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Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
The Inner Circle acknowledges, Timothy L. Hogue as a Pinnacle Professional Member
NEW YORK, May 13, 2025 /PRNewswire/ -- Prominently featured in The Inner Circle, Timothy L. Hogue is acknowledged as a Pinnacle Professional Member for his contributions in Transforming Global Talent Acquisition with Strategic Vision and Expertise. Timothy L. Hogue, a distinguished leader in global talent acquisition, has a proven history of revolutionizing recruitment practices and driving organizational growth across prestigious organizations. Mr. Hogue enjoyed a successful tenure at MetLife for seven years as an assistant vice president and head of global executive recruitment. This role was marked by establishing an international executive recruiting function and creating global fluency across multiple continents. Prior to joining MetLife, Mr. Hogue served as a talent acquisition management consultant at Teach for America, where he was instrumental in building the technology organization and talent. Prior, he was the director of talent acquisition at TIAA-CREF, transforming the organization from a transactional entity into a talent advisory powerhouse. Mr. Hogue's strategic vision was also evident as a manager and head of global recruiting at Western Asset Management, where he contributed significantly to the firm's growth overall and significant increase in assets under management. Prior, Mr. Hogue was the director of recruitment at CIBC World Markets. Mr. Hogue provides his expertise to other organizations in a consulting capacity, including a next generation digital asset fin/tech bank. Based in New York City, Mr. Hogue has a wealth of experience. His foundational roles in communications, organizational development and talent management were honed at A.T. Kearney and at McKinsey & Company. Most recently in 2023 he obtained his executive level certification in Artificial Intelligence: Implications for Business Strategy from MIT's Sloan School of Management, School of Computer Science & AI Lab. Armed with a Bachelor of Arts in Communication Arts from Rollins College, a master's degree from the New York Institute of Technology, and his recent credential in Artificial Intelligence from MIT's Sloan School of Management, Timothy brings a unique blend of academic excellence and practical expertise to his role. In recognition of his outstanding contributions, Timothy has received numerous awards for his work in human resources. Additionally, he holds a music scholarship from the University of Arkansas and is a classically trained pianist, proficient in playing over a dozen musical instruments. Mr. Hogue's artistic talents were showcased when he was a cast member and featured dancer in the internationally acclaimed "Up With People" during its world tour, which included performances with Bob Hope, a command performance with the King and Queen of Sweden, the Prime Minister of Norway and other television appearances. Outside of his professional endeavours, Timothy is deeply enthusiastic about music, performance art and enjoys expressing his creativity through various theatrical outlets alongside working out in the gym and swimming. Mr. Hogue remains highly engaged with The Kabbalah Center. Looking ahead, Timothy remains committed to driving continued growth and success in global talent acquisition, leveraging his expertise to shape the future of work and talent acquisition practices on a global scale vis-a vis the evolution of Artificial Intelligence. Contact: Katherine Green, 516-825-5634, editorialteam@ View original content to download multimedia: SOURCE The Inner Circle Sign in to access your portfolio
Yahoo
08-03-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
A Unified Field Theory of Trump
From the G-File on The Dispatch Dear Reader (especially those of you deemed Null and void), Because of travel, sleep deprivation, some minor anger issues, a changing news climate, a form of writer's block that makes the color chartreuse smell like goat cheese, the threat of CHUDs, and a flare-up in my decades-long Tong war with a radical faction of Up With People (Yes, it still exists!), I tried to write Wednesday's G-File three times. And I finally gave up on it, relegating it to the apocrypha of the Goldberg Extended Universe along with Episode 11 of The Remnant, the Couch's origin story, Reagan 35x, the Cosmo Interviews, etc. Note: This is a very long G-File. So if you want to skip ahead to the section on the logic of nationalism, that's fine. I just need to get a bunch of stuff out of my head. The 'news'letter I wanted to write was on a very basic point that I wrote about not long after Trump was sworn in. Markets aren't loyal and markets can't be intimidated. Oh, you can definitely intimidate or appeal to the loyalty of individual businessmen. You can bully or bribe individual businesses, even whole sectors of the economy (for a while). But the market is a different thing. One of the points conservatives and, especially libertarians, have been making for a very, very long time is that there is a difference between being 'pro-business' and 'pro-market.' You can heap favors on various industries or industrialists. You can punish them, too. It happens all the time. But the market isn't a person you can get on the phone. To be sure, you can frighten markets. You can also fuel irrational exuberance. But eventually rationality comes back in. That's because markets are constantly seeking alpha the way rushing water follows the path of least resistance in search of its own level. Stupid subsidies or taxes create opportunities for advantage and someone will find it and the rest of the market will follow quickly behind. You can shout 'Buy American!' and you can even subsidize buying American, but if buying Mexican yields a greater return, the market will do it all the same. The reason this is relevant these days is that Trump doesn't really listen to people—at least not to people who tell him things he doesn't want to hear. But he does listen to the stock market. One can easily argue that he cares too much about the stock market: Wall Street isn't Main Street and all that. But the fact remains he thinks the Dow and Nasdaq are the EKG of his presidency. And as problematic as that may or may not be in terms of economic policy, I think it's a good thing politically. When it comes to the Trump administration, we are very low on guardrails and grown-ups that Trump respects these days. So having the markets scream at Trump like he's John Candy in Planes, Trains, and Automobiles, 'You're going the wrong way!' is actually an important check on his ambitions. In the Lost G-File, I went on at great length about Hayek's 'knowledge problem' and the 'Fatal Conceit,' the role of prices as signals, and all that sweet, sweet free market stuff. But the point I wanted to get to was that supporters of the market system tend to talk about prices as crucial tools for policy, but because most of the people making that argument (which I agree with entirely!) focus on the economic goods of market-based price systems they pay less attention to the fact these systems are crucial tool for political goods, too. Bad economics tends to be bad politics. Bond markets have probably done more to save the republic than all of the op-eds ever written. But while you can argue with pundits, you can't get the bond market on the phone. Sadly, bad economics can still win the day. That's because humans are more than homo economicus. You can bribe voters with bad policies (see: price controls, rent control, the home mortgage interest deduction, SALT, etc.) that are good for them but bad for the economy. You can also convince the voters that bad policies are necessary for non-economic reasons. On Tuesday night, Trump declared that 'tariffs are not just about protecting American jobs, they're about protecting the soul of our country.' I think that's nonsense, of course. But Trump needs to say stuff like this, because even if tariffs are economically necessary in the aggregate (not my view!), he still understands that they will hurt many people (particularly people in his coalition). That's true of virtually any meaningful economic policy, they all create winners and losers. Wise policy makers grasp the trade-offs and act accordingly. Trump is telling the hurt people to suck up 'the little disturbance' to save the soul of America. This is just the latest version of a very old argument that many presidents have invoked to defend statist policies: 'Economic patriotism.' It's worth noting that 'economic patriotism' has long been rightly understood as a left-wing or progressive concept. If policies—the Green New Deal, Obamacare, etc.— were obviously great for everyone's bottom line, you wouldn't need to appeal to patriotism to sell them. In the last decade, Joe Biden, Barack Obama, Elizabeth Warren, and Bernie Sanders have all floated versions of it. Woodrow Wilson's war socialism and FDR's New Deal were both sold as the point of praxis between best policy and highest patriotic principle. Now that argument has become bipartisan. Tariffs are taxes, by any definition. If Obama said we need to raise taxes to save America's soul, virtually every MAGA voluptuary of high tariffs would have heaped scorn on the statement. But Trump has convinced these people that tariffs are magic. If you've been following the news, particularly if you've been reading Scott Lincicome or Kevin D. Williamson, none of this is particularly new to you. So I want to switch gears and look ahead. On January 9, Nick Catoggio made an observation that had me slapping my forehead. Even before he was sworn in, Trump made it clear that he was keen on territorial expansion. He started talking about taking Greenland and the Panama Canal. Linguistically, he seized the Gulf of Mexico for America. He invoked 'Manifest Destiny' as part of our dawning Golden Age. He floated the idea, first seemingly in jest, of acquiring Canada as a state. (Peter Navarro recently pressed for trade negotiators to push for moving Canada's border—and not southward.) These musings shocked a lot of people, and not just those who voted to secure the border and lower egg prices. ''Here We Go Again': Trump's Territorial Ambitions Rattle a Weary World: A distant era of global politics, when nations scrambled to grab territory, suddenly seems less distant,' proclaimed a headline in the New York Times. From The Economic Times of India: 'Trump revives 'Manifest Destiny' dreams of US territorial expansion.' (Since then, he's added Gaza and Mars to the list of acquisitions he's contemplating.) And if you think all of this is just fun stuff for MAGA podcasters to guffaw over, it's worth noting that Canada isn't laughing. That was the context of this observation from Nick: Expansionism has always been associated with national greatness, so much so that I'm strapped to think of a successful nationalist regime with the means to do so that hasn't eventually sought to grow its borders. … To a voter who's eager to make America great again but not particularly clear on what that means, acquiring Greenland probably sounds like a no-brainer. An America that's gobbling up land is necessarily becoming greater, right? The reason I slapped my forehead over this observation is that I've been saying for years that nationalism has no limiting principle. It recognizes no limits on national or nationalistic will-to-power. And yet, it never occurred to me that the people bleating about ending forever wars, and following a restrained realism in foreign policy would be so amenable to the idea of territorial expansion as the inevitable next phase of the movement, should it get back into power. This despite all the stuff about Trump being the modern Andrew Jackson. I could kick myself. Now, the key phrase in Nick's observation is, 'the means to do so.' Because most nationalistic movements were also socialistic movements, most nationalist regimes don't have the wherewithal to conquer other lands. But given the opportunity, the idea becomes attractive. Who can doubt that if Castro had the ability, he wouldn't follow Mussolini's example and find some Caribbean Abyssinia to invade? Actually, now that I think of it he (sorta kinda) did. Which raises another hindrance to nationalistic expansion these last few decades: The American-led international order which held as a core principle that territorial expansion through force is unacceptable. Trump, the would-be steward of Greenland and Gaza, has little use for that principle. He's said that Russia has fought hard for the land it took in Ukraine, so it would be unreasonable to expect them to give up all of it. And, he thinks it's unreasonable for Ukraine to make a fuss about all of that. So what does this have to do with tariffs and economic patriotism? It's easy to understand why you might think they're unrelated. There's a tendency, even among principled critics of Donald Trump, to look at everything he does in isolation. (I wrote about this a couple weeks ago.) His purges at the Pentagon are debated independently of his purges at the Department of Justice or the U.S. Agency for International Development. I understand the desire not to get swept up in blanket condemnations of everything Trump does. Indeed, I have had precisely this desire. But the fact remains that these things are not disconnected in his own mind. Trump's policies and ideas may be incoherent out in the sunlight, but in the unlit cavern of his own cranium they all fit together. The stalactites of economics and the stalagmites of culture or foreign policy fit together like one seamless, toothy grin. The unified field theory of Trumpism is that Trump is right—about everything—and he has the final say on what counts as right, patriotic, moral, etc. Therefore, people who disagree are not merely wrong, they are enemies of Trump and by extension America. Against tariffs? You must not care about America's soul! Believe in the rule of law? No man who saves his country can break the law. All illiberal movements emphasize the group over the individual. That's axiomatic. Liberalism is grounded in individual liberty and individual rights, including economic rights. To be fair to some social democrats and progressives, being in favor of statist economics didn't mean they were against the full suite of liberalism. They merely argued that economics was a different realm. They believe you can have strong protections of political liberties, just not economic ones. That's the tradition, broadly speaking, of Wilson, John Dewey, FDR, Elizabeth Warren, Bernie Sanders, Barack Obama, et al. Among the problems with this sort of thinking is that economic liberty is not so easily disentangled from liberty full-stop. What you use your money for is bound up with the exercise of your rights—from free speech and association to what you do with your property. Another problem: People who think that economic liberty is just different from other forms of liberty focus on cooperation or the group. They believe that competition is unhealthy, profit-seeking is greedy, trade is zero-sum, and success is proof of cheating against the common good. The decisions of the market become subjected to a kind of moralistic anthropomorphized conspiracy theory. That's how it's worked for the last few centuries. Left-wing autocrats and socialist cabals saw the failure of the economy to cooperate with a political program as proof of villainous, disloyal, unpatriotic, and greedy conniving by the sinister string-pullers and profiteers who refused to put the needs of the nation, the organic community, 'the people,' or the 'soul' of the nation ahead of their own self-interest. What's preventing Medicare for All and the Green New Deal? 