"So, let us not be blind to our differences - but let us also direct attention to our common interests and to the means by which those differences can be resolved. And if we cannot end now our differences, at least we can help make the world safe for diversity. For, in the final analysis, our most basic common link is that we all inhabit this small planet. We all breathe the same air. We all cherish our children's future. And we are all mortal." JFK, June 10, 1963.
There are so many problems with Trump 2.0 and so many bad actors involved. Some have called it a coup, a government takeover from within by billionaire grifter oligarchs in order to destroy the parts of government they hate and exploit the rest for profit.
This is an attempt to enumerate the worst problems, just to see what we're up against.
Fortunately many have already realized the seriousness of the situation and have turned out in the millions all over the country, protesting, repeatedly, with joy.
1) Deporting immigrants without due process.
2) DOGE cuts of government services and government workers.
3) Damage to the economy caused by tariffs.
4) Abandoning our international leadership on issues like climate change, democracy, human rights, Ukraine, and The Middle East.
(5) Appointing anti-vax kook RFK Jr. to HHS during a measles outbreak.
Kneecap ignited some controversy at Coachella 2025 with several highly-charged political statements in support of Palestinian rights, culminating with a screen projection behind them which read: "F--- Israel... Free Palestine". Soon, Sharon Osbourne was calling for their U.S. work visas to be revoked (they have a sold-out U.S. tour scheduled for Fall 2025). A video (see above) from a November 2024 gig in London showed Kneecap's Mo Chara performing with a yellow Hezbollah flag draped around his neck (see above), which he then displayed to the crowd. He stated, "Up Hamas! Up Hezbollah!", and left the stage. British authorities announced they are investigating whether that constituted a crime (support for a banned group). Kneecap subsequently released a statement (see below) clarifying that they did not support Hamas or Hezbollah and that they condemned "all attacks on civilians, always". Nonetheless, some called for them to be removed from the schedule at Glastonbury and other up-coming festivals.
Kneecap is right to support Palestinian rights and compare the Palestinian struggle to the Irish struggle. After all, Ireland has suffered from the exploitation of British imperialism for over 400 years. Ireland is still divided today, with its six NE counties still held by the United Kingdom.
But they were wrong to say, "Up Hamas!, Up Hezbollah!", primarily because these two groups attack civilians as part of their campaign of using political violence to achieve their goals.
In their statement, Kneecap clarified that they do not support Hamas and Hezbollah and do not support attacks on civilians. They also apologized to the families of two British politicians who had been killed and denied inciting violence against Members of Parliament.
British authorities announced Kneecap was being investigated both for supporting banned terrorist groups and calling for violence ("Kill your MP!") against politicians.
It's good that they clarified the record. We want people to learn from their errors.
But stating these things to begin with were misguided.
It's important to remember these are young artists, not political scientists nor seasoned activists. The desire to say controversial, inflammatory, and hyperbolic pronouncements is part of show business. The actor on stage exaggerates for the benefit of those in the cheap seats. He projects to the back rows. An off-hand statement on-stage should not be given the same weight as a well-written essay. I say as long as they learn from their errors and carry on, they will be fine. They are artists, they have a platform, and they have the right to express themselves on politics or any other issue. They also have a responsibility to their audience to be honest and truthful.
Worth noting that in the November video from the London show, Mo Chara has a yellow Hezbollah flag around his neck, which he then displays to the crowd. Why not a red, black, white, and green Palestinian flag instead? Hezbollah is based in Lebanon, not Israel or Palestine, and is comprised principally of members who are Lebanese, not Palestinian.
The most important lesson to learn is that one can support Palestinian rights without supporting extremist, medievalist groups who attack civilians. Opposing American and Israeli policy does not mean we must then automatically and unquestioningly support their opponents in the region - Hamas, Hezbollah, and their supporters Russia and Iran.
I would ask the Palestine advocates in The West to also speak out on wrongs committed in Ukraine, The U.S., Europe, Russia, China, Iran... indeed anywhere human rights are being violated, not just the cause of the season. The extreme suffering in Gaza provides an urgency to finding a peaceful solution to Israel/Palestine, but it is also urgent that we unite to fight climate change, economic injustice, war, poverty, and the empathy crisis. Right now!
Kneecap with Cillian Murphy at the IFTA Awards, Dublin, February 2025
Fiona released a statement to accompany the new song, explaining her interest in judicial reform (after spending thousands of hours viewing court proceedings online), especially the plight of women, often mothers with dependent children, often poor women of color, who were remanded to custody, unable to post bail. Although they were still "presumed innocent", they were held in jail in pretrial detention due to their inability to post bail:
Time and time again, I listened as people were taken away and put in jail, for no other reason than that they couldn’t afford to buy their way free. It was particularly hard to hear mothers and caretakers get taken away from the people who depend on them. For the past five years, I have been volunteering with the Free Black Mamas DMV bailout, and I have been lucky to be able to witness the stories of women who fought for and won their freedom with the tireless and loving support of the leadership. I hope that this song, and the images shared with me, can help to show what is at stake when someone is kept in pretrial detention. I give this song in friendship and respect to all who have experienced the pain of pretrial detention and to the women of the group’s leadership who have taught me so much and whom I truly love.
Fiona's recent cover of Neil Young's "Heart Of Gold"
