Megan Basham

Really interesting that Ford made a pointed comment about pride in his Jeep ad, which was all about freedom and honored military members. Take a listen here.

Really interesting that Ford made a pointed comment about pride in his Jeep ad, which was all about freedom and honored military members. Take a listen here.

And keep in mind that every word of these ads is carefully considered. And then, just like the rest of corporate America, a lot of studios have quietly laid off their DEI executives. And just like the big tech execs, some entertainment bigwigs have been making nice with Trump. Netflix chief Ted Sarandos, for instance, made the pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago after the election.

And keep in mind that every word of these ads is carefully considered. And then, just like the rest of corporate America, a lot of studios have quietly laid off their DEI executives. And just like the big tech execs, some entertainment bigwigs have been making nice with Trump. Netflix chief Ted Sarandos, for instance, made the pilgrimage to Mar-a-Lago after the election.

And I would say that things have been pretty muted, politically speaking, this awards season. We simply have not seen the acceptance speeches condemning Trump or pushing politics in the ways that typically characterize these ceremonies.

And I would say that things have been pretty muted, politically speaking, this awards season. We simply have not seen the acceptance speeches condemning Trump or pushing politics in the ways that typically characterize these ceremonies.

In fact, when Trump announced that he'd named Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as his new Hollywood ambassadors to bring back the golden age of the industry, I expected joking and criticism, and there really wasn't even any of that. And then there's the new messaging coming from the studios.

In fact, when Trump announced that he'd named Sylvester Stallone, Mel Gibson, and Jon Voight as his new Hollywood ambassadors to bring back the golden age of the industry, I expected joking and criticism, and there really wasn't even any of that. And then there's the new messaging coming from the studios.

Paramount told the New York Times recently that their focus is now on all audience flat out entertaining films. And that's similar to what we've heard from Disney chief Bob Iger. This is what he told CNBC in April.

Paramount told the New York Times recently that their focus is now on all audience flat out entertaining films. And that's similar to what we've heard from Disney chief Bob Iger. This is what he told CNBC in April.

And he made good on that. Just recently, Disney removed a transgender storyline from Pixar's new streaming series, Win or Lose. And after the election, Snow White star Rachel Zegler apologized for posting that she hopes Trump supporters never know peace. And reportedly, Disney publicists were a part of orchestrating that apology. So a lot of evidence that the political winds are changing.

And he made good on that. Just recently, Disney removed a transgender storyline from Pixar's new streaming series, Win or Lose. And after the election, Snow White star Rachel Zegler apologized for posting that she hopes Trump supporters never know peace. And reportedly, Disney publicists were a part of orchestrating that apology. So a lot of evidence that the political winds are changing.

But I would say that 2020 to 2023, those years when the political fracturing was at its most extreme, they allowed a new competition to gain a foothold.

But I would say that 2020 to 2023, those years when the political fracturing was at its most extreme, they allowed a new competition to gain a foothold.

We've seen more conservative leaning audiences have gotten used to looking for entertainment in more niche ways and fledgling entertainment companies that cater to them like Angel Studios and The Daily Wire, which produces this podcast, have had some really big successes.

We've seen more conservative leaning audiences have gotten used to looking for entertainment in more niche ways and fledgling entertainment companies that cater to them like Angel Studios and The Daily Wire, which produces this podcast, have had some really big successes.

Well, you will still see the big tentpole successes with movies like Wicked or Deadpool and Wolverine. But overall, box office is still way down from where the industry was before the pandemic. 2024's total was 8.7 billion compared to 2018, which was 12 billion. And that's not adjusting for inflation, which makes those numbers even worse.

Well, you will still see the big tentpole successes with movies like Wicked or Deadpool and Wolverine. But overall, box office is still way down from where the industry was before the pandemic. 2024's total was 8.7 billion compared to 2018, which was 12 billion. And that's not adjusting for inflation, which makes those numbers even worse.

So we do need to see a lot more movies that draw audiences of all political stripes if we hope to return to that pre-pandemic strength.

So we do need to see a lot more movies that draw audiences of all political stripes if we hope to return to that pre-pandemic strength.