Meet "The Skeptics," a DIY lay version of God Squad — they're a group of politically and spiritually diverse group of people who've been meeting once a week for years (in some private location that for some reason they're not letting on to). Lucky us — we'll meet four of the Skeptics (a Catholic, a Protestant, a Mormon, and an atheist) who have forged deep friendships by gathering regularly to discuss spiritual topics in a respectful manner where disagreement is both welcomed and appreciated. They'll let us in on an hour of their private conversation and even lend a little support to new Skeptic groups that might be inspired to launch. Facilitated by Village Square Founder Liz Joyner and featuring The Village Square's Bill Mattox — both a veteran of more God Squad programs than he'd imagine and a member of "The Skeptics." Also a Skeptic, former NACo President Bryan Desloge.
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Do Charli XCX’s and Kid Rock’s endorsements make a difference? 19% of young people admit they might.
Sep 04, 2024
Longoria is an associate professor of political science at the University of Texas Rio Grande Valley.
British pop star Charli XCX sent many young people’s group text chats and social media feeds wild when she endorsed Kamala Harris by playing off a term she coined in a song, and posted on X, that “kamala IS brat.”
While this endorsement, which happened in July 2024, likely means very little to most adults who don’t follow the singer’s music, it is considered high praise among young people. Harris’ campaign astutely embraced Charli XCX’s support – temporarily changing the background of its X profile to the same shade of lime green that Charlie XCX favors.
Celebrities, including singer John Legend and actors Octavia Spencer, Julia Louis-Dreyfus and Jesse Tyler Ferguson, are all making appearances at the Democratic National Convention, which runs Aug. 19-24.
Several celebrities, including wrestler Hulk Hogan and singer Jason Aldean, appeared at the Republican National Convention in July.
So far, a range of other celebrities, including actor Jeff Bridges, the singer Cher, movie director Spike Lee and comedian Amy Schumer, among others, have endorsed Harris.
Meanwhile, comedian Roseanne Barr, as well as singer Kid Rock, model Amber Rose and actor Jon Voight have endorsed Trump.
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Some researchers have estimated that Oprah Winfrey’s endorsement of Barack Obama in 2008 gave him an additional 1 million votes.
But overall, research shows that celebrity political endorsements don’t matter enough to determine an election’s results.
If celebrity endorsements don’t shift an election, then why do political campaigns seek them out?
The answer is that they still do matter and for many different reasons. Celebrities can easily get media attention, act as campaign surrogates, expand the voter base and make campaign contributions. All these things can help a candidate win.
What guides voters and celeb endorsements
Not many people will admit that they voted for a candidate because Oprah Winfrey or another celebrity told them to – so survey research will rarely find that celebrity endorsements are meaningful.
About 89% of adults also said in February 2020 that they wouldn’t switch their vote because of a celebrity endorsement.
However, this leaves 11% of American adults who said that they might change their preferred candidate based on what a celebrity said. Another 19% of younger voters also said in this same poll that a celebrity could help change their vote.
In a close election, these voters at the margins could change a candidate’s fortunes.
Celebrities can help keep a politician in the news cycle – and a celebrity endorsement gives candidates an extra opportunity to distribute their message to a public audience.
Whether it is Jeff Bridges – who played “The Dude” in the 1998 movie “The Big Lebowski” – speaking at a “White dudes for Harris” Zoom meeting, or the pro-Trump singer Kid Rock hosting a series of “Rock the Country” concerts, celebrity endorsements can also help candidates target specific demographic groups.
Celebrities also benefit when they get involved in politics because they, too, depend on staying relevant.
By weighing in on political issues, celebrities can keep themselves in the limelight and promote their personal brand. There is a risk, however, that a celebrity might alienate fans and business partners who don’t share their political views.
A strong online presence
Celebrities can also get a lot of media attention when they disagree with a politician or are offended by what they say.
For example, Trump’s running mate, JD Vance, has said that “the entire future of the Democrats is controlled by people without children.”
His 2021 comments about the country being run by “childless cat ladies” also resurfaced in July 2024.
