Parting Shot: Donald Trump’s Historic Week and Its Impact on Pop Culture

Whenever writers flippantly say such and such moment will go down in history, often times it’s hyperbole. But I think we can all agree that this week, after former President Donald Trump’s reelection, will indeed go down as historic. And when it comes to pop culture, well, considering Elon Musk and Joe Rogan’s impact on Trump’s campaign was sizable, it’s fair to say there’s been a cultural reset in how politics and pop culture have seemingly become one in the same. (And, as one of those flippant writers who enjoys a bit of hyperbole, that pop culture/political combination is particularly exciting.)

Before we get into the parting shot for the week that was, make sure you’re subscribed to the For the Culture newsletter for all things entertainment and to the Parting Shot Podcast with H. Alan Scott for celebrity interviews and reactions to what’s going on in pop culture and how it’s impacted by politics, news and the world at large.

So yes, Trump’s win and Vice President Kamala Harris’ loss dominated the news this week, rightfully so. (Hence that historic thingy mentioned before.) Newsweek‘s Jenni Fink and Jason Lemon joined me on the Parting Shot podcast to break down how Trump did it, where Harris went wrong, and what we can expect in the weeks and months to come as Trump prepares to move back to the White House.

And because it was such an historic week, celebrities from Hollywood and beyond had things to say about Trump’s reelection. Some in favor, like Saturday Night Live‘s Rob Schneider, and many more against. (It is Hollywood, after all.) Stephen King posted on X, formerly Twitter, “There’s a sign you can see in many shops that sell beautiful but fragile items: LOVELY TO LOOK AT, DELIGHTFUL TO HOLD, BUT ONCE YOU BREAK IT, THEN IT’S SOLD. You can say the same about democracy.”

Additionally, while Harris had the support of some of the biggest stars in the world like Oprah Winfrey, Beyoncé, and Taylor Swift, one in particular was silent: Meghan Markle.

(And not for nothing, I love whenever The Simpsons predict major events, but this year, in what feels like the first time, they got it wrong when it came to Harris.)

In some non-political related news–because yes, there was some news that didn’t include the names “Harris” or “Trump” this week–legendary music producer Quincy Jones died at the age of 91. Three people were arrested in connection to Liam Payne’s tragic death last month. And Sean “Diddy” Combs celebrated his 55th birthday in jail as he awaits his federal sex trafficking trial.

We’ve also got a whole new slate of Grammy nominees to dive into. With her 11 Grammy nominations for Cowboy Carter, Beyoncé just became the most nominated artist in Grammy history. The question is, will she finally break her top category curse and win Album of the Year, Record of the Year, and Song of the Year? She’s got some fierce competition.

In all those previously mentioned categories, Beyoncé is up against a mix of Taylor Swift, Billie Eilish, Kendrick Lamar, Charli XCX, Lady Gaga, and newcomers Sabrina Carpenter and Chappell Roan. She’s also up against an unlikely group: The Beatles for the song “Now and Then.” (It was initially a demo John Lennon made before he died. His widow, Yoko Ono, gave the track to the remaining members of the band. With a mix of technology and existing vocals, Paul McCartney, Ringo Starr, and George Harrison were able to appear on the track.)

On television, there’s one show you need to watch this week: Bad Sisters on Apple TV+. The series about a group of Irish sisters who murder one of their abusive husbands was a smash hit last season, picking up some Emmy nominations and even a Peabody award. I spoke with Sharon Horgan, who stars, created, writes and produces the series, about what we can expect from the second season.

Discussing how she balances the difficult subject matter with the comedy, Horgan told me, “I think you can take chances in the script with where you choose to have a laugh or to release the pressure, or just have something really sort of out-and-out stupid.” You can listen to our full chat on the Parting Shot podcast.

And can we take a second to talk about reality TV this week? The Golden Bachelorette is wrapping things up, and it feels like we’re all falling in love with Joan. But who will she pick? Let us know in the comments. On House of Villains, Larsa Pippen and Teresa Giudice of Real Housewives fame are going at it in the ways that make them the reality TV stars that they are. And on Survivor, there was a plot twist during that Tribal Council that I did not see coming.

Sierra and Sam were in alliance from early on, and Andy and Teeny needed them out of the game before they got too far. (They both know that if they made it to the end, they’d likely win.) Once at Tribal Council, they both tied for votes, sending it to revote. In the end, Sierra got the boot. (She was shocked.) I spoke with her about why she thinks she was such a big target, her confusion over why they chose her over Sam, and who she thinks will make it to the end.

That’s a wrap on this week. Make sure you’re subscribed to the For the Culture newsletter and the Parting Shot podcast for the latest in culture, entertainment news, and all the ways it intersects with the news of the week.