DC's Invite-Only Leftist Creatorverse

Issue #339 | May 8, 2025

It’s no secret that one side of the political spectrum has mastered the art of funding creators, and it shows. The right, feeling like perpetual underdogs battling what they’ve called a liberal media bias, has spent years building a media ecosystem that dwarfs anything on the left. The Trending Up conference is part of the Left’s attempt to fight back.

Conservative creators have access to millions from billionaire sugar daddies like the Kochs, Mercers, Thiels, Murdochs, and Uihleins (and some of them even maybe got millions from Russia!) Meanwhile, progressive creators are left to scrape by on paid subscribers, sparse brand deals, and small donations.

Many of the biggest names in progressive media seem glamorous on their social media grid. However, behind the scenes, they are juggling full-time jobs or freelance work just to keep the lights on, while their right-wing counterparts have production budgets, fancy studios, and full-time salaries. The widening political creator wage gap is precisely what Trending Up, a progressive creator conference in Washington, D.C., is trying to resolve.

Now in its second year, the event has attracted big names like Harry Sisson, Carlos Espina, Elizabeth Booker, and the Meidas Touch crew. Democratic heavyweights were also in the mix: Rep. Maxwell Frost, the youngest member of Congress, spoke about using music and wrestling to connect with voters.

Senator Elizabeth Warren emphasized the unique power of creators in the fight against authoritarianism. Hakeem Jeffries, sporting sneakers, recounted how quoting Notorious B.I.G. helped him connect with otherwise disengaged voters.

However, the most compelling insights about the creator economy came from Pete Buttigieg, who praised political creators and gave a shout-out to unexpected voices like Ms. Rachel.

“I don’t know how much she makes per episode, but she deserves everything,” he said of the beloved children’s content creator. Buttigieg admitted he’s watching less TV these days and consuming more online content, a nod to the growing influence of digital creators. “What we build next has to be different from what we inherited,” he said. “You are at the very heart of that— that’s why I’m here today.”

But despite progressive politicians embracing the internet more than other politicians, there’s a tension between persuasion and platforming. Buttigieg defended his strategy of meeting people where they are, like his recent appearance on the manosphere-leaning podcast Flagrant.

While some criticized him for platforming right-wing voices, Buttigieg defended his approach. He said he draws the line at Tucker Carlson but believes in going where the people are.

“Whether it’s going on Fox or going on Flagrant, how can I blame somebody for not embracing the message that I believe in if they haven’t heard it?” he said. “We’ve gotta be cross-cutting these platforms [or else] no one is persuading anybody.”

That strategy sharply contrasts with fellow Democrats like Gavin Newsom, whose podcast recently invited far-right figures like Charlie Kirk and Steve Bannon to find ‘middle ground.’

Buttigieg recognizes that the tables have turned since the Obama hope and change era, when people thought progressives had the advantage on the internet and new media. “Democrats used to think that they were the ones who were digitally savvy,” he said.

He also added that the platforms perceived in the past as left-leaning have evolved to favor the right. “The algorithm is not neutral,” he said.

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– Liz Plank, Passionfruit Contributor

PLATFORMS

Netflix Is Getting TikTok-ified On Mobile

Netflix is testing a vertical video feed.

By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor

Photo collage image of the Netflix and TikTok logos floating together.

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IN THE BIZ

Instagram Threads will begin testing video ads.
The full schedule for VidCon Anaheim was released.
Reddit announced new profile tools for its business customers.
Viewership on political streams is up 56% year-over-year.

PERSONALITIES

Remember Kai Cenat’s Streamer University? Well, It’s Officially Happening

His dream is becoming a reality.

By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor

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PLATFORMS

Spotify Announces New Podcast Metric ‘Plays’

Creators will now see which podcasts are the most popular.

By Charlotte Colombo, Passionfruit Contributor

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UPCOMING EVENTS

Social Media Week is May 12-14 in New York City, New York.
WITS Travel Creator Summit is May 16-18 in New York City, New York.
VidCon is June 19-21 in Anaheim, California.
Open Sauce is July 18-20 in San Francisco, California.

WHAT WE’RE WATCHING

Ever wonder what happened to that one childhood online game you loved but can’t quite name?

YouTuber globert taps into that nostalgia in his quest to revive there.com, a virtual world that’s been dead for over a decade. Watch his video to see what happened when he spent 30 days inside a dead game.