Why MAGA Is Fuming Over Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show

Summary

WSJ What’s News (Feb 6, 2026)

Episode: Why MAGA Is Fuming Over Bad Bunny’s Halftime Show
Host: Luke Vargas
Guests: Sabrina Rodriguez (Politics Reporter), Joshua Robinson (Sports Reporter), Matt Grossman (Economics Reporter), with statements from Brian Olssofsky (Amazon CFO), Carolyn Levitt (White House Press Secretary), and Margarita Stancati (Middle East Reporter)

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Episode Overview

This episode weaves through the day’s business headlines—including a selloff in tech stocks, Amazon’s AI spending woes, and Stellantis’s EV overestimation—before diving into the off-field controversies surrounding Super Bowl weekend. At the heart is the political backlash against Bad Bunny’s halftime show, exploring why MAGA influencers are enraged and how culture, politics, and celebrity activism are colliding leading up to the big game. The show also previews the Winter Olympics and the U.S. role, wrapping up with the broader theme of sports, society, and politics intersecting on a global stage.

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Key Discussion Points & Insights

1. Business Headlines & Market Turmoil

• Amazon’s Plunge:
  • Amazon stock falls 7% after announcing a 60% increase in AI spending, far above expectations.
  • Cloud computing growth lags behind competitors Microsoft and Alphabet.
  • CFO Brian Olssofsky tries to calm investors:
    • “This isn’t some sort of quixotic top line grab. … We have confidence that these investments will yield strong returns on invested capital.” (01:37, Brian Olssofsky)
  • Result: Investor skepticism triggers a tech stock selloff globally (Korea halts trading).
  • Related: US software stocks plainge after Anthropic releases its upgraded AI model.
  • Stellantis Trouble:
    • Share price hits lows not seen since 2020 after writing off $26B in EV investments, outpacing similar losses at Ford and GM.
• Economic Data Delays:
  • January jobs report delayed due to a recent government shutdown—the fourth out of five such interruptions.
  • Matt Grossman, WSJ economics reporter:
    • “We seem to be in a world now where occasional government shutdown is the rule rather than the exception.” (03:03, Matt Grossman)
    • Implication: Investors must not only worry about the data, but also the timing of its release.

2. Policy Moves & International Tension

• Trump Rx Website Launch:
  • New government-run drug buying site offers discounted prices on about 40 medicines, mainly benefits uninsured Americans (~27 million people).
  • Dr. Mehmet Oz at launch:
    • “You should not be buying drugs anymore going forward without at least checking to see if those medications are available at these discounted prices on TrumpRx.gov.” (04:16, Dr. Mehmet Oz)
• Iran Nuclear Deal Talks Collapse:
  • Negotiations end after just 90 minutes.
  • Heavy U.S. military presence in the region following a mass killing of protesters in Iran and Trump's threats of strikes.
  • Margarita Stancati, WSJ Middle East Reporter, on rising dissent:
    • “People are still really, really angry and I think it’ll be really difficult for the government to overcome this.” (04:58, Margarita Stancati)
    • Main trigger now: January’s mass killings, not just economic hardship.

3. Super Bowl Halftime: Bad Bunny’s Controversy

• Politics Reporter Sabrina Rodriguez Explains the Uproar (06:41 – 10:55)
  • Why the Backlash?
    • Bad Bunny’s public stance against Trump’s immigration agenda, his Spanish-language-only music, and gender-fluid presentation have ignited conservative backlash in MAGA circles since his halftime headliner announcement.
    • Recent Grammy speech (“ice out”)—a protest slogan against ICE—reignited controversy.
    • Bad Bunny skipped mainland U.S. concerts citing safety concerns for fans; held a residency in Puerto Rico instead.
  • White House Response:
    • Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt criticized celebrity activism:
      • “It’s very ironic and frankly, sad to see celebrities … demonize law enforcement, public servants who work for the United States government to enforce our nation’s laws.” (08:35, Carolyn Levitt)
  • Public and Political Impact
    • Rodriguez:
      • “Polls show that a majority of Americans feel that ICE has gone too far and people are souring on how Trump is handling immigration. … However, is it something that’s gonna cause other people to shift their views? That’s not necessarily what’s going to happen.” (09:11, Sabrina Rodriguez)
    • The moment reflects growing divides, but likely won’t decisively sway national opinion.
  • Democratic Dilemma
    • Democrats remain divided on how forcefully to push immigration reform or ICE abolition, wary of repeating the dynamics that favored Trump in 2024.
    • “They want a humane policy while enforcing immigration laws … a lot of conversations in Washington right now about reforming ICE, but the scope varies from Democrat to Democrat.” (10:04, Sabrina Rodriguez)

