Today, Explained Can we enjoy anything anymore?
72 snips
Mar 6, 2026 
Megan Garber, a culture and politics writer at The Atlantic, and Sean McIndoo, a hockey reporter at The Athletic, explore why a rare hockey moment quickly became politicized. They trace how social media and power figures blur culture and politics. They also revisit a dramatic Olympic goal, locker-room fallout, and where purer hockey joy might still exist.
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Jack Hughes Goal Became Instant American Sports Lore
- Sean McIndoo recounts the perfect Olympic hockey climax where Jack Hughes scored in sudden-death overtime with missing teeth and a flag, creating an iconic feel-good moment.
- The image and story briefly pushed hockey into mainstream pop culture before subsequent events soured the moment.
Locker Room Celebration Turned Political
- McIndoo describes how the locker-room celebration went off the rails when political figures like Kash Patel entered, chugged beers, and wore players' medals.
- Those images undermined the purity of the Olympic win and raised questions about mixing athletes with partisan politics.
White House Altered Athlete Clip Into Political Message
- The White House deepened the controversy by altering a clip of Brady Kachuk to appear as if he insulted Canada, using athletes as political props.
- Kachuk expressed annoyance, illustrating athletes' limited appetite for being dragged into partisan messaging.
