Free Thinking Through the Fourth Turning with Sacha Stone
Episode: "I Thought Hamilton Was for America. I Was Wrong."
Release Date: March 7, 2025
Host: Sacha Stone
Podcast Description: Essays on politics and culture from Sacha Stone's Substack. A former Democrat and Leftist who escaped the bubble to get to know the other side of the country and to take a more critical look at the left. sashastone.substack.com
Introduction: The Illusion of an Inclusive America
Sacha Stone opens the episode with a nostalgic reflection on the musical Hamilton, expressing his initial belief in its unifying power. He recounts surprising his daughter with tickets to see the original cast performance, emphasizing the musical's role in making history engaging and accessible.
"We knew every word of every song. It lived inside of us. It wasn't just that it was brilliant, funny, moving, inventive and original. It also reminded all of us what this country's founding principles were about."
— Sacha Stone [00:05:10]
The Political Backdrop: 2016 and the Rise of Partisanship
Stone delves into the political climate of 2016, highlighting his support for Barack Obama and Hillary Clinton. He reflects on how Hamilton became intertwined with progressive politics, viewing it as a part of the broader effort to counter the Trump candidacy.
"I thought Hamilton was for everybody. I was wrong."
— Sacha Stone [00:00:50]
Stone shares his earlier writings, where he praised Hillary Clinton as a symbol of an inclusive America, unaware of the underlying partisan motivations driving support for Hamilton.
Obama’s Influence and the Rise of Progressive Culture
Discussing the Obama administration's impact on the arts, Stone notes how Hamilton thrived during this period, benefiting from the president's support of artists like Lin-Manuel Miranda.
"Lin Manuel Miranda's entire career exists only because of Barack Obama."
— Sacha Stone [01:38:16]
He explains how the musical's diverse casting and hip-hop elements served as a bridge to marginalized communities, fostering a sense of representation and inclusion.
The Trump Era: Shifting Perceptions and Increasing Division
The narrative shifts as Stone describes the seismic change following Trump's election. Hamilton performances became arenas for political expression, leading to increased hostility and division.
"By casting so many diverse people to play historical figures and making it a hip hop musical, Hamilton was a bridge to the black communities that were so often excluded from the Broadway experience and elite culture in general."
— Sacha Stone [01:46:00]
Stone recounts incidents where audiences, including political figures like Mike Pence, faced protests during performances, blurring the lines between art and political propaganda.
"We would fly out for a day and then fly back. It would cost way too much money. I'd get my wallet stolen. But I only had one daughter."
— Sacha Stone [00:05:25]
The Kennedy Center Controversy: A Turning Point for Hamilton
A pivotal moment in the episode addresses the Kennedy Center's cancellation of Hamilton performances, marking a significant shift towards partisanship within a traditionally nonpartisan institution. Stone criticizes the center's leadership changes and perceived alignment with leftist politics under Trump's influence.
"Political disagreement and debate are vital expressions of democracy. However, some institutions are sacred and should be protected from politics."
— Jeffrey Seller, Producer of Hamilton [07:34:08]
Stone argues that the cancellation was not merely a business decision but a reflection of the left's discomfort with bipartisan expressions of art.
The Downfall of Lin-Manuel Miranda: From Hero to Pariah
Stone explores Lin-Manuel Miranda's career trajectory post-Hamilton, suggesting that Miranda fell out of favor with the progressive left due to perceived moderation and tolerance of differing viewpoints.
"In the coming years, Miranda would never regain the luster of those early days of Hamilton."
— Sacha Stone
He criticizes Miranda and other artists for failing to fully align with leftist ideologies, resulting in diminished support and professional setbacks.
The Culture War in Media: Reflections from White Lotus
Using a scene from White Lotus as a case study, Stone illustrates the deep political divides affecting personal relationships and media representations. The episode highlights how political affiliations, particularly Trump support, have become a "third rail," making dialogue and understanding increasingly difficult.
"Politics can be so divisive. And I think somehow he was like, it didn't."
— Friend 2 [18:42:00]
Stone emphasizes the destructive nature of these divisions, where political differences lead to alienation and the breakdown of meaningful connections.
Critique of Progressive Ideology: Cancel Culture and Intolerance
A significant portion of Stone's argument centers on his critique of the progressive left's intolerance and the pervasive cancel culture affecting all sectors of society, including Hollywood, academia, and the arts.
"The ideology of the progressive utopian left goes something like are accepted on a conditional basis. We control everything."
— Sacha Stone [21:37:00]
He contends that the left's demand for unwavering conformity stifles free expression and creativity, leading to the marginalization of dissenting voices and fostering a climate of fear and self-censorship.
The Kennedy Center’s Betrayal: A Symbol of Partisan Shift
Stone criticizes the Kennedy Center's departure from its founding principles of nonpartisanship, attributing the institution's recent actions to external political pressures.
"These actions bring a new spirit of partisanship to the national treasure that is the Kennedy Center."
— Sacha Stone [07:34:25]
He laments the loss of an inclusive cultural space, now tainted by political agendas that exclude diverse perspectives and undermine artistic integrity.
The Final Straw: Self-Cancellation and the Collapse of Hamilton’s Inclusivity
Concluding his critique, Stone argues that the left's resistance to bipartisanship and inclusion led to the self-cancellation of Hamilton, undermining its original mission to unite all Americans through art.
"In canceling themselves they've now proven that Hamilton never was for America."
— Sacha Stone [10:08:45]
He asserts that the progressive left's inability to embrace different viewpoints has not only fractured national unity but also dismantled the very cultural bridges that Hamilton once symbolized.
Conclusion: A Call for True Inclusivity and Artistic Freedom
Stone wraps up the episode by stressing the importance of depoliticizing art and fostering genuine inclusivity. He advocates for a return to the foundational American principles of free expression and bipartisan respect, emphasizing that only through such efforts can the nation overcome its deep-seated divisions.
"If the blood that runs through your veins depends on the feeling of being oppressed, you need an endless supply, and Trump provides that."
— Sacha Stone [20:55:00]
He encourages listeners to support art that transcends political biases, fostering a culture where diverse voices can coexist and enrich the national narrative.
Notable Quotes
-
Sacha Stone:
"We knew every word of every song. It lived inside of us. It wasn't just that it was brilliant, funny, moving, inventive and original."
[00:01:05] -
Jeffrey Seller:
"Politics have never affected the presentation of thousands of shows and the display of extraordinary visual arts."
[07:34:08] -
Conservative Commentator:
"These are the elites that were dethroned when Donald Trump became president. ... shows how out of touch The New York, L.A.D.C. elite are from mainstream America."
[10:00:00] -
Friend from White Lotus:
"Politics can be so divisive. And I think somehow he was like, it didn't."
[18:44:00] -
Sacha Stone:
"The ideology of the progressive utopian left goes something like are accepted on a conditional basis. We control everything."
[21:37:00]
Reflections and Takeaways
In this episode, Sacha Stone provides a scathing critique of how political polarization and cancel culture have infiltrated and undermined artistic endeavors that once stood for inclusivity and national unity. By tracing the journey of Hamilton from a beloved cultural phenomenon to a contentious symbol of partisan conflict, Stone underscores the broader implications of ideological rigidity on American culture and democracy. The episode serves as a call to reclaim artistic spaces from political vendettas, advocating for a more tolerant and unified approach to cultural expression.