Actress Jennifer Aniston and talk-show host Whoopi Goldberg went on the counteroffensive, stating that there are many reasons some women don’t have children, including fertility challenges.
“I truly can’t believe that this is coming from a potential VP of the United States,” Aniston wrote on Instagram.
“All I can say is … Mr. Vance, I pray that your daughter is fortunate enough to bear children of her own one day.”
Expanding the electorate base
Celebrities can also effectively encourage people to register to vote or to actually vote. In September 2023, singer Taylor Swift encouraged her fans to register to vote with a link to vote.org.
The site saw a 1,226% increase in traffic, and over 35,000 new voters registered within an hour of her post.
There is speculation this election that Swift will formally back Harris, as she did President Joe Biden during the 2020 election. Some Swift fans have looked for clues of a possible endorsement, including that a Swift dancer – who wore a pantsuit during a recent concert – appeared to resemble Harris.
Trump falsely claimed on Aug. 18 that Swift endorsed him, posting an AI-generated image on Truth Social that showed an image of Swift and said, “Taylor wants you to vote for Donald Trump.”
While Swift has not issued any endorsement one way or another, Swift’s fans have organized a “Swifties4Kamala” movement that has more than 180,000 followers across social media.
Celebrities still have political influence
Celebrity political endorsements are unlikely to change a voter’s core values or sway voters who are already closely following politics and are familiar with the different candidates and what they stand for.
But celebrities still have cultural influence and could encourage people who are not closely engaged in politics or an election to vote for or support a candidate in other ways, such as with donations.
And research also shows that celebrities are especially likely to shape the political opinions of younger voters.
Even if a celebrity endorsement is not the primary reason any voter would select a particular candidate, the celebrity endorsement might have value for some people. And in a close election, it can be just a few thousand votes that matter.
This article is republished from The Conversation under a Creative Commons license. Read the original article.
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Ariana Grande for Harris. Kanye West for Trump. Does it matter?
Aug 22, 2024
Nevins is co-publisher of The Fulcrum and co-founder and board chairman of the Bridge Alliance Education Fund.
It didn’t take long after Joe Biden dropped out of the presidential race and Kamala Harris became the odds-on favorite to be the Democratic Party's nominee for the celebrity endorsements to follow. Within a few days, Ariana Grande, Cardi B and John Legend all publicly announced their support for Harris.
Of course, not all celebrities are Democrats and Donald Trump has his share of celebrity support as well — people like Ye (Kanye West), Jason Aldean and Kid Rock, who endorsed Trump in the past and are likely to endorse him once again.
And while some celebrities choose not to support candidates for office, they do at times voice their objection when their music is used at political events without their permission.
Singer Celine Dion was not happy when former President Trump used her Oscar- and Grammy-winning hit "My Heart Will Go On" at multiple campaign rallies throughout 2023 and 2024. She team issued this statement:
"In no way is this use authorized, and Celine Dion does not endorse this or any similar use. ... And really, THAT song?"
The jab at the end about “really, THAT song?” — a reminder that her romantic ballad served as the theme song for a movie about a sinking ship — received considerable social media attention.
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Whether any of this actually impacts the election is certainly debatable.
Movie and music stars have always had an enormous influence on politics, including Edward G. Robinson, Ronald Reagan, Harry Belafonte, Jane Fonda, Charlton Heston, Warren Beatty, Arnold Schwarzenegger, Barbra Streisand, Beyoncé and Lady Gaga. They entered the political fray from both the left and the right.
In more recent times, Ye joined the fray when he entered the White House wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat, and Billie Eilish, at the age of only 18, debuted the first live performance of her single “My Future” at the Democratic National Convention in 2020.
Athletes have been involved too. After the shooting of Jacob Blake in 2020, NBA stars LeBron James and Jamal Murray, as well as many other NBA players, expressed their support for social justice by sitting out a playoff game against the Orlando Magic. Their path was influenced by Colin Kaepernick, who knelt to protest police violence against Black people and became an NFL pariah.
Jennifer Lopez and Alex Rodriguez joined a June 2020 demonstration in Los Angeles against racism and police brutality. In 2021, Streisand, a lifelong activist, criticized Republican efforts to introduce new voting restrictions as GOP legislators throughout the country proposed bills to tighten election regulations.
