Conspirituality Brief: Taylor Swift Goes MAGA?
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Nov 8, 2025 Taylor Swift is caught in a whirlwind of conspiracy theories accusing her of aligning with far-right politics. The podcast dives into TikTok claims about alleged Nazi symbolism in her merchandise and music. It questions whether her recent lyrics hint at a shift towards traditional conservative values. Julian explores the psychology behind fans' intense decoding of her work and critiques the cancellation culture surrounding her. Ultimately, it suggests that while Swift may seem tone-deaf, her influence in progressive circles remains significant.
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Merchandise Sparks Pattern-Spotting
- TikTok users spotted lightning motifs and an ornament-like pendant and inferred SS and iron cross symbolism.
- Julian argues those visual similarities are apophenia, not proof of Nazi dogwhistles.
Symbol Resemblance Can Be Misleading
- The SS used runic-style lightning bolts and white supremacists reuse them, so resemblance can trigger alarm.
- But Julian notes the necklace's bolts differ in pairing and shape, weakening the Nazi-claim.
Album Art Puzzle Provokes Old Panics
- Fans assembled four Midnights vinyl covers into a puzzle and noted the flipped white borders form a swastika.
- Julian compares this to 1980s backward-masking panics where people found hidden satanic messages.
