As you may know, Coachella 2025 has looked like any other year: the desert heat, the glittering outfits, the viral fashion moments, the stacked lineup. But some events this year have made it clear — this year’s festival wasn’t just about music. It was about message.
Between surprise guest performances, TikTok crossovers, and one of the most unexpected appearances in Coachella history — Senator Bernie Sanders taking the stage — the event became a pulsing megaphone for Gen Z’s political awakening.
Bernie Sanders Goes Desert-Core
Yes, that Bernie Sanders—Vermont Senator, progressive firebrand, and former presidential candidate—showed up onstage before singer-songwriter Clairo’s set with a rallying cry aimed straight at the youth. “This country faces some very difficult challenges. The future of what happens to America is dependent upon your generation,” Sanders told the crowd. The crowd booed at the mention of President Trump’s name, persuading Senator Sanders to say, “I agree.”
His brief speech, wedged between pop and indie acts, felt like a time warp back to his viral college-town rallies—except this time, his platform was one of the largest music festivals in the world. And this wasn’t a fluke. Just hours earlier, Sanders had spoken at a 36,000-person rally in Los Angeles alongside Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez (AOC), part of his “Fighting Oligarchy” tour.
Addison Rae and the Rise of the “Protect the Dolls” Movement
Sanders wasn’t the only one making appearances. TikToker-turned-pop-star Addison Rae went viral again—not just for performing with Charli XCX during their “Von Dutch” remix, but for what she wore backstage: the now-iconic “Protect the Dolls” T-shirt. Designed by Conner Ives and debuted at London Fashion Week, the shirt—a bold nod to trans women, oftentimes referred to as “the dolls”—has already raised over $250,000 for Trans Lifeline, a nonprofit supporting trans communities.
When Rae wore it on TikTok ahead of her set, it wasn’t just fashion. It was a political choice. And she wasn’t alone: Troye Sivan, Pedro Pascal, and designer Haider Ackermann have all sported the tee in recent weeks, turning the look into a quiet rallying cry for trans rights at a time when they’re under attack nationwide.
The Global Stage: Judeline’s Big Moment
Spanish singer-songwriter Judeline had her Coachella debut this year—and she didn’t come quietly. After a popular tour that sold out multiple nights in Madrid, the 20-year-old’s performance felt like a global entrance.
Her debut album, Bodhiria, catapulted her to fame, gaining co-signs from the likes of Rosalía, Joe Jonas, and J Balvin. But it’s her DIY rise and poetic lyricism that have resonated most with Gen Z fans hungry for authenticity. In interviews, she’s joked about how her first song was about a missing childhood dog—but her current tracks tap into themes of loss, memory, and political longing.
Born Lara Fernández in a tiny coastal village in Spain, Judeline said she grew up writing lyrics as study tools and watching YouTube videos to learn how the music industry worked. “I was always making a move,” she told Teen Vogue. Now, she’s headlining major stages—and still stressing about leaving fans out because the venues aren’t big enough.
Gen Z For The Win!
This year demonstrates that Coachella wants voices. And from Bernie Sanders (Well…he’s not Gen Z) to Addison Rae to Judeline, Coachella is starting to echo that.
Because if Gen Z is going to party in the desert, they’re going to make it matter.
