Every morning, millions of Indonesians tune in, not to soap operas or reality shows, but to the real-life spectacle of politics. It’s messy, dramatic, addictive. It’s not just news; it’s entertainment.

Behind every meme, angry posts, and viral clip lies something deeper: frustration over rising prices, distrust in corrupt elites, and a need to make sense of a system that’s unfairly set up against them. The drama of politics has become the national therapy session, loud, emotional, and strangely personal.

Let’s zoom in. An ironical tale of two lives, one trapped in the system, the other profiting from it.


🌅 06:30 AM – The Scroll Begins.
The alarm screamed.
Bunda Tini, 29, working-class, Bekasi, slapped her cracked phone and squinted at the screen. It is already flooded with political news:
“BREAKING: DPR Member Has Outburst in Meeting Over Mysterious Bill!”
“#SaveDemokrasi Trending as Gibran Appears at Yet Another Rally With No Clear Agenda!”
“Leaked Voice Note: ‘Saya Bisa Atur Semua, Tenang Aja, Bro!’”


She hasn’t even brushed her teeth, and her chest is already tight. Not because she’s late for work, but because she’s angry. Another day, another scandal. Before she even sips her coffee, bunda Tini has already absorbed four half-baked conspiracy threads, three political memes recycled from last week, and one 60-second video of a screaming buzzer that ends with “this country is doomed!”


She sighs. Her plan was to meditate for ten minutes. Or read the Qur’an, or clean the floor, even, if she had time. Or at least reply to her boss’s email. Instead, she’s mentally sparring with strangers in a comment section about a controversial bill. She doesn’t even know what the bill is about. But she’s emotionally invested now.


☕ 09:00 AM – Office, But Not Really
Bunda Tini should be working on a proposal.
Her online shop has been struggling for months, and today’s the deadline to apply for a small grant that could help her grow the business.

But instead, she has 12 tabs open: One for the grant. Eleven for political drama.

She ends up watching a 45-minute YouTube video called “KEBOHONGAN DIBALIK POLITIK ELIT” — made by some so-called political expert in a leather jacket, recording from inside a car.

Meanwhile, the grant proposal stays untouched.


🏙️ 12:00 PM – Warteg Politics
The warung was noisy, humid, packed with the scent of sambal and smoke. Bunda Tini had barely sat down when her friend leaned in, eyes wide, voice low.
“Eh, lo liat nggak tuh anggota DPR si Jono? Katanya proyek fiktif, tapi sekarang malah tambah anggaran lagi!”


And bunda Tini explodes. Her voice rises, her nasi padang goes cold. She forgets her own rent is due in five days. That her mom’s medication is running out. Her energy is spent defending or attacking politicians who don’t even know she exists.


A group of bapak-bapak were red-faced, arguing that “Konoha lebih enak waktu jaman Soeharto!”
Younger men nearby scoffed, muttering about elites, party deals, and “politik dagang sapi.”


Bunda Tini sits silently, her appetite gone.
She wanted to read that free online class about budgeting her salary. She wanted to call her mother.
But her mind is cluttered, full of people who will never know her name, but dominate her life.


📉 15:00 PM – Productivity: 0%
Back at home, her toddler is trying to get her attention. But Tini is deep in a Facebook thread war, typing furiously:
“Yg belain anggota DPR itu pasti buzzer atau buta politik. Buka mata dong, bangsa kita dijual pelan2!”
The floor is still dirty. Her child plays with a plastic bag. Bunda Tini doesn’t notice.


🌒 23:00 PM – Tini Collapses
Exhausted. Drained. Angry. And still broke. She lies in bed, scrolling TikTok for a final dose of political content. Another massive headline: Indonesia just hailed a “new era of mutual benefit” with the U.S. after President Trump agreed to slash tariffs from 32 percent down to 19 percent in a deal with President Prabowo.

Tomorrow, the same cycle will begin again.


Meanwhile…
🥂 Meet Anggota Dewan Pak Drs. Ir. Jono
Pak Jono is a senior member of the DPR (House of Representatives). A man of many titles, suits, and golf games.

07:00 AM – The Other Side

While Bunda Tini scrolls through rage and confusion, miles away in Pondok Indah, Pak Dewan Jono stirs his kopi luwak with the ease of a man untouched by consequence.

The veranda is quiet, shaded, expensive. A breeze rolls in from the garden. He doesn’t look at his phone, he doesn’t have to. His assistant stands nearby, smirking.

“Publik ribut soal tuntutan 17+8, Pak Dewan,” the assistant says. “Tapi RUU Kesehatan Alternatif sudah lolos kemarin malam. Nggak ada yang sadar.”

A pause. He winks.

“Kesehatan?” Jono’s eyes narrowing. He watches his assistant closely, like a poker player reading a bluff. Then he leans back and exhales a dry laugh. “Oh… hahaha. Ssst!”

They share a glance. Both know what silence means in this game. “Bagus,” Jono says, lifting his cup. “Terus goreng aja isu tadi di medsos.”


At noon, he’s in a closed-door meeting with a palm oil tycoon. There are handshakes. Agreements. Smiles. Land licenses will be processed quickly, now that the media is busy with “more exciting” content.


At 3:00 PM, he gets a call from a popular political influencer. “Pak, mau saya buatkan konten sindiran buat lawan politik Bapak? Sekalian endorse juga channel saya.”
“Boleh. Tapi jangan frontal ya. Yang lucu-lucu aja. Rakyat suka yang begitu.”


And at 11:00 PM, pak dewan Jono sleeps soundly. His investments are safe. His party is well-funded and growing bolder.

And the public?
They’re still fighting in the comment sections. Distracted. Divided. Drained.


🎭 The Irony
• Bunda Tini fights for democracy online. Anggota dewan Jono manipulates it over dinner.
• Tini sacrifices her time, her peace, her focus. Jono and his political party gain contracts, influence, and new allies.
• Tini cares deeply. Jono plays the game strategically.


🧠 Final Reflection
In today’s Indonesia, political drama has become the most addictive public entertainment. This trashy show fills our mornings, ruins our afternoons, and consumes our nights. And while millions like Tini are emotionally worn down by endless chaos, opportunists like Jono profit from it, quietly, efficiently, and unapologetically.


So the next time you wake up and reach for your phone, ask yourself:
Is this really the fight I should be fighting today? Or am I just playing a role in someone else’s script?

Penned with digital quill in the twilight of democracy by Mario Ngopidulu, 5 September 2025