Episode Overview

Podcast: Too Many Tabs with Pearlmania500
Episode: #160 – "Why Do Republicans Like Cowboy Hats?"
Date: January 18, 2026

Husband and wife comedic duo, Pearlmania500, deep-dive into the history and mythology of the cowboy hat (especially the iconic Stetson), unraveling its unexpected Philadelphia origins, its transformation into a symbol of rugged American individualism, and how it ironically represents values and histories at odds with its contemporary pop culture usage by right-wing politicians. The episode is equal parts irreverent humor, meticulous research, and satirical political commentary, contextualizing the hat’s journey from utilitarian garb to cultural prop.

Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Origins & Appropriation of the Cowboy Hat

• Mrs. Pearlmania ("B") opens with an observation: "All of the worst people on the news are wearing cowboy hats." ([01:42])
• The Stetson Surprise:
  • The iconic cowboy hat was invented not in the West, but in Philadelphia by John B. Stetson—a New Jersey native ([03:15], [04:07]).
  • Roots in gentrified sombrero: Stetson's inspiration came from hats worn by Mexican immigrants and Black agricultural workers, adapting and marketing the style for white consumers ([15:09], [16:02]).
  • Quote: "This is very much just cultural appropriation and gentrification." – B ([15:39])
• Legend has it, Stetson made his first wide-brim felt hat as a personal experiment; its practicality led to high demand and quick adoption ([07:47]-[12:28]).

2. Lore and Marketing: From Utilitarian to Myth

• The "Boss of the Plains" hat was Stetson’s first big seller ([18:13]).
• The hat offered practical features: waterproof beaver felt, insulation for temperature, and could even double as a water bowl for horses ([10:18]-[11:12], [23:14]).
• Marketing genius: Sent sample hats to merchants with demand for bulk minimum orders ([23:31]).
• Within a decade, "Stetson" became synonymous with "hat" ([24:26]).

3. Labor Relations & Socialism in a Cowboy Hat

• Stetson as a proto-tech-bro employer:
  • Paid above scale, annual bonuses, on-site hospital and healthcare for $1/quarter (or free if needed), cheap mortgages via the Stetson Building and Loan Association ([27:54]-[28:40]).
  • Created an entire "Google campus" vibe: cafeteria, orchestra concerts, gym, library, chapel, kindergarten, recreational fields, classes for immigrants, generous apprenticeships ([29:28]-[31:28]).
  • Quote: "Stetson hats were Google. Because what you're describing is every tech company in the late 90s, early 2000s..." – A ([29:43])
  • Main motivation: Keep unions out and attract/keep skilled labor, akin to strategies used by Big Tech ([33:07]-[34:05]).

4. Mad as a Hatter: Mercury Poisoning & Working Hazards

• The phrase "mad as a hatter" comes from mercury poisoning among hatmakers, leading to mental illness and dementia ([37:14]-[38:59]).
• Broader discussion on mercury’s history and toxicity, stretching from Chinese emperors' death-defying (and ultimately maddening) attempts at immortality ([39:00]-[40:14]).

5. Hat Customization and Fashion Evolution

• Cowboys personalized hats with creases and bends (some became trademark ranch/family/team styles, later mass-produced as fashion) ([41:24]-[45:09]).
• Quote: "Boys love peacocking with their hat." – B ([43:14])

6. The Hat as American Myth & Political Prop

• Hollywood and cigarette advertising (e.g., Marlboro Man) created and amplified the rugged, white, male cowboy image.
• Notable figures who wore (or posed with) Stetsons: Buffalo Bill, Annie Oakley, Lone Ranger, Reagan, LBJ, G.W. Bush—many of whom were "performative," not real, cowboys ([51:06]-[53:40]).
  • On Reagan/Bush: "Put on a cowboy hat, pretend to be a real man. ...George W. Bush is a third generation Nepo baby." – A ([53:40])
• The hat as a symbol is deeply tied to Republican identity performance, even while its history contradicts the narrative.
  • Quote: "The cowboy hat is the ultimate symbol of performative male." – A ([54:38])