4. Winter Olympics—Sports, Politics, and American Hopes

• Opening Ceremony in Milan-Cortina:
  • Uncertainty over reception of American athletes and dignitaries (VP J.D. Vance, Sec. Marco Rubio present).
  • Joshua Robinson, WSJ sports reporter:
    • Excitement over record-possible medal tally for Americans.
    • Illya Malinin (the “quad god”) is favorite for figure skating gold thanks to his quadruple Axel.
    • Lindsey Vaughn’s dramatic return at 41, racing after a recent ACL tear against doctors’ advice.
    • “Can she medal? Experts think she might.” (11:33, Joshua Robinson)

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Notable Quotes & Memorable Moments

• Amazon’s CFO on AI Spend:
  • “We have confidence that these investments will yield strong returns … as we did with our core AWS business.” (01:37, Brian Olssofsky)
• On the New Normal of Delayed Economic Data:
  • “[Government shutdowns] give investors another thing they have to keep on their minds—not just what are the reports going to say, but when are they going to come?” (03:03, Matt Grossman)
• Trump Rx Launch Pitch:
  • “You should not be buying drugs anymore going forward without at least checking … TrumpRx.gov.” (04:16, Dr. Mehmet Oz)
• Iran’s Rising Public Defiance:
  • “Mourning families are shouting anti-regime slogans at funerals … People are still really, really angry.” (04:58, Margarita Stancati)
• White House Press Secretary on Bad Bunny:
  • “It’s very ironic and frankly, sad to see celebrities … demonize law enforcement, public servants.” (08:35, Carolyn Levitt)
• Sabrina Rodriguez on the Politics of Pop:
  • “Polls show … Americans feel that ICE has gone too far and people are souring … However, is it something that’s gonna cause other people to shift their views? That’s not necessarily …” (09:11, Sabrina Rodriguez)

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Important Segment Timestamps

• Market & Business News: 00:33 – 05:38
• Super Bowl & Bad Bunny Controversy: 06:41 – 10:55
• Olympics Preview: 11:01 – 12:17

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Takeaway

This episode captures the volatility of not only financial markets but the American cultural landscape ahead of one of sports’ biggest weekends. In-depth looks at Amazon and Stellantis developments, plus the politicization surrounding Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl show, reveal how pop culture and politics now collide in unprecedented ways—with both sides of the debate working to harness public attention and influence. The build-up to the Winter Olympics adds another layer of how national narratives and global spectacles interplay, making for a charged, timely listen.

Transcript

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[Luke Vargas]

Investors punish Amazon for its AI spending plans and send tech stocks tumbling around the world Plus, President Trump debuts a government run drug buying site in a bid to tackle high prices.

[Brian Olssofsky]

You're going to see numbers that you're.

[Luke Vargas]

Not going to believe and we'll go behind the off field drama ahead of Sunday's super bowl. It's Friday, February 6th. I'm Luke Vargas for the Wall Street Journal and here is the AM edition of what's news. The top headlines Business stories Moving your world Today, Amazon stock is down more than 7% off hours after the company announced a nearly 60% jump in its planned AI spending, far higher than Wall street had been expecting. At the same time, year over year, cloud computing growth of 24% came in below Microsoft's 39% and Alphabet's 48. Amazon has said that growth rates don't fully capture its standing in the industry. CFO Brian Olssofsky tried to convince investors that AI spending would pay off.

[Brian Olssofsky]

This isn't some sort of quixotic top line grab. You know, we, we have confidence that these investments will yield strong returns on invested capital. We've done that with our core AWS business and I think that will very much be true here as well.

