AOC, Sanders Surprise on Stage to Introduce The Strokes — SkimNews
Get the Culture newsletter
Daily culture — film, music, books, the trends and ideas worth your attention. Free.
- Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez and Bernie Sanders made a surprise onstage appearance at a Strokes concert at Flushing Meadows in Queens on Friday, introducing the New York-born band to an estimated 40,000 fans.
- Sanders thanked the Strokes for years of advocacy on economic justice, healthcare as a human right, and anti-racism work, framing the upcoming vote as a chance to "stand up to authoritarianism."
- AOC told the crowd the Strokes had always been committed to "a better future for all" while fighting "fascism and genocide," raising wages, and guaranteeing healthcare for everyone.
- Julian Casablancas quipped to guitarist Fabrizio Moretti — "Fab, would you quit making out with Bernie Sanders? We got a show" — before the band launched into "Lonely in Future."
- The Strokes previously headlined a "Get Out the Vote" rally for Sanders during his 2020 New Hampshire primary bid, with Casablancas calling him at the time "the only truly non-corporate candidate" and the country's "only chance to overthrow corporate power."
Why it matters: The Strokes have a documented history of political activism for Sanders dating to the 2020 primary, and the Friday rally — with Election Day roughly a month out — weaponizes the band's cultural reach among 40,000 fans for get-out-the-vote urgency. Both politicians framed the moment as a fight against authoritarianism, extending a years-long alliance between the band and the progressive wing of the Democratic Party.
Ask SkimNews
