Andrew Morantz

I mean, I was at the DNC in Chicago, and Hasan Piker was this sort of, you know, celebrated, invited guest. The DNC gave him this really prime real estate, and then he said a few too many really edgy things about Gaza. They're kicking us out.

I mean, I was at the DNC in Chicago, and Hasan Piker was this sort of, you know, celebrated, invited guest. The DNC gave him this really prime real estate, and then he said a few too many really edgy things about Gaza. They're kicking us out.

So he's constantly doing this dance, right? Trying to be a critical ally, but not too allied. Trying to be edgy on Twitch without getting kicked off Twitch. He was recently suspended for 24 hours because he talked about maybe killing Rick Scott, a senator. So it's this constant tightrope act, which, I mean, honestly makes it more exciting to watch.

So he's constantly doing this dance, right? Trying to be a critical ally, but not too allied. Trying to be edgy on Twitch without getting kicked off Twitch. He was recently suspended for 24 hours because he talked about maybe killing Rick Scott, a senator. So it's this constant tightrope act, which, I mean, honestly makes it more exciting to watch.

So he's constantly doing this dance, right? Trying to be a critical ally, but not too allied. Trying to be edgy on Twitch without getting kicked off Twitch. He was recently suspended for 24 hours because he talked about maybe killing Rick Scott, a senator. So it's this constant tightrope act, which, I mean, honestly makes it more exciting to watch.

Totally. I mean, this is his audience goes way back with him. This is where the parasocial thing really comes into play. I mean, you know, not to break the fourth wall too much, but people have a parasocial relationship with you. They listen to you a lot. People have parasocial relationships with Sarah Koenig from listening to her host Serial for 12 hours.

Totally. I mean, this is his audience goes way back with him. This is where the parasocial thing really comes into play. I mean, you know, not to break the fourth wall too much, but people have a parasocial relationship with you. They listen to you a lot. People have parasocial relationships with Sarah Koenig from listening to her host Serial for 12 hours.

Totally. I mean, this is his audience goes way back with him. This is where the parasocial thing really comes into play. I mean, you know, not to break the fourth wall too much, but people have a parasocial relationship with you. They listen to you a lot. People have parasocial relationships with Sarah Koenig from listening to her host Serial for 12 hours.

But like this guy is on audio and video constantly. all the time with comments floating up the side of his screen that he reads and responds to constantly. So however parasocial people feel about you or Ezra Klein or Sarah Koenig, it's like times a thousand on steroids all the time. This is part of the appeal, right? I went to a gym with him in Encino.

But like this guy is on audio and video constantly. all the time with comments floating up the side of his screen that he reads and responds to constantly. So however parasocial people feel about you or Ezra Klein or Sarah Koenig, it's like times a thousand on steroids all the time. This is part of the appeal, right? I went to a gym with him in Encino.

But like this guy is on audio and video constantly. all the time with comments floating up the side of his screen that he reads and responds to constantly. So however parasocial people feel about you or Ezra Klein or Sarah Koenig, it's like times a thousand on steroids all the time. This is part of the appeal, right? I went to a gym with him in Encino.

You walk into the gym, there's Joe Rogan interviewing Elon Musk on the TV above you. But because he's kind of doing this bro-coded thing, he's not like the kind of caricature of the pearl-clutching, you know, progressive where he has to run away because he's like surrounded by Trumpy guys. He can hang. And the ability to hang is the currency of the realm. Like if you can hang...

You walk into the gym, there's Joe Rogan interviewing Elon Musk on the TV above you. But because he's kind of doing this bro-coded thing, he's not like the kind of caricature of the pearl-clutching, you know, progressive where he has to run away because he's like surrounded by Trumpy guys. He can hang. And the ability to hang is the currency of the realm. Like if you can hang...

You walk into the gym, there's Joe Rogan interviewing Elon Musk on the TV above you. But because he's kind of doing this bro-coded thing, he's not like the kind of caricature of the pearl-clutching, you know, progressive where he has to run away because he's like surrounded by Trumpy guys. He can hang. And the ability to hang is the currency of the realm. Like if you can hang...

then you're in and people kind of develop a relationship with you. And then eventually, if you go, actually, I think we should have universal health care and treat trans people well and not do mass deportations, then maybe they'll listen to you.

then you're in and people kind of develop a relationship with you. And then eventually, if you go, actually, I think we should have universal health care and treat trans people well and not do mass deportations, then maybe they'll listen to you.

then you're in and people kind of develop a relationship with you. And then eventually, if you go, actually, I think we should have universal health care and treat trans people well and not do mass deportations, then maybe they'll listen to you.

And in terms of who they are, I mean, I think part of what's interesting about it, and this goes for Rogan and Theo Vaughn and a bunch of guys on the right as well, is that the audience is constantly changing and moldable and impressionable. One thing that this piece really reinforced for me is Americans don't just sort of have set politics. Nobody does. It's always shifting.

And in terms of who they are, I mean, I think part of what's interesting about it, and this goes for Rogan and Theo Vaughn and a bunch of guys on the right as well, is that the audience is constantly changing and moldable and impressionable. One thing that this piece really reinforced for me is Americans don't just sort of have set politics. Nobody does. It's always shifting.

And in terms of who they are, I mean, I think part of what's interesting about it, and this goes for Rogan and Theo Vaughn and a bunch of guys on the right as well, is that the audience is constantly changing and moldable and impressionable. One thing that this piece really reinforced for me is Americans don't just sort of have set politics. Nobody does. It's always shifting.