Wearing a MAGA Hat While Driving for Uber

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Today, I decided to try an experiment that goes against everything I normally preach about Uber etiquette. I put on my old MAGA hat to see how people would react. Typically, I keep my rides neutral—no opinions, no symbols, and definitely no political hats. But with the election only two days away, I felt the urge to address it in some way. This was risky, as I’ve always been about maintaining a clean, unassuming car environment, hoping clients won’t judge me for anything but my driving skills. The journey was full of surprises, from supportive remarks to cautious silence.

Starting off, I couldn’t even find a Kamala Harris hat to balance out the experiment; Miami’s party stores were apparently “politically neutral” in their selection. Eventually, I decided to wear the MAGA hat for several rides and gauged the reactions. The vibe shifted with every location: South Miami, Brickell, Coconut Grove, and even the airport. Some riders remained indifferent, while others had subtle but supportive remarks, and I kept the camera rolling just in case things went south. I even discussed Miami’s church trends with one passenger, adding a bit of local flavor to my usual Uber banter.

The highlights included run-ins with Russian and German tourists who couldn’t care less about my political attire, and a bizarre coincidence at the airport when I ended up picking up a guy I’d dropped off hours earlier. While some passengers seemed unfazed, I did sense the tension in certain areas. Wearing the hat in Miami’s liberal hotspots felt strange, and the overall vibe changed between wealthy neighborhoods and the city’s more diverse spots.

All in all, this experiment made for a unique vlog, capturing the current political tension in a way I usually avoid. This hat may have been a bad idea, but hey, it’s Election season—why not test the waters? As I wrap up this vlog, I’m thinking about a follow-up with a Harris hat, depending on how things go.

Timestamps
0:00:00 - Starting the experiment: Uber driving with a MAGA hat.
0:00:19 - Frustrations of finding a Kamala Harris hat in Miami.
0:01:14 - “I don’t want to get killed in a store looking for this hat.”
0:01:34 - Setting up the dashcam to document reactions.
0:02:08 - Observing the politically neutral stance of Miami stores.
0:03:16 - My philosophy on keeping the car neutral and uncontroversial.
0:03:37 - Venting about messy cables and Uber’s high expectations.
0:04:31 - First thoughts on balancing reactions between MAGA and Kamala hats.
0:05:11 - “What’s wrong with people, bro?” — reflecting on political division.
0:06:27 - Keeping the car clean and ready for the day’s experiment.
0:07:23 - Discussing my “neutral” approach to Uber and handling opinions.
0:08:27 - Exploring Miami neighborhoods and MAGA reactions.
0:09:27 - Setting up the plan: five rides each for MAGA and Kamala hats.
0:09:54 - First Lyft ride with the MAGA hat: heading into downtown.
0:11:01 - First customer reaction: a neutral drop-off in Brickell.
0:12:03 - Why I avoid wearing team hats to prevent bias during rides.
0:12:30 - Declining a $16, 41-minute ride; why time isn’t worth the fare.
0:15:18 - Observations on Miami’s Vous Church and it’s popularity
0:18:05 - Rating concerns: preparing for potential one-star responses.
0:18:14 - Dropping off a client in Edgewater: surprised by a pro-Trump remark.
0:20:00 - Dealing with Lyft and Uber’s competing surge requests.
0:21:27 - Noticing unusually high surges in Miami and Miami Beach.
0:22:18 - Turning down risky Lyft offers in “sketchy” areas.
0:24:48 - Frustrations with customer pick-up wait times in traffic.
0:27:27 - Discussing entitlement and handling difficult customer interactions.
0:28:40 - Thoughts on customer perspectives and being “invisible” as a driver.
0:31:05 - Dropping off at a Catholic church and a chat about religion.
0:34:16 - Reflecting on growing up Catholic and the generational gap in faith.
0:36:22 - Early reactions to MAGA support back in 2015 and evolving views.
0:41:17 - Airport pick-up frustrations: waiting for a no-show client.
0:43:05 - Final thoughts: calling it a night with mixed reactions overall.
0:45:23 - Picking up a Trump-supporting Middle Eastern pair, conversation about politics.
0:47:17 - Wrapping up: Would a Kamala hat get the same reactions?.