Democrats Are Spending Millions Buying Influencers
Why Democratic strategists are trying to manufacture the next Joe Rogan.
Brandon Goldman
May 25, 2025
_WHAT’S HAPPENING_
After a bruising loss in the 2024 elections, Democratic strategists are trying to find — or manufacture — a left-wing Joe Rogan.
They believe it was his influence, and the influence of podcasters like him, that helped Donald Trump triumph over Kamala Harris.
These strategists are urging megadonors to bankroll a sprawling network of online influencers. Dozens of proposals are circulating, but critics, including some inside the party, say the plan misfires. Unlike Rogan, who built his audience through authenticity and independence, these efforts are top-down, donor-driven, and risk being seen as artificial.