Hollywood’s Democratic machine, once famous for its star-studded fundraisers and relentless campaigning, has gone silent just as the party faces one of its deepest political crises in decades. Veteran entertainment journalist Richard Rushfield, writing in The Ankler, described the absence bluntly: “A better description of Hollywood’s opposition mobilization would be ‘MIA’ or ‘non-existent.’”

Traditionally, the summer leading into a major election cycle is when Hollywood’s power brokers host lavish events to bankroll Democrat candidates. Instead, those events have all but disappeared. What makes the silence even more striking is that the California governor’s race — usually a centerpiece of Hollywood activism — is already in full swing, with polls dropping almost daily. Yet the usual celebrities who line up to champion liberal causes seem nowhere to be found.

The one celebrity making noise in California politics is not a Democrat at all. Former Republican Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger blasted Gov. Gavin Newsom’s redistricting plan as “evil,” sparking a rare back-and-forth with his Twins co-star Danny DeVito, who endorsed Newsom. But even this political spat highlights the vacuum of support from the broader Hollywood left, which seems unwilling to mobilize.

Adding to the Democrats’ woes, Rushfield revealed that Hollywood’s biggest political news this summer wasn’t about helping Democrats — but about top entertainment moguls organizing a fundraiser for Republican Sen. Susan Collins of Maine. With tickets ranging from $3,500 to $10,000, the event marks a stunning departure from Hollywood’s decades-long role as a Democratic donor stronghold.

Behind the scenes, many in the industry admit they are dismayed at the lack of engagement. Rushfield says insiders told him they expected to find hidden organizing efforts but instead discovered “nothing happening.” Several declined to be quoted, fearing backlash, but privately acknowledged that donor fatigue, resentment over Kamala Harris’s campaign debt, and the Democrats’ collapsing poll numbers have sapped Hollywood’s enthusiasm.

Indeed, Democrat popularity has plunged to levels not seen since 1990, and fundraising numbers show Republicans outpacing Democrats nationwide. For Hollywood’s elite, known for mixing politics with glamour, the silence speaks volumes about just how weak the party has become.

The absence of Hollywood’s megaphone comes as Democrats face existential battles over issues like Israel, free speech, and election reform. Without the glitzy fundraisers and social media campaigns that once defined their resistance, the party looks increasingly isolated.

As Rushfield’s reporting underscores, the Democrats’ problems extend beyond Washington. They’ve lost not just voters but also the very cultural allies who once gave them unmatched visibility. For a party that relied on Hollywood to amplify its message, this retreat may be a sign that its influence in entertainment is slipping — right when it needs it most.