"This is the real asymmetry: the right’s media ecosystem is unabashedly ideological, intentionally insurgent, and generously resourced. The left’s remains reactive, scattered, and deferential to the Democratic Party." Scattered and thus underfunded is the most important left media characteristic. I identify with this post. I have been writing about the need to coalesce the Substack posters into one or more media powers. The Upgrade to paid button on this post is an example of the demand for funding from too many vertices of the left polygon. The examples of leftist media in this post were helpful. Notably, even though I have searched repeatedly, I only had identified Zeteo among the examples. The others are media strangers to me. I would add the Lincoln Project particularly the posts by Steve Schmidt.
the graphic is for both the imbalance and also reading names if you zoom in a bit. probably didn’t get a mention because the author doesn’t look at those ones
Kyle Kulinski is one of the best left wing communicators. He does his homework. He delivers his content in an orderly fashion. He has charisma. He is energetic. He is funny. He is passionate. He is also handsome;that never hurts. Why aren’t more people drawn to him?
Since November, I’ve heard this phrase “Joe Rogan of the Left” not just from the philanthropic class—and the foundations and program officers responsible for dolling out their cash—but from virtually everyone on the left with a platform. Whether it’s the everyday grassroots progressive screaming into the void of Bluesky, or politicians trying to explain away the 2024 losses, or the highly paid pundits and political strategists on MSNBC.
And this has frustrated me to no end.
This is for one critical reason: One cannot be “a Joe Rogan” without platforming conspiracy theories and radicalizing content that will have a net-negative effect on listeners and our democracy.
People listen to Joe Rogan for entertainment, not for politics. And while it is possible to make politics entertaining, if you’re tethered by ethical boundaries, you simply cannot keep up with those who aren’t.
If you’re a cord cutter—just spend time in the living room of someone in your family who isn’t. Watch the junk-food content on the History Channel, TLC (which used to be “The Learning Channel”) or any of the countless cable/satellite channels dedicated to keeping eyeballs engaged while providing zero information of value.
This is what brought us Trump 1.0 and 2.0, not Joe Rogan.
That’s not to say all is lost, and that the left—and its funders—should give up. Quite the opposite.
As this fantastic analysis by Francesca Fiorentini shows, rather than hope for one single breakout star, the left needs to start investing in an information infrastructure that helps people who are already doing important work project their message out further.
The early indications of the wild success of the Find Out Podcast that I just created with five other recent TikTok “White Dudes for Harris” guys shows that there’s a market demand for progressive, truth-aligned—and yes—political content.
But each of us still has day jobs. Hell—I’m the CEO of three organizations right now, in addition to being the Treasurer of this new podcast’s LLC.
And I’ve got 10 weeks before my wife and I have our first child.
Hosting, editing, and promoting a podcast is a hell of an undertaking—especially on top of each of us trying to balance our personal social media accounts.
If we’re going to catch up with the Charlie Kirks and Ben Shapiros—which I think we absolutely can—it’s going to take institutional backing that doesn’t put is on the nonprofit hamster wheel of constantly begging for money and writing proposals and grants.
We need a runway, and the safety and security that comes with guarantees of multi-year support.
Only then will we be on an even playing field to start pulling people from the right’s disinformation and radicalization pipeline.
Easily the best description of the current situation of the DNC, Democrats, progressives, the Left, (whatever you want to label them), and really, anyone for the rule of law, anti authoritarianism, that I’ve come across. With some possible remedies, think tanks and those existing DNC funders should read and take action on this pronto.
Watching today's DOGE subcommittee on public broadcasting was struck by the asymmetry of media and politics with the hearing as an example. 3 public broadcast execs and a right-wing critic as witnesses. That meant the Dems had to defend the status quo even when it’s not working for them.
"This is the real asymmetry: the right’s media ecosystem is unabashedly ideological, intentionally insurgent, and generously resourced. The left’s remains reactive, scattered, and deferential to the Democratic Party." Scattered and thus underfunded is the most important left media characteristic. I identify with this post. I have been writing about the need to coalesce the Substack posters into one or more media powers. The Upgrade to paid button on this post is an example of the demand for funding from too many vertices of the left polygon. The examples of leftist media in this post were helpful. Notably, even though I have searched repeatedly, I only had identified Zeteo among the examples. The others are media strangers to me. I would add the Lincoln Project particularly the posts by Steve Schmidt.
Hmmm... no mention of:
- Meidas Touch - 4.5 million YouTube subscribers. And is now getting more podcast listeners than Rogan.
