The crew spends much of the episode unpacking Macklemore’s claim that Robert Kraft and other stadium owners pressured Ed Sheeran to remove him from upcoming stadium dates after his pro-Palestinian remarks. They debate whether Sheeran should have stood by his longtime friend, what responsibility comes with being one of the world’s biggest artists and whether attempts to silence Macklemore have only amplified his message.

The conversation then digs deeper into the business and free-speech questions surrounding the dispute, including what tour promoters and privately owned stadiums may have known about Macklemore’s politics before booking him. The crew also argues that the backlash risks reinforcing the very perception its critics are trying to combat.

Ebony McMorris joins from Washington with an update on the Supreme Court blocking new mail-in ballot procedures before the midterms. She also details allegations from a federal whistleblower who says government employees were instructed to access state voter-registration systems using individuals’ personal information while looking for potentially ineligible voters. The discussion expands to election security, the stakes of the midterms and the future makeup of the Supreme Court.

• (00:00:00) Macklemore fallout takes over the show
• (00:02:30) Macklemore says stadium owners pressured Ed Sheeran
• (00:03:40) Ed Sheeran’s attempt to remain neutral
• (00:05:05) Should Ed Sheeran have stood by Macklemore?
• (00:07:05) Did everyone involved already know Macklemore’s politics?
• (00:09:00) Robert Kraft, privately owned stadiums and tour contracts
• (00:11:10) The crew reacts to Kraft’s statement
• (00:12:25) Did the backlash only make Macklemore’s message louder?
• (00:14:30) Rosenberg describes a conversation with another Jewish listener
• (00:16:10) Ebony McMorris joins from Washington
• (00:17:00) Supreme Court blocks new mail-in ballot rules before the midterms
• (00:19:00) Whistleblower alleges improper access to voter-registration data
• (00:21:50) Election interference concerns and what could happen next
• (00:23:00) Could Trump get two more Supreme Court appointments?
• (00:25:50) Congressional Black Caucus at 50 and what’s at stake

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Experience the Culture: Catch Ebro, Laura, Rosenberg, and the rest of the network 24/7 on the Amplified Voices TV app: amplifiedvoices.com/podcast-ebro/

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