Listen Live
Donate
 on air
    Schedule

    KCRW

    Read & Explore

    • News
    • Entertainment
    • Food
    • Culture
    • Events

    Listen

    • Live Radio
    • Music
    • Podcasts
    • Full Schedule

    Information

    • About
    • Careers
    • Help / FAQ
    • Newsletters
    • Contact

    Support

    • Become a Member
    • Become a VIP
    • Ways to Give
    • Shop
    • Member Perks

    Become a Member

    Donate to KCRW to support this cultural hub for music discovery, in-depth journalism, community storytelling, and free events. You'll become a KCRW Member and get a year of exclusive benefits.

    DonateGive Monthly

    Copyright 2026 KCRW. All rights reserved.

    Report a Bug|Privacy Policy|Terms of Service|
    Cookie Policy    |FCC Public Files|

    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    Press Play with Madeleine Brand

    LA band Chicano Batman reflects on Trump's first year

    The Latin–psychedelic soul band Chicano Batman has been touring with their album “Freedom is Free” for most of Trump’s first year in office. The video for “Freedom is Free” features each of the band members being tortured and drowned by two nondescript agents in aviator sunglasses. What’s it like to make political music in the Trump era?

    • rss
    • apple-podcasts
    • spotify
    • Share
    By Madeleine Brand • Nov 7, 2017 • 1 min read

    The Latin–psychedelic soul band Chicano Batman has been touring with their album “Freedom is Free” for most of Trump’s first year in office. The video for “Freedom is Free” features each of the band members being tortured and drowned by two nondescript agents in aviator sunglasses. What’s it like to make political music in the Trump era?

    • https://images.ctfassets.net/2658fe8gbo8o/AvYox6VuEgcxpd20Xo9d3/769bca4fbf97bf022190f4813812c1e2/new-default.jpg?h=250

      Madeleine Brand

      Host, 'Press Play'

    • KCRW placeholder

      Gina Pollack

      Producer

    • KCRW placeholder

      Sarah Sweeney

      Vice President of Talk Programming, KCRW

    • KCRW placeholder

      Michell Eloy

      Line Editor, Press Play

    • KCRW placeholder

      Eduardo Arenas

      bass guitar, vocals for Chicano Batman

    • KCRW placeholder

      Bardo Martinez

      lead vocals, organ, guitar for Chicano Batman

      News
    Back to Press Play with Madeleine Brand