Pop Culture & Politics News
Reports on entertainment, cultural debates, and celebrity involvement in politics. The Daily Signal provides news and conservative commentary.
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- Opinion
Bruce Springsteen’s Land of Hope and Dreams No Longer Welcomes All
The first time I heard Bruce Springsteen play “Land of Hope and Dreams” during his reunion tour of 1999, I nearly wept. Summoning the spirit of Woody Guthrie’s “Bound for Glory” and The Impressions’ gospel-tinged “People Get Ready,” the soul-soaring number evoked America as a train, with “this train” welcoming “saints and sinners,” “losers and…Al Perrotta -
- Analysis
‘Hollywood for Ugly People’ Finally Gets a Taste of Celebrity Treatment
It’s often said that Washington, D.C., is Hollywood for ugly people. Well, Congress is finally getting the Hollywood treatment it has been longing for. While lawmakers are on spring break, the entertainment news outlet TMZ has joined the scrum that is covering news on Capitol Hill. As members of Congress left Washington, D.C., for a…Virginia Grace McKinnon -
- Opinion
Is Hollywood’s Political Preaching Era Drawing to an End?
The Washington Stand—Recent years have seen a number of Hollywood stars toss out their soapboxes and urge their fellow celebrities to simply shut up about politics. During President Donald Trump’s first term, superstar and then-“it” girl Jennifer Lawrence was an outspoken critic, frequently weighing in on political matters, describing the Trump presidency as “the end of the…S.A. McCarthy -
- Opinion
‘We Were Anti-Nazi, but Not Anti-Communist’: Hollywood’s ‘Come to Jesus’ Moment That Never Was
In this wide-ranging edition of “Victor Davis Hanson: In His Own Words,” guest host Jack Fowler sits down with Elizabeth Spalding, chairman of the Victims of Communism Memorial Foundation, to confront the forgotten truths of communism’s deadly legacy. From Hollywood’s willful blindness to the rise of socialism at home, Spalding explains why communism and socialism…Jack Fowler -
- Opinion
Hollywood vs Individualism
Many popular movies make a constructive point: If you work hard enough and push through tough times, you can achieve your dreams. In “The Pursuit of Happyness,” a struggling father tells his son, “Don’t let anyone tell you, you can’t do something.” The movie is a true story about a man who overcomes homelessness and…John Stossel -
- Opinion
Investors Approach Values-Based Hollywood Alternative to Produce Charlie Kirk Film
FIRST ON THE DAILY SIGNAL—Investors have approached Angel, seeking to front cash for a feature film about the life of Turning Point USA founder Charlie Kirk after his assassination in Utah last week. “I’ve had multiple people call me already who have offered to fund Charlie Kirk’s story and to release Charlie Kirk’s story on…Tyler O’Neil -
- Opinion
Trump Derangement Syndrome Grips Hollywood Writers
The entertainment press found it very important to report that Hollywood thinks President Donald Trump is an authoritarian. This is still somehow considered “news.” Over 2,300 members of the Writers Guild felt compelled to speak out in an open letter because they believe in their “role in a healthy democracy.” In 2024, democracy was healthy…Tim Graham -
- Opinion
Reclaiming Hollywood: An Opportunity for Conservatives
Superman is an alien conservatives should protect. I’m talking IP and icons here, so if James Gunn’s newest installment of the Superman franchise deserved critique, conservatives should not be shy. But because the Man of Steel properly understood soars higher than anything as a symbol for what America means, conservatives should use this moment to…Ty Ruddy -
- Opinion
Take It From a Former Hollywood Liberal: Giving Up the Democratic Party Won’t Hurt as Much as You Think
Dear Democrats in Los Angeles, Mind if we have a little heart-to-heart? Oh, I hear you. “You’re a Trump supporter. You don’t have a heart.” No, I’m not offended. If I can deal with high school friends who think I stink like sweaty socks from a boys’ gym locker because of my politics, I can…Al Perrotta -
- Opinion
6 Hollywood Classics Worth a Watch This Memorial Day Weekend
On Memorial Day, we honor the Americans who have died protecting and serving this country in the Armed Forces of the United States of America. It is a time when all of us should—no matter who we are, where we come from, or where we fall along the political spectrum—forget about politics and our differences…Hans von Spakovsky -