7. Women, Labor, & Progressive Legacy

• The Stetson factory was a major employer of women—contrasting with current politicians in cowboy hats pushing policies hostile to women ([61:20]-[63:54]).
• Stetson’s philanthropy: Helped launch Temple University, Stetson University (FL), the Philly House homeless shelter, and the YMCA ([63:58]-[65:53]).
• Quote: "There's so much that's separated from this mythology of the hat itself." – B ([63:20])

8. AI’s Take on Republicans and Cowboy Hats [The Grand Finale]

• Mrs. Pearlmania closes by sharing an AI-generated answer to "Why do Republicans like cowboy hats?" which notes the reality:
  • The cowboy era was mainly low-paid work done by immigrants and Black Americans; the myth promotes individualism while the reality was dependence on government handouts ([67:41]-[68:20]).
  • Quote: "The modern political use of the symbol often prioritizes the myth over historical details." – AI-generated, B ([68:20])
  • The hosts agree: "America is either a collection of MLMs stacked on each other or a series of cultural appropriations that have been remarketed by white dudes." – A ([49:13])

Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments (with Timestamps)

• “All of the worst people on the news are wearing cowboy hats.” – B ([01:42])
• “The cowboy hat was invented in Philadelphia by a man from New Jersey.” – Instagram reel, cited by Mrs. Pearlmania ([03:15])
• “It’s cultural appropriation and gentrification. He gentrified hats.” – B ([15:39])
• “Stetson hats were Google. ...That’s every tech company.” – A ([29:43])
• “Mad as a hatter” and erethism from mercury poisoning explained ([37:16]-[38:59])
• “Boys love peacocking with their hats.” – B ([43:14])
• “If you see somebody wearing a cowboy hat and they don’t have a horse... you’re a performative male. You have no dick print in gray sweatpants.” – A ([54:51])
• “The hat’s become a powerful piece of political pop—or prop—culture that helps project a specific image.” – B ([55:22])
• “America is either a collection of MLMs... or a series of cultural appropriations remarketed by white dudes.” – A ([49:13])
• AI-generated answer: “While the aesthetic is used to conjure a politics of self sufficiency, the historical reality of the cowboy era involved low paid agricultural jobs held often by Mexican immigrants and African Americans... The modern political use of the symbol often prioritizes the myth over historical details.” ([67:41]-[68:20])

Timestamps for Key Segments

• Opening banter and intro to hat obsession: [01:36]
• Cowboy hat invented in Philadelphia / Stetson history: [03:15]-[05:41]
• Legend of first hat, beaver felts, and early sales: [07:47]-[14:01]
• Cultural appropriation and sombrero influence: [15:09]-[16:02]
• The “Boss of the Plains” and marketing innovation: [18:13]-[23:48]
• Stetson’s labor practices, proto-socialism: [27:54]-[31:28]
• Health hazards—“Mad as a Hatter:” [37:14]-[38:59]
• Hat customization and peacocking: [41:24]-[45:09]
• Hollywood, politics, and the hat as pop prop: [51:06]-[56:14]
• Women workers and factory closure: [61:20]-[63:54]
• Stetson philanthropy: [63:58]-[65:53]
• Why do Republicans like cowboy hats?—AI summary and closing satire: [67:41]-[68:20]

Overall Tone & Style

• Warm, irreverent, and heavily laced with sarcasm, as well as plenty of Philadelphia pride and politically left-leaning critique.
• Frequent asides, pop culture references (e.g., John Wayne, Brokeback Mountain, Orville Peck), and playful interspousal teasing create a loose, engaging atmosphere.
• Rich with historical trivia, many “wait, what?!” revelations, and sharp, comedic edge.

Summary Conclusion

This episode unpacks how the cowboy hat, today a cliché for right-wing masculinity and “American” values, was conceived as a Philly curiosity by a sickly, possibly socialist hatter who borrowed liberally from Mexican laborers. Its history is knotted with workers’ rights, chemical poisoning, and clever marketing as much as rugged utility. Ultimately, the Stetson is both a global fashion artifact and a symbol of America’s legacy of mythologizing itself—where the truth underneath is as bizarre, complicated, and multicultural as the country itself.

For listeners: This episode offers a blend of genuine history, critical media analysis, and comedic relief, perfect if you want to understand America’s myth-making—one hat at a time.