“I suspect that if you were to conduct a formal audit, you’d find that a fair amount of Trump and Trump-adjacent money flowing into tons of influencer bank accounts.” My first thought reading this was “at least the Trump team was plugged in enough to find these influencers.” But I saw lots of TikTokers talking about how they were offered money by the Democrats and they didn’t take it because ew. It’s almost certainly the case that this was frequently not true, but even the fake version of “I was offered DNC money and didn’t take it” points to the asymmetrical methods of gaining clout online. In any left-leaning circle, it’s deeply uncool to align yourself in even mild cooperation with Dems. Trump doesn’t have that problem on his side. Which is just to say, I appreciate the effort laid out here, I just hope that Democrats themselves recognize how far out of step they are in online influence at this point. I think they’ve been coping a lot - these aren’t consistent voters, Dems focused on “normal people” and kitchen table problems. But the Internet is where normal people are now and it’s only going to grow in influence. Which is really to me the biggest problem with how old Dems are. They don’t really know how to interact with the public anymore.
Commentary like yours always takes me to Daniel Kahneman's "Thinking Fast and Slow", which explains the psychological impact of suggestion and other subliminal influences on our decision making. Obviously, the crooks read too.
"Do your own research" doesn't just mean, look for simpatico influencers. It means, scour the internet until you find things that "prove" what you already think and believe. Because you always will.
Tomahawk steak? Yikes, dude. Via the reverse sear, Shirley.
At the risk of oversimplifying complex social phenomena, so much of this is about the stories we hear. After Goldwater's 1964 defeat/humiliation conservatives got serious about building messaging capabilities. What they've created is formidable. And as we are painfully aware, there is no progressive messaging counterpart. I'm a Howard Zinn lefty and there have been times when, to my horror, I've noticed my own thoughts/attitudes/opinions being affected by the right wing noise machine.
Bingo. Good insight, Brian. The Democrats have completely whiffed on messaging--in understanding, style, volume, emphasis, repetition, and outlets. Looking forward to hearing further observations--and recommendations--from you.
The Democrats haven’t whiffed on messaging. They’ve whiffed on commandeering the channels of the message…so their message never gets heard. Maybe that’s what is meant by the medium is the message…
Good luck. Before Kindle, one could look at one's bookshelf and see various short term passions - fitness, spirituality, humor, massage, woodturning, singing, guitar building........
Jemelle Bouie is so good on TikTok. I would listen to that man talk about anything and in fact have started listening to back episodes of his 90's Action Flick Podcast.
Responded on Bluesky but true to my word I subscribed so figure I should engage here too -
This resonates a lot with my experience - I've noticed it slipping into real life too among more normie friends.
If you come across successful content, influencers, sites, etc. that do this kind of political bleed but good, it'd be great to highlight them. I'd love to give them money.
I think a lot about how lucky I am that as a young man I followed a set of non-political creators who gradually grew into expressing progressive values (lgbtq+ acceptance, feminism, pro-science).
I worry that the next generation of creators like that struggle as algorithms have evolved. I don't have time to watch new stuff as much any more (and a lot of it isn't for me even if I did), but I have the budget to throw a few more bucks around now and would love to help friends to do the same.
Admirable resolution, but will it withstand the coming tsunami of tRump lunacies and monstrous chaos within his administration? Hard to avoid the latest outrage from not only a demented tRump, but also from his megabillionaire Rasputin, Elno.
Your concept seems to me to be a little unfocused. But I really do not know a lot about the bleed over of politics into, say, my kettleball lessons. (Which I do watch, even at my advanced age.) If I did run into some right wing stuff on one, I'd deep six it right away.
I recall when I was much younger that totalitarian states vainly tried to control information by restricting access, so that their youth would not be contaminated by western values. But that didn't work out well. So, now they try to infiltrate and dominate that information feed. And you want to try, in a small way, to combat that by doing something similar.
After a several year hiatus, I have again started to watch football on TV. I note that there are way more commercials with mixed race couples and families. It's all smiles. Effective, I'd say.
Now I believe you want to be more direct. I'm just having trouble trying to see concrete examples. Probably because I just don't do social media. And who's Joe Rogan, anyway?
