Hating someone for their political preference is self-defeating and Taylor Swift proves it

Be like Taylor Swift.Cultivate friendships with people outside of your ideological circle — and keep them.Last week she wrote self-professed Swiftie Dave Portnoy a thank-you note for always having her back.

And it was hand-delivered by her brother to the Barstool Sports honcho at her Miami concert.Nice gesture, right?Nope.As with anything in the Swift universe, it’s caused an earthquake: spawning think pieces, social media reactions and tons of coverage.Every article about the note mentioned the players’ support of presidential candidates.

He endorsed Trump; she endorsed Harris — noteworthy because, in 2024, our brains are so broken that we can’t conceive of admiring or befriending someone with opposing politics.But a tweet from New York magazine’s The Cut took the cake — asking “which Trump supporter will she embrace next?““In a truly baffling decision, Swift has decided to be friendly with … Dave Portnoy,”author Olivia Craighead wrote in the story that went with the tweet— adding that Swift thanked the Barstool honcho for his loyalty.“As far as I can tell, she’s referring to the fact that Portnoy — a proud Donald Trump supporter — did not immediately disavow his favorite pop star when she announced she was voting for Kamala Harris,” Craighead wrote.“How big of him.”Yes, Portnoy wasn’t judging someone for their political affiliation, unlike the author of The Cut’s piece.

Actually I think Swift was referring to Portnoy’s intense backing of her that’s gone on for years, through public spats with celebrities and music honchos.But politics, especially the presidential kind, have eaten into every previously non-partisan sphere of our society: sports, pop culture, show biz — lines must be drawn.The act of self-sorting, of casting away those with ideological differences, has become a public display of virtue.However, that’s seemingly not the casewith Swift, who, mind you, is not above a petty beef.

Just ask any of ...