists and drug dealers,” the poem continued.
The piece closes with Baez illustrating how the little green worm eventually moves on to the part of Trump’s brain that should be “responsible for thought,” only to find that he doesn’t have one. “Oh s–t: there’s nothing there,” the musician concludes.
Billboard has reached out to the White House for comment.
As a musical pioneer of 1960s counterculture, Baez has long been open — in her music and otherwise — about her beliefs surrounding politics and social justice. In March, she told John Mulaney, “Our democracy is going up in flames … we’re being run by a bunch of really incompetent billionaires.”
While speaking to Rolling Stone about her latest piece, she explained that turning to poetry instead of songwriting has helped her process the overwhelming nature of today’s political landscape.
“When I’m present and looking out at my own yard and the trees and all of that, it’s still as beautiful as it ever was,” she told the publication. “And then there are times of great sorrow and times of frustration, like everybody. And I found that the poetry helps — just doing it and getting it down on paper or on computer to keep my head above water.”
Trending on Billboard
Bryan Andrews’ vitriol is going viral. The up-and-coming country artist’s song, “The Older I Get,” contains lyrics in its verses that take on big pharma, corporate greed and un-Christ-like Christians. But it’s the bridge that has drawn the most attention, as he makes references to the Jeffrey Epstein files (“Raise your right hand / plead the Fifth / Tryna cover up names on a list / lie and say that it doesn’t exist”), ICE (“Heaven help you if you’ve got brown skin”) and the Israeli/Palestinian conflict (“Watch ‘em starve on Gaza Strip”).
“The Older I Get” originally came out in June. But in mid-October, a tirade Andrews delivered on social media propelled the song into virality: this week, it debuts at No. 3 on Billboard’s Country Digital Song Sales and No. 8 on the overall Digital Song Sales chart while Andrews debuts at No. 16 on the Emerging Artists chart.
Related
His outburst, which he titled “Crash Out,” features a camo-wearing Andrews seated in his truck, ranting about ICE agents “carting them off in the back of U-Hauls…and the worst part is I have to watch some of you cheering it on like you’re watching a f-cking football game,” saving his ire for people who call themselves Christians who applaud these actions. “I started writing songs about this sh-t because I’m not oblivious to the platform I have,” the Carrollton, Missouri native continues, adding he knows it’s risky for his career to be so outspoken, especially in the often conservative country community, but he feels he has no choice but show “what side of history he’s on.” The reel has garnered more than 7.5 million views on Instagram alone, and proved an effective — if unintended — marketing tactic for the song. And that success earns Andrews’ manager, 10 and 8 Management owner Nicholas Mishko, the title of Billboard’s Executive of the Week.
Here, Mishko, who began managing Andrews almost two years ago after one of the former pipe welder’s songs popped up in his TikTok feed, discusses the song’s success, and gives some context to Andrews’ rise and his signing with Disruptor/Sony five months ago. “Bryan has been creating music for about five years,” Mishko says. “TikTok proved to be a pivotal moment in his career, allowing his music to reach a national audience, open new doors and pursue music full time.” A number of high-profile music executives liked Andrews’ post, which Mishko says, “has opened doors for conversations and opportunities that weren’t possible before.”
The song originally came out in June, but exploded around two weeks ago after Andrews’ “Crash Out” social media post. How were you building the song the past four months until then?
We were building the song through TikTok and Instagram, steadily gaining momentum with each viral moment. We also shared the track with key influencers early on, which helped generate press and expand its reach.
How has it helped spread the word given the celebrities like Mark Ruffalo have liked and commented on Andrews’ post? How are you tying that back to the music?
The attention from high-profile celebrities has helped bring Bryan’s music to audiences who might not have discovered it otherwise. Each repost, share, like or comment generates conversation and drives new listeners to the song and his other work.
Related
It’s not until two-thirds through “The Older I Get” that Andrews gets overtly political with the bridge that alludes to the Epstein list, “brown skin” and Gaza. Was there any thought to making a version without those references?
