MaddowBlog-DHS's Kristi Noem targets country singer over song with lyrics about ICE

[LetMyPeopleVote]

When the federal government, including the White House, starts leaning on artists over song lyrics, there’s a problem.

When powerful federal officials, including those at the White House, start leaning on artists over song lyrics, there’s a problem.

The scope of Team Trump’s efforts to steer the culture make that problem worse. www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddo...

— Steve Benen (@stevebenen.com) 2025-10-09T18:45:23.250Z

https://www.msnbc.com/rachel-maddow-show/maddowblog/kristi-noem-zach-bryan-song-ice-lyrics-country-music-rcna236677

Noem nevertheless found some time to condemn country music star Zach Bryan for writing a song warning that ICE “is going to come bust down your door.” The New York Times reported:

Noem had called Bryan’s song ‘completely disrespectful,’ and in pointed remarks aimed at him said she was ‘very happy that I never once gave you a single penny to enrich your lifestyle.’ ... Asked on Tuesday by the right-wing podcaster Benny Johnson what she thought of Bryan’s lyrics, Noem replied that the song disrespected not only law enforcement officials but also ‘every single individual that has ever stood up and fought for our freedoms.’ The song, Noem said, ‘attacks individuals who are just trying to make our streets safe.’

......The White House added to the offensive, issuing a statement accusing the musician of wanting to “Open The Gates to criminal illegal aliens,” referring to a different song......

Team Trump wants talk shows like “The View” to host conversations more in line with the White House’s wishes. Team Trump wants cartoons like “South Park” and sketch-comedy shows like “Saturday Night Live” to entertain in ways more in line with the White House’s wishes. Team Trump wants cultural institutions such as the Kennedy Center to host productions more in line with the White House’s wishes.

And Team Trump wants musicians to write lyrics more in line with the White House’s wishes.

In countries confronted with authoritarian movements, there’s always a push among those in positions of political power to steer the culture. It’s hard not to notice the degree to which it’s currently happening in the United States, too.

[Marthe48]

1. When will he be charged on trumped up charges?

Or will noem take him out and shoot him?

[LetMyPeopleVote]

2. 'Feeling a pinch': Analyst claims county star's anti-ICE song exposed MAGA's 'cracks'

The fact that trump and Noem are upset about this song shows some issues inside the MAGA movement

'Feeling a pinch': Analyst claims county star's anti-ICE song exposed MAGA's 'cracks'

www.rawstory.com/zach-bryan-2...

— br00t4c (@br00t4c.bsky.social) 2025-10-12T22:24:17.005Z

https://www.rawstory.com/zach-bryan-2674177711/

A music analyst revealed on Sunday that a new song by one of America's most popular country artists has exposed the "cracks" in President Donald Trump's MAGA base......

Patten said MAGA responded with "great urgency" to the song because it directly attacked part of their political worldview. He added that the song also exposed the "cracks" in the MAGA base.

"When they say, 'Just stick to dribbling' or hoops, or they've said, 'Just stick to pink skies,' [referring to] his song about people getting together and hanging out...that usually means they're feeling a pinch," Patten said.

"MAGA responded with great urgency here because they live in a world that's essentially an ongoing pageant or reality TV show," he continued. "They know the power of imagery, just like the Reagans did back in the day."

"So I think in that sense, they're fully aware that this is where the cracks can come," he added. "Look, all I know is in America, there's a long history of people wearing masks, but they also wear white hoods to go with them. So you make the connections."

.

[Klarkashton]

3. Noem batshit. Just how trump likes them.

[LetMyPeopleVote]

4. Good to see a country singer who actually calls out Trump's horrific ICE agents

Link to tweet

[keep_left]

5. One wonders when we will hear accusations of "degeneracy"...

...from Trump and his servile toadies. Perhaps we'll see, sooner than we might wish, an "Entartete Kunst" exhibition by the Trump regime--like it's 1937 all over again. "Degenerate Art", Stalin and Shostakovich, ...authoritarianism attacking artists' free expression is never a good look at any time in history.

https://rationalwiki.org/wiki/Modern_art_and_architecture#Degenerate_art
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Degenerate_art