[/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=]

PORTSIDE CULTURE

WHY CONSERVATIVES ARE MELTING DOWN OVER TAYLOR SWIFT  
[[link removed]]


 

Li Zhou
January 31, 2024
Vox
[[link removed]]


*
[[link removed]]
*
[[link removed]]
*
*
[[link removed]]

_ Swift represents a constituency conservatives are losing big time:
Young women. _

Taylor Swift performs onstage during the Eras Tour at Allianz Parque
in Sao Paulo, Brazil, on November 24, 2023. , Buda Mendes/TAS23/Getty
Images/TAS Rights Management

 

Li Zhou [[link removed]] is a politics reporter
at Vox, where she covers Congress and elections. Previously, she was a
tech policy reporter at Politico and an editorial fellow at the
Atlantic.

_____

The latest Taylor Swift conspiracy theory has nothing to do with
a cryptic new novel
[[link removed]] or
unproven speculation she’s secretly queer
[[link removed]] —
and it’s certainly not being floated by Swifties.

As a recent offering from conservatives goes, Swift is part of a
psyop, or a psychological operation, that’s being used by the
Pentagon to convince her followers to support Democrats. Yes, you read
that right. That idea, which has been floated by Fox News anchor
Jesse Watters [[link removed]] (who
himself said he had no evidence for it), has started to gain traction
on the right as Swift has gotten more media coverage related to her
appearances at NFL games. The conservative furor around this theory
— as well as similar ideas suggesting
[[link removed]] that
she and boyfriend Travis Kelce, a tight end for the Kansas City
Chiefs, are Democratic plants — has only intensified after the
Chiefs made it to the Super Bowl
[[link removed]] Sunday night.

“I wonder who’s going to win the Super Bowl next month,” former
presidential candidate and noted conspiracy theorist Vivek Ramaswamy
mused on X on Monday
[[link removed]].
“And I wonder if there’s a major presidential endorsement coming
from an artificially culturally propped-up couple this fall.”

These theories are a recent manifestation of an emerging conservative
backlash and obsession with Swift fueled in part by political views
she’s expressed, but more broadly by fear and misogyny in the
right-wing manosphere. They mark the latest example of conservatives
going after a female star they perceive as a threat, and they
underscore how frustrated Republicans are that Swift — and many of
the young women who make up her fan base — aren’t on their side.

The right-wing conspiracy theories around Taylor Swift, briefly
explained

The conservative conspiracy theories about Swift center heavily on her
acting as a tool of the Pentagon and of Democrats in order to boost
Biden’s reelection chances. Like many conspiracy theories, these
ideas hinge on the smallest grain of truth, which is that Swift
endorsed Biden in 2020 and is being courted by his campaign to do so
again in 2024.

Beyond that point, however, the theories are thin, hard to follow, and
frankly bizarre.

Watters first elevated the psyop conspiracy theory in a January 9
broadcast of his Fox News show _Jesse Watters Primetime_,
[[link removed]] during
which he suggested that Swift could be part of a Pentagon operation
that leverages her large online following to combat misinformation and
to elevate Democrats’ political aims. “I like her music, she’s
alright, but have you ever wondered why or how she blew up like
this?” he asked.

“_Primetime_ obviously has no evidence. If we did, we’d share
it,” he makes clear. In lieu of offering said proof, Watters played
a clip from a 2019 conference hosted by the NATO Cooperative Cyber
Defense Center of Excellence that shows data engineer Alicia Marie
Bargar describing strategies to fight misinformation and listing
Taylor Swift as an influential individual.

Watters also interviewed former FBI agent Stuart Kaplan, who said that
a psyop would involve the Biden campaign targeting a prominent
celebrity and getting them to do social media posts and statements
akin to public service announcements. “It is possible that Taylor
Swift does not know she is being utilized in a covert manner to swing
voters,” Kaplan posited.