The song was largely complete before Bryan wrote that bridge. He added those verses after seeing current events unfold. Those experiences inspired him to address issues and bring awareness.
Andrews posted that people were upset by “Crash Out,” “especially in the country music space.” Was it mainly country music fans or did you hear from people in the country music industry?
The backlash mostly came from fans who felt the song challenged their expectations of country music. We also heard from a few people within the industry, though it was never overwhelming. Overall, the reaction showed that the song was sparking conversation and engaging people with the issues Bryan wanted to highlight.
Andrews signed with Disruptor/Sony in April and you led with “Blue,” which was a much more traditional, though biting, country song about a broken heart, as opposed to something political. Why?
The song highlights Bryan’s songwriting and storytelling, making it a strong introduction for a wider audience. Disruptor’s team, especially Adam Alpert and Julie Leff, has been fantastic to work with, emphasizing from day one that their artists should feel in control of their art. They were fully on board with this first release.
What are your radio plans for “The Older I Get?”
Right now, our focus is on building strong momentum online, letting Bryan’s songs gain traction with fans and influencers. From there, we’ll evaluate whether and how to approach radio, using the buzz as a foundation for any future push.
Related
On YouTube, so many of the comments are from people who say they hate country music, but they love this song. How are you capitalizing on those new fans?
One of the top comments we’ve seen across platforms is, “I don’t listen to country, but I do now because of you.” We are engaging those new fans by highlighting the song across social platforms and encouraging them to explore more of Bryan’s music. By sharing behind-the-scenes content, stories about the songs and interactive posts, we’re turning casual listeners into loyal fans. It’s exciting to see new fans coming into country music and discovering a side of the genre they haven’t experienced before.
Does he follow “The Older I Get” with another political song or something more traditional?
Bryan has been country his entire life. I have been to his hometown and seen the small-town, blue-collar farming community he grew up in. He is living that life, and with this next song, he is showing listeners that he truly is a country artist and that his authenticity is undeniable.
Are you waiting for the White House to take notice and comment, as they have on Zach Bryan’s song, “Bad News?”
I’m always curious to see who is commenting and what they’re saying, and it’s clear the song has sparked meaningful conversation across a wide audience.
Bruce Springsteen is continuing to speak out against Donald Trump, with the rock star offering up a “prayer” for “no kings” amid the ongoing protests against the president. At the American Film Institute Opening Night Gala on Wednesday (Oct. 22) — where Springsteen was in attendance to support new biopic Deliver Me From Nowhere — […]
According to reports, a man who was one of the January 6th insurrectionists has been arrested for allegedly making terroristic threats against House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries. Christopher Moynihan, 34, of Clinton, New York, was arrested by Dutchess County police after they were informed by the Federal Bureau of Investigation Joint Terrorism Task Force (FBI-JTT), making him the first of the pardoned J6ers to be arrested for alleged political violence.
Moynihan reportedly sent messages concerning an upcoming appearance that Jeffries was set to make in New York City. The recipient was not specified, according to Reuters.
“Hakeem Jeffries makes a speech in a few days in NYC I cannot allow this terrorist to live. … Even if I am hated he must be eliminated. … I will kill him for the future,” the text messages read, according to the complaint, which was dated Saturday (October 18).
Moynihan was one of the first wave of people who stormed the U.S. Capitol Building on January 6th, 2021, after a speech by now-President Donald Trump, which falsely challenged the outcome of the 2020 presidential elections, which put former President Joe Biden in office. He was one of 1,590 people charged for their actions that day and was sentenced to 21 months in prison in February 2023. He, along with nearly all of the other insurrectionists, was pardoned by Trump on his first day in office this year.
“Unfortunately, our brave men and women in law enforcement are being forced to spend their time keeping our communities safe from these violent individuals who should never have been pardoned,” Jeffries said in a statement. Republican House Majority Leader Mike Johnson decried the incident while appearing at the Capitol building. “Anybody who threatens to kill any political official we denounce it absolutely. We ought to have justice fall upon their head,” he said.Moynihan remains in custody at the Dutchess County Justice and Transition Center in lieu of a $10,000 cash bail, $30,000 bond, or $80,000 partially secured bond, in line for a Class D felony. He is expected to appear for a preliminary hearing on Thursday (October 23).
