Oscars Seeking To Eschew Politics, Partisanship In Favor Of Old-School Escapism

America may be deeply divided, but politics and the culture wars will not be center stage at this year’s Oscars if the organizers have their way. “We’re not interested in distractions or partisan debate, we’re interested in Tom Cruise,” a 95th Academy Awards ceremony insider says of this weekend’s superstar and blockbuster rich show. Officially, the Academy had no comment on the role politics may or not may not play in this year’s Oscars. Over the past decade alone, there have been Oscars when the activism has been more of a feature than a bug. On Tuesday, President Biden will travel to Monterey Park, the site of a mass shooting earlier this year, to talk about efforts to reduce gun violence.