The War on Cars Superbowl Roundup with Ian Chillag
Feb 10, 2026
Ian Chillag, creator of Everything Is Alive and co-host of How to Do Everything, joins to unpack Super Bowl ads and culture. They discuss the scarcity of car commercials, recurring themes like weight-loss and AI anxiety, the emotional lost-dog spots, and why automakers largely sat out the broadcast. Short takes on Bad Bunny’s halftime and how ads reflect the nation’s mood.
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Ads Reflect National Anxiety And Performative Unity
- Several ads explicitly addressed America's social anxieties: patriotism, hate, and consumer overload.
- The hosts saw these spots as toeing a line between sincere civic appeals and surface-level messaging.
Mortgage Ad That Made The Hosts Cry
- The Redfin/Rocket Mortgage ad used a lost-dog storyline and Lady Gaga's Mr. Rogers cover to tug emotions.
- Sarah Goodyear admitted she cried but felt manipulated once she learned it was a mortgage ad.
WeatherTech Embraces Bigger‑Is‑Better SUV Culture
- WeatherTech ran a practical ad showing accessories that enlarge SUVs and trunks for overflow cargo.
- Hosts mocked the message that you can always make an SUV bigger rather than questioning the need for one.
