This election cycle feels like it’s been going on for several decades. It also seems impossible that it will one day be over, but in fact, it will. That day is a mere 42 days away and so here we are at the presidential debates.
The Republican candidate Donald Trump (remember that I had to type that) will be debating against the Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton, who recently faced another round of tough questioning recently on Zach Galifianakis Between Two Ferns. (As an aside, it’s worth noting that the esteemed Galifianakis has deemed Trump unfit to appear on the show.)
If you’d like to learn more about Trump and his supporters, consider that he and his followers concocted a “Crooked Hillary” Snapchat filter for tonight’s debate. Yay for social media.
Oh, and if you’d like to learn more about the way our current political climate views our first-ever official major party nominee, they spelled her name wrong on the debate ticket tonight. Those are two great bookends to get into the reactions of musicians to tonight’s events. Like I said before, it’s impossible to ignore this election, so here’s some of the most notable comments.
Win Butler of Arcade Fire has weighed in:
https://twitter.com/DJWindows98/status/780564824698871808
Rick Rubin is at the event:
https://twitter.com/tuckfrancis/status/780567267264241665?ref_src=twsrc%5Etfw
By the way, Kanye’s wife Kim Kardashian West cleared up her thoughts on the election this weekend. ICYMI:
#STRAIGHTUP I'M WITH HER https://t.co/OcQ2Upq7XK pic.twitter.com/rz0QrDAk3Q
— Kim Kardashian (@KimKardashian) September 25, 2016
Zendaya encouraged her followers to watch and inform themselves:
#debatenight make sure you watch, listen, and know who you're voting for.
— Zendaya (@Zendaya) September 27, 2016
Looks like Modern Baseball is watching the debate, perhaps begrudgingly:
— Modern Baseball (@ModernBaseball) September 27, 2016
At one point the audience cheered for Trump’s cry that Hillary must release her emails. New York psych-fuzz rockers Grooms didn’t think too highly of those clapping:
Kick every clapping cheering fuck out of that auditorium right now.
— eros of the technocrat (@icecreamtravis) September 27, 2016
LA-based rapper Open Mike Eagle has compared and contrasted the two candidates:
smug smile vs pouty anus face #debatenight
— open michael eagle (@Mike_Eagle) September 27, 2016
Vince Staples was thrilled when Hillary Clinton brought up the issue of prison reform:
https://twitter.com/vincestaples/status/780585974749364225
Miley Cyrus made it clear, she’s in the #ImWithHer camp:
#trumpedup #imwithher #firstpresidentialdebate2016 #imfuckinscared #HClookinbeauty #speakinbeauty #LOVE #VOTE #debates @HillaryClinton pic.twitter.com/f7bBIuBkSQ
— Miley Cyrus (@MileyCyrus) September 27, 2016
Jana Hunter of Lower Dens doesn’t find either candidate appealing though:
RT if you'd give your life for a better solution than these two people
— jb (@rxointment) September 27, 2016
Chance The Rapper tweeted about how the phrase “law and order” has come to mean something that’s actually terrifying when it comes out of Donald Trump’s mouth:
Dear God, the words law & order shouldn't strike so much fear in my heart as a law abiding citizen but I am so damn scared of Donald Trump
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) September 27, 2016
Law & Order was once a tv show. Now it's a threat from a tyrant.
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) September 27, 2016
But ended on a positive note:
These debates are a great thing, let the truth shine through please
— Chance The Rapper (@chancetherapper) September 27, 2016
YG has tweeted a visual argument that takes the same tack as his song, “F*ck Donald Trump“:
— yg (@YG) September 27, 2016
Kehlani has also come through as pro-Hillary:
https://twitter.com/Kehlani/status/780597436339277826
While he didn’t necessarily weigh in either way, the debate sparked Lil B The Based God to register to vote:
just registered to vote! i love you!!!!!!!! – Lil B
— Lil B THE BASEDGOD (@LILBTHEBASEDGOD) September 27, 2016
We’ll close out the night with a mic drop from Liv Bruce of queer power-pop duo PWR BTTM:
anyone with the stamina to stand next to Trump on a stage and listen to him lie for 1.5 hours has more than enough stamina to run a country
— liv bruce (@dirtywaternymph) September 27, 2016