- Brian Tyler Cohen - 4.1m YT. Has interviewed many Dem politicians - including Joe Biden. Has a Podcast. And is author of the book "Shameless".
- The Bulwark - 1.1m YT. Has great contributors, including Tim Miller, JVL, Sam Stein & Sarah Longwell.
the first two you mentioned are included in the media matter’s graphic
So why didn't they get a mention?
And clearly, that graphic was included to highlight the imbalance. Not as a name check.
the graphic is for both the imbalance and also reading names if you zoom in a bit. probably didn’t get a mention because the author doesn’t look at those ones
Kyle Kulinski is one of the best left wing communicators. He does his homework. He delivers his content in an orderly fashion. He has charisma. He is energetic. He is funny. He is passionate. He is also handsome;that never hurts. Why aren’t more people drawn to him?
You seem to cherry pick your favorites after denouncing the same thing.
And, not mentioning Meidas destroyed what little credibility you had remaining.
Did I miss it? Why wasn’t the Meidas Touch mentioned?
Nailed it with: “The Liberal response (to the rights media dominance) has been quite frankly, unserious”.
Add Thom Hartmann to the list!
It's there - third from the bottom of chart on left side
I do not see his name, just a shaded circle with a number
Exactly, PJO22. Meidas Touch is doing great work!
Since November, I’ve heard this phrase “Joe Rogan of the Left” not just from the philanthropic class—and the foundations and program officers responsible for dolling out their cash—but from virtually everyone on the left with a platform. Whether it’s the everyday grassroots progressive screaming into the void of Bluesky, or politicians trying to explain away the 2024 losses, or the highly paid pundits and political strategists on MSNBC.
And this has frustrated me to no end.
This is for one critical reason: One cannot be “a Joe Rogan” without platforming conspiracy theories and radicalizing content that will have a net-negative effect on listeners and our democracy.
People listen to Joe Rogan for entertainment, not for politics. And while it is possible to make politics entertaining, if you’re tethered by ethical boundaries, you simply cannot keep up with those who aren’t.
If you’re a cord cutter—just spend time in the living room of someone in your family who isn’t. Watch the junk-food content on the History Channel, TLC (which used to be “The Learning Channel”) or any of the countless cable/satellite channels dedicated to keeping eyeballs engaged while providing zero information of value.
This is what brought us Trump 1.0 and 2.0, not Joe Rogan.
That’s not to say all is lost, and that the left—and its funders—should give up. Quite the opposite.
As this fantastic analysis by Francesca Fiorentini shows, rather than hope for one single breakout star, the left needs to start investing in an information infrastructure that helps people who are already doing important work project their message out further.
The early indications of the wild success of the Find Out Podcast that I just created with five other recent TikTok “White Dudes for Harris” guys shows that there’s a market demand for progressive, truth-aligned—and yes—political content.
But each of us still has day jobs. Hell—I’m the CEO of three organizations right now, in addition to being the Treasurer of this new podcast’s LLC.
And I’ve got 10 weeks before my wife and I have our first child.
Hosting, editing, and promoting a podcast is a hell of an undertaking—especially on top of each of us trying to balance our personal social media accounts.
If we’re going to catch up with the Charlie Kirks and Ben Shapiros—which I think we absolutely can—it’s going to take institutional backing that doesn’t put is on the nonprofit hamster wheel of constantly begging for money and writing proposals and grants.
We need a runway, and the safety and security that comes with guarantees of multi-year support.
Only then will we be on an even playing field to start pulling people from the right’s disinformation and radicalization pipeline.
Easily the best description of the current situation of the DNC, Democrats, progressives, the Left, (whatever you want to label them), and really, anyone for the rule of law, anti authoritarianism, that I’ve come across. With some possible remedies, think tanks and those existing DNC funders should read and take action on this pronto.
Get in here: https://open.substack.com/pub/publicenlightenment/p/liberal-media-bias-is-a-lie?utm_source=app-post-stats-page&r=2xd80&utm_medium=ios
Enlightening!
You basically highlighted the problem by writing this article - it’s you.
You have this so called purity test whereas the right has its eyes on the prize. Your tent is big but the door is very small.
There’s a reason you don’t mention Meidas. And we all know why.
Watching today's DOGE subcommittee on public broadcasting was struck by the asymmetry of media and politics with the hearing as an example. 3 public broadcast execs and a right-wing critic as witnesses. That meant the Dems had to defend the status quo even when it’s not working for them.