“Yes, but they are the philosophical thought leaders of our day...like it or not.”
You’re singing to the choir here, I’m among the first to acknowledge the primary importance of culture. If you can dominate the popular culture you have a strong chance of driving the direction of politics as well.
This is where conservatives have dropped the ball all too often. Too many overstate the importance of political gamesmanship and abandon popular culture to the left.
Limbaugh was one of the rare exceptions to recognize this. Chronicles Magazine, formerly ‘Chronicles of Culture’, was another.