'Millionaires and billionaires!' That's how Jacobins, Marxists, Bolsheviks, socialists (national and international) and conventional progressives talk. Often the enemy of the collective will was the individual, which is why 'individualism' itself has been a kind of bogeyman for the left for ages. Self-interest is the enemy of cooperation. 'It should be the effort of all civilized societies to substitute cooperation for competitive methods,' Herbert Croly insisted. This assumption serves as the bedrock language of all forms of socialism and nationalism, hot and cold, strong and weak, left and right. It's why Woodrow Wilson wanted to move beyond our 'Newtonian' constitutional system and replace it with a 'Darwinian' one that 'evolved' to fit his vision, which saw the 'body politic' as an organic whole in which every institution and individual worked cooperatively like different organs and cells in the same body. It's why William James advocated for a government and politics as the 'moral equivalent of war.' It's the cult of unity. And, thanks to the iron law of oligarchy, everyone recognizes that since not everyone can make every decision collectively, we need a 'leader' to make decisions on behalf of the common good, the collective will. Because the cult of unity is really just a form of power worship, all movements built around cooperation rather than liberty inevitably become movements about who should make decisions on behalf of the romanticized 'we' and 'us.' This vision has infected much of the right. It's why Silicon Valley MAGA philosopher Curtis Yarvin's libertarian neo-monarchist prattle is so popular with the red-pilled right (which I discussed here and here). It's why illiberals like Adrian Vermeule look contemptuously on competition and market systems. And it's this vision that so often leads to the persecution of 'traitors' in our midst. When Teddy and then Franklin Roosevelt referred to 'malefactors of great wealth' they were explicitly saying that economic problems were caused by sinister villains ('malefactor' is just a fancy word for 'criminal') manipulating the economy for their own benefit. It wasn't all rich people FDR assured audiences, it was just some of them. 'I do not even imply that the majority of them are bad citizens,' FDR said. 'The opposite is true.' 'I am speaking about a minority which includes the type of individual who speculates with other people's money—and you in Chicago know the kind I refer to,' FDR added. Now, I don't think this was necessarily a winking reference to 'the Jews' (though, given FDR's own attitudes towards Jews, I don't rule it out either) but this formulation has an ancient antisemitic pedigree. The rise of resentment toward a money-based economy was heavily correlated with animosity for Jews. 'Jews served as a kind of metaphorical embodiment of capitalism,' Jerry Muller writes in The Mind and the Market: Capitalism in Western Thought. 'Only a society in which the reality of shared community was dead, it was said, would encourage the self-interested economic activities of which money-lending was the paradigm.' Marx certainly believed that the 'Jewish spirit' was synonymous with the ethos of capitalism, which is why he wrote about solving 'the Jewish Question' long before Nazism was a thing. My point isn't to say that all criticisms of capitalism are antisemitic. For starters, there are way, way too many Jewish critics of capitalism for that to be the case. But I do think it's worth noting the similarities between generic indictments of the free market and antisemitic ones, because they both rest on a conspiratorial understanding of how markets work. When Elizabeth Warren blames inflation on avaricious corporate malefactors—'greedflation!'—she's asserting that puppeteers are pulling the strings against common good. The scapegoats don't have to be at the top of the economic food chain either. The Bolsheviks, after all, invented the 'kulaks' as their scapegoat. Some of Thomas Sowell's most brilliant work has been on the role of 'middleman minorities' around the world. Middlemen minorities are typically bourgeois ethnic groups—traders, importers, merchants, and money-lenders—that play a crucial role in the economy by occupying niches that connect producers and consumers with needed goods and services. Their industriousness and success are often seen as unfair, exploitative, or unpatriotic. They are 'others' within, and they are resented both for their otherness and their comparative success. But they also provide services that the native community failed to provide for a reason. As Sowell put it, 'There must be some very profound differences in values and behavior between them and the community they serve. Otherwise, the common affinity of people for their own would lead to the middleman's role being played by members of the community itself.' This is why, Sowell notes, the diaspora Chinese have been called 'the Jews of Southeast Asia,' the Ibos to be called 'the Jews of Nigeria,' the Parsees to be called 'the Jews of India,' and the Lebanese to be called 'the Jews of West Africa.' And then there were the Jews of Uganda: South Asians. As I once said while playing Risk, let's pause on Uganda for a moment. Some claim that Idi Amin's reputation as a cannibal is exaggerated. When asked if he ate his military rivals he said, 'I don't like human flesh; it's too salty for me.' Not exactly a strong denial, if you ask me. Regardless, Amin was a nationalist strongman, which is to say he was a socialist strong man. He completed the nationalization of industry launched by his predecessor. His view of monetary policy can be summarized with one pithy quote: 'You are stupid. If we have no money, the solution is very simple: you should print more money.' And people think modern monetary theory is a new idea! Now, I am happy to concede that the differences between Idi Amin and Donald Trump are more profound than the similarities. Trump has an ego, sure, but he hasn't adopted a title like Amin's: 'His Excellency, President for Life, Field Marshal Al Hadji Doctor Idi Amin Dada, VC, DSO, MC, Lord of All the Beasts of the Earth and Fishes of the Seas and Conqueror of the British Empire in Africa in General and Uganda in Particular.' Trump got into some trouble in Scotland for plagiarizing an aristocratic family crest, but he never claimed to be the last king of Scotland the way Amin did. Trump reportedly has problems with disabled people, but he never followed through the way Amin did, feeding some 4,000 disabled citizens (and a few of his ministers) alive to Nile crocodiles. More relevant: As difficult as it may be to convince Trump his economic program is flawed, I think it's fair to say it was a much more daunting prospect to tell Amin he was wrong. Amin blamed his failures on the South Asians of Uganda, a vibrant entrepreneurial middleman minority. He expelled all of them as enemies of Ugandan greatness, giving them 90 days to get out of the country with little