how 2025’s america oppresses hispanic communities through propaganda and policies
“living on borders and in margins, keeping intact one’s shifting and multiple identity and integrity, is like trying to swim in a new element, an ‘alien’ element.”
— gloria e. anzaldúa
lost in the screed
google’s deep dive podcast: the struggles of hispanic americans in 2025—policy, identity, and resistance
tatanka’s take on “something in the way”—a lakota lament for the forgotten
with my development of ana volkova’s bonus tracks, how “her” bonus track adaptations are fundamentally new songs inspired by the originals she loves, i wanted to do the same with songs from my own playlists, but with a timely twist.
poignancy in the 2025 american context
outsider mentality & social alienation
these revamped songs line echo the eternal feelings of the majority of the fracturing america, where people increasingly, now exponentially, feel like outsiders in their own country, whether due to political, racial, sexual, economic, ideological or intellectual alienation. the social contract feels broken, and disenfranchisement is at an all-time high. these are quintessential american blues songs for the present state of the “home of the free.”
illustrating the america of 2025
the u.s. is plagued by resentment, isolation, and loss, all of which are embedded in these lyrics. whether it’s the feeling of being feared, rejected, hated, or even trapped, the songs capture a collective national psychology of longing, inadequacy, and mounting rage.
in a time when people feel more disconnected than ever, these tracks remain anthems for the lost, the bitter, and the unheard—an unintended but chilling soundtrack to america’s broken soul.
it’s about control
project 2025 is presented as a plan to streamline government and restore conservative governance, but it is a response to the declining dominance of white males in american power structures. rather than solely aiming to control perceived political enemies, it reflects broader demographic anxieties, seeking to reassert influence in a changing society. by advocating for an expanded executive branch, the removal of civil servants deemed ideologically opposed, and policies rolling back diversity initiatives, project 2025 appears to be less about governance reform and more about maintaining power amid shifting cultural and political landscapes.
mundo loco (mad world)
the next track of the adaptations album is mad world (tears for fears). sung in spanish, this is a song for all hispanic americans, are americans with roots in latin america or spain, forming the largest ethnic minority group in the us, with over 60 million individuals, regardless of the thinly veiled “legal status” rationale for their abuse.
in 2025, latinx individuals in the u.s. face challenges from policies like project 2025, which by design limits education, healthcare, labor rights, and immigration opportunities. efforts to ban dei programs in all regards raise further concerns about civil rights protections. immigration enforcement remains strict, with reports of poor conditions in domestic detention centers, and now those abroad, at times destinations for those who are kidnapped in their homes, schools, churches, and randomly off the streets, to instill yet more abject fear of the fascist regime.
we can sing all day or do something about it. tatanka is pragmatic and the time for words alone has passed. tatanka’s project 2025: a quiet rebellion of peace (http://p25.site) is our applied tenet to counteract division, fear, and injustice—not with resistance, but with an unwavering commitment to love. in a world where hate fuels conflict, we stand firm in the belief that only love can dismantle its power. through music, cultural fusion, and collective action, aka dei, we cultivate a movement that uplifts, heals, and unites across borders. this is more than a project; it is a call to live with purpose, to build with compassion, and to embody the truth that love alone conquers hate. join us—become a part of this quiet rebellion of peace.
mad world (tears for fears)
[verse 1]
a mi alrededor, los mismos rostros,
lugares tristes, pasos rotos.
van temprano a su carrera diaria,
sin un destino, sin esperanza.
y sus lágrimas llenan sus copas,
sin emociones, almas rotas.
escondo el rostro, ahogo mi pena,
sin un mañana, sin más promesas.
[chorus]
y me resulta algo gracioso,
pero a la vez, es doloroso.
los sueños donde estoy muriendo
son los mejores que recuerdo.no sé decirlo, no sé explicarlo,
me cuesta mucho soportarlo.
la gente gira sin cesar,
es un mundo tan, tan
irreal,
irreal,
irreal,
irreal.[verse 2]
niños sueñan con sentirse plenos,
feliz cumpleaños, feliz cumpleaños.
crecer sin miedo, como algo bueno,
sentarse y oír, sentarse y oír.
fui a la escuela, temblaba entero,
nadie me hablaba, nadie sincero.
“hola, maestro, ¿cuál es la lección?”
mira a través, sin dar atención.
[chorus]
me resulta algo gracioso,
pero también es doloroso.
los sueños donde voy a morir
son lo mejor que pude vivir.
mundo
no sé decirlo, me cuesta hablar,
no es tan fácil de soportar.
la gente gira sin dirección,
es un mundo tan, tan
cruel,
cruel,
cruel,
cruel.
[interlude]
[chorus]
me parece algo irónico,
y a la vez, melancólico.
los sueños donde he de morir
son lo mejor que pude vivir.
no sé decirlo, me cuesta hablar,
no es tan fácil de soportar.
la gente gira sin avanzar,
es un mundo tan, tan
cruel,
cruel,
mundo irreal,
cruel.