To be clear, the reason Taylor Swift might not know she is being used
is because it isn’t happening.

Bargar, who’s worked as a researcher at Johns Hopkins, has told
Business Insider
[[link removed]] that
she has “no connection to NATO or the Pentagon, and that her remarks
were taken out of context.” Additionally, nowhere in the clip that
Watters played is there any indication that Swift is being pitched for
some type of covert operation. And the Pentagon, for good measure, has
fully dismissed it, too. “As for this conspiracy theory, we are
going to _shake it off_,” Pentagon spokesperson Sabrina Singh
[[link removed]] said
in early January.

Setting aside Fox News [[link removed]]’s poor
presentation, the plausibility that the Pentagon and Democrats (who
are often mocked for messaging blunders
[[link removed]])
could pull something like this off is more than a reach.

Besides being baseless and outlandish, these allegations attempt to
deprive Taylor Swift of her agency in the political choices she’s
making, and even of her role in her career. It’s not the first time
the right has attempted to provide alternative explanations for her
success beyond the work that she’s put in, and such statements have
become more frequent.

“What’s happening with Taylor Swift is not organic,” Trump
adviser Stephen Miller
[[link removed]] wrote in
December, griping about Swift’s fame and the success she’s had
with her record-breaking Eras music tour, which has thus far grossed
more than $1 billion. Former DOJ attorney and Trump loyalist Jeffrey
Clark claimed she’s “a Trojan horse
[[link removed]].”

Those grievances have grown into both the psyop conspiracy theory and
newer critiques and assertions about Swift that exploded following
the Chiefs' victory this past weekend
[[link removed]].

Those theories argue that Swift and Kelce’s relationship, and the
attention it’s generated, is also part of a ploy to bolster Biden
and that the Chiefs’ win was “rigged” by the NFL so the couple
can make a splashy endorsement. “Calling it now: KC wins, goes to
Super Bowl, Swift comes out at the halftime show and ‘endorses’
Joe Biden with Kelce at midfield,” conservative broadcaster Mike
Crispi said
[[link removed]].

In addition to allegations that Swift is operating as a political
agent, Republicans have also ramped up other critiques. “Taylor
Swift lands in Baltimore ahead of AFC Championship, jet belches tons
of C02 emissions,” a January 28 Fox News headline read
[[link removed]],
prompting online commentators to point out the irony of the
publication expressing concerns about climate change. (Progressives
have long criticized Swift’s jet use, a practice which has been
found to have a negative impact on the environment.)

It’s worth noting that the focus on a Swift endorsement _is_ high
in both the Biden and Trump camps, given how dedicated her fan base
is. Biden advisers have discussed how they could best leverage a
potential endorsement, and even a possible appearance at Swift’s
Eras tour, according to the New York Times
[[link removed]].
Trump sources, meanwhile, told Rolling Stone
[[link removed]] that
they intend to declare a “holy war” on Swift to undercut her
authority.

Why conservatives are so obsessed with Swift

The right-wing meltdown is a product of both misogyny and frustration
with Swift’s past statements supporting Democrats. Additionally,
given how much attention she’s gotten from her blockbuster tour and
the recent appearances she’s made at NFL games, it’s also just a
plain old attention grab.

“She’s arguably the most successful woman on the planet right now
and is, therefore, an easy target for a wide range of men’s
grievances,” Brian Donovan, a University of Kansas sociologist who
teaches a course on Taylor Swift, tells Vox.

Those grievances — which have included everything from “dads,
Brads, and Chads”
[[link removed]] being
furious about how frequently the camera pans to her during football
games (not that much, according to the New York Times
[[link removed]])
to trolls creating fake AI nudes
[[link removed]] of
the songwriter and posting them all over X to prominent right-wing
commentators questioning the source of her success — are all fueled
by the same strain of misogyny.