more than what they could carry. The U.K. took them in, and they applied their skills and energy to becoming a vibrant economic success story. In 1997, the Ugandan government asked for them to come back. Okay, back to the point. Trump's policy vision is a mix of autocracy, autarky (that's where nations make all their own stuff), and corporatism. His political philosophy is personalist, patrimonial, and narcissistic: I'm the boss and all good people recognize my wisdom and power. Indeed, recognizing that is what makes them good people. Those who disagree with me aren't merely wrong, they are traitors and enemies. Trump once said that, 'The only important thing is the unification of the people—because the other people don't mean anything.' That's his vision, because that's the nationalist-populist vision. People who don't cooperate are saboteurs, wreckers, enemies of the national soul and our manifest destiny. So what does this have to do with tariffs? Simply this: If he ultimately ignores the message from the markets, and presses ahead with his disastrous trade policies, they will not work the way he wants them to. He might reverse course—he's done so umpteen times since he was inaugurated. But if he sticks with it, he will not say, 'Oh all the economists who said I was an idiot were right after all.' He will more likely blame people, businesses, and other enemies within who undermined his vision and stabbed him—and the nation—in the back. We know he thinks this way already. That's the reason for the purges and loyalty tests, the punishing of unfriendly law firms, and the removal of security protection from Mike Pompeo and John Bolton. It's why he pardons his corrupt friends, cronies, and goon squads. If you said the election wasn't stolen, you hated Trump. Earlier this month, when he faced pushback on tariffs he announced, 'Anybody that's against Tariffs, including the Fake News Wall Street Journal, and Hedge Funds, is only against them because these people or entities are controlled by China, or other foreign or domestic companies.' This is the point I want to get ahead of the curve on now. It's entirely possible that he backs off on his worst trade policies. He probably won't invade Canada or seize Greenland by force (hugely unpopular ideas). But his trade policies and his ideas about territorial expansion come from the same place, and his possible hunt for traitors, wreckers, middleman minorities, et al., will be a logical extension of the same vision. It's unlikely he'll blame the Jews for his failures (though some of his aides might). But he'll want to scapegoat somebody for his failures, because that's who Trump is. No matter who gets the blame, you can be sure it won't be him. And I have zero confidence that the most passionate acolytes of his cult of personality won't carry water for that vision. Canine Update: The storms in D.C. really freaked out the girls and they are officially done with the cold weather. I don't really know what is going on with Pippa but nearly every morning this week and last, she is eager to do her business at the park, and then run back to the car to go home. She carries her ball and is not interested in playing fetch. It's like she's become convinced there are mean dogs everywhere or maybe that there's a pot on the stove she needs to turn off back at the house. Very strange. Zoë meanwhile, is not letting me off the hook for being gone so much. She follows me around the house, sleeps next to me, wakes me up in the morning and starts arooing if I don't move quickly enough to head out. We did have a visit from Winston, a 12-week-old 'cavapoo.' As you know I find doodle proliferation to have gotten out of hand, but that doesn't mean they are bad dogs, or uncute. It's a shame Winston won't join the midday pack, because Zoë has become such a sweet protector of the mini-dogs (something I would not have predicted even a few years ago). There is some additional drama in that Pippa is constantly looking to rest in Gracie's bed. She will not tolerate any talk about how she doesn't fit. Owner's Name: Javier Salvatierra Why I'm a Dispatch Member: During the 2016 election (and thereafter) I had abandoned cable news for the convenience of on-demand content from my phone. I found myself searching the internet for sensible conservative material that discussed how our social environment and politics were quickly changing and could help me understand how they were affecting so many people close to me. I suspect algorithms led me to (early) PragerU, Bret Stephens, Jonathan Haidt, and Jonah Goldberg. I first became an early listener of The Remnant and then later The Dispatch Podcast, Advisory Opinions, and most recently The Skiff. The pods and newsletters really resonate with me and I do my best to spread the word and share with friends and family. I love what you all do. Thank you and keep up the great work! Personal Details: I'm a computer engineer and a master chief in the Navy Reserves. I'm originally from Texas but have been living in Oregon since 2011. I am a registered Republican, of Catholic upbringing, and I consider myself a principled conservative. My wife Jennifer and I've been married for almost 30 years and we have two amazing adult children. Pet's Name: Mazie Pet's Breed: Blue Heeler mix Pet's Age: 15 months Gotcha Story: The unfortunate passing of my father-in-law left behind the remaining puppies of a recent litter he had intended for his friends and family. We traveled to Oklahoma to help with his estate and my wife chose the puppy that she was certain to have been intended for her. Pet's Likes: Although our Mazie was born in Oklahoma, she is now living her best life in the Pacific Northwest! She has taken to hiking, paddleboarding, swimming, snowshoeing, and beach-bumming. She is dog/person-friendly during walks and visits to the dog park, and she enjoys both belly rubs and rump scratches with equal enthusiasm. She's on the move and ready for anything, so long as her favorite humans are within eyeshot and remember to bring treats. Pet's Dislikes: The audacity in which neighbors and their dogs casually walk past our house while she's on-duty at the window. 'We might be friends when we're together on walks or at the park but when I have the watch, you WILL respect my authority!' Pet's Proudest Moment: Watching her repeatedly dive into the water and swim back and forth between our paddleboards so she could average equal time with her two favorite humans. Bad Pet: Came from me (though I wasn't wrong) after she ripped up my favorite hat, two throw pillows, and a blanket, earning her a timeout to the backyard upon which she proceeded to dig five or six holes, pull out all the water hyacinth from our koi pond, and tore into the outdoor couch cushions. And yes, she has a ton of squeaky play toys both inside and outside to play with. Do you have a quadruped you'd like to nominate for Dispawtcher of the Week and catapult to stardom? Let us know about your pet by clicking here. Reminder: You must be a Dispatch member to participate. ICYMI —Rapid response —Don't forget the cannoli —You are NOT the father! —Monastic musings —Look at what I say and look at what I do —Dishonor on your cow! —Method behind the madness? —The real stuff Weird Links —Ice in my veins —Flamin' hot —You think things are crazy here? —Oh, the irony —Remember you are are dust and to dust you shall return (within 90 days) —Mini mammoth/jumbo shrimp —Gandalf the green
Yahoo
07-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
The extraordinary evolution of Super Bowl halftime shows