Whether celebrity political activism does more harm than good is a subject of much debate, yet in this age of social media the ease of harnessing one’s stardom has increased dramatically. Where in past eras the stars needed movie studios and record labels, many artists own their music and have direct access to their fans.
We’ll watch closely between now and Election Day to see whether more celebrities will use their status and endorse Harris or Trump.
Many eyes are focused on Taylor Swift, one of the biggest superstars of them all. The extent of her influence was evident in September 2023 when Swift posted a short message on Instagram encouraging her 272 million followers to register to vote. Afterward, the website she directed her fans to — the nonpartisan Vote.org — announced it recorded more than 35,000 registrations as a result.
Whether Taylor Swift and other superstars choose to dive deeper into the political fray before November remains to be seen. Some of Swift’s fans believe she has a duty to speak out and some think she should just stick to music and dance.
We’ll keep you posted.
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From Rock the Vote to TikTok: Pop culture’s political influence
Aug 19, 2024
Johnson is a United Methodist pastor, the author of "Holding Up Your Corner: Talking About Race in Your Community" and program director for the Bridge Alliance, which houses The Fulcrum.
In 1992, a young Bill Clinton tried to connect with Generation X by joking around and soulfully playing the sax on “The Arsenio Hall Show.” It was a game-changer that forever shifted how presidential candidates court younger voters.
Nowadays, it's not about late-night talk shows but about getting attention on social media platforms like TikTok. The relationship between pop culture and politics has evolved with each generation, keeping pace with the changing times and new technologies. It's crucial to understand this evolution and what it means for how future generations will engage with politics.
Rock the Vote burst onto the scene when I was coming of age. This nonpartisan organization aimed to educate young folks about their rights and get them involved in politics. Its message hit home with a generation that felt disillusioned with the system. The 1992 Clinton-Gore campaign tapped into this energy, aligning with famous figures like Madonna and Aerosmith.
Still, hip-hop had a complicated relationship with the Clintons and other political characters in its early days. Some artists subtly expressed interest, while others, like the late Tupac Shakur, offered critical commentary, reflecting the mixed views of the community on the candidates and their policies.
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Fast forward to 2008, and the landscape shifted again. Barack Obama's campaign savvily used social media to connect with young voters. Hip-hop, by then a major cultural force, rallied behind his candidacy. Endorsements from artists like Jay-Z, Beyoncé and will.i.am carried credible weight. The "Yes We Can" music video featuring a star-studded cast reciting Obama's speech went viral, capturing the campaign's energy. Unlike politicians of the 1990s, Obama wasn't just trying to seem cool; he made genuine in-roads to the hip-hop community and showed an understanding of its influence.
In 2024, the intersection of pop culture and politics has evolved. While pop culture is undoubtedly still influential, its interaction with politics has become more nuanced and sophisticated. Artists like Charli XCX and Taylor Swift embody this shift, using their massive platforms to endorse candidates and speak out on specific issues that resonate with their audiences. For example, Swift's social media post about the Equality Act sparked way more attention and discussion than any traditional political ad could.
Social media personalities and pop culture icons have considerable influence in the political sphere, shaping the discourse and bringing important issues to the forefront. Moreover, their efforts reflect a generational shift, with young people becoming increasingly interested in specific policies and their real-world impacts rather than unquestioningly supporting a particular party. It's an encouraging sign of a more informed, engaged and politically aware generation with the potential to shape the nation's future through active participation and passionate advocacy.
So, the question for the weeks and election cycles ahead is: How will candidates meaningfully connect with this new electorate of politically savvy young civic citizens?
It won't cut it to have a TikTok account or score an endorsement from a famous artist. Next-generation voters will demand substantive answers on the issues that matter most to them — climate change, racial justice and economic inequality. This next generation uses their vast digital audiences to hold candidates accountable, amplify marginalized voices and build movements beyond traditional party lines.
The future of the intersection of pop culture and politics depends on how the political system and leaders adapt to this ever-changing reality. The need for substantive engagement from political leaders is urgent, and it's up to citizens to demand it. The empowerment of this cycle's electorate and future ones is not just a sign of change but a signal of hope for a more inclusive and informed political future.
