Impolitic with John Heilemann Pablo Torre: Bad Bunny & Bad Ballmer
Oct 13, 2025
Pablo Torre, an investigative sports journalist and host of "Pablo Torre Finds Out," joins to delve into the cultural storm surrounding Bad Bunny’s Super Bowl halftime gig and the unfolding controversy with Clippers owner Steve Ballmer. He explores why the NFL chose Bad Bunny amid political backlash and breaks down his exclusive findings that triggered an NBA investigation into Ballmer’s dubious financial maneuvers. The conversation highlights sports as a cultural unifier and examines the dynamics of wealth and power in professional athletics.
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NFL Chooses Audience Over Culture Wars
- The NFL picked Bad Bunny because he is the most popular streaming artist worldwide and broadens their biggest-audience platform.
- The league prioritized audience and revenue over appeasing culture-war critics.
Halftime Is A Managed Corporate Bet
- The NFL views the Super Bowl halftime as a financial decision and will manage political risk rather than avoid popular artists.
- They make calculated bets that artists will not use the platform for overt partisan provocation.
Kawhi's Secret Aspiration Deal
- Kawhi Leonard signed a secret Aspiration deal reportedly worth about $48 million that avoided public announcement and required minimal deliverables.
- The only explicit obligation in the contract that Kawhi fulfilled was playing for the Clippers.