We don't know exactly how Kendrick Lamar's Super Bowl halftime performance will look, but we do know it will be spectacular. It's become an annual tradition for one of the world's biggest stars — or often several of them — to put on an epic show that, for many viewers, outshines the action on the field. Surprise special guests, amazing stunts, massive pyrotechnics and elaborate set pieces are the norm these days. But that hasn't always been the case. The Super Bowl halftime show in fact has incredibly humble beginnings. It took decades for the superstar-centric extravaganzas we see today to become the standard. Even that formula has gone through major changes, with distinct shifts in the types of artists and structure of their shows over the years. Here's a breakdown of the Super Bowl halftime's many eras, from its modest roots through its evolution into one of the year's most important pop culture events. The Super Bowl hasn't always been so super. In fact, it wasn't even called the Super Bowl the first two times it was played. Those early matchups, which started when the NFL merged with the upstart American Football League in the 1960s, were modeled after the college football bowl games that had been around for decades. That vision also carried over to halftime. The roster of performers for the first 10 years of halftime shows was filled with marching bands and jazz performers with only sporadic appearances by genuine celebrities. Occasionally there would be some extra dramatic flourishes thrown in, like men flying on jetpacks in 1967 or a brief reenactment in 1970 of the Battle of New Orleans, but the scope of these productions was tiny relative to what halftime would later become. By the late 1970s, with viewership for the Super Bowl nearly double what it had been 10 years earlier, halftime shows had started to shift away from the marching-band-centric college football model. In their place came a series of variety show-style musical reviews with themes like 'A Salute to the 60s and Motown' and 'Beat of the Future.' This was the heyday of Up With People, a non-profit organization with an achingly-earnest message of harmony through the power of music. Producers also began to weave gimmicky features into shows to liven things up. All 105,000 people in attendance at the 1983 Super Bowl were given colorful cards so they could take part in that year's 'KaleidoSUPERscope' theme. Chubby Checker, pictured above, starred in the 'Something Grand' review alongside 88 grand piano players in 1988. The next year's 'Be Bop Bamboozled' show, led by a lip-syncing Elvis Presley impersonator, was the first network broadcast in 3D. This period is frequently considered to be the low point for Super Bowl halftimes — the San Francisco Chronicle described 1989's 3D extravaganza as an 'atrocious stab at entertainment.' That left NFL broadcasters vulnerable to competitors who offered something more engaging than a medley of cheesy hits. Fox, a fledgling competitor to the big three networks at the time, seized on this opportunity in 1992 by airing a live episode of its sketch comedy show 'In Living Color' in direct competition with the official halftime show airing on CBS. More than 20 million people tuned in, robbing CBS of about one-fifth of its audience for the main broadcast. Fox's gambit was a 'major wake-up call' for the big networks, who knew they needed to make serious changes to keepp viewers from reaching for the remote. The Super Bowl halftime show changed forever the moment that Michael Jackson burst onto the stage — literally — to launch his iconic performance at the Rose Bowl in 1993. After spending the previous decade coming up with elaborate tricks to infuse excitement into lackluster spectacles, the NFL had solved its halftime woes by doing something incredibly simple — having the world's most captivating pop star do what he did best. Rather than bleeding viewers once the players left the field, the audience actually grew by more than 10 million people at halftime. According to Neilsen, the 1993 halftime show on its own is one of the 20 most-watched U.S. television broadcasts of all time, surpassed only by recent Super Bowls, major news events and the M*A*S*H finale. The King of Pop's thrilling performance sent a clear message that stars are a must-have for any halftime show. It took a few years, though, before the league fully shook off its impulse toward campy theatrics. The ensuing years included concerts by the likes of Diana Ross, Christina Aguilera and Stevie Wonder. But they also featured an Indiana Jones-themed adventure designed to promote a new ride at Disneyland and a 'Blues Brothers Bash' headlined by Dan Aykroyd and John Goodman. By the turn of the millennium, the formula for success was well established. The gimmicks were gone and halftime was all about having the biggest stars of the day perform their biggest hits on the nation's biggest stage. The league might have stuck with this approach indefinitely were it not for Janet Jackson's wardrobe malfunction in 2004, which set off a nationwide scandal and prompted broadcasters to start booking less risky acts to headline their halftime shows. After the drama that erupted in response to Jackson's wardrobe malfunction, Super Bowl halftimes underwent a notable shift to a brand of artist that was less likely to inspire bad press. That meant digging into the past. Between 2005 and 2010, halftime shows featured tried-and-true rock bands that — despite being well past their peak in popularity — were still huge acts in their own right. This safer era started with Paul McCartney, then moved on to the Rolling Stones the next year before eventually featuring the Who, Tom Petty and Bruce Springsteen. The notable exception to this trend was Prince, who courted controversy throughout his career and gave what is widely considered to be one of the greatest halftime performances ever in 2007. The nostalgia rock period only lasted a few years. Before long, the list of older bands that could warrant such a huge spotlight was running out and interest among younger viewers had waned significantly. In 2011, the Black Eyed Peas were brought to kick off a 'generational shift' for Super Bowl halftime. After years of classic rock acts that were more appealing to older Americans, the NFL was back to booking artists that were at the top of the charts. Though the group's performance mostly received lackluster reviews, they initiated a decade of pop dominance. Our culture's engagement with halftime shows also changed dramatically during this period. Thanks to the rise of social media, the show wasn't just about the performance. It was also fodder for moments and memes that spread far beyond the audience watching on TV. This was the era of Beyonce's Formation, Katy Perry's left shark, Lady Gaga's rooftop plunge, a shirtless Usher and The Weeknd getting lost in a maze of lights. It's too early to label the current era, but the trend so far suggests that it may be remembered as the years when hip-hop was in command. Nostalgia once was again at the center of Super Bowl halftime in 2022. This time, though, it was hip-hop legends Dr. Dre, Snoop Dogg and Eminem on stage rather than classic rock stars. The following two years were headlined by Rihanna and Usher, whose hits straddle the line between hip-hop and pop. Now it's Kendrick Lamar's turn. Just one week after winning five Grammys, rap's biggest star will put on a show that — whatever happens — will feel like it's from a different universe than the modest, traditional halftime shows that used to fill time between quarters of America's premier sporting event.
