About this episode
This week, Kamala Harris’ VP pick Tim Walz went viral for being a typical Midwestern dad. On this week’s On the Media, the narratives surrounding Walz, and the political appeal of the car-tinkering, grill-manning father figure. Plus, the news influencers covering the election, and what their work reveals about the future of legacy journalism. [02:22] Host Brooke Gladstone examines the narratives swirling around Gov. Tim Walz, and chats with Charlie Warzel , staff writer at The Atlantic, about the many memes, videos, and tweets claiming the VP nominee is “dad-coded.” [14:50] Host Micah Loewinger speaks with Nathan Grayson , reporter and co-founder of the gaming publication Aftermath. They discuss Donald Trump’s recent interview with live streamer Adin Ross and Trump’s courtship of edgelord influencers like Logan Paul. Plus, is there a place for politicians on platforms like Twitch and Kick? [33:18] Host Micah Loewinger talks with Makena Kelly , who writes about politics and the internet for Wired, about how the Republican and Democratic national conventions are inviting influencers to watch. Then, Micah checks in with Taylor Lorenz , columnist at the Washington Post and host of the podcast Power User, about how the rise of short-form video is impacting the news industry. Further reading / listening: “ Dad Is on the Ballot ” by Charlie Warzel Stream Big: The Triumphs and Turmoils of Twitch and the Stars Behind the Screen (forthcoming in 2025) by Nathan Grayson The Influencers with as Much Presidential Access as the Press , by Makena Kelly Democratic convention will host hundreds of online influencers , by Taylor Lorenz On the Media is supported by listeners like you. Support OTM by donating today ( https://pledge.wnyc.org/support/otm ). Follow our show on Instagram , Twitter and Facebook @onthemedia, and share your thoughts with us by emailing onthemedia@wnyc.org.