That misogyny is especially prevalent in the GOP and can be seen in
the
[[link removed]] countless
male legislators claiming they know best when it comes to women’s
reproductive rights and voting to ban abortion
[[link removed]].
It’s evident in Congress members standing by and promoting Trump
even after the _Access Hollywood_ video
[[link removed]] emerged
featuring him bragging about committing sexual assault. And it’s
demonstrated in Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-SC) leveraging male rage
[[link removed]] to
defend a Supreme Court nominee, now justice, who was also accused of
sexual assault.

On the far-right fringe of the party, such misogyny has taken a more
extreme form, with far-right commentator
[[link removed]] Nick
Fuentes arguing that women shouldn’t have the right to vote or be in
the workforce. Fuentes’s views are among the most radical iterations
of such thinking, though they’re part and parcel of conservative
arguments that women should take on more traditional gender roles
[[link removed]] and
be responsible for most of the domestic duties in a household.

As journalist Ryan Broderick notes in his Garbage Day newsletter,
[[link removed]] Republican
misogyny has also included treating prominent women — like internet
culture writer Taylor Lorenz — and trends women like as threats to
conservative hegemony.

Such logic undergirds the pushback toward Swift, which is driven by
both fear and anger over the influence she’s accrued and her stature
as a powerful woman with a devoted following. Trump’s reported
comments griping about how he’s “more popular” than Swift
[[link removed]] only
underscore how her clout has been perceived.

“They’re scared,” Stephanie Burt, a Harvard professor who also
teaches a course on Taylor Swift, tells Vox. “I think Taylor’s
power — cultural, aesthetic, and financial — makes some men feel
threatened.”

By suggesting that Swift’s gains are the product of a shadowy
government campaign, conservatives aim to discredit her platform and
her talent. And by implying that she’s a puppet for Democrats, they
also seek to undermine Biden’s support by arguing that it’s not
organic.

Another source of this irritation is the fact that Swift, though
she’s often criticized from the left for not being political enough,
has spoken out in favor of Democratic candidates and positions and
influenced young voters as a result.

She did so for the first time in 2018, when she backed
Tennessee’s Democratic Senate candidate Phil Bredesen
[[link removed]] over Republican
Marsha Blackburn, noting that she could not “vote for someone who
will not be willing to fight for dignity for ALL Americans, no matter
their skin color, gender or who they love.” Swift added, “These
are not MY Tennessee values.”

That endorsement didn’t necessarily swing that election
[[link removed]],
though an Instagram post calling for people to register to vote did
contribute to a surge of 35,000 voter registrations in
2023, according to Vote.org
[[link removed]].
The Blackburn moment also received renewed attention after it was
heavily featured in Swift’s 2020 documentary, _Miss Americana_, and
a clip from it — in which she says she’s not afraid to appear
anti-Trump — has continued to go viral.

In 2020, Swift endorsed Biden. “The change we need most is to elect
a president who recognizes that people of color deserve to feel safe
and represented, that women deserve the right to choose what happens
to their bodies, and that the LGBTQIA+ community deserves to be
acknowledged and included,” she told V Magazine that year
[[link removed]].
On her recent Reputation tour, she stayed mostly apolitical, with the
exception of a statement during Pride Month in June expressing her
support for the LGBTQIA community
[[link removed]].

Swift’s relationship with Kelce has also added to the conservative
panic. He’s a Covid-19 vaccine spokesperson for Pfizer — a role
that has prompted conspiracy theorist and football player Aaron
Rodgers
[[link removed]] to
dub him “Mr. Pfizer” and one that counters some of the anti-vax
views expressed by prominent right-wing personalities like Florida
Gov. Ron DeSantis
[[link removed]].
Kelce has also been publicly supportive of quarterback Colin
Kaepernick kneeling during the National Anthem to draw attention to
police violence against Black Americans.

Compounding conservatives’ frustrations is the fact that Swift is
embodying a lot of what Republicans would typically champion.