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Janet Jackson, Beyoncé and Rihanna gave us unforgettable Super Bowl halftime moments: Look back in photos at the stars and their performances
Janet Jackson performs at the Super Bowl XXXVIII halftime show in 2004 in Houston. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Getty Images) Before the Super Bowl halftime show became the spectacle it is today, it was often a simple mix of marching bands and variety acts. Over time, it evolved into one of the most-watched musical events in the country, delivering unforgettable moments, cultural milestones and no shortage of controversy. From Carol Channing and Bob Hope to Michael Jackson, Madonna, Janet Jackson and Britney Spears, each performance has captured the spirit of its era. This year, fresh off five Grammy wins — including Record of the Year and Song of the Year for "Not Like Us" — Kendrick Lamar will take the stage at Super Bowl LIX at the Caesars Superdome in New Orleans on Feb. 9, where the Kansas City Chiefs will battle the Philadelphia Eagles. Before Lamar delivers what's sure to be a showstopping set, take a look back at some of the most memorable Super Bowl halftime performances of all time. 1967: The University of Arizona marching band The University of Arizona marching band performs during the halftime show at Super Bowl I between the Kansas City Chiefs and the Green Bay Packers in Los Angeles. () 1970: The New Christy Minstrels American folk and pop group the New Christy Minstrels perform during the halftime show at Super Bowl IV in New Orleans. () 1972: Carol Channing Carol Channing performs at halftime of Super Bowl VI, where the Miami Dolphins and Dallas Cowboys competed in New Orleans. (Kidwiler Collection/) Advertisement Newsletter: The Yodel Trusted news and daily delights, right in your inbox See for yourself — The Yodel is the go-to source for daily news, entertainment and feel-good stories. Sign up By signing up, you agree to our Terms and Privacy Policy. 1973: Andy Williams Singer Andy Williams performs at Super Bowl VII at Los Angeles Memorial Coliseum. () 1977: 'It's a Small World' by Disney The halftime show included a performance of "It's a Small World" produced by the Walt Disney Co. at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. (Jerry Cooke/) 1980: Up With People The musical group Up With People performs at halftime at the Rose Bowl in Pasadena, Calif. (Richard Mackson/) 1981: Mardi Gras Mardi Gras took center stage as a themed float arrived on the field during the halftime show of the Oakland Raiders vs. Philadelphia Eagles game in New Orleans. (Heinz Kluetmeier/) Advertisement 1982: Up With People Members of the group Up With People perform once again at halftime at Super Bowl XVI at the Pontiac Silverdome in Pontiac, Mich. () 1984: 'Salute to Superstars of the Silver Screen' by Disney During this halftime show, Disney produced a performance called "Salute to Superstars of the Silver Screen" at Super Bowl XVIII in Tampa. (Manny Millan/) 1986: Dancing performance On Jan. 26, 1986, the halftime show brought dance performers onto the field of the Superdome in New Orleans, where the Chicago Bears defeated the New England Patriots. () 1988: Bob Hope Bob Hope sits in the "Hopemobile" during the 1988 San Diego Super Bowl XXII halftime show. () Advertisement 1989: Elvis Presto Elvis impersonator Elvis Presto performs during the halftime show of Super Bowl XXIII in Miami Gardens, Fla. () 1991: New Kids on the Block New Kids on the Block perform during Super Bowl XXV in Tampa. () 1992: Gloria Estefan Gloria Estefan, who began her career with the popular music group Miami Sound Machine, entertains the crowd during the Super Bowl XXVI halftime show in Minneapolis. (Bill Sikes/AP) 1993: Michael Jackson Michael Jackson delivers one of his most famous performances at the Super Bowl XXVII halftime show in Pasadena, Calif. (Steve Granitz/WireImage via Getty Images) Advertisement 1994: The Judds Country singers Wynonna Judd and her mother, Naomi Judd, perform in Atlanta during Super Bowl XXVIII at the Georgia Dome. () 1995: Tony Bennett and Patti LaBelle Tony Bennett and Patti LaBelle entertain the crowd during halftime at Super Bowl XXIX in Miami. (Hans Deryk/AP) 1996: Diana Ross Diana Ross delivers her trademark star quality onstage at Super Bowl XXX in Tempe, Ariz. () 1997: Jim Belushi and James Brown Jim Belushi of the Blues Brothers and James Brown perform at Super Bowl XXXI in New Orleans. () Advertisement 1998: A tribute to Motown Queen Latifah, Smokey Robinson, Martha Reeves and Boyz II Men perform "A Tribute to Motown's 40th Anniversary" at Super Bowl XXXII in San Diego. (Al Pereira/Michael) 1999: Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan Stevie Wonder and Gloria Estefan perform during halftime at Super Bowl XXXIII in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Al Pereira/Michael) 2000: Christina Aguilera and Enrique Iglesias Christina Aguilera and Enrique Iglesias deliver a high-energy performance in Atlanta during Super Bowl XXXIV. (Jeff Haynes/AFP via Getty Images) 2001: Britney Spears, Aerosmith and NSync Britney Spears, Aerosmith and NSync perform during the halftime show at Super Bowl XXXV in Tampa. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Getty Images) Advertisement 2002: U2 U2 performed at Super Bowl XXXVI in New Orleans. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Getty Images) 2003: Gwen Stefani and Sting Gwen Stefani and Sting sing during the Super Bowl XXXVII halftime show in San Diego. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Getty Images) 2004: Janet Jackson Janet Jackson at the infamous halftime show in Houston during which she experienced a "wardrobe malfunction" alongside Justin Timberlake. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Getty Images) 2005: Paul McCartney Paul McCartney performs during Super Bowl XXXIX in Jacksonville, Fla. () Advertisement 2006: The Rolling Stones Mick Jagger, Charlie Watts and Keith Richards of the Rolling Stones perform at Super Bowl XL in Detroit. () 2007: Prince Prince and his purple guitar brought the house down during Super Bowl XLI at what was then Dolphin Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Chris O'Meara/AP) 2008: Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers Tom Petty and the Heartbreakers perform during the halftime show at Super Bowl XLII in Glendale, Ariz. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images) 2009: Bruce Springsteen Bruce Springsteen and the E Street Band rock out during the Super Bowl XLIII halftime show in Tampa. () Advertisement 2010: The Who The Who took the stage during the Super Bowl XLIV halftime show in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Getty Images) 2011: The Black Eyed Peas Fergie, and Taboo of the Black Eyed Peas perform at what was then Cowboys Stadium in Arlington, Texas. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Getty Images) 2012: Madonna and Nicki Minaj Madonna performs with Nicki Minaj during the Super Bowl XLVI halftime show in Indianapolis. () 2013: Beyoncé Beyoncé performs during the Super Bowl XLVII halftime show in New Orleans. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Getty Images) Advertisement 2014: Bruno Mars Bruno Mars performs during the Super Bowl XLVIII halftime show at MetLife Stadium in East Rutherford, N.J. () 2015: Katy Perry Katy Perry performs at what was then called University of Phoenix Stadium during the Super Bowl XLIX halftime show in Glendale, Ariz. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Getty Images) 2016: Beyoncé and Bruno Mars Beyoncé and Bruno Mars perform during Super Bowl L at Levi's Stadium in Santa Clara, Calif. () 2017: Lady Gaga Lady Gaga descended onstage during the Super Bowl LI halftime show at NRG Stadium in Houston. (Kevin Mazur/WireImage via Getty Images) 2018: Justin Timberlake Justin Timberlake performs during Super Bowl LII at U.S. Bank Stadium in Minneapolis. () 2019: Adam Levine, Big Boi and Sleepy Brown Adam Levine of Maroon 5, Big Boi and Sleepy Brown perform during the Super Bowl LIII halftime show at Mercedes-Benz Stadium in Atlanta. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images) 2020: Shakira and Jennifer Lopez Shakira and Jennifer Lopez rocked hard at Hard Rock Stadium in Miami Gardens, Fla. (Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic via Getty Images) 2021: The Weeknd The Weeknd took the stage during the Super Bowl LV halftime show at Raymond James Stadium in Tampa. () 2022: Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige and Snoop Dogg Dr. Dre, Mary J. Blige and Snoop Dogg perform during the Super Bowl LVI halftime show at SoFi Stadium in Inglewood, Calif. (Kevin C. Cox/Getty Images) 2023: Rihanna Rihanna delivered an epic performance at the Super Bowl LVII halftime show in Glendale, Ariz. () 2024: Usher Usher took the stage at the Super Bowl LVIII halftime show at Allegiant Stadium in Las Vegas. () See more of our photo features on Yahoo News.
Vox
05-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Vox
Will Kendrick Lamar perform 'Not Like Us?' — and other questions about his Super Bowl halftime show
2025 might already be Kendrick Lamar's year. It's a familiar story for the Pulitzer-Prize winning rapper, who's received dozens of accolades in his career and dominated pop culture in 2024 thanks to a now-iconic feud with Drake. But the new year is off to an even stronger start. Over the weekend, he picked up five Grammys for his massive diss track 'Not Like Us,' including Record of the Year and Song of the Year. The star-studded audience, including Beyoncé and Taylor Swift, were particularly enthusiastic about Lamar's victories. As he walked onstage to receive the Record of the Year Grammy in a seemingly intentional all-denim outfit known as a 'Canadian tuxedo,' you could hear the crowd rap along to the song as it played throughout the arena. The entire moment was a nice boost for the months-old diss track and a reminder of Lamar's import leading up to the biggest gig of his career this weekend: headlining the Super Bowl LIX halftime show. This won't be Lamar's first time on the NFL's big broadcast. In 2022, he appeared in the halftime show's first-ever hip-hop lineup, alongside Dr. Dre, 50 Cent, Snoop Dogg, Eminem, and Mary J. Blige, where he performed his 2015 political anthem 'Alright.' Lamar's segment was a standout in a rather chaotic medley, due to his energetic stage presence and poignant visuals. Even with the halftime show's mediocre track record with rap, it felt inevitable that he would grace the telecast again at some point. Lamar arguably could've taken on the show by himself years ago. However, 'Not Like Us' provided the perfect moment of organic enthusiasm and renewed respect for the critically acclaimed artist. Still, his coming performance brings up a number of questions, from what happened to his previous concerns about the NFL to if he'll even be able to play his hit song, which is currently the subject of a defamation lawsuit. Here are five questions you might have about this year's highly anticipated Super Bowl headliner and what may or may not go down on Sunday, answered to the best of our ability. Lamar's Super Bowl halftime show will most likely be historic for quite a few reasons, but a big one is that he's the first solo rap act to headline the show in the broadcast's almost 60-year history. The music segment has certainly evolved since the early days of hosting college marching bands and the unsettling, feel-good dance group Up With People, now welcoming contemporary pop acts from Lady Gaga to The Weeknd. However, the NFL has been more hesitant to fully embrace rap, despite it being one of the most popular genres of music in the world. Even with its diverse talent, the show has historically catered to or at least made decisions based on its largely white viewership with inoffensive, apolitical artists. That said, when obscene moments — like Justin Timberlake exposing Janet Jackson's nipple in 2004 — and political messaging — like Beyoncé honoring the Black Panther Party in 2016 — have occurred on the halftime show, NFL viewers and the league itself have responded in histrionic ways. In addition to the wave of backlash from conservative media, the Federal Communications Commission received numerous complaints about Beyoncé's 'Formation' performance. Meanwhile, the NFL sued musician M.I.A. for $16 million in restitution after she extended her middle finger during Madonna's halftime show in 2012. While rappers like Nelly, Big Boi, and Nicki Minaj have appeared in a guest capacity, it wasn't until 2022 that hip-hop dominated the stage. It's a decision that seemingly wouldn't have happened if not for a recent partnership between the NFL and Jay-Z's Roc Nation Entertainment. Since 2020, Roc Nation has co-produced the halftime show with a notably diverse mix of guests, including Jennifer Lopez and Shakira, Rihanna, and, most recently, Usher. That said, Lamar's headlining might just normalize more hip-hop acts getting booked for the show. 2024 was an unexpected moment of hypervisibility for Lamar, thanks to a highly publicized beef with Drake. While Lamar had been sneak-dissing Drake for nearly a decade, taking shots at his 'fake' rap persona to his alleged habit of using ghostwriters, Lamar's guest verse of the Future and Metro Boomin' song 'Like That' made his self-proclaimed hatred for the Canadian rapper known in a way it hadn't been before. The relatively tame 'F— the Big 3' bar on the track kicked off a weeks-long back-and-forth between Drake, Lamar and an entire Avengers-like ensemble of Drake's industry adversaries. However, it was Lamar's catchy, Mustard-produced 'Not Like Us' that rose to the top