Springsteen and Dave Matthews headline Power To The People festival in Maryland
Bruce Springsteen and Dave Matthews headlined the Power To The People music festival at Merriweather Post Pavilion in Maryland on 3 October, alongside activist groups ahead of the midterms. Right-leaning outlets stressed its anti-Trump and Democratic-aligned character.
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The story, neutrally told
Right · 1Bruce Springsteen and Dave Matthews headlined the "Power To The People" music festival on Saturday 3 October 2026, which featured nonprofits and activists mobilising against President Donald Trump ahead of the midterms. Fox NewsR “rock stars Bruce Springsteen and Dave Matthews headline a "Power To The People" music festival today that features a partisan network of nonprofits and activists mobilizing against President Donald Trump ahead of the midterms.” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 2The festival was held at the Merriweather Post Pavilion in Columbia, Maryland, near Washington, DC, and was organised by Rage Against the Machine guitarist Tom Morello. Fox NewsR “Festival organizer Tom Morello, guitarist of the band Rage Against the Machine” Read at Fox News ↗ Just the NewsRC “Guitarist Tom Morello from "Rage Against the Machine" organized the festival.” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 1Its website says the aim is to show the power everyday people have, through music, art, community and action, to shape the country on and beyond Election Day. Just the NewsRC ““power everyday human beings have when they come together — through music, art, community and action — to shape our country and our planet on, and beyond, Election Day.”” Read at Just the News ↗
Right · 1Fox News reported that a "Freedom Village" on the grounds hosted nonprofits including Indivisible, Third Act and the ACLU, groups it said have helped coordinate the "No Kings," "Tesla Takedown" and "Hands Off" protests against Trump. Fox NewsR “features a roster of nonprofit organizations, including Indivisible, which is funded by billionaire George Soros, Third Act, the ACLU and other groups” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1According to Fox News, proceeds go to Head Count Inc. and VoteRiders, and the event is run as a fiscally sponsored project of Catalyst Philanthropy Fund; the outlet noted that the website describes the donation pledge for VIP tickets in differing terms, and that organisers did not respond to a request for comment. Fox NewsR “The other nonprofit receiving proceeds from the festival is VoteRiders”“Festival organizers didn't respond to a request for comment.”“the website uses differing descriptions of the donation pledge” Read at Fox News ↗ Right · 1The opening act, the hip-hop group The Neighborhood Kids, chanted "Free, free Palestine!" and criticised Immigration and Customs Enforcement, and Morello then denounced "dictators" and "oligarchs," according to Fox News. Fox NewsR “chanting "Free, free Palestine!"”“Morello blasted the "dictators" and the "oligarchs,"” Read at Fox News ↗
Right · 1Springsteen performed his anti-ICE protest song "Streets of Minneapolis," according to Just the News. Just the NewsRC “He performed his anti-ICE protest song, "Streets of Minneapolis."” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 1Just the News reported that former Special Counsel Jack Smith was seen at the festival in a Springsteen "No Kings" shirt from his "Land of Hope and Dreams" tour, based on selfies posted by social media users, in what it called his first public sighting since his Senate hearing on Tuesday. Just the NewsRC “Former Special Counsel Jack Smith was spotted sporting a Bruce Springsteen "No Kings" shirt”“This marked the first public sighting of Smith since his Senate hearing on Tuesday.” Read at Just the News ↗ Right · 1Dave Grohl of the Foo Fighters reportedly dedicated a song to his "favorite Jack," which Just the News said was apparently a reference to Smith. Just the NewsRC “reportedly dedicated a song from his set to his favorite Jack, which was apparently a reference to Smith” Read at Just the News ↗
Right · 1Fox News also noted that the festival sold tiered tickets, including a VIP "Robinhood Package," and that the livestream partner was MS NOW. Fox NewsR “The top-tier "Robinhood Package," branded a "VIP SUPER SUITE,"”“awaiting a livestream broadcast on the Democratic-aligned MS NOW” Read at Fox News ↗
Every sentence links to the reporting it rests on. The pill in front of each says where its sources sit: Left, Centre or Right when one side supplies at least half of them, Mixed when they are evenly split. The number is how many outlets it cites.
Left0 outlets
No left outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Centre0 outlets
No centre outlet in our sources has covered this story yet.
Right2 outlets
- Framing
- Fox News presents the festival as a partisan, Democratic-aligned fundraising and mobilising vehicle with far-left ties; Just the News focuses on a sighting of Jack Smith in a Springsteen "No Kings" shirt.
- Emphasis
- Political histories of performers and partners, nonprofit finances, VIP ticket pricing, and the presence of Jack Smith.
- Leaves out or plays down
- Neither outlet quotes organisers or performers on the festival's purpose beyond its website wording; Fox says organisers did not respond to a request for comment.
- Charged language
- “hardcore leftist groups”“far-left activism”“communist tech tycoon”
- For example
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“Springsteen, other stars share stage with hardcore leftist groups at music fest” — Fox News
“Ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith sports Springsteen ‘No Kings’ shirt at ‘Power to the People Fest’” — Just the News
What every side reports
- Bruce Springsteen performed at the Power To The People festival in Maryland on 3 October.
- Tom Morello organised the festival.
- The festival was framed around political engagement ahead of Election Day.
Power To The People festival event
Its website describes the festival as showing the power of everyday people through music, art, community and action on and beyond Election Day; organisers did not respond to Fox News.
““power everyday human beings have when they come together — through music, art, community and action — to shape our country and our planet on, and beyond, Election Day.”” — Just the News
“Festival organizers didn't respond to a request for comment.” — Fox News
Bruce Springsteen person
Springsteen performed "Streets of Minneapolis"; Fox notes his earlier endorsement of Harris and Walz and past "No Kings" appearances.
“He performed his anti-ICE protest song, "Streets of Minneapolis."” — Just the News
“Springsteen endorsed the Democratic presidential ticket in 2024” — Fox News
Jack Smith person
Seen at the festival wearing a Springsteen "No Kings" shirt, per Just the News; no statement from Smith is reported.
“Former Special Counsel Jack Smith was spotted sporting a Bruce Springsteen "No Kings" shirt” — Just the News
Dave Matthews person
Fox News notes Matthews's past support for Biden, Harris and Bernie Sanders; no statement from him is reported.
“Artist Dave Matthews participated in the 2020 "I Will Vote" concert” — Fox News
Left0 articles
No coverage yet.
Centre0 articles
No coverage yet.
Right2 articles
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Springsteen, other stars share stage with hardcore leftist groups at music fest
Critical Portrays the festival as a Democratic-aligned partisan operation, detailing performers' politics, partner groups and commercial VIP tiers.
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Ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith sports Springsteen ‘No Kings’ shirt at ‘Power to the People Fest’
Neutral Short report centred on Jack Smith's appearance in a "No Kings" shirt and Springsteen's set, relying partly on social media posts.
- 3 Oct 19:15 First Fox NewsR Springsteen, other stars share stage with hardcore leftist groups at music fest
- 4 Oct 14:28 +19h 12m Just the NewsRC Ex-Special Counsel Jack Smith sports Springsteen ‘No Kings’ shirt at ‘Power to the People Fest’
Times are when each article was published, or when we first saw it if the outlet gave no time.