—
Photo: Getty
The elected leadership of the Democratic Party isn’t fiery enough to oppose the threat of President Trump’s administration, according to several candidates running nationwide in key races, as well as a large swath of the party’s voters. The key targets for their ire have been House Minority Leader Hakeem Jeffries and Senator Chuck Schumer, particularly as Trump has mocked them since his return.
Currently, the list of challengers are younger, like progressive influencer Kat Abughazaleh who is running to succeed retiring Illinois representative Jan Schakowsky. “You need to show the people that you’re angry — and not just that you’re angry, that you’re going to do something about it,” she said to Axios.
That was echoed by attorney Patrick Roath, who is challenging Massachusetts Representative Stephen Lynch. “People are angry, they are frustrated, they are deeply dismayed by what they are seeing, of course by the Trump administration, but honestly a lot is a profound disappointment with the Democrats,” he said.
Love News? Get more! Join the Hip-Hop Wired Newsletter
We care about your data. See our privacy policy.
The pressure of the current government shutdown, now in its third week, is also applying pressure on the established Democratic leadership. Jeffries has gained staunch support among Democrats in the House of Representatives for not being willing to move away from their demands for healthcare to be preserved from cuts by Republicans and Donald Trump. Schumer reportedly floated a stopgap bill to reopen the government, drawing criticism and prompting him to reverse course.
That kind of conciliatory move with a Republican administration that has demonstrated their unwillingness to care is not one these candidates look to employ. “I am not a ‘when they go low, we go high’ [person]. I’m not that kind of girl,” said Texas state representative Jolanda Jones, one of the Texas Democrats who took a stand against GOP gerrymandering in the state earlier this year. “If they go low, I’m going to the gutter.”
Despite the support in the House, Jeffries has faced reports that some might not back his bid to be Speaker should Democrats regain control of that body of Congress. Schumer, who isn’t up for re-election until 2028, has less room to maneuver as several members of the Senate are up for re-election next year, including some vulnerable seats.
—
Photo: Getty
Source: Hugh R Hastings / Getty
Bob Vylan, the Hip-Hop and punk duo known for their political themes and speaking out against government regimes, found themselves in hot water after an appearance at this year’s Glastonbury festival. In a recent podcast interview, Bob Vylan frontman Bobby Vylan says he has no regrets in leading a “Death to the IDF” chant at Glastonbury.
As reported by The Guardian, Bob Vylan’s Bobby Vylan, real name Pascal Robinson-Foster, sat down with The Louis Theroux Podcast in what was Vylan’s first interview since the Glastonbury incident.
Back in June, the duo took to the stage and led the crowd in a “Death, Death to the IDF” chant, which led to the group losing their United States work visas and prompting the cancellation of a North American tour. The backlash also extended into the group’s talent agency, UTA, dropping them from its roster.
Love News? Get more! Join the Hip-Hop Wired Newsletter
We care about your data. See our privacy policy.
Bobby Vylan told Theroux that his decision to lead the crowd into the chant was one he has accepted along with all of the fallout. In fact, Bobby Vylan said he’d repeat every action made.
“Oh yeah. Like what if I was to go on Glastonbury again tomorrow, yes I would do it again. I’m not regretful of it. I’d do it again tomorrow, twice on Sundays,” said Bobby Vylan.
He added, “I don’t want to overstate the importance of the chant. That’s not what I’m trying to do, but if I have their support, they’re the people that I’m doing it for, they’re the people that I’m being vocal for, then what is there to regret? Oh, because I’ve upset some rightwing politician or some rightwing media?”
Check out Bobby Vylan discussing the “Death, Death to the IDF” chant and his justification for doing so in the clip below.
—
Photo: Getty