of a litany of diss tracks. The song, where Lamar calls Drake a 'certified pedophile'' and claims he 'should be placed on neighborhood watch,' initially felt a bit uncomfortable to listen to, particularly following the domestic abuse allegations Drake had made against Lamar on another diss track. Over time, though, 'Not Like Us' has become an ode to Black LA culture, a go-to club banger, and even an international protest song. Later in November 2024, Lamar released his sixth album, GNX , which debuted at No. 1 on the Billboard charts. The album didn't feature 'Not Like Us,' but still produced several hit singles, including 'squabble up,' which reached No. 1 on the Billboard Hot 100, and the SZA-featured song, 'luther,' which peaked at No. 3. About a decade ago, it was a much safer bet that a Kendrick Lamar halftime show would feature some sort of political statement or imagery. Since becoming a known face in rap, Lamar has voiced pro-Black, anti-establishment opinions to the anger of conservatives and Fox News anchors. In particular, his 2015 album To Pimp a Butterfly , which featured singles 'Alright' and 'The Blacker the Berry,' made him a symbol for the Black Lives Matter movement — the former song becoming a rallying cry against police brutality. That era also established Lamar as a provocative and politically charged live act. In his performance of 'Alright' at the 2015 BET Awards, Lamar rapped on top of a cop car with a giant American flag waving behind him. It also included a snippet of a Fox News segment criticizing the anti-cop lyrics in the song. At the 2016 Grammys, he performed a medley from To Pimp a Butterfly , appearing with a group of Black men in shackles and prisoner outfits. Over time, though, Lamar has seemed less interested in playing the role of a political mascot. On his 2021 collaboration with Baby Keem, 'Family Ties,' Lamar rebukes his former activist label, saying, 'I been duckin' the social gimmick / I been duckin' the overnight activists / I'm not a trending topic, I'm a prophet.' Recently, his output has been characterized more by pettiness and a sense of personal triumph than politics, as seen through the 'Not Like Us'/ GNX era. It was clear that he had resigned from a more radical position when he performed at the halftime show in 2022. In 2017, the rapper, along with many of his peers, expressed support for free-agent quarterback Colin Kaepernick after the NFL player claimed that he had been blackballed by the league for kneeling during the National Anthem. While Lamar never actively boycotted the NFL or the halftime show in solidarity with Kaepernick, his embrace of the platform speaks to a watered-down approach to politics in the latter part of his career, more focused on representation than calling out institutions. With this headlining gig, many would argue that Lamar, along with Jay-Z, are merely providing a PR cleanup for the NFL and their historical mistreatment of Black players. On top of that, the Super Bowl halftime show is not typically a platform to broadcast revolutionary messages. Although previous performers like Jennifer Lopez and Eminem have been allowed to make political statements during the segment, creating the appearance that the NFL is actually tolerant of political dissent, these haven't exactly been table-shaking sentiments. Meanwhile, the NFL is removing its 'End Racism' messaging from the Super Bowl end zone for the first time since it was added in 2021. Still, perhaps another Trump administration will inspire the sort of attention-grabbing stunts that defined the To Pimp a Butterfly era . On Tuesday, the Associated Press reported that President Donald Trump would be attending the Super Bowl, making him the first sitting president to do so. If Lamar performs 'Alright' in front of the president — which he most likely will — it will certainly be received as a powerful statement. While it seems like a no-brainer that Lamar would perform 'Not Like Us,' the song is the subject of a lawsuit brought on by Drake that has made performing the song publicly, let alone on the most-watched telecast, a little complicated. On January 15, Drake filed a lawsuit against the record label, Universal Music Group, to which he and Lamar are both signed under different divisions, for defamation regarding the lyrics in 'Not Like Us.' He filed the suit a day after he withdrew a petition he filed in in November accusing UMG and Spotify of 'artificially inflating' the popularity of the diss track, as well as participating in a pay-for-play scheme with iHeartRadio. The defamation suit claims that the allegations in the song — specifically, the 'certified pedophile' line — have put Drake and his family in danger. The suit references an incident on May 7, 2024, a few days after the song was released, when an armed group drove to Drake's Toronto home and at least one person with a gun allegedly shot a security guard. The suit lists two other break-in attempts at Drake's home over the following two days. Notably, though, Drake is suing UMG for its promotion of the song — not Lamar for making it. That said, the risk of Lamar getting in trouble for performing the already widely played song is pretty low, according to First Amendment litigator Ken White. Still, that doesn't mean it's an easy choice — White told the Los Angeles Times last month that other parties, like the NFL and Fox, 'who are helping to publish what [Lamar] says' could potentially be brought into the legal saga if he's allowed to perform it. 'If I were an in-house counsel, I'd be telling them not to do it,' he said. We'll see on Sunday whether keeping the Grammy-winning song off the setlist or courting defamation charges is a bigger risk. The slate of peers, mentors, and collaborators Lamar possibly could invite onstage during his halftime show is pretty vast. Back in August, he hosted the Amazon live concert called The Pop-Out: Ken and Friends, where he celebrated the West Coast hip-hop community by bringing a slew of local artists — including some of his former Top Dawg Entertainment labelmates — dancers, and even gang members onstage. Likewise, an appearance from mentor Dr. Dre, who he gave a shoutout to while accepting Record of the Year, seems likely. It also wouldn't be a surprise if he brought out krumping innovator Tommy the Clown, who, along with his crew of dancers, appears in the 'Not Like Us' music video. Still, so far, Lamar's former labelmate SZA is the only artist confirmed to join the halftime show. The two have a history of collaborations as TDE's's premier flagship artists, including the Oscar-nominated song 'All of the Stars' from the Black Panther soundtrack and 'luther.' They're also about to embark on their recently announced a nationwide stadium tour beginning in April. The halftime show obviously serves as an ideal promotional vehicle. See More: Culture Music Sports Super Bowl