[Luke Vargas]

But that hasn't satisfied investors as AI spending concerns feed a wider downturn in European and Asian markets this morning. Korea's tech heavy index even halted trading at one point as stocks slump. That follows another sell off in US Software stocks yesterday after Anthropic released a new AI model with upgraded data analysis, coding and product management functions. Meanwhile, shares of Jeep maker Stellantis are plunging today to lows not seen since the start of the pandemic. To blame an announced $26 billion in written off investments after the company overestimated demand for EVs in the U.S. those charges exceed similar recent write downs by Ford and gm. And so much for jobs Friday, thanks to the latest government shutdown that ended on Tuesday, investors won't be getting a look at January's jobs report today as scheduled. Instead, the Bureau of Labor Statistics will publish the data on Wednesday, shifting the release of January inflation data to next Friday. Instead, according to Journal economics reporter Matt Grossman, investors may need to come to terms with delays to official data. Given that four of the last five job reports have been delayed in some fashion.

[Matt Grossman]

In a broader sense, these numbers have started to look a lot less dependable than they used to. You know, we seem to be in a world now where occasional government shutdown is the rule rather than the exception. And it just gives investors another thing they have to keep on their minds. Not just what are the reports going to say, but when are they going to come?

[Luke Vargas]

Well, who better to provide insights on the job market than you, our listeners? Whether you're hiring, firing, happily or worriedly employed, looking for a promotion or a new job altogether, we'd love to hear your impressions of the labor market or help to track down an answer to a question on your mind. To weigh in, email us a voice memo to wnpodsj.com and make sure to include your full name and location so we can use your comments on the show. The White House has launched its new drug buying website, Trump Rx, in an effort to bring down health care costs for Americans. Roughly 40 drugs are available, from infertility treatments to obesity medicines such as WeGovy and Zepbound. During a press conference Thursday, Dr. Mehmet Oz touted how prices on the site are generally lower than the sticker price.

[Joshua Robinson]

You should not be buying drugs anymore going forward without at least checking to see if those medications are available at these discounted prices on TrumpRx.gov while the.

[Luke Vargas]

Site won't change much for insured Americans, it's more likely to benefit the roughly 27 million people without coverage. High stakes talks between Iran and the US over Tehran's nuclear program have ended after just 90 minutes. The US has amassed air and naval forces near Iran, with President Trump threatening strikes on the country over the mass killing of protesters last month. That crackdown initially stifled opposition to the regime, but Journal reporter Margarita Stancati says there are now signs that public anger is rising once again.

[Margarita Stancati]

So we're beginning to see big and small shows of defiance against the government despite the continuing crackdown. For example, mourning families are shouting anti regime slogans at funerals and memorials. We spoke to a student in Tehran who said that in her high school students are refusing to sing the national anthem. People are still really, really angry and I think it'll be really difficult for the government to overcome this. I think, you know, the reason people took to the streets in the first place is in late December was over economic problems. People are saying it's very likely we'll see more mass protests. But this time the trigger will be the mass killings that happen in January.

[Luke Vargas]

And for more on U.S. military readiness for a strike on Iran, check out the link we've left in our show Notes. Coming up ahead of a weekend ostensibly about sports, we'll look at how politics is edging its way into the Winter Olympics and Sunday's super bowl halftime show. That's after the break.

[Christopher Mims]

Hi, I'm Christopher Mims. And I'm Tim Higgins. We're the hosts of the Wall Street Journal's Bold Names podcast. On our show, we bring the bold name companies featured in the pages of the Wall Street Journal to life through real conversations with the people that lead them. If you're looking for more news and insights that bring you inside the C Suite, consider becoming a subscriber to the Wall street journal. Visit subscribe.WSJ.com boldnames to subscribe now.

[Luke Vargas]

The super bowl is this weekend. Seahawks fans and Patriots fans, myself included, will be glued to their screens. So will ad lovers, sports bettors and fans of the most streamed musical artist in the world last year on Spotify. Bad Bunny Journal reporter Sabrina Rodriguez has been keeping an eye on the run up to what's become one of the most controversial and hotly anticipated halftime shows in years. And she joins me now with more. Sabrina, you are a politics reporter, we should be clear, not a music reporter. So why then are you on the Bad Bunny beat, if you will?

[Sabrina Rodriguez]

I fell into the Bad Bunny beat back in September when he was first announced to be the super bowl halftime headliner. You know, at the time, it backlash among MAGA influencers and folks in conservative circles, in part because of his opposition to Trump's immigration agenda that he's been very public about. Folks had other complaints about, you know, his exclusive Spanish language lyrics, his gender fluid fashion choices. So it prompted all this backlash at the time. And then fast forward the Grammys one week out from the super bowl and we saw Bad Bunny take the stage, his acceptance speech for the best music album. And he used that as an opportunity to say ice out. And that's a phrase that we've seen in protests of the Trump administration's immigration agenda. And now we kind of see that backlash reigniting again.

