There’s a fine line between transparency and exploitation. And influencers have blurred it beyond recognition. In a world where social media is the new media, it’s beginning to seem like they are anything but opportunists, milking every scandal for views while pretending they’re championing truth. The hustle is all that matters now.
I’ve written about new media on the blog before and still stand by that. Sure, you can catch the news anytime, anywhere from your phone. But when it comes to these so-called “new” right-wing political influencers, you have to take everything they say with a massive grain of salt.
Take the latest debacle of the release of the Epstein List called Phase 1. Granted, perhaps Pam Bondi pulled the trigger too soon, and giving it to these influencers was a mistake. Personally, I think it was a distraction for other reasons.
There may be no better example of this tomfoolery than the scene Thursday at the White House. On a day when Attorney General Pam Bondi said she would release the files of one of the greatest scandals and depraved acts of humanity in recent history, we witnessed what could only be referred to as a clown show. Instead of revealing the miscreants who engaged in abhorrent and egregious acts of sexual perversion, the country and the world saw a collection of “influencers” emerge from the White House, walking around holding up white binders and giggling like little children. – Washington Examiner
Just another day on the internet, I guess. But seriously, what was the point of releasing these binders when Pam Bondi knew exactly what was inside them—or, more accurately, what wasn’t inside them? This was a disaster all around. It’s a bad look for everyone involved and, if we’re being honest, probably the first real loss for the Trump campaign.
Let’s not do this.
The Epstein Client list should be public and online.
Not a binder reveal “prize” for social media influencers.
Let’s focus on Justice and not clicks on content. Come on.
This is not a good look. – the mgmt. pic.twitter.com/r8kMz96PwN— The Loftus Party (@theloftusparty) February 27, 2025
These are the same people who spent years grandstanding about “exposing the elites,” yet when the moment arrives, they reduce it to “look at me with the Epstein List.”
Sadly, this little stunt makes them look like just another Harry Sisson. And they are embarrassing the rest of us.
No one, and I mean absolutely no one, should take anything these people say or do seriously ever again. They lack gravitas and have too much hubris. They represent everything wrong with modern society. They are unserious people who are little more than sycophantic rabble-rousers and provocateurs. They lack principle, integrity, and, frequently, genuine allegiances to conservative ideals but rather the paycheck that comes with promoting those ideals. And, as time has shown, they tend to be hedonists masquerading as conservatives.
On Thursday, they showed their value or lack of it. Let them return to their previous levels of obscurity. It’s long past time to make “influencers” irrelevant again. – Washington Examiner
Whew, that’s a little harsh even for me. I don’t think I’d lump all of those people in attendance into that category, and I list them below, but…
Their reaction wasn’t just tone-deaf but a complete betrayal of their supposed mission. By turning a moment of potential reckoning into cheap internet fodder, they exposed themselves as nothing more than clout-chasing opportunists—proving, yet again, that their outrage is always for sale.
The entire “influencer” list involved with the infamous Epstein Phase 1 Binder event at the White House.
1.Rogan O’Handley – @DC_Draino
•Confirmed in photos holding the binder.
2.Chaya Raichik – @libsoftiktok
•Pictured with the binder, widely reported.
3.Liz Wheeler -… pic.twitter.com/MeFCgXStB5— Samuel Pascal Redfern (@SamUSOH) February 28, 2025
Honestly, I was a bit surprised by some people who attended, with Liz Wheeler and Chaya Raichik being standouts. Liz Wheeler, in particular, seemed to take the situation more seriously than most and wasted no time going online to expose the whole thing as a charade.
The Epstein List Phase 1 release isn’t the first time political influencers have shown their desire for fame. Last year, a few of them got caught up in a hoax surrounding Russia and Ukraine, further highlighting how easily some will chase attention.
An indictment […] alleges a media company linked to six conservative influencers — including well-known personalities Tim Pool, Dave Rubin and Benny Johnson — was secretly funded by Russian state media employees to churn out English-language videos that were “often consistent” with the Kremlin’s “interest in amplifying U.S. domestic divisions in order to weaken U.S. opposition” to Russian interests, like its war in Ukraine. – AP
In the fast-paced world of online news, this story is practically ancient history. The constant churn of the digital age means that yesterday’s drama is already being eclipsed by whatever the next viral moment is. And that’s probably what’s driving political influencers to rush to their keyboards in the first place.
Look, I’ve been on X since the days when it was still that little blue bird called Twitter, launched by little man Jack. I’ve seen a lot go down on the internet. People come and go, and influencers aren’t exactly a new phenomenon. But when it comes to politics and news, these influencers might be in over their heads—or maybe they’re getting a little too big for their britches.
The real issue comes when influencers try to position themselves as credible news sources. That said, I don’t want to be all negative here. Influencers do have a place on the internet—they grab attention, and in doing so, they can spark curiosity. Ideally, their bold, sometimes outlandish headlines push us to dig deeper and do our own research, rather than just swallowing what’s served up.
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