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Simone Biles wins gold in life’s balancing act
Aug 12, 2024
Lockard is an Iowa resident who regularly contributes to regional newspapers and periodicals. She is working on the second of a four-book fictional series based on Jane Austen’s “Pride and Prejudice."
The closing ceremonies of the 2024 Summer Olympics in Paris will take place this Sunday, Aug. 11. Officially called the Games of the XXXIII Olympiad, they have provided a thrilling spectacle, a glimpse of the world together and on its best behavior.
Team USA’s Simone Biles will leave the City of Lights with an additional four Olympic medals, three gold (the team event, all around and vault) plus a silver in floor exercise, bringing her Olympic treasure trove to 11. Added to her 30 world championship medals, Biles is the most decorated gymnast ever. With five awe-inspiring skills named for her, she dominates the sport — truly the Greatest of All Time.
But Biles did not medal in the balance beam in Paris. She fell during her routine; Team USA was not even on the podium. The irony of this is infused with meaning. Because if there is any skill Biles can, and did, show the entire world, it is her ability to strive for balance.
During the delayed 2021 summer games in Tokyo, Biles withdrew from the gymnastics competition. In front of a stunned world and her equally stunned team, she walked off the floor. Despite a barrage of criticism, she stayed in Tokyo, supporting her teammates (to four more medals) and returning briefly after her doctors’ assessment to take bronze in the balance beam.
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Before the drama of her withdrawal in Tokyo, Biles had been making uncharacteristic mistakes during the qualifying rounds. The gymnastics term for her issue is the “twisties.” This condition causes a gymnast to lose her sense of space and direction while performing, potentially a deadly malady for a young woman who flies through the air in her routines.
Yet, who walks away from the Olympics, with the entire world watching?
Simone Biles did.
All that glitters is not gold.
Amidst harsh, and often brutal, criticism Biles found the wherewithal to value herself more than her accomplishments, unblinded by Olympic dazzle or her impending downfall.
The “twisties” is a term we can apply to our individual lives, as well as to our society. Off-kilter, out of whack, erratic, misaligned. It happens in every arena, big and small: individual health, societal health, politics and personal issues, physical and mental. And when it happens, we have to work hard to regain our balance or we face potentially deadly consequences.
Most of us have experienced this misalignment in one area or another: working too much, partying too much, too many meetings, too much pressure, etc. Eating too much candy results in cavities; conversely, eating too many carrots causes carotene toxicity. Good and bad are relative terms. Too much is by definition “too much.”
But isn’t the way to fully live to throw ourselves into our work and into our passions? And is that not essentially what the Olympics are about, showcasing those who have pursued their athletic dreams and devoted tens of thousands of hours to practice their skills, in fact dedicated their lives to it?
Is this not the “American” way? The path to success, admired and rewarded by a world that measures value by economic accomplishment and fame? Besides, isn’t living a life of “balance” boring, devoid of adventure and excitement?
Nothing could be further from the truth. In the big picture, the most successful people strive for life/work balance, the most successful countries pursue balance politically.
“I truly feel like I have the weight of the world on my shoulders at times,” Biles said in Tokyo. Without her parents there to cheer her on, with the pressure of others’ expectations, plus the fear and isolation of the pandemic, she taught us all a lesson: We were out of balance, and we needed each other to regain it.
The ancient yin and the yang compose the taijitu, the whole. Balance is the single most difficult thing to attain; in any arena, it’s a worthy goal in every aspect.
To find a way out of political quagmire requires adjustment, a willingness to listen, acknowledgment that opposing arguments may have some merit. Extremism is good for no person or country. In terms of the security of our country and our entire planet, the balance of power is essential.
Biles is back, Paris billed as the “Redemption Tour” by the women’s gymnastics team. But as stunning as her gymnastic accomplishments are, her courage to do what is best for herself and her team by seeking balance earns her the highest, most soaring accolades.
Simone Biles wins gold in the most difficult and important challenge she, and we, face: attaining balance.
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