[Luke Vargas]

We are and we should point out, in addition to speaking out last year Bad Bunny held the highest grossing concert tour in the world and avoided the mainland US on that tour, saying that he was concerned that law enforcement would be targeting his fans at those event, instead had a big residency in Puerto Rico. You mentioned the backlash that his comments have generated. Let's Play a clip here from White House Press Secretary Carolyn Levitt.

[Carolyn Levitt]

I think it's very ironic and frankly, sad to see celebrities who live in gated communities with private security, with millions of dollars to spend protecting themselves, trying to just demonize, again, law enforcement, public servants who work for the United States government to enforce our nation's laws.

[Luke Vargas]

Sabrina, I'm curious what you make of that, what that might tell us about the impact these comments are having and frankly, whether this is a political stance from a celebrity that could actually matter compared to, shall we say, the many that through the years kind of have not.

[Sabrina Rodriguez]

Yeah, I mean, I think that the White House press secretary taps into a reality of celebrities speaking out. We do see that celebrities are raising public awareness of what's happening. And Bad Bunny's comments, the Grammys, sort of reflect the shift that's happening in public opinion right now. Polls show that a majority of Americans feel that ICE has gone too far and people are souring on how Trump is handling immigration. So it is a moment of showing sort of that shift. However, is it something that's gonna cause other people to shift their views on this? That's not necessarily what's going to happen.

[Luke Vargas]

And finally, Sabrina, I'm curious what the reaction has been on the other side of the aisle to this from Democrats. We've reported that Democratic lawmakers, for instance, have been far united on whether they embrace calls to abolish ice. I'm wondering if there's sort of a similar conundrum for them here.

[Sabrina Rodriguez]

Yes, this has been a challenge for Democrats. You know, we saw in the 2024 election cycle that immigration was very much one of President Trump's strongest issues, and it's one that he really harnessed and focused in on to bring in voters. Obviously, he was successful in that as he won the presidency. So Democrats have had a hard time navigating the politics of immigration, how to talk about it. They want to a humane policy while at the same time enforcing immigration laws or navigating border security. So there's a lot of conversations in Washington right now about reforming ice, but what the scope of that looks like really varies from Democrat to Democrat. And I think they do not want to fall into what led to Trump being able to harness the issue in the first place.

[Luke Vargas]

I've been speaking to Wall Street Journal politics reporter Sabrina Rodriguez. Sabrina, thank you so much.

[Sabrina Rodriguez]

Thanks for having me.

[Luke Vargas]

And finally, the Milan Cortina Winter Olympics are officially underway with the opening ceremony set for tonight.

[Joshua Robinson]

We'll be watching very closely to see what kind of reception American athletes get here in Italy, and that starts with the opening ceremony. Vice President J.D. vance and Secretary of State Marco Rubio both expected to be in attendance, and no one's quite sure how they'll be received.

[Luke Vargas]

That's Journal sports reporter Joshua Robinson on the ground at the Games, who said that despite a potentially frosty initial reception, American athletes have a chance at history over the next few weeks.

[Joshua Robinson]

So the exciting thing for Americans is that they may actually break their record of most gold medals at a Winter Olympics. Leading the charge is going to be US Figure skater Ilya Malinin. He's considered a lock to win gold, and that's because he is the man known as the quad God, specialist in the quadruple Axel, who was once impossible. Less certain is the status of US Skier Lindsey Vaughn, who's probably the most famous American skier in the world. She's making an incredible comeback at age 41 on a partially reconstructed knee. The problem is that about a week before she was due to race on Sunday, she injured the other knee and tore her acl. Now she's said she's going to try it anyway and ski without that acl. Can she meddle? Experts think she might.

[Luke Vargas]

Live coverage of tonight's opening ceremony begins at 2pm Eastern, ahead of a primetime encore. And that's it for what's new for this Friday morning. Today's show was produced by Hattie Moyer and Daniel Bach. Our supervising producer is Sandra Kilhoff. And I'm Luke Vargas for the Wall Street Journal. We will be back tonight with a new show. Otherwise, have a great weekend and thanks for listening.