I like it - let’s see what you come up with. :)
“I suspect that if you were to conduct a formal audit, you’d find that a fair amount of Trump and Trump-adjacent money flowing into tons of influencer bank accounts.” My first thought reading this was “at least the Trump team was plugged in enough to find these influencers.” But I saw lots of TikTokers talking about how they were offered money by the Democrats and they didn’t take it because ew. It’s almost certainly the case that this was frequently not true, but even the fake version of “I was offered DNC money and didn’t take it” points to the asymmetrical methods of gaining clout online. In any left-leaning circle, it’s deeply uncool to align yourself in even mild cooperation with Dems. Trump doesn’t have that problem on his side. Which is just to say, I appreciate the effort laid out here, I just hope that Democrats themselves recognize how far out of step they are in online influence at this point. I think they’ve been coping a lot - these aren’t consistent voters, Dems focused on “normal people” and kitchen table problems. But the Internet is where normal people are now and it’s only going to grow in influence. Which is really to me the biggest problem with how old Dems are. They don’t really know how to interact with the public anymore.
Agree.
Commentary like yours always takes me to Daniel Kahneman's "Thinking Fast and Slow", which explains the psychological impact of suggestion and other subliminal influences on our decision making. Obviously, the crooks read too.
"Do your own research" doesn't just mean, look for simpatico influencers. It means, scour the internet until you find things that "prove" what you already think and believe. Because you always will.
Tomahawk steak? Yikes, dude. Via the reverse sear, Shirley.
Might I suggest starting up a fantasy league for the newsletter?
I wouldn't even know where to begin, but if you write me an email spelling out the idea a bit more, I'd definitely read with interest.
Brain, you are clearly afraid of showing as all your sub par Maillard reaction! 😂
At the risk of oversimplifying complex social phenomena, so much of this is about the stories we hear. After Goldwater's 1964 defeat/humiliation conservatives got serious about building messaging capabilities. What they've created is formidable. And as we are painfully aware, there is no progressive messaging counterpart. I'm a Howard Zinn lefty and there have been times when, to my horror, I've noticed my own thoughts/attitudes/opinions being affected by the right wing noise machine.
Bingo. Good insight, Brian. The Democrats have completely whiffed on messaging--in understanding, style, volume, emphasis, repetition, and outlets. Looking forward to hearing further observations--and recommendations--from you.
The Democrats haven’t whiffed on messaging. They’ve whiffed on commandeering the channels of the message…so their message never gets heard. Maybe that’s what is meant by the medium is the message…
Good luck. Before Kindle, one could look at one's bookshelf and see various short term passions - fitness, spirituality, humor, massage, woodturning, singing, guitar building........
Jemelle Bouie is so good on TikTok. I would listen to that man talk about anything and in fact have started listening to back episodes of his 90's Action Flick Podcast.
Jamelle might be a reason to get a Tik-Tok account.
Responded on Bluesky but true to my word I subscribed so figure I should engage here too -
This resonates a lot with my experience - I've noticed it slipping into real life too among more normie friends.
If you come across successful content, influencers, sites, etc. that do this kind of political bleed but good, it'd be great to highlight them. I'd love to give them money.
I think a lot about how lucky I am that as a young man I followed a set of non-political creators who gradually grew into expressing progressive values (lgbtq+ acceptance, feminism, pro-science).
I worry that the next generation of creators like that struggle as algorithms have evolved. I don't have time to watch new stuff as much any more (and a lot of it isn't for me even if I did), but I have the budget to throw a few more bucks around now and would love to help friends to do the same.
Admirable resolution, but will it withstand the coming tsunami of tRump lunacies and monstrous chaos within his administration? Hard to avoid the latest outrage from not only a demented tRump, but also from his megabillionaire Rasputin, Elno.
Best of luck, however,
Your concept seems to me to be a little unfocused. But I really do not know a lot about the bleed over of politics into, say, my kettleball lessons. (Which I do watch, even at my advanced age.) If I did run into some right wing stuff on one, I'd deep six it right away.
I recall when I was much younger that totalitarian states vainly tried to control information by restricting access, so that their youth would not be contaminated by western values. But that didn't work out well. So, now they try to infiltrate and dominate that information feed. And you want to try, in a small way, to combat that by doing something similar.
After a several year hiatus, I have again started to watch football on TV. I note that there are way more commercials with mixed race couples and families. It's all smiles. Effective, I'd say.
Now I believe you want to be more direct. I'm just having trouble trying to see concrete examples. Probably because I just don't do social media. And who's Joe Rogan, anyway?
It is definitely unfocused! I confessed in the piece! :)