“Taylor Swift [is] an extremely affluent blonde, blue-eyed white
woman who writes country-inflected pop music and is dating a football
player headed for the Super Bowl. She should be a resounding victory
for these guys,” Broderick writes
[[link removed]].

That her success, autonomy, and views don’t fit neatly into the
easily contained box they expect must grate. And the fact that her
music appeals to people on all sides of the political spectrum
— including prominent Republican lawmakers and their daughters
[[link removed]] —
is likely yet another added annoyance.

The GOP attacks underscore the party’s problems with young women

Bubbling beneath the surface of the Swift attacks is the GOP’s own
weakness with many members of her fanbase, which is heavily composed
of young women.

As multiple recent polls have found, the party is increasingly losing
this constituency as they’ve denied abortion rights, blocked
policies that promote gender equity
[[link removed]],
and backed a presidential nominee who faces more than 20 allegations
of sexual misconduct. According to a January 2023 Gallup poll
[[link removed]],
42 percent of young women identify as liberal while 25 percent of
young men do the same, the largest gender gap in years.

“Since 2014, women between the ages of 18 and 29 have steadily
become more liberal each year, while young men have not,” Business
Insider’s Daniel Cox writes
[[link removed]].
In his investigation of the phenomenon, Cox finds that the Me Too
movement and its pushback against sexual misconduct was a formative
moment for many young women that shaped how they engage with politics.

Following Trump’s election in 2016, there were also key changes to
long-held political patterns
[[link removed]].
Outside of voting, young men have historically been more likely to
participate in politics via channels like donations and running for
office. That dynamic changed some that year, with some surveys showing
young women now more likely to donate to candidates and attend
protests, and more young women increasingly pursuing elected office.

The partisan shift hasn’t been limited to young women, either.

Women’s overall pivot left has also had concrete electoral
consequences that highlight the risks Republicans face. Fifty-seven
percent of all women supported Biden in 2020
[[link removed]],
compared to 54 percent
[[link removed]] who voted for
former Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton in 2016. College-educated
white women in the suburbs, in particular, deserted Trump. In 2018,
[[link removed]] Democrats
also saw the highest margin of victory they’ve ever had with women
voters, a development that helped usher in an overwhelming blue wave
in the House. And in 2022, women voters
[[link removed]] —
angry about the overturning of _Roe —_ helped stem Democratic
losses and enabled the party to keep the Senate.

The gender gap Republicans face in support is massive and likely more
bad news for the party moving forward. Lashing out at Swift, however,
probably won’t win them many new fans and, definitely, few Swifties.

_______

WILL YOU HELP KEEP VOX FREE FOR ALL?
[[link removed]]

At Vox, we believe that clarity is power, and that power shouldn’t
only be available to those who can afford to pay. That’s why we keep
our work free. Millions rely on Vox’s clear, high-quality journalism
to understand the forces shaping today’s world. Support our mission
and help keep Vox free for all by making a financial contribution to
Vox today.
[[link removed]]

Yes, I'll give $5/month
[[link removed]]

* Fox News
[[link removed]]
* Taylor Swift
[[link removed]]
* super bowl
[[link removed]]
* MAGA
[[link removed]]
* Conservatives
[[link removed]]
* conspiracy theories
[[link removed]]
* Kansas City Chiefs
[[link removed]]
* young women
[[link removed]]

*
[[link removed]]
*
[[link removed]]
*
*
[[link removed]]

 

 

 

INTERPRET THE WORLD AND CHANGE IT

 

 

Submit via web
[/contact/submit_to_portside?utm_medium=email&utm_source=]
Submit via email
Frequently asked questions [/faq?utm_medium=email&utm_source=]
Manage subscription [/subscribe?utm_medium=email&utm_source=]
Visit portside.org [/?utm_medium=email&utm_source=]

Twitter [[link removed]]

Facebook [[link removed]]

 



########################################################################

[link removed]

To unsubscribe from the xxxxxx list, click the following link:
[link removed]