- Opinion
WATCH: Trump Declares War on Hollywood Outsourcing
President Trump announced a 100% tariff on all foreign-made films Sunday evening, claiming that outsourcing production poses a “national security threat.” No final plan has been solidified. Here’s what we know so far about Hollywood’s deals with foreign studios and what the tariffs could do to the industry.Elise McCue -
- Opinion
Key Hollywood Players Quietly Turning Away From Wokeism
One of the unintended—but providential—side effects of America’s anti-woke wave isn’t just that companies are walking away from LGBT extremism, but that entertainment is. In a market pivot that’s gone somewhat under the radar, key Hollywood players seem to be quietly turning away from the wokeism that’s financially punished the industry for years. Families in…Suzanne Bowdey -
- Opinion
Course Correction: How Conservatives Are Reclaiming Pop Culture
Conservatives struggled to engage the culture for years, and in some cases, willingly left the space to the radical Left. Because of that, Adrienne Gray says, she “always felt like sort of the black swan here in the conservative movement.” Many conservatives “condemn pop culture, we suppress it a lot, because we don’t, again, align…Virginia Allen -
- Opinion
Faith Narratives Gain Traction in Hollywood With Amazon’s ‘House of David’
Most people know the story of David and Goliath. It’s an epic tale of a shepherd boy vanquishing a giant with nothing more than a pebble and sling, putting him on a path to become the most famous king of Israel. The story has war, politics, fracturing kingdoms, powerful seers, an underdog hero, and of…Jenneth Dyck -
- Opinion
The Ludicrous Reason Hollywood Barred ‘Reagan’ From a Best Picture Nomination
No conservative could honestly have expected the 2024 biopic “Reagan” to be a viable contender for Best Picture at the 2025 Oscars. Ultraliberal Hollywood could never honor a film that dares to depict our 40th president as a hero. But the fact that it’s officially ineligible for nomination because it doesn’t meet new diversity requirements?…Ed Feulner -
- Opinion
Tuesday’s Other Big Losers Besides Harris: Hollywood, Liz Cheney, Lawfare
The Biggest Loser? After Tuesday, it’s not just the title of the long-running reality TV weight-loss show anymore. The biggest loser of the Nov. 5 elections, undeniably, was Vice President Kamala Harris. Despite raising and spending a staggering $1 billion in campaign cash and having the sycophantic support of the Hollywood glitterati, the now-lame-duck vice…Peter Parisi -
- News
How a Family Film Studio Brings a New Vision to Hollywood
The CEO of a film studio startup said Hollywood’s age-inappropriate content has created an artistic opening for the conservative movement—one that he plans to exploit. Christian McGuigan, founder of Sycamore Studios, described what he sees as a growing need for “good, true, and beautiful” storytelling in an interview with Heritage Foundation President Dr. Kevin Roberts. …Hudson Crozier -
- Opinion
Hollywood’s Oppenheimer Biopic a Historical Travesty
Writer-director Christopher Nolan’s summer blockbuster, the biopic “Oppenheimer,” has grossed nearly $1 billion in global ticket sales, a staggering number including over $320 million from North American theaters and over $600 million internationally. That’s far better box office than other films Hollywood had counted on to offset the devastating, five-month strike by the Writers Guild…Allan Ryskind -
- Opinion
Will Hollywood Learn From Disappointing ‘Barbie’ Payoff for Pandering to China?
Last weekend, the highly anticipated film “Barbie” made a killing at the global box office. One country where it didn’t do so well, however, was China. That’s unfortunate for the producers, who worked so hard to please Beijing, only to watch the film come in sixth place in opening-day ticket sales in China. Though viewership…Megan Litz -
- Opinion
A Case Study in Hollywood Hypocrisy: How It Deals With Stars From the Left and Right
As Hollywood rolls out the red carpet for the superhero movie “The Flash,” it is hoping you forgot all you’ve heard about the star, Ezra Miller. Or, at the very least, Hollywood hopes you forgive him quicker than the conservative actors it has canceled. You may know Miller, 30, as Patrick from the 2012 young…Elise McCue