In this episode of The Political Dispatch, Tom, Lily, and Sidd begin with two recent events from the world’s biggest stages and trace them to a much older story about music and politics.

From Billie Eilish’s speech at the Grammys to Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime show, the team explores how musicians are using their cultural influence to make political statements about identity, injustice, and power. Placing these moments in historical context, they explore a longer tradition of musicians shaping politics: from Billie Holiday and Nina Simone to anti-apartheid anthems and protest music under authoritarian regimes.

Along the way, the team considers what role music plays in politics, why musicians provoke such strong reactions, and how it all fits into today's political landscape.

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To get connected with Tom, Lily or Sidd, please find them on Instagram: @sparetom, @lilymott3, and @siddkurapati.

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Opinions shared by the guests and hosts of this show are their own and do not necessarily represent the views of Be the change. Media Network.