A survey of 741 Americans ages 18-49 found that younger voters encounter political information through pop culture sources like podcasts, comedy, and video games, breaking down some partisan divisions but revealing a dominance of male creators, according to research from Colorado State University's Center for Democracy, Art, and Popular Culture.
The survey identified top influencers, podcasts, comedians, and games across Democratic, Republican, and independent voters. MrBeast ranked first among influencers across all three groups. Podcasts showed similar overlap, with "The Joe Rogan Experience" and "Call Her Daddy" appearing in all groups' top three.
Joe Rogan has long voiced libertarian ideas and platformed right-wing politicians. Theo Von, a comedian turned podcaster, occupies similar ideological space. A 2024 report found that half of all registered voters who listened to at least one podcast per month said podcasts influenced their vote, with podcast listeners favoring conservatives.
Video games like Call of Duty, Fortnite, and Sims appeared on all three political groups' lists. U.S. Rep. Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez livestreamed playing Among Us in 2020 as a get-out-the-vote effort, earning 4.5 million views.
While these pop culture spaces do not function as rigid partisan silos, the survey found that many of the most popular creators appeal to or helped construct the manosphere, a collection of online communities that promote masculinity and often reflect misogynistic attitudes. Dave Chappelle, who topped lists for Democrats and Republicans, recently voiced anti-trans sentiments in Netflix specials.
The researchers noted that pop culture audiences do not passively accept every message creators deliver, but the prevalence of male creators and misogynistic themes across political divides remains noteworthy.