admin
Taylor Swift told Stephen Colbert this week that what she admires most in people is career longevity, and when pressed by critics who want her to “go away,” her blunt answer was, “I don’t want to.” That short, defiant line landed with millions of fans and reminded the country that Swift intends to keep working for the long haul rather than bowing to the fickle whims of pop culture.
News consumers saw the same exchange land on cable panels, where conservative voices on shows like Newsmax’s American Agenda pushed back against the idea that politicians deserve the same cultural sway as global superstars. One of those regular American Agenda contributors, Melanie Collette, has become a familiar conservative voice on the program, and she wasn’t shy about pointing out how celebrity clout now overshadows the people running our towns and cities.
Make no mistake: Taylor Swift’s influence is not an abstract claim. Her Eras Tour and related projects have moved markets, filled stadiums, and generated billions in revenue — achievements that dwarf the reach of most political campaigns and remind us that Americans respond to culture as much as rhetoric. Polling and box-office tallies show Swift’s live shows and streaming presence make her a cultural force on a scale few politicians can match.
That should trouble conservatives and patriots, because it signals a dangerous shift: cultural power concentrated in the hands of entertainers while career politicians lose the trust and attention of ordinary citizens. When voters care more about what a pop star does onstage than what a mayor or senator does in office, it’s a symptom of elites who forgot how to deliver for working Americans. This isn’t nostalgia for “the good old days” so much as a call to demand results and respect from our public servants.
At the same time, conservatives should not reflexively despise longevity. The virtue of long careers, steady work, and earned respect is something conservatives can and should celebrate — whether it’s in music, business, or public service. Swift’s insistence on staying in the game is a reminder that discipline, reinvention, and commitment are patriotic values, and we should praise longevity in anyone who builds something lasting rather than tearing down the country for clicks.
But admiration must not become abdication. If entertainers command influence, conservatives must meet them in the cultural arena with better messaging, stronger families, and a healthier civic life that rewards service over spectacle. We should encourage creators who respect traditional values and push back against the permanent grievance industry that profits from division and celebrity outrage.
Taylor Swift’s talent and longevity are real, and Americans can enjoy the music while still demanding accountability from those who govern us. Don’t let the applause for a superstar become an excuse for politicians to underestimate the public or ignore the problems that actually affect everyday families. If the cultural pendulum has swung toward celebrity, conservatives must work harder to swing it back toward responsibility, faith, and freedom.
