The Fascists' Mixtape: Taylor Swift, Lana Del Ray, Spongebob
The Carceral Report is tracking the Trump administration’s social media posts and its potential copyright violations.
Taylor Swift. Full House. Spongebob. Zach Bryan. Rihanna. Pokémon.
What do all these things have in common?
The Trump administration used their music, images, or both in propaganda videos — likely without the creators’ permission.
Just days after country music singer Zach Bryan shared a teaser of his new song, which criticizes the Trump administration’s anti-immigrant agenda, the Department of Homeland Security (DHS), Customs and Border Protection (CBP), and U.S. Border Patrol Special Operations Group posted a propaganda video on their social media accounts featuring Bryan’s “Revival,” released in 2020. His song plays over clips of federal agents abducting, terrorizing, and disappearing community members.
The caption states: “We’re Having An All Night Revival.”
The Carceral Report is tracking the Trump administration’s social media posts and its potential copyright violations.
Spongebob Squarepants, Lana Del Ray, Rihanna, and comedian Tim Robinson have also made appearances in recent propaganda videos:
U.S. Border Patrol posted a video featuring Lana Del Ray’s “Summertime Sadness.”
The White House posted a static image of Spongebob Squarepants holding a scroll that says, “Give free healthcare to illegals.” The Instagram caption states: “Democrats’ to-do list this week.”
The White House posted two clips from the sketch comedy show, “I Think You Should Leave with Tim Robinson.” One video spliced clips of President Trump making anti-immigrant and anti-trans statements with clips from the show, featuring Tim Robinson. The caption states: “IT’S NOT COMPLICATED. No free health care for illegal aliens. Put America First. Don’t be dumb. Fund the government. 😌” The second features a doctored version of the show’s parody of “The Bachelorette.” The caption says: “Democrats are only here to give free healthcare to criminal illegal aliens.”
DHS and CBP posted a video featuring Rihanna’s “S&M,” and Get the Bag’s “K41.” Their songs are played over clips of anti-ICE protesters, and federal agents disappearing people who appear to be Latino. The victims’ hands are cuffed or ziptied behind their backs and some are not fully dressed. The captions says: “Dear Antifa: We’re taking our country back. THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION TO THIS MATTER!”
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