Jon Caramanica

New York Times pop music critic and co-host of Popcast

Jon Caramanica (New York Times pop music critic and co-host of Popcast) hosts The Daily. Topics they speak about most include Super Bowl LX halftime show, Bad Bunny, U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

In their words

Positions and remarks grouped by topic, each with the exact quote and where it was said.

Super Bowl LX halftime show

  • Caramanica expects Bad Bunny to face a rough reception from his supporters if he makes no forceful statement about the Trump administration's treatment of Latinos.

    “probably likely to be a rough ride for him if the morning after the Super Bowl we wake up and nothing of that sort has happened”

    The Daily: Bad Bunny Takes Over America (Feb 1, 2026) · Listen from 47:02

  • Came true

    Caramanica predicts Bad Bunny will not make a highly direct political statement within the halftime show itself, and sees the real opportunity in what he does afterward.

    “I will say that I don't personally expect that level of directness within the confines of the show”

    The Daily: Bad Bunny Takes Over America (Feb 1, 2026) · Listen from 42:42

  • Caramanica argues that ratings and ad value outweigh political risk for the NFL, and few performers can draw a big enough audience.

    “In the modern music era, there's a vanishingly small number of performers in any genre who Who can achieve that?”

    The Daily: Bad Bunny Takes Over America (Feb 1, 2026) · Listen from 39:01

Jon Caramanica on Super Bowl LX halftime show →

Bad Bunny

  • Caramanica contends that Bad Bunny should alienate the government, his corporate backers, and his progressive fans all at once, because doing so would increase his fame.

    “my contention is he should do all three because that will only make him more famous and more successful”

    The Daily: Bad Bunny Takes Over America (Feb 1, 2026) · Listen from 47:23

  • Caramanica recalls reviewing Bad Bunny's 2018 debut album and considering it one of the most creative albums from that musical space.

    “And it was, I thought, one of the most creative albums that had come out of that space, period”

    The Daily: Bad Bunny Takes Over America (Feb 1, 2026) · Listen from 9:00

Jon Caramanica on Bad Bunny →

Other remarks

U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement

  • Caramanica reports that Bad Bunny said he avoided US tour dates partly so his concerts would not give ICE an obvious target.

    “saying explicitly, I don't want to give ICE and Trump an obvious target to come and gather folks up”

    The Daily: Bad Bunny Takes Over America (Feb 1, 2026) · Listen from 26:53

Jon Caramanica on U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement →

Reggaeton

  • Caramanica contends that Bad Bunny knows more about reggaeton history than most current practitioners, even as he breaks its rules.

    “I would venture to say that Bad Bunny knows more about reggaeton history than most people currently making the music”

    The Daily: Bad Bunny Takes Over America (Feb 1, 2026) · Listen from 8:13

Jon Caramanica on Reggaeton →

Music streaming

  • Caramanica argues that streaming platforms let Bad Bunny reach listeners directly without navigating radio or major-label infrastructure.

    “You have Spotify and Apple Music in order to get songs directly out to your listeners without having to navigate a radio infrastructure or even a major label infrastructure”

    The Daily: Bad Bunny Takes Over America (Feb 1, 2026) · Listen from 6:57

Jon Caramanica on Music streaming →

Predictions

1 came true

How predictions are checked →

Podcasts hosted

Appearances

Often appears with