Sep 18, 2026 · 29 min
Anti-Muslim rhetoric returns to Republican campaign ads
Campaign messaging, concerts & Can't Let It Go
The episode examines how fear-based messaging about Muslim candidates and communities is reshaping political campaigns, alongside a debate over artists’ political speech.
- 1Republican campaign ads revive claims about Sharia law, Muslim candidates, and threats to American identity through cinematic fearmongering.
- 2Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour raises questions about whether commercial consequences for political speech amount to silencing.
- 3The closing stories move from royal drama and skunks to a bizarre fitness-race controversy over winning after defecating mid-competition.
Don't miss
The hosts debate whether a fitness competitor’s first-place finish should stand after she defecated during the race and later surrendered the victory.
The brief
Barbara Sprunt outlines the return of anti-Muslim rhetoric in Republican campaign ads, following prominent victories by Muslim candidates and a broader shift toward fear-based messaging.
The ads use cinematic imagery, AI-generated visuals, red-green alliance claims, and warnings about Sharia law to portray Muslim candidates and communities as threats.
Isabella Gomez Sarmiento reports on Macklemore’s removal from Ed Sheeran’s tour after pro-Palestinian remarks, while the hosts debate speech, backlash, and the Streisand effect.
The episode closes with “Can’t Let It Go” stories about Harry and Meghan, skunks driven from a crawl space by NPR broadcasts, and a fitness competitor who surrendered a victory after defecating during the race.
Danielle Kurtzleben
Tamara Keith
The Odyssey
TexasBooks & mentions
Listen to the full episode and explore every guest, topic, and moment on PodLume.