Influencers Take Over the DNC

August 23, 2024:

The Democratic National Convention organizers really rolled out the blue carpet for influencers this year. Today on the show, WIRED senior reporter Makena Kelly joins from Chicago to talk about the Democrats’ strategy of favoring creators over journalists, and whether it will help them win votes. Plus, behind the scenes at the influencer after-parties.

Leah Feiger is @LeahFeiger. Makena Kelly is @kellymakena. Write to us at politicslab@WIRED.com. Be sure to subscribe to the WIRED Politics Lab newsletter here.

Mentioned this week:
The DNC Is Officially the Influencer Convention by Makena Kelly
A Visual Guide to the Influencers Shaping the 2024 Election by Makena Kelly

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Transcript

Note: This is an automated transcript, which may contain errors.

Leah Feiger: This is WIRED Politics Lab, a show about how tech is changing politics. I’m Leah Feiger, the senior politics editor at WIRED. Today on the show, the 2024 Democratic National Convention is almost over. Earlier this week, Joe Biden, Hillary Clinton, and Barack Obama rallied Democrats around their new candidate.

Joe Biden [Archival audio]: Are you ready to vote for freedom?

Audience: Yeah!

Joe Biden [Archival audio]: Are you ready to vote for democracy and for America?

Audience: Yeah!

Joe Biden [Archival audio]And tonight, Kamala Harris will close out the event. But unlike in conventions past, every night has also featured influencers. People like content creator and abortion rights activists, Deja Foxx.

Deja Foxx [Archival audio]: People my age are making big decisions about our lives and we deserve a president who has our back.

Leah Feiger: And Carlos Eduardo Espina, a TikToker and immigration rights activist.

Carlos Eduardo Espina [Archival audio]: To be pro immigrant is to be pro America.

Leah Feiger: 200 other content creators are attending and posting, all invited by the DNC, to connect with young voters and they hope help Kamala Harris beat Donald Trump. Joining me from Chicago to talk about what’s going on at the DNC is WIRED senior reporter, Makena Kelly. Hey, Makena, how’s it going?

Makena Kelly: I’m a little tired, but it’s day three here at the convention and there’s been a lot going on. A lot going on.

Leah Feiger: Fair enough. In addition to all of the DNC events during the day, you’re also going to all of the parties at night. How are they?

Makena Kelly: Yeah, so I was out until 2:00 AM last night. The last thing on my schedule was from 10:00 to 2:00 AM and it was a party called Hotties for Harris, and it was thrown, it wasn’t-

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