Hey folks, it’s Dan the Price Man here, your go-to guy for calling out the bullshit in politics while I gear up to run for office one day and fix this mess from the inside.

Look, I’m aspiring to be a future politician because I’ve had enough of the spineless games in Washington, and today I’m fired up about something that’s not just annoying—it’s straight-up hypocritical and exposes the double standards rotting at the core of our culture.

We’re talking about the White House pumping out these slick music videos and compilations using popular media to hype their agenda;

Only for a parade of famous actors, singers, and even freaking Nintendo to throw tantrums and demand takedowns.

This isn’t some minor celeb spat; it’s a pressing crisis that highlights how the “all art is political” crowd suddenly clutch their pearls when conservatives touch their precious creations.

It’s stupid, it’s retarded in the most frustrating way, and it’s time we drag this nonsense into the light because it’s poisoning American discourse and showing how one-sided the entertainment elite really is.

Let me paint the picture for you right off the bat: The Trump administration is back in the White House as of January 2025, and they’re not wasting time.

They’re dropping these high-energy videos on social media to push policies like immigration enforcement, border security, and making America great again.

These aren’t your grandma’s boring press releases; they’re edited like action movie trailers, with dramatic music overlays, quick cuts of ICE agents in action, and sometimes even nods to pop culture icons.

Which isn’t wrong to do, because copyright law exists. It’s fair-use.

And boom, the backlash hits like a freight train. Artists are screaming about unauthorized use, threatening lawsuits, and acting like their work is sacred ground that can’t be trodden on by the “wrong” side.

But here’s the kicker: These same folks have been fine with Democrats using their stuff for years, or they’ve outright endorsed left-wing causes.

Suddenly, when it’s Trump or conservatives, it’s a “disgusting” violation? Give me a break.

This hypocrisy just petty squabble.

It’s also a symptom of a deeper divide in America where the cultural gatekeepers think they own the narrative and get to decide who’s allowed to play in the sandbox.

To understand why this is such a big deal, we need to break down the mechanics of how this all works.

Politicians have been using popular music and media in campaigns since forever—think Ronald Reagan blasting Bruce Springsteen’s “Born in the U.S.A.” back in the ’80s, even though Bruce hated it and told him to knock it off.

Or how about “Fortunate Son” has evolved to pro-Vietnam propaganda, even though the lyrics themselves are very VERY anti-war.

But in today’s digital age, it’s evolved. For live rallies, campaigns buy blanket licenses from organizations like ASCAP (American Society of Composers, Authors and Publishers) or BMI (Broadcast Music, Inc.).

These are performing rights organizations that represent songwriters and publishers. A license costs around $500 to a few grand per event, depending on venue size, and it covers public performance of pretty much any song in their catalogs.

It’s like a buffet—you pay once and play what you want.

5 Seconds of Fame

Trump’s campaigns have always had these licenses; in fact, during his 2016, 2020, and 2024 runs, they shelled out big bucks to BMI and ASCAP to avoid basic infringement claims.

But here’s where it gets tricky, and why the recent blowups are happening: Social media videos and online compilations aren’t always covered by those rally licenses.

Fair use might apply if it’s transformative, like parody or commentary, but courts have been mixed on that for political ads.

The intended impact? These videos are designed to rally the base, make complex policies like deporting criminals feel urgent and heroic, and go viral to dominate the news cycle.

They work because music amps up emotion—think how a swelling soundtrack turns a boring montage into something epic.

The problem? Artists see it as endorsement by association, which tanks their brand if they hate the politics. Honestly, it’s just their 5 seconds of fame moment.

Benefits for the White House: Free publicity from the backlash, as every celeb freakout gets them more views.

Drawbacks: Legal fees, bad press from Hollywood, and potential takedowns that disrupt momentum.

Take the Sabrina Carpenter fiasco from December 2025—fresh off the presses. The White House drops this video on X: ICE agents busting down doors, handcuffing bad guys, all synced to Carpenter’s “Juno” with that catchy line “have you ever tried this one?” repeating like a taunt.

It’s raw, it’s in-your-face, and it’s meant to show Trump’s mass deportation push in action.

Carpenter flips out on X: “This video is evil and disgusting. Do not ever involve me or my music to benefit your inhumane agenda.”

She’s not alone; her team likely fired off a cease-and-desist faster than you can say “Espresso.”

SZA jumped in too, around the same time. White House posts a vid using her “Big Boys” for immigration hype—agents rounding up folks, dramatic edits.

SZA responds furiously, adding to the list of artists like her who’ve objected to Trump since his first term.

Then there’s Bad Bunny, who’s been anti-Trump forever, sharing pro-Harris clips in 2024. When his music got looped into a DHS video, he slammed it hard, saying it promotes “hateful messages.”

Radiohead? They demanded ICE take down a video using “Let Down” from OK Computer, calling it “propaganda” and telling the admin to “go f— yourselves.”

Video Games, Pokémon and Master Chief

Pokemon? Oh man, this one’s gold. As of March 2026, literally days ago, the White House posts this meme on X and Instagram mimicking the cover of the new game Pokémon Pokopia, but with “Make America Great Again” slapped across it in funky font.

No specific policy tie, but it drops right after the game’s release, riding the hype.

Pokémon Company International fires back immediately: “We were not involved in its creation or distribution, and no permission was granted for the use of our intellectual property. Our mission is to bring the world together, and that mission is not affiliated with any political viewpoint or agenda.”

But let’s consider that last part; “that mission is not affiliated with any political viewpoint or agenda.”

Funny thing how they say this, but 6 years ago, they sure had this to say.

They distanced themselves hard, hinting at bias accusations from the White House.

This isn’t the first time; back in September 2025, DHS used “Gotta catch ’em all” in a recruitment vid with anime clips alongside arrests, and Pokémon repeated the same schtick too.

Even actors like Ben Stiller are in on it—White House used a Tropic Thunder clip in an Iran strikes video mashup with real footage, and Stiller demands removal: “War is not a movie… no part of your propaganda.”

It’s Because We’re Not on Their Side

Now, let’s zoom out to the bigger picture because this ain’t new; it’s escalated under Trump 2.0.

During the 2024 campaign, Trump got slapped by everyone from ABBA (“The Winner Takes It All” at a rally— they demanded removal) to Adele (“Rolling in the Deep” in 2016, but echoes in 2024 threats).

A-ha’s “Take on Me” led to political jabs from the band. Celine Dion blasted “My Heart Will Go On” at a Montana rally: “That song? Really?”

Foo Fighters, Beyoncé (who allowed Kamala to use “Freedom,” but denied Trump), Jack White—all piled on.

The Isaac Hayes estate sued over “Hold On, I’m Coming,” winning an injunction in September 2024.

Sinéad O’Connor’s estate demanded Trump stop “Nothing Compares 2 U.”

The list is endless: Rolling Stones, Beatles, Queen, Elton John, Guns N’ Roses, Bruce Springsteen (who endorsed Harris), R.E.M., Neil Young, Phil Collins, Pharrell, John Fogerty, Eddy Grant, Panic! at the Disco., even a band like Rage Against the Machine.

What’s the hypocrisy? These artists love screaming “all art is political!” when it suits them.

Think Beyoncé’s Lemonade dropping Black Lives Matter vibes, or Taylor Swift’s political pivot in 2018 endorsing Democrats.

They embed politics in their work, rally for left causes, but when conservatives borrow a tune—even legally—they act violated.

Jack White threatens suits over “Seven Nation Army,” but he’s fine with anti-Trump anthems.

The Artist Rights Alliance (with Mick Jagger, Lorde, Sia, etc.) signs open letters demanding politicians get permission, but it’s mostly aimed at Trump.

Kamala’s 2024 campaign? Beyoncé gives the green light for “Freedom,” performs at rallies, no issues.

Oprah, Clooney, J-Lo, Gaga, Eminem, Billie Eilish—all endorsed Harris, no takedown demands. It’s one-sided: Left uses art freely, right gets sued.

Or how about the infamous “Pokemon GO to the polls” from Hillary Clinton?

Think payment denials: If a conservative video uses a song, platforms like YouTube might demonetize or remove it due to claims, starving content creators.

This shapes the issue by giving left-leaning Hollywood leverage—most execs donate Democrat, so permissions flow easier that way.

Potential problems? Lawsuits drain resources; Hayes estate got $50K in damages plus fees.

Benefits? Publicity—Trump’s team knows backlash amplifies reach. Expert opinions: Jen Jacobsen from Artist Rights Alliance says artists are brands avoiding “abhorrent” ties.

But data shows 41+ artists objected to Trump vs. few for Dems. Examples: Village People performed at Trump’s inaugural despite backlash, saying it’s about unity.

But if you think that’s peak stupid, buckle up because we’re diving headfirst into the granddaddy of irony:

Rage Against the Machine

These guys built their empire raging against the system, the man, the capitalist pigs, all while screaming lyrics that could light a revolution on fire.

Fast forward to this past year and they’ve morphed into the punchline of their own joke.

It’s not just embarrassing; it’s a gut-punch to every kid who blasted “Killing in the Name” in their garage, thinking they were sticking it to the establishment.

This band’s become a walking contradiction, preaching anti-authority while cozying up to the very machine they claim to hate, and it’s poisoning American rock culture while exposing how hollow so much of this “rebel” shtick really is.

We’re talking multimillionaires who rail against wealth inequality from their mansions, activists who stayed silent during COVID tyranny but pop up to protest Trump’s border enforcement.

It’s retarded levels of hypocrisy, and as someone aiming to fix this mess in office, I’m calling it out because if we don’t, the left’s cultural stranglehold keeps choking out real dissent.

This is stupid because it divides us more. Art should unite, not gatekeep. But until then, call out the hypocrisy—it’s retarded how they flip.