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‘We Have No Shared Reality’: Two Political Influencers on the Future of Politics Online
At the WIRED World Fair in Miami, Democratic former congressional candidate Kat Abughazaleh and Republican strategist CJ Pearson discussed how influencers and algorithms are shaping politics online. Their debate matters because government agencies are increasingly courting digital creators, while social media feeds can leave young people with sharply different views of events.
Pearson said creator outreach helps the administration attract attention, but called sharing Epstein file material with 15 right-wing creators a misstep. Abughazaleh criticised government use of memes and AI-generated material, arguing it turns cruelty into content rather than informing the public. Despite disagreements over issues including ICE and X, both said algorithm-driven feeds are creating political echo chambers and weakening a shared sense of reality.
In short
- Government agencies are increasingly using digital creators to reach audiences.
- Two political figures criticised the effects of algorithm-driven echo chambers.
- Both said people are losing a shared understanding of reality.
Steelman: both sides, in good faith
The strongest fair case each way — we don't pick a winner.
The case for
Political influencers can reach people who rarely engage with official government channels, using familiar formats to draw attention to public issues. Thoughtful creator outreach may make information more accessible, though sharing sensitive material selectively with partisan influencers risks undermining trust.
The case against
Government agencies should communicate through transparent, accountable channels, because using partisan creators, memes or AI-generated material can blur the line between public information and political promotion. Algorithm-driven feeds already divide audiences; official communications that reward outrage or reach only aligned groups may deepen those divisions and erode a shared basis for debate.