Radio Atlantic

Is Politics Ruining Pop Culture?

Some Americans who grew up identifying with Roseanne have found themselves alienated by Roseanne Barr’s outspoken devotion to President Trump. Many of Kanye West’s fans revolted after he tweeted out an image of himself wearing a “Make America Great Again” hat. Pop culture will probably always mirror the divides playing out in society. But when social divides are more massive than they’ve been in generations, does all our entertainment become a litmus test for our political beliefs? 

Links

- “Bill Cosby and the Slow Death of Celebrity Impunity” (Megan Garber, April 26, 2018)
- "The 'Dragon Energy' of Kanye West and Donald Trump" (Vann Newkirk, April 25, 2018)
- "How 'Roseanne' Divides the Left" (Conor Friedersdorf, April 4, 2018)
- “Roseanne vs. the 'Nasty Woman'” (Megan Garber, March 23, 2018)
- Chika Oranika on Twitter (April 26, 2018)
- Teddy Bear scene, “Daisy” (The Golden Girls, September 17, 1987)
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The Atlantic has long been known as an ideas-driven magazine. Now we’re bringing that same ethos to audio. Like the magazine, the show will “road test” the big ideas that both drive the news and shape our culture. Through conversations—and sometimes sharp debates—with the most insightful thinkers and writers on topics of the day, Radio Atlantic will complicate overly simplistic views. It will cut through the noise with clarifying, personal narratives. It will, hopefully, help listeners make up their own mind about certain ideas.
The national conversation right now can be chaotic, reckless, and stuck. Radio Atlantic aims to bring some order to our thinking—and encourage listeners to be purposeful